Forensic x Flashcards

Question

What did Barbaree 1991 do ?

Answer 1

Barbaree, 1991, in a small scale study of rapists and child-molesters found: Rapists: 54% denied they had committed an offense 42% minimised their responsibility and the harm they’d caused the victims Child molesters: 66% denied they had committed and offense 33% minimised their responsibility and the harm they’d caused the victims.

Answer 2

Application is in CBT – strategies used challenge the offenders minimalization with aim to reducing it.

Answer 3

A cognitive developmental theory in which moral understanding is said to progress through a series of age related stages, becoming increasingly sophisticated Theory developed by asking children (boys) to explain their reasoning about how characters should act in specially designed stories known as ‘moral dilemmas’ The moral dilemma technique was used by Kohlberg on a sample of violent youths whom he found to be less morally developed than their non-violent counterparts.

Answer 4

Level 1 Pre-morality (up to 9) Stage 1 Punishment & Obedience Orientation – Doing what is right because of fear of punishment Stage 2 Hedonistic Orientation – Doing what is right for personal gain, perhaps a reward Level 2 Conventional Morality (9- adolescence) Stage 3 Interpersonal Concordance Orientation – Doing what is right according to the majority Stage 4 Law & Order Orientation – Doing what is right because it is your duty and helps society. Laws must be obeyed for the common good. Level 3 Post-conventional morality (adolescence +) Stage 5 Social Contract or Legalistic Orientation – Doing what is morally right even if it is against the law because the law is too restrictive. Stage 6 Universal Ethical Principles Orientation – Doing what is right because of our inner conscience which has absorbed the principles of justice, equality and sacredness of human life.

Answer 5

Offenders have lower levels of moral reasoning: Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared moral reasoning using the Socio-Moral Reflection Short-Form test (SMR-SF)* between: 210 female non-offenders 122 male non-offenders 126 convicted offenders Consistent with Kohlberg’s theory, the offending group showed lower levels of moral reasoning compared to the non-offending groups * A test of 11 moral –dilemma based questions But is level of moral reasoning is context dependent? Ashkar and Kenney (2007). Compared the moral reasoning abilities for a small sample of juvenile offenders (sexual and non-sexual) in an Australian prison. In relation to their offending, individuals showed pre-conventional moral reasoning. In contexts not related to their crimes, conventional moral reasoning dominated.

Answer 6

Chandler (1973): 45 chronically delinquent 11-13 yr old males were assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: an experimental program (which used drama and video-making to train role- taking) a placebo condition a non-treatment control condition. After, subjects were given a test of perspective taking. Results showed that only those in experimental group improved significantly in their abilities. An 18 month follow-up study showed these improvements were associated with significant reductions in delinquent behaviour.

Answer 7

Eysenck and his wife Sybil assessed 2070 male prisoners who were compared to a control group of 2422 males. On measures of E, N and P, prisoners recorded higher scores than the control group which accords with the prediction of the theory.

Answer 8

Farrington et al (1982) reviewed this study and found that offenders tend to score highly on P measures, but not on E and N. There are also consistent differences between the EEG measures (used to measure cortical arousal) between extraverts and introverts, which cast doubt on the physiological basis of Eysenck’s theory.

Answer 9

Smith et al (2002) carried out a meta-analysis of over 100 research studies looking at the relationship between reoffending, length of sentence and the use of prison vs. noncustodial sentences. They found that the recidivism rate following imprisonment was no lower than for non-custodial sentencing and that longer prison terms did not lower the risk of reoffending. The lowest rate of recidivism in Europe is in Norway. The prison system is very different, much more open with a much greater emphasis on rehabilitation and skill acquisition than in the UK.

Answer 10

Token economy is based on operant conditioning. Its aim is to increase desirable behaviour and decrease undesirable behaviour by the use of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment. How it works: The desirable and undesirable behaviour have to be identified e.g. fighting, provoking conflict with other prisoners and the staff. The rewards for good behaviour have to be agreed with the prisoner e.g. extra time in the gym, extra tobacco or phone call to family. The prisoner is given a token every time he perform a desirable behaviour e.g. walking away from a fight . The tokens, secondary reinforcers, can be exchanged for primary reinforcers, the rewards which were agreed. Undesirable behaviour is punished e.g. extra time in the cell.

Answer 11

Cognitive preparation: offenders identify situations that provoke anger so they can recognise when an aggressive outburst is likely to occur. During this stage thought patterns are challenged, e.g. an individual becomes angry when they are criticised might think that the person who criticises them implies that they are stupid and worthless . This will be challenged and this individual will be encouraged to reconsider his interpretation of the situation . The offender is also prompted to consider the negative consequences of anger on himself and others. Skill acquisition: depending on the triggers identified in the first stage, a range of skills can be taught e.g. assertiveness training, relaxation techniques, social skills training.... Application practice: the offender practices the skills acquired in a controlled environment using role play. This stage is to prepare the offender to use the techniques learnt in a real environment.

Answer 12

a system of dealing with criminal behaviour which focusses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation within victims. Offenders see the impact of their crime and the process empowers victims by giving them a “voice.”

Answer 13

Sherman & Strang's (2007) meta-analysis concluded that in no way can RJ be more harmful than the traditional justice system. It is at least equally as effective as the traditional justice system in all cases. In most cases (especially with more serious offences and with adult offenders) it is significantly more effective than the traditional justice system at lowering recidivism rates as well as lowering rates of post-traumatic stress disorder in the victims.

Answer 14

Deterrence rehabilitation/reform retribution incapacitation

Answer 15

Aim: to see if prison is more effective than other alternatives to treating crime. Method: Smith et al (2002) reviewed more than one hundred research studies looking at the relationship between reoffending, length of sentence and the use of prison vs. non-custodial sentences. Results: recidivism rate following imprisonment was no lower than for non-custodial sentencing and that longer prison terms did not lower the risk of reoffending. Conclusion: recidivism research does not support the idea that prison is any more effective than other sanctions.

Answer 16

Zimbardo (1973) found in a prison simulation study that participants very quickly took on the roles that were assigned to them. “Prisoners” became passive and miserable. “Guards” became domineering. Had a massive effect on the psychological well-being of “prisoners”. Supports the argument that people become institutionalised and that prison has a negative effect on psychological health.

Answer 17

Blackburn 1993

Forensic x Flashcards

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