Forensics: Cognitive explanations (levels of moral reasonings + distortions) Flashcards
Who created levels of moral reasonings?
Kohlberg
What are levels of moral reasonings?
A series of progressively more logically consistent stages. An individual uses their own value system to think about whether an action is right or wrong.
What is Kohlberg’s theory about levels of moral reasonings?
Criminal offenders are more likely to be classified at the preconventional level.
What are the 3 levels of moral reasonings?
Level 1: Pre-conventional
Level 2: Conventional
Level 3: Post-conventional
What is the pre-conventional level?
- Right and wrong determined by rewards/punishment
- Stage 1: Whatever leads to punishment is wrong.
- Stage 2: The right way to behave is the way thats rewarded.
What is the conventional level of morality?
- Views of others matter. Avoidance of blame: seeking approval.
- Stage 3: Behaving in ways that conform to ‘good behaviour’.
- Stage 4: Obedience to authority. Importance of ‘doing one’s duty’.
What is the post-conventional level of moral reasoning?
- Abstract notions of justice.
- Stage 5: Difference between moral and legal right. Recognises some rules should be broken.
- Stage 6: Individual principles of conscience. Takes account views of everyone affected by a moral decision.
What was the method of Kohlberg’s study on levels of moral reasonings?
Conducted a longitudinal study over a period of 12yrs
- 75 young American males aged 10-16 at start of study and aged 22-28yrs by end.
- Compared USA to Canada, UK, Mexico, Turkey and Taiwan.
What are the findings of Kohlberg’s study?
- Found criminals have a lower level of moral reasoning than others.
- Criminals don’t progress from pre-conventional level.
- Serious offenders have a moral outlook that differs from that of the law-abiding majority.
What are AO3 points of Kohlberg’s study?
- Kohlberg showed his moral stages were universal as he also looked at Britain, Mexico etc.
- Development was slower in non-industrial countries.
- Sample was based off of males, suggesting an issue of beta bias.
What are supporting studies for Kohlberg’s theory?
Hollin (2002) - criminals are most likely to be at the pre-conventional stage.
Palmer and Hollin (1998) - Offenders showed less mature moral reasoning than less delinquent people.
How can levels of moral reasoning be applied to the real world?
Understanding how low moral reasoning is associated with offending behaviour can be useful in shaping intervention or treatment programmes.
AO3 points on levels of moral reasonings?
- Supporting evidence: Hollin, Palmer and Hollin, Kohlberg.
- Sampling issues and generalisation due to Kohlberg’s focus on males.
- Cultural bias (Western bias)
What is cognitive distortions?
Faulty, irrational ways of thinking which can cause individuals to perceive themselves, others or the world inaccurately, and usually negatively.
What are cognitive distortions in the case of criminals.
In the case of criminal behaviour - these distortions lead to offenders denying or rationalising their behaviour.
