Cognitive theories of crime

- Argue our mental processes shape our behaviour e.g. our beliefs, attitudes, descion-making and how we interpret world around us

Criminal personality theory

* ^^Yochelson and Samenow^^ argue criminals are prone to ==‘faulty thinking’== making more likely to commit crimes
* Based on a long term study of ^^240 male offenders^^ , most of whom had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital

Thinking errors (Ych+Smn)

* Argue criminals show a ==range of errors and biases in their thinking and decision-making== including: lying; super optimism; uniqueness; victim stance; and a need for power
* Leads them to commit crime

Kohlberg’s moral development theory

* Argues our ideas of right and wrong develop through a ==series of stages from to childhood-adulthood==


* At ==‘pre-conventional’ or pre-moral level== young children discover rights and wrongs by punishment and reward, whereas by adulthood ideas of right and wrong involve an ==understanding of underlying morals and values==

KMDT with criminality

* Suggests criminals moral development is stuck at a less mature level than everyone else- ==thinking whether actions will result in reward or punishment rather than how it affects others==

Cognitive behavioural therapy- KMDT

* Cognitive theories that see ==delinquents thought patterns as different from those of normal people== have led to range of treatments for offenders
* These come under the ==general heading of CBT==