psychological explanations:cognitive:cognitive distortions

+Real world application

Application to therapy -CBT

Challenges irrational thinking

Offenders encouraged to ‘face up’ to what they have done and establish a less distorted view of their actions

Acceptance of one’s crimes→thought to be an important aspect of rehabilitation

-level of cognitive distortion depends on type of offence

Howitt & Sheldon: gathered questionnaire responses from sexual offenders

Found non-contact sex offenders (accessed sexual images on internet) used more cognitive distortions than contact sex offenders (physically abused children)

Previous history of offending also more likely to use distortions as a justification

• suggests that distortions are not used in same way by all offenders

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