Turning to Crime - Cognition - Evaluation (1)

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Turning to Crime - Cognition - Evaluation (1)


  • All 3 cognitive explanations are deterministic, as it suggests criminal behaviour is determined by an individuals thought processes.

Y+S = Criminals think differently to non-criminals

K = Lack of moral development in criminals

G+B = Criminals often blame others for their behaviour.

However, surely criminals have some element of choice in the decisions they make and how they think about crime?


  • All 3 cognitive explanations explain crim behaviour as being a result of the individual's own errenuous thinking rather than on their upbriging or biological factors.
  • Therefore they offer a dispositional, rather than situational explanation of criminal behaviour. Because all of the cognitive explanations only focus on criminal's thoughts, they're also reductionist.
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