NCJ Number
236359
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: September 2011 Pages: 393-405
Date Published
2011
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study employs a non-clinical sample, screened for schizotypal tendencies to assess how delusional ideation impacts upon an individual's ability to reason about crime-based scenarios.
Abstract
There is a wealth of evidence that suggests that individuals with high schizotypal tendencies experience a number of biases when reasoning (Galbraith, Manktelow and Morris 2008; Dudley et al. 1997; Garety 1991). This study employs a non-clinical sample, screened for schizotypal tendencies to assess how delusional ideation impacts upon an individual's ability to reason about crime-based scenarios. Qualitative differences were found between high and low scorers in terms of the strategies and methods employed to reason about criminal behavior. Future research needs to consider the creation of tests with greater sensitivity in order to assess and discover the boundaries of where reasoning biases occur. (Published Abstract)