Do Cognitive Distortions Mediate the Relationships Between Critical Thinking, Moral Reasoning and the Risk of Violence?

This study shows that emotional suppression and abundant thoughts are central mechanisms linking weaker critical and moral reasoning to violence risk, advancing prior work by identifying how these deficits translate into violent behaviour. Demonstrating these pathways in a homicide offender sample provides new evidence that cognitive distortions are crucial intervention targets. Strengthening reasoning skills alongside reducing distortion-based thinking may therefore help lower violence and recidivism.