Theoretical analysis of violent behaviors based on the theory of criminal cognitions with the introduction of the PICTS-SV scale

According to the criminal cognition theory, criminals who commit crimes repeatedly have a set of moral cognitions that are used to rationalize committing crimes. The present study aimed to theoretically analyze violent behaviors based on the criminal cognition theory and to test the factor structure and internal consistency of the simplified version of the Criminal Thinking Styles Questionnaire (PICTS-SV). This descriptive-correlational study was of the factor analysis type and the research population included all individuals who had referred to a camp on the outskirts of Qom to quit addiction. Sampling was done in the form of a whole number and 200 individuals present at the camp responded to the simplified form of the Criminal Thinking Styles Questionnaire after translation and validation. Using principal component factor analysis, 8 factors (modification, cutting, entitlement, power orientation, emotionality, over-optimism, cognitive laxity, and discontinuity) were identified as the main factors of the questionnaire, and the identified factors were confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. The identified factors had a reliability coefficient of 0.61 to 0.74, and the overall alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.67. The results of the study showed that this questionnaire has appropriate validity and reliability and can be used as a suitable tool to identify damaged areas of thinking and study the criminal cognitions of high-risk individuals and to organize and provide necessary interventions.