Every person has a set of attitudes, beliefs and patterns that combine to form his or her cognitive structure. Cognitive structure influences the actions people pursue. For every person, this cognitive structure is a self-fulfilling cycle, which means that whatever an offender believes will eventually be validated in his own mind as being right or just. Criminal thinkers do not see fault with their actions, and without this internal control, are more likely to engage in further criminal actions, given the means and opportunity.

There are high- and low-end criminal thinkers. Higherend thinkers' beliefs are far outside the norms of society. These offenders exude pride in their actions and in many instances they talk about their victims deserving what they got. Lower end criminal thinkers are usually more subtle in their beliefs and actions.

Determining whether an offender displays victim stance, entitlement, or righteous rage will enable you to identify the severity of an offender's criminal thinking.

Whether high or low end, criminal thinkers are likely to exhibit

"Victim stance" is when offenders feel they have been treated unfairly their whole lives and that they are the real victims. In response to this sense, these offenders have developed a coping mechanism that consists of a defiant, hostile attitude toward society and in some instances, life itself. Offenders who fall into this category are contemptuous toward authority and authority figures such as staff.

Offenders who exhibit "entitlement" feel that they are titled to an absolute freedom and any restriction of this is unjust. In short, they believe they ought to be able to do whatever they want, whenever they want.

Another possibility is that offenders may display "righteous rage" when their lives and their surrounding world does not meet their expectations. These offenders exhibit anger, retribution and a license to do as they please without regard to rules and consequences. "Righteous rage" produces a feeling of power in these offenders and they feel that in order for them to win at something they must force someone else to lose. When they win, they are elated. When they lose, they are crushed, albeit for a short time.

Of course, all offenders should not be considered "criminal thinkers." Some have made bad decisions but do not have distorted thinking patterns that will result in similar decisions in the future.

It is important to determine how much of the offender's behavior is poor decision-making or how much is a distorted thinking pattern.