Mistakes in thinking are common features of offending behaviour. These mistakes, often known as thinking errors, are ways that an offender may try to justify or excuse their offending behaviour.

The following thinking errors, or thought patterns, are common to many people. Try to identify those that are common in your life.

*Playing dumb - thoughts focus on giving up, not trying, or "What's the use, nobody likes me, I'm no good anyway, so I may as well just keep on doing what I do."

*Lies, secrets and silence - dishonesty, big lies and little ones, avoiding the truth. "I never touched her. I was only trying to teach her about sex. I've never done anything like this before."

*It's not my fault - irresponsible thinking, avoiding personal responsibility for your life or anything that happens in it. "She led me on. She never said no. I'm under pressure, the booze made me do it."

*Denial - pretending things aren't as bad as they are. "My problems will go away if I don't think about them. I like to drink a little, but I don't have a problem."

*All mine - a false sense of ownership, of being entitled. "Its my right, I paid for dinner, she owes me sex. Possession is nine-tenths of the law."

*Later man - procrastinating, avoiding and putting things off. "I'll stop my behaviour next time."

*Who cares - indifference, apathy, detachment. "Who cares what they think. It doesn't matter if I'm rude or not. So what, it won't affect me."

*Not so bad - minimising, making events smaller or reducing their importance. "I didn't really hurt him. I just touched his penis. She'll get over it, I didn't rape her that bad."

Having these and many other thinking errors means that the offending behaviour will simply continue unabated. It is important to learn to slow down your thinking and challenge what you say to yourself and develop what is known as "Means-end-thinking." This is a strategy that helps you to:

Learn to think in ways that challenge your thinking errors. Realise that if it is too difficult to do by yourself, then at least speak to someone to help you think through your actions. This will enable you to see the possibility that your thinking may be wrong, and that it may actually be encouraging your offending behaviour. Offending behaviour can be corrected by more rational thinking.

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