4.3.9 forensics Flashcards
top down approach
Originated in the USA by the FBI in the 1970’s.
Drew up data gathered rom in depth interviews with 36 sexually motivated killers.
Profilers will match what is known about the crime and the offender to a pre-existing template
profilers consideration
- murder type- isolated?
- primary intent- deliberate? Pre-mediated?
- victim risk- children? Old people? ( low risk)
- offender risk- how much risk was taken in committing?
- escalation- has it escalated from previous crime?
- time factors- time of day?
- location factors- where?
Produced 2 types of killers- organised and disorganised.
organised killers
Shows evidence of having planned the crime.
Victim is deliberately chosen and will often reflect that the offender has a ‘type’.
Maintains a high degree of control during the crime and may operate with an almost detached surgical precision
disorganised killers
Shows little evidence of planning, suggesting the offence may have been a spontaneous, spur of the moment act.
Crime scene tends to reflect the impulsive nature of the attack ( body is usually still at the scene and there appears to have little control on the part of the offender).
top down approach AO3
Lack of theoretical foundation ( feel of an inexact science, more of a hunch)
Only murder or rape- but still solves them
Very simple- 2 characteristics of killer, killers don’t tend to fit into both
Each crime scene is unique and are many different variables needed to be taken into account
Temporal validity
Intuition isn’t reliable
Original sample of 36 murderers- too small, not sensible to base on self-report data
Outdated- Alison- naive + informed by old-fashioned models of personality
Canter et al ( 2004) analysed data from 100 USA murders. Although it suggest evidence of a distinct organised type, it wasn’t the case for disorganised.
Still used and has widespread support
bottom up approach
Aim is to produce a picture of the offender ( characteristics, routine, behaviour, social background etc) through analysis of the crime scene.
Doesn’t begin with fixed typologies
UK based
2 parts- investigative psychology and geographical profiling
investigative psychology
Established patterns of behaviour that are Kiley to occur or co-exist across crime scenes.
Develops a statistical database which acts a baseline for comparison
Interpersonal coherence- way an offender acts at a scene may reflect their behaviour in everyday life
Significance of time of place
geographical profiling
Mapping
Gas a guess where the criminal lives based on where the crimes happen
Uses information to do with the location of linked crimes to make inferences about the likely home or operational base
Canters circle theory proposed 2 models:
Marauder- operates in close proximity to home base
Commuter- likely to have travelled to commit crimes
atavistic form
Lombroso suggested criminals were genetic throwbacks( primitive subspecies) who are biologically different to non-criminals
Offenders were seen as lacking evolutionary development and their savage and untamed nature meant that they find it impossible to adjust to the demands of civilised society and would inevitably turn to crime.
Based upon the facial and cranial structures of approximately 4,000 criminals, both dead and alive in Italy
Found 47% were atavistic
characteristics of the atavistic form
Narrow sloping brow Strong prominent jaw High cheekbones Facial asymmetry Dark skin Extra toes/nipples/fingers Murders: Bloodshot eyes Curly hair Long ears Sexual deviant: Glinting eyes Swollen fleshy lips Projecting ears
atavistic form AO3
Father of modern criminology- shifted emphasis away from a moralistic discourse towards a more scientific and credible realm
Scientific racism- several critics have drawn attention to distinct racial undertones.- DeLisi 2012
Contradicting evidence- Goring 1913 compared 3,000 criminals and 3,00 non-criminals and concluded there were no evidence that offenders are a distinct group with unusual characteristics.
Didn’t compare to non-criminals control group
Hollin 1989 hailed him as the father of modern criminology shifted crime research towards a more scientific focus.
Physical characteristics may not be the cause of offending, and may be influenced by environment, poor diet and poverty.
neural explanation
Any explanation in terms of (dys)function of the brain and nervous system
Includes activity of brain structures such as the hypothalamus and neurotransmitters
Evidence suggests there may be neural differences in the brains of criminals and non-criminals
Most evidence has investigated individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ADP). Is associated with reduced emotional responses, a lack of empathy for feelings of others
Raine found individuals with anti-social personalities had reduced acitivty in the prefrontal cortex- 11% reduction in grey matter which meant less neural activity
Mirror neurons- type of brain cell that fires when you complete an action and when you watch someone else doing the same behaviour;.
Keysers et al (2011)- when APD’s were asked to empathise, they did.
cognitive approach
Scientific study of mental processes.
Mental processes are private and cannot be observed. It is studied indirectly and through inferences
computer analogy
Schema is central to approach
cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of brain structures on mental processes
cognitive approach
Scientific study of mental processes.
Mental processes are private and cannot be observed. It is studied indirectly and through inferences
computer analogy
Schema is central to approach
cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of brain structures on mental processes
Kohlberg
Criminals have a lower level of moral reasoning
Don’t progress from pre-conventional stage of moral reasoning
Seek to avoid punishment and gain rewards
has a child-like reasoning
Non-criminals tend to reason at higher levels and sympathises with the rights of others, exhibiting honesty, generosity and non-violence- Post-conventional moral reasoning.
