Bottom Up Approach

Question 1

What is driven by the approach

Answer 1

Data driven

Question 2

Profile formation

Answer 2

• analysis of crime evidence
• psychological theory & statistical analysis
• creation of hypotheses of probable offender characteristics
• more scientific and objective

Question 3

Interpersonal coherence

Answer 3

• the way an offender behaves at the scene, interactions with victim may represent everyday behaviour

Question 4

3 main features of investigative psychology

Answer 4

• interpersonal coherence
• significance of time and place
• forensic awareness

Question 5

What is the significance of time and place

Answer 5

• gives some indications into the offenders lives

Question 6

Forensic awareness

Answer 6

• focuses on individuals who may have been the subject of police interrogation before

Question 7

Statistical procedures

Answer 7

• a statistical data-base in which patterns of behaviour are likely to occur & co-occur across crime scenes, acts as baseline for comparison
• specific details from the crime are matched against data-base to reveal important infomation about the offender
• can determine if a series of crimes were committed by the same person

Question 8

Strength of bottom up: investigative psychology

Answer 8

• canter & heritage
• analysis of 66 sexual assault cases, examined with “small space analysis”, several behaviours identified as common indifferent samples of behaviours -> impersonal language and reaction to victim
• displayed a characteristic pattern, helps establish if there is a ‘case linkage’
• supports basic principles of investigative psychology

Question 9

Limitation of bottom up: investigative psychology

Answer 9

• however case linkage depends on the data base, and will only consist of historical crimes that have been solved
• these may have been solved because was relatively straight-forward to link (circular argument)
• tells us little about case linkage, crimes remain unsolved

Question 10

Strength of bottom up: geographical profiling

Answer 10

• ludrigan & canter
• collected info on 120 U.S.A serial killers ‘small space analysis’
• revealed spacial consistency
• location of each body-disposal created a circular affect around home base -> effect was more noticeable in maurders

Geographical info can be used to identify the offender

Question 11

Limitation of bottom up: geographical profiling

Answer 11

• can’t be sufficient on it’s own
• reliant on data police provide, which isnt always accurate, varys between police forces -> 75% aren’t even reported to the police in the first place - ‘the dark figure of crime’
• questions the utility of an approach that relies on geographical data
• what about important factors like time and age
• alone won’t lead to successful capture of the offender

Question 12

Small space analysis

Answer 12

A type of statistical analysis, used to identify common themes and patterns of behaviour across several crimes