Bottom-up approach

Question 1

In short, what is the bottom-up approach?

Answer 1

Generates a picture of the offender using psychological theory and systematic investigation. Work using evidence from the scene and develop hypothesis.

Question 2

What is investigative psychology?

Answer 2

Matches details from the scene with statistical analysis of typical offender patterns based in psychological theory.

Question 3

What is the aim of investigative psychology?

Answer 3

To establish patterns of behaviour to provide a baseline for comparison.

Question 4

What are the 3 central components to investigative psychology?

Answer 4

• Interpersonal coherence
• Significance of place and time
• Forensic awareness

Question 5

What is interpersonal coherence?

Answer 5

Way an offender behaves at the scene, how they ‘interact’ with a victim.

Question 6

What is the significance of time and place?

Answer 6

May indicate where the offender is living

Question 7

What is forensic awareness?

Answer 7

Describes individuals who have been subject to police interrogation before and may know how to cover their tracks.

Question 8

What are the 4 stages to investigative psychology?

Answer 8

1. Go to scene and collect evidence
2. Compare evidence with previous crimes in the database
3. Establish if the scene is similar to any other ones
4. Create a typology

Question 9

What can be revealed through geographical profiling?

Answer 9

The offender’s operational base and the place for potential future offences.

Question 10

What is crime mapping within geographical profiling?

Answer 10

Using information about the location of crime scenes to make inferences about the home/base of an offender.

Question 11

What is the concept of a ‘centre of gravity’?

Answer 11

Perpetrator will stay to an area they are comfortable with.

Question 12

Explain Canter’s circle theory.

Answer 12

• An assumption that the pattern of offending forms a circle around the offender’s home.
  2 types of offender:
• Marauder
• Commuter

Question 13

One strength of the approach is the evidence supporting investigative psychology.

Answer 13

• Canter and Heritage: analysed 66 SA cases, several behaviours were identified in most cases.
• Each person showed a pattern of behaviours, helped to establish whether offences were connected.
• Supports one of the basic principles of investigative psychology.

Question 14

One limitation is that geographical profiling may not be sufficient on its own.

Answer 14

• Recording of crime isn’t always accurate, a lot aren’t reported.
• Even if the data is correct, other factors such as the timing of the offence matter,
• Suggests that geographical info alone may not always lead to successful capture of an offender.

Question 15

A strength is that there is evidence to support geographical profiling.

Answer 15

• Lundrigan and Canter: collected info from 120 murder cases, analysis revealed a centre of gravity.
• Offenders leave Homebase in different directions when dumping a body, but created a circular effect.
• Supports the view that geographical info can be used to identify an offender.