Chapter 1

Question 1

Which crimes are suitable for profiling?

Answer 1

Sadistic torture in sexual assaults
Sexual homicides
Postmortem cases on slashing & cutting
Motiveless fire settings
Lust & mutilation murders
Rape
Occult ritualistic crimes
Child sexual abuse including pedophilia
Bank robberies
Anonymous obscene communications
Unusual crimes

Question 2

Inductive profiling

Answer 2

Inductive-if specific crimes are similar, then offenders share similar personality characteristics.
Look at past crimes & offenders.
Quick & inexpensive

Question 3

Deductive Profiling

Answer 3

Deductive-take a close look at crime scene and evidence to put together a profile of the offender.
Takes more time.
Assess offender fantasy.
Interpret the crime scene.
More reliable
In practice, we use both types.

Question 4

Goals of profiling

Answer 4

To construct a social and psychological assessment of the offender.
To construct a psychological evaluation of belongings of the offender.
To provide interviewing ideas and strategies.
Is profiling an art, science, or both?
It is one of many forensic tools.

Question 5

Using profiling to interview suspects

Answer 5

In order to interview a subject effectively, one must use a profile packet which should contain information regarding proper and effective methods of interviewing and interrogation. This packet must contain information regarding different personalities and effective strategies in soliciting information form a diverse group of offenders.

Question 6

Fictional books and profiling

Answer 6

In a novel, the successful resolution of a murder is usually neatly reached. Too often, the reader will note, the crime is neatly solved in the last paper or two. Unfortunately profiling does not always yield he same result.

Question 7

What variables are included in a profile?

Answer 7

Age
Sex
Race
Intelligence
Education
Family
Residence
Vehicle
Employment
Psychosexual Development
Interrogation

Question 8

What are the major assumptions of criminal profiling?

Answer 8

The Crime Scene Reflects the Personality.
The Method of Operation Remains Similar.
The Signature Will Remain the Same.
The Offender Will Not Change His Personality.

Question 9

Medical theory

Answer 9

Genetic Factors
Neurotransmitters
Brain Structures
Research: The structure and functioning of the brain may change due to exposure to stressors. This may increase the predisposition to act out as a perpetrator.
Within this model, human behavior is explained through chemical reactions in that neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that are assumed to regulate thoughts, feelings, and behavior. For example, neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine are thought to affect moods and violent behavior.

Question 10

Symbolic interactionism theory

Answer 10

Focus is on social interaction, self, role taking, and the meaning of symbols.
How do we label and how are we labeled?
Symbolic interactionism focuses on social interaction, the self, role taking, and the meanings of symbols. Symbolic interactionism is based on the premise that 1) people act based on meanings, 2) which derive from interaction with others, 3) and are interpreted by the individual (Blumer, 1969).

Question 11

Sociobiological theory

Answer 11

The interaction of biological factors and the environment increase the likelihood of certain actions.
Other environmental induced changes in the body?
Evolutionary survival instinct gone awry?
What is the adaptive problem? It is fear of failing to survive as a group and being permanently removed from society?
The research in the area of crime and biological factors have focused on physiological problems, genetics, hormones, nutrition, and the relationship between drugs and alcohol and crime
The same criticisms of the medical model apply to the sociobiological model-the policy recommendations for intrusive interventions

Question 12

Psychoanalytic

Answer 12

Early childhood traumas?
Id, Ego, and Superego out of balance?
Use of defense mechanisms to cope with anxiety (repression, denial, regression, and displacement)?
Freud’s conception of the personality parts is famous: id, ego, and superego. The id consists of the unconscious drives. The superego consists of the internalized social norms of the culture. The ego mediates between the conflicts of the id and superego, or between the drives and the demands of the society
How do you test the theory and measure the concepts?
Is it really all about drives and instincts?

Question 13

Scripting theory

Answer 13

Look at the scripts:
Who
What
Where
When 
How

Question 14

Conflict/Feminist model theory

Answer 14

Focus is on inequalities and power relationships.
Who has the power?
Male dominance
But what about other factors?
How do we measure power?

Question 15

Learning theory

Answer 15

Learning from others.
Methods, motivations, and rationalizations taught.
According to Sutherland and Cressey, criminal behavior is learned though the socialization process.
Criminal behavior is learned through interaction in personal groups.
The methods, motivations, and rationalizations of engaging in criminal activity are learned from others.
The same principles operate in learning criminal and non-criminal behavior (Sutherland and Cressey, 1978).
Failure to explain criminal behaviors that were not learned in groups
Failure to explain the initial motivation to commit crime
Structural factors are absent

Question 16

Intergenerational transmission theory

Answer 16

Learning from family and community members?
Attempts to explain the dynamics of generational abuse. For our purposes, we focus on generational transmission of perpetration and effects of victimization.
Why do some engage in criminal behavior while others do not?

Question 17

Strain theory

Answer 17

Focus is on social conditions of normlessness, confusion, and ambiguity.
Social stress increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior (check out economic, family, and community stressors).
A study applied anomie theory to study the relationship between stress and violent crime (Linsky, Bachman, and Straus, 1995). Using their State Stress Index, a measurement of economic, family, and community stress at the state level, they found that:
1. The more stress in the social environment, the higher the violent crime rates.
2. High levels of stress are related to high rates of smoking and alcohol use, suicide, rape, and homicide.
3. High rates of violence are associated with high rates of legitimate violence (e.g. capital and corporal punishment).
4. Family violence is related to high rates of alcohol consumption and legitimate violence.
A study applied anomie theory to study the relationship between stress and violent crime (Linsky, Bachman, and Straus, 1995). Using their State Stress Index, a measurement of economic, family, and community stress at the state level, they found that:
1. The more stress in the social environment, the higher the violent crime rates.
2. High levels of stress are related to high rates of smoking and alcohol use, suicide, rape, and homicide.
3. High rates of violence are associated with high rates of legitimate violence (e.g. capital and corporal punishment).
4. Family violence is related to high rates of alcohol consumption and legitimate violence.

Question 18

Exchange theory

Answer 18

Focus is on rewards and costs.
What do perpetrators have to gain?
What do they have to loose?
Narrow theory

Question 19

Ecological theory

Answer 19

Focus on relationships between the individual, family, community, and society.
Microsystems, Mesosytems, Exosystems, and Macrosystems.
Microsystem‑the focus is on everyday settings. This includes relationships between family, friends, and the school.

Mesosystem‑ the emphasis is on interdependent microsystems. This includes interactions between microsystems, i.e. the links between the family and the school.

Exosystem‑ the focus is on social groups that influence children. These include policy makers, school boards, neighborhoods, and the workplace of parents.

Macrosystem‑the focus is on political, economic, and demographic factors that influence children and families. These consist of cultural values and belief systems (Garbarino, 1982; Tan, Ray, and Cate, 1991).
How do you test this theory?
Many ecological models present three levels.

Question 20

Text used to diagnose mental disorders

Answer 20

Intelligence is one way on recognizing future delinquent criminality. IQ testing is one way in determining future criminality for instance, those with low IQ are more prone to delinquent criminality.

Question 21

Disorganized Offenders

Answer 21

Personal Characteristics:
Lower IQ	
Socially Inadequate
Unskilled Worker
Father’s Work Unstable
Harsh/Inconsistent Discipline
Anxious During Crime
Loner
Lives/Works Near Crime Scene
Nocturnal
Poor Personal Hygiene
Secret Hiding Places
Few or No Relationships
Low Education	
Male
Non Athletic
White
Viewed by Others as Weird

Post Offense Behavior:
Returns to Crime Scene
May Attend Victim’s Funeral
May Place Memoriam in Newspaper
May Turn to Religion
May Keep Diary or News Clippings
May Change Residence (but not move far)
May Change Job
May Have a Personality Change
Interviewing Techniques:
Show Empathy
Introduce Information Indirectly
Use Counselor Approach
Interview at Night

Question 22

Organized Offenders

Answer 22

Personal Characteristics:
Average to High Intelligence
Socially Adequate
Sexually Competent
Lives With Partner
Harsh Discipline
Controlled Mood
Masculine Image
Charming
Geographically Mobile
Occupationally Mobile
Follows Media
Model Prisoner
Drug Abuse
Raised in Middle-Class
Sociopath
Does Not Accept Criticism
Post Offense Behavior:
Returns to Crime Scene
Volunteers Information
Police Groupie
Anticipates Questioning
May Move Body
May Dispose of Body to Advertise Crime
The Crime Becomes a Game
Often Not a Suspect
Interviewing Techniques
Use a direct strategy; confront.
Make sure you have the facts of the case.
Offender will only admit to what he must therefore you may not get a complete account.

Question 23

General terrorist profile

Answer 23

Male
Single
22-25 (leaders older)
Some College or Degree
Females More Likely to Support
Middle or Upper Class Backgrounds
Obedient to Leader
Blends Well
Leaders have/had Professional Occupations
No Physical Features Differentiate
Try to Avoid Mentally Unstable Members

Question 24

Compare male and female terrorists

Answer 24

Similar Profile to Male
Recruited by Family Members
Coolness Under Pressure
Dedication, Inner Strength, & Ruthlessness
Different Reasons for Becoming Involved (Power vs. Better Life)

Question 25

Mental illness and terrorists

Answer 25

Terrorist groups try to Avoid Mentally Unstable Members

Question 26

Langer’s profile of Hitler

Answer 26

Hitler’s parents influenced him tremendously.
Hitler’s father was cold, distant, and domineering
Hitler’s mother was judged to be considerate, long suffering, and overly affectionate of Hitler.
Hitler felt some rejection from the mother’s refusal to leave the abusive father and husband to care for and protect young Adolf.
Because of the influence of his parents, Hitler in his adult years was unable to establish and maintain strong personal relationships with others.

Question 27

How your own biases may get in the way of profiling

Answer 27

Our opinions may be incorrect which can lead to inaccuracy of a profile.

Question 28

Compare domestic far-right homicide offenders with common homicide offenders

Answer 28

The fat-right homicide offenders are far more likely to be a terrorist group vs. those who are common homicide offenders are those who kill w/o having prejudice.

Question 29

Four waves of terrorism according to Raporport

Answer 29

Provides an analysis of terrorism waves of the past 125 years.
The first wave consists of the “Anarchists” who utilized the assassination of government officials. This wave began in the 1880s and ended around the 1920s. Next,
the “anticolonial” wave hit lasting until the 1960s.
The third wave consisted primarily of the “new left” terrorists declining as the
fourth wave of religious terrorists appeared.
Raporport (2004) predicts that this wave may last until 2025 and will be replaced with a new one. What will this new one look like? (terrorgenocide).

Question 30

Five waves of terrorism according to Kaplan

Answer 30

Characteristics of the fifth wave include: 
radical break from previous terrorist models, 
withdrawal from society, 
new calendar, 
purity, 
internal violence, 
genocidal violence, 
new race, 
socialization of children to new model,
 rape, 
local focus, 
authoritarianism with charismatic leadership, and 
religious with apocalyptic violence. 
new race, 
socialization of children to new model,
 rape, 
local focus, 
authoritarianism with charismatic leadership, and 
religious with apocalyptic violence.

Question 31

Sedgwick’s research on how terrorist groups become successful

Answer 31

The inspirational factor of global terrorism waves.
Successful terrorist groups follow the patterns of other successful terrorists.
While radical ideology is needed, the effectiveness of techniques and the opportunities for successful terrorist events are the main components of the terrorist strategy
Delineates four waves: Italian, German, Chinese, and Afghan.