Chapter 14 - FBI Profiling

Question 1

Findings of Canter and Wentlink for serial killer typology…

Answer 1

Power/control killing characteristics typical of all cases
There were a group of thrill killing variables (mostly surrounding restraint)
Was support for visionary killers, bludgeoning and trail of clothes co-occur frequently
Facial disfigurement, a characteristic of Holmes and Holmes’ lust killing seems to be associated with visionary killers

Question 2

Achievement of FBI profiling

Answer 2

Moved research into serious crime away from search for psychological abnormalities to the manifestation of individual characteristics in the behaviours of criminals when committing crimes

Question 3

Self-solving cases vs whodunit cases

Answer 3

Self-solving cases (70%) follow three stage approach: collection/analysis of info from crime scene, pursuing lines of enquire, case construction

Whodunnit cases (30%) follow five stage approach: initial response, information burst, suspect development, suspect targeting, case construction

Question 4

Controversy surrounding offender profiling…

Answer 4

It’s high profile in the public’s imagination
It’s nature - objective or subjective?
The role of profiling in police work
The paucity of evidence that profiling is effective

Question 5

Gudjonsson and Copson found…

Answer 5

3% of detections were attributed to the profilers work