forensic Flashcards
forensic psychology
psychological principles that are applied to different stages of the criminal justice system
crime
unlawful behaviour punished by the state. harmful to society.
problems with defining crime
it is a culturally relative concept - e.g polygamy. it also changes over time - e.g smacking your kids
offender profiling
analysing behaviour/ circumstances of the crime scene to profile characteristics of an unknown offender
top down approach to offender profiling
pre established typology of offenders looked at and works down to the details of the crime scene placing them into one of two categories.
organised offenders
socially/ sexually competent with high IQ. targets specific victim. evidence is destroyed, planned.
disorganised offenders
of low intelligence that does spur of the moment attacks and leaves evidence. unplanned, usually known to victim
top down approach study by FBI
1978 - data gathered from interviews with 36 sexually motivated murderers.
found disorganised and organised offenders
limitation of top down approach
based on restricted data from 36 ppts. unrepresentative of typical offenders. Godwin (2002) argues that one killer may posses traits from both so info is not valid. means they cannot be applied to whole offending population
strength of top down approach
support for organised offender. Canter - analysis of 100 US murders by diff killers. used statistical tech to identify behaviour across crimes and found correlations analysing aspects of killings. set of features for organised killers. however, not for disorganised.
limitation too top down approach - personality
based on consistent behaviour. should mean they can link crimes together to catch offender. however, Mischel (1968) said behaviour is driven more by situation. this means patterns at crime scenes tell us little about the offenders regular behaviour
bottom up approach
profilers work up from the evidence collected from the crime scene to develop characteristics of offenders
investigative approach
statistical analysis of offender behaviour.
interpersonal coherence
the way an offender behaves at the scene may indicate everyday life.
significance of time and place
may indicate where offender lived if taken place in same forensic “centre of gravity”
forensic awareness
focus on those who have already been in police’s interest. behaviour may show how mindful they are in covering their tracks
geographical approach
spatial consistency. Rosmo found they commit crimes in circles. can make inferences about where they live and where they strike next.
marauder
offender lives in geographical area
commuter
travels to other area to commit crime
strength of bottom up approach
evidence to support investigative psychology. Canter - 66 sexual assault cases, behaviours were identified as common. helps see if offences were commit by same person. shows people are consistent in behaviour
weakness to the bottom up approach
offender profiling has a mixed history of being accurate. served 48 police departments and advice by profilers was proven 83% useful - valid. same studies showed 3% of cases lead to accurate identification. Rachel nickel shows profiling can be misused - should be more skeptical
atavistic form
criminals lack evolutionary development. biologically different and can’t survive society without turning to crime.
features of atavistic form
strong jaw, high cheeks, dark skin, long ears, extra toes
atavism
re-occurrence of an ancestor in a subsequent generation
Lombrosos research into atavism
389 dead 3839 living criminals examined. 40% criminals had atavistic characteristics
strength of atavistic form
changed the study of crime. he defined criminology. he made it scientific. attempted to show how particular people commit particular crimes. he made a major contribution to criminology.
negative of atavistic form - racism
work has been viewed as racist identified criminals would have dark hair and dark skin. traits commonly seen in african descent. viewed them as uncivilised, savage supports views of the race at the time. he may not have intended it but there’s still racial undertones
negative atavistic form
contradictory evidences. goring 1913 - comparison of 6000 criminals and non criminals.,no evidence that offenders possessed unusual physical characteristics. however do have lower IQ. limited support of criminals subspecies. questions key elements of atavistic form
genetic explanation for offender behaviour
DNA strands that produce our physical features
brain scans show murderers have a lack of activity in prefrontal cortex - keeps our behaviour in check. Raine - 11% reduction in grey matter
neural explanation of offender behaviour
dysfunctions in the brain. criminals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. usually associated w lack of empathy.
Twin studies as an explanation for genetic offender behaviour
33% of MZ twins also had a twin in prison
13% DZ twins - shows that MZ have more similar genes
negative of genetic explanation
MZ twins have more similar genes as they are identical and from the same egg. Shows that genetics can have an impact on criminal behaviour. however, could be due to them getting treated the same as they look the same.
poistive of genetic explanation
higher conviction rates in adoptees w convicted biological parents. they had nothing to do w upbringing so is due to their genetics.
positive of neural explanation
evidence shows impaired frontal lobe links to compulsive behaviour showing that once they have offended they may struggle to stop which is why so many people re-offend.
negative of neural explanation
if we cannot control our behaviour due to impaired frontal lobe then this is unfair as it goes against our justice system that says we are responsible for our own actions however this explanation states we personally cannot control them if we have an impaired frontal lobe
eysnecks psychological explanation
introversion extraversion - underactive NS
psychoticism- sociability - high testosterone
neuroticism- stability - overactive sympathetic NS.
differential association theory
offending learned through interactions.
attitudes - ideas towards crime
act - learning techs of crime
pro criminal attitude - DAT
someone who socialises w more criminals so believe it is acceptable. more likely to go onto offend
learning criminal acts DAT
techs for particular crimes e.g. inmates learn from eachother in prison
positive of DAT - explains crime
explains within all sectors of society. Sutherland saw certain crimes matched certain classes. e.g. middle class corporate crime. helps us understand different crimes in society
strength of DAT - social circumstances
moves emphasis away from biological and psychological. social circumstances and environment may be more to blame. more positive and realistic as shows problems and solutions for crimes
limitation of DAT
not everyone exposed to crime goes onto commit. Sutherland made stereotypes that everyone from criminal societies are criminal. ignores that people may chose not to offend. environmentally deterministic.
psychodynamic explanation to offending behaviour
Blackburn - criminal behaviour comes from inadequate superego.
Bowlby’s 44 thieves also links to criminal behaviour.
3 types of inadequate superego
weak superego - same sex parent absent in phallic stage = criminal behaviour likely
deviant superego - child internalises immoral values due to upbringing
over- harsh superego - needs satisfying and gives constant guilt.
limitation of of psychological explanation - gender bias
freud suggests girls have weaker superego as no castration anxiety. so less pressure to resolve conflict w mum. however, research shows men are 20x more likely to offend. Hoffman found little girls have higher moral values. does not support theory
limitation of psychodynamic explanation - unfalsifiable
not open to empirical testing. can only be judged on face value and there is no supporting evidence. does not offer scientific explanation or support
strength of psychodynamic explanation
link between superego and offending. Goreta - freudian analysis of 10 offenders needing psych care. all had disturbances in superego. explained this was a consequence of over harsh superego. supports role of superego in crime,,
custodial sentencing
a decision made by court as s punishment to crime. involves custody e.g. being in prison
deterrence
unpleasant experience designed to put off the individual and rest of society from offending/ re-offending.
incapacitation
offender taken out of society to protect public.
retribution
revenge for offence by making them suffer. level of suffering is same level of offence.
rehabilitation
reform offenders to get ready to go back into society.
psychological effects of custodial sentencing
stress/depression - high suicide rates
institutionalisation - can no longer fit into society as used to prison
prisonisation - socialising in prison in a way that is unacceptable in society
recedivism
reoffending.
shows how effective custodial sentencing is
limitation custodial sentencing - neg effect on prisoners
prison can be demeaning. 119 ppl killed thne selves in prison - 32% increase. most at risk = men first 24 hours. prison regimes can have detrimental effect on mental health
