Forensic Psychology Flashcards
list three ways of measuring crime
official statistics
victim surveys
offender surveys
list problems with defining crime
definitions of crime differ across cultures
definitions of crime change over time
what is top down approach
refers to the analysis of previous crimes creates a profile of a likely offender. profilers use this knowledge to narrow the filed of possible suspects. this unlike the bottom up approach relies on the intuition and beliefs of the profiler
describe organised offenders
refers to crimes committed by an offender who planned the crime and may engage in violent fantasises with the victim. the perpetrator is high in intelligence and socially competent
what is the bottom up approach
this is a data driven approach, where statistical techniques are used to produce predictions about the likely characteristics of an offender
describe disorganised offenders
refers to crime scenes that are left with many clues such as fingerprints. there is little evidence of engagement with the victim, there are signs that the offender has both low intelligence and competence
define crime
refers to behaviour that is unlawful and therefore justified to be punished by the state. such acts are harmful to an individual, group or society as a whole
what is a biological explanation for criminal behaviour
a biological explanation is the atavistic form which suggests that certain individuals are born with criminal personality and this innate personality is due to our earlier primate forms
what is geographical profiling
this is a form of bottom up profiling based on the pattern shown by the location of a series of crimes
what is antisocial personality disorder
suggest that there are neural differences in the brains of criminals and non criminals. ASD is associated with a lack of empathy and a reduction of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex. this is the part of the brain that regulates emotional behaviour
how are mirror neurons implicated in crime
they help with understanding behaviour, if the mirror system is functioning incorrectly then individuals may experience a lack of empathy making it more likely that they will commit a crime
who devised atavistic form
Cesare Lombroso
what are epigenetic
study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of genetic code itself. it refers to the material in each cell that acts a switch to either activate or deactivate a gene
what are methods of dealing with offending behaviour
custodial sentencing
behaviour modification
anger management
restorative justice
what are issues with restorative justice
- is reliant on the offender showing remorse which may not alway happen
- may not be cost effective
- may not be suitable for all types of offence
- seen as being too lenient on the offender
what are cognitive distortions
biased thinking to the extent that what is perceived by a person is not consistent with reality
what is extraversion
according to Eysenck refers to outgoing individuals who enjoy risk and danger as their nervous systems are underaroused
describe Kohlberg’s moral dilemma study
used a moral dilemma technique and found that criminal offenders were at a lower level or moral reasoning- they were pre conventional level.
this is characterised by a need to avoid punishment and get rewards and childlike reasoning. typically non criminals tend to progress to the conventional level and beyond
what is hostile attitude bias
when a person automatically attributes bad intentions to another person
define neuroticism
according to Eysenck refers to people with a negative outlook who are easily upset. their lack of stability is due to an over active response to threat
