Forensic Psychology Flashcards
what is offender profiling?
a behavioural and analytical tool intended to help investigators accurately predict and profile the characteristics of unknown offenders
offender profiling main aim and general how?
to narrow the list of suspects, compiling a profile involving scrutiny of crime scene and analysis of other evidence to generate a hypothesis of probable characteristics
when did the top down approach originate and where?
originated in 1970s in the USA as a result of work carried out by FBI
how did FBI work trigger top down approach?
FBI’s behavioural science unit used data from in depth interviews with 36 sexually motivated murderers (including Ted Bundy) and concluded the data could be categorised into organised/disorganised with each category having characteristics meaning for future crimes these could be applied to find the offender
describe organised offenders?
evidence of pre planning the crime (victim is deliberately targeted)
maintains high degree of control and may operate with detached surgical precision
little evidence left behind
above avg intelligence
skilled professional occupation
socially and sexually competent
usually married (with children0
describe disorganised offenders?
little evidence of planning, offences are spontaneous and impulsive -> body still at the scene and little control
lower than avg IQ, unskilled or unemployed work wise, history of sexual dysfunction and failed relationships
live alone and close to where it took place
steps of constructing an FBI profile ?
- Data Assimilation – Collecting crime scene evidence, police reports, and forensic details.
- Crime Scene Classification – Determining whether the offender is organized or disorganized.
- Crime Reconstruction – Developing hypotheses about the sequence of events.
- Profile Generation – Creating a psychological and demographic profile of the suspect.
research evidence about top down approach?
Canter - studied 39 cases of American serial murders and found that the idea of “organized” and “disorganized” crimes doesn’t always apply neatly. They noticed that some “organized” traits are common in serial murders, but “disorganized” murders rarely fit into clear categories.
evidence for the effectiveness of the top down approach?
The TDA has been used successfully in 17% of case, which may seem like a negligible number, however it means that the perpetrators of some very serious crimes were caught before they could harm anyone else
weakness for top down approach involving validity and bias?
The TDA is based on interview data from 36 serial killers in the 1970s which means that it lacks temporal validity and may suffer from several types of bias (e.g. social desirability bias, confirmation bias) which would damage the validity of the approach
strength and weakness for top down approach terms of wider application?
- Can be applied to burglary cases, leading to a 85% rise in solved cases in the US
HOWEVER - not necessarily appropriate for every type of crime as its basis lies in the documenting of (mainly) sexually-motivated serial murder which means that it lacks consistency (and, by association, reliability) across crimes.
What are the limitations of the top-down approach?
Only applies to certain crimes (e.g., violent crimes like serial murder, not financial crimes).
* Based on a small sample of convicted offenders, which limits generalizability.
* Too simplistic – Not all offenders fit neatly into the “organized” or “disorganized” category.
* Lack of scientific basis – Relies on subjective interpretations rather than data.
What is the bottom-up approach to offender profiling?
Developed in the UK as a more scientific, data-driven alternative to the FBI approach.
* Instead of relying on pre-existing categories, it uses statistical analysis and investigative psychology.
* Examines patterns of behavior across multiple offenses.
What are the two key techniques in the bottom-up approach?
. Investigative Psychology – Analyzes behavior patterns across crimes to establish psychological traits of the offender.
* Example: Certain linguistic patterns in ransom notes can reveal demographic information about the suspect.
2. Geographical Profiling – Examines the location of crimes to determine the offender’s likely base of operations.
* Example: Serial offenders tend to commit crimes within a “comfort zone” around their home or workplace.
What are the advantages of the bottom-up approach?
More objective – Uses scientific methods (e.g., geographical mapping, statistical analysis).
* Can apply to different types of crime (e.g., burglary, fraud, not just violent crime).
* More flexible – Doesn’t force offenders into rigid categories.
What are the limitations of the bottom-up approach?
Does not always lead to a clear suspect – Just provides probabilities rather than certainties.
* Relies on accurate data – If crime locations are spread randomly, geographical profiling may not be useful.
What is Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality?
Eysenck (1947) proposed that criminals have a distinct personality type with high levels of:
1. Extraversion (E) – Seek stimulation and risk-taking.
2. Neuroticism (N) – Emotionally unstable, prone to stress.
3. Psychoticism (P) – Aggressive, impulsive, lacks empathy.
How does Eysenck explain criminal behavior?
Criminals score high on E, N, and P and are difficult to condition.
* They do not learn social norms as easily as others.
* More likely to act impulsively and disregard consequences.
What are the criticisms of Eysenck’s theory?
Ignores environmental influences (e.g., poverty, upbringing).
* Not all criminals have the same personality traits.
* Relies on self-report questionnaires, which may be biased.
What is the genetic explanation of criminal behavior?
- Studies suggest that criminal behavior runs in families.
- The MAOA gene (“warrior gene”) is linked to increased aggression.
- Twin and adoption studies suggest a genetic component in antisocial behavior.
What is the neural explanation for criminal behavior?
- Low activity in the prefrontal cortex is linked to impulsive behavior.
- Amygdala dysfunction is associated with lack of empathy and increased aggression.
What is Freud’s psychodynamic explanation of criminality?
Freud suggested that unresolved childhood conflicts (especially poor parenting) lead to an imbalance between the id, ego, and superego, which can cause criminal behavior.
How does Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis explain offending?
lack of early attachment (maternal deprivation) can lead to affection less psychopathy
44 thieves study found 12/14 of AP had experienced maternal deprivation
What are the weaknesses of psychodynamic explanations?
Cannot be scientifically tested (e.g., concepts like the id and superego are abstract).
* Overemphasizes childhood experiences and ignores social/environmental factors.
What is the behaviorist explanation for criminal behavior?
Criminal behavior is learned through operant conditioning.
* Rewards (money, status, thrill) reinforce crime, making it more likely to be repeated.
What is differential association theory?
- Developed by Sutherland – suggests that crime is learned through interactions with others.
- People are more likely to offend if they are exposed to pro-criminal attitudes.
- Explains why crime runs in families or certain communities.
What are the strengths of differential association theory?
Explains a wide range of crimes (violent and non-violent).
* Accounts for peer influence and social environment.
What are the weaknesses of differential association theory?
Difficult to test scientifically (e.g., measuring “pro-criminal attitudes”).
* Does not explain why some people resist criminal influences.
