FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY - Bottom Up Approach Flashcards
What is the aim of the bottom-up approach to offender profiling?
To generate a picture of the offender, including their likely characteristics, routine behaviour, and social background.
How does the bottom-up approach differ from the top-down approach?
The bottom-up approach does not begin with fixed typologies; it is data-driven and emerges from systematic analysis of evidence.
What is the primary focus of investigative psychology?
To establish behaviours likely to occur at certain crime scenes and create a statistical database for comparison.
What is the concept of interpersonal coherence in investigative psychology?
The idea that an offender’s behaviour at the crime scene may reflect their behaviour in everyday situations.
What might the behaviour of an offender indicate about their interactions with women?
For example, some rapists may want to control and humiliate their victim, while others may be apologetic.
What is forensic awareness?
Describes individuals who attempt to ‘cover their tracks’ at a crime scene, indicating prior police interrogation or having their DNA on file.
What does geographical profiling study?
Spatial behaviour in relation to crime and offenders, focusing on the location of the crime.
What types of data are relevant to geographical profiling?
- Crime scene
- Local crime statistics
- Local transportation
- Geographical spread of similar crimes
Fill in the blank: The bottom-up approach is more grounded in _______ than the top-down approach.
[psychological theory]
True or False: The bottom-up approach starts with fixed typologies.
False
What can a statistical database in investigative psychology help determine?
Whether multiple offences are linked and likely committed by the same individual.
What is the assumption about a serious offender’s criminal activities?
A serious offender will restrict their criminal activities to an area that they are familiar with
Where is an offender’s base typically located in relation to their crime scenes?
In the middle of the spatial pattern of their crime scenes
What is likely about earlier crimes compared to later crimes?
Earlier crimes are likely to be closer to the offender’s base than later crimes
What happens as an offender becomes more confident?
They will often travel further from their comfort zone
Who proposed the two models of offender behaviour?
Canter and Larkin (1993)
What are the two models of offender behaviour proposed by Canter and Larkin?
Marauder and commuter
What does the spatial pattern of crime scenes indicate about the offender’s home?
It will form a circle around their home
What can the spatial pattern of a crime indicate to the police?
Whether the crime was planned or opportunistic
What other important facts can be inferred from the spatial pattern of a crime?
Mode of transport, employment status, approximate age
How does Canter argue that bottom-up profiling compares to top-down profiling?
Bottom-up profiling is more scientific and grounded in evidence and psychological theory
What types of offences can bottom-up profiling be applied to?
A wide variety of offences such as burglary, theft, murder, and rape
What significant failure occurred in 1992 related to bottom-up profiling?
Rachel Nickell was stabbed 47 times and sexually assaulted; Robert Napper was ruled out early due to height
What did Copson (1995) find about the usefulness of profiler advice?
Judged to be useful in 83% of cases, but led to accurate identification in only 3% of cases
What did Kocsis et al. (2002) find regarding offender profiling accuracy?
Chemistry students produced a more accurate profile than experienced senior detectives
What implication does the finding by Kocsis et al. (2002) have on the bottom-up approach?
It implies that the bottom-up approach is little more than common sense and guess work
