forensic_flashcards_full
What is the top-down approach to offender profiling?
Starts with pre-established typologies and works down to assign offenders to categories based on crime scene evidence.
Who developed the typologies used in the top-down approach?
Hazelwood and Douglas based on interviews with 36 serial sex offenders.
Name 3 characteristics of an organized offender.
Planned offence, targets victim, high intelligence, socially competent.
Name 3 characteristics of a disorganized offender.
Spontaneous offence, random victim, low intelligence, socially inadequate.
What is a limitation of the top-down approach?
Based on a small, unrepresentative sample of offenders; lacks scientific validity.
What is investigative psychology in the bottom-up approach?
Statistical analysis of crime scenes to establish patterns and link offences.
What is geographical profiling?
Uses spatial patterns to determine offender’s base and predict future crimes.
Strength of the bottom-up approach?
More objective and scientific using statistical analysis (e.g., Canter’s work).
What is Lombroso’s atavistic form theory?
Offenders are biologically different and show primitive physical traits.
Give one strength and one weakness of Lombroso’s theory.
Strength: First attempt at scientific explanation. Weakness: No control group, deterministic, racist overtones.
What is the MAOA gene’s role in offending behaviour?
Linked to aggression when defective – ‘warrior gene’ – affects serotonin.
What is the CDH13 gene linked to?
Substance abuse and attention deficit, also linked to offending behaviour.
Limitation of genetic explanations?
Twin studies lack control of shared environments; reductionist.
What are the 3 dimensions of Eysenck’s criminal personality?
Extraversion, Neuroticism, Psychoticism.
How does Eysenck explain criminality?
High scores on all 3 traits = poor conditioning and risk-taking.
Criticism of Eysenck’s theory?
Self-report method lacks validity; personality may not be stable.
What is hostile attribution bias?
Tendency to interpret others’ behaviour as threatening or aggressive.
What is minimalisation?
Downplaying seriousness of offence (e.g., ‘just borrowing’ when stealing).
What is moral reasoning?
Thinking in terms of right and wrong; offenders show lower moral reasoning (pre-conventional level).
Support for moral reasoning theory?
Palmer & Hollin: Delinquents had less mature moral reasoning than non-offenders.
What does differential association theory propose?
Criminal behaviour is learned through association with deviant peers.
One strength and one weakness of differential association theory?
Strength: Explains crimes in all social classes. Weakness: Hard to test/measures are vague.
What did Blackburn suggest about superego and offending?
Inadequate superego development (weak, deviant or over-harsh) can lead to crime.
Criticism of psychodynamic explanations?
Unfalsifiable and based on abstract, outdated ideas.
What are the 4 aims of custodial sentencing?
Deterrence, incapacitation, retribution, rehabilitation.
What are psychological effects of custodial sentencing?
Stress, depression, institutionalisation, prisonisation.
What is recidivism?
Reoffending after punishment.
How is behaviour modified in prisons?
Token economy systems reinforce desirable behaviour.
Evaluation of behaviour modification?
Effective short-term but lacks long-term change.
What are the stages of anger management?
Cognitive preparation, skills acquisition, application practice.
Why is anger management more effective than token economy?
Addresses underlying causes of offending behaviour.
What is restorative justice?
Rehabilitation through reconciliation between offender and victim.
One strength and one limitation of restorative justice?
Strength: High satisfaction for victims. Limitation: Not suitable for all crimes/offenders.
