Forensics Flashcards
Offender profiling-
What is offend or profiling?
A tool to help investigators to accurately predict likely offenders
Offender profiling-
What are the two types of offender profiling?
Top-down approach and bottom-up approach
Offender profiling-
What is the top-down approach also known as?
The American approach
Offender profiling-
Who made the distinction between organised and disorganised criminals?
Hazel wood and Douglas (1980)
Offender profiling- Top-down approach-
What is an organised offender?
Evidence of planning, targeted victims, tends to be socially and sexually competent, with a higher than average IQ
Offender profiling- Top-down approach-
What is a disorganised offender?
Little evidence of planning, leaves clues, socially and sexually incompetent, lower than average IQ
Offender profiling- Top-down approach-
Name some features of organised offenders?
May introduce themselves in a non-threatening way
Tends to torture
May take trophies
In control
Careful planning
May follow coverage of the crimes
Offender profiling- Top-down approach-
What are the four stages to creating an FBI profile?
- data assimilation
- crime scene classification
- crime reconstruction
- profile generation
Offender profiling- Top-down approach- evaluation-
What are the strengths?
Research support for disorganised vs organised.
Canter (2004)- used 100 US murders using small space analysis, identifies the correlation between behaviour concordance of 39 aspects of serial killers.
Suggests many categories which make killers O or D.
Shows key component of of FBI is valid.
Can be adapted to burglary.
Makata (2017)- 85% rise in solved burglary, adds interpersonal (know the victim, take something significant), and opportunistic (generally inexperienced young offenders).
Adds to new categories, so has wider applications.
Offender profiling- Top-down approach- evaluation-
What are the limitations?
Evidence base is limited.
FBI profiling= developed with interviews 25 sk and 11 m. 24=O, 12=D.
Canter suggested no scientific basis due to; small sample, small range, no standardised questions, so interviews were not comparable.
Lacks validity and generalisability.
Case study to prove godwins theory.
Dahmer fits into both categories of O and D, (O= type of victim), (D= homosexual)
Contradicts the American approach due to Godwins theory
Offender profiling- bottom-up -
What is the bottom up approach also known as?
The British approach
Offender profiling- bottom-up-
What does the bottom up approach use?
Statistics and it is data driven
Offender profiling- bottom-up- IP-
Why is investigative psycho golly used?
To establish patters of behaviour
Offender profiling- bottom-up- IP-
What can this reveal?
Personal history and family background
Offender profiling- bottom-up- IP-
What did Dwya (2001) state?
Some rapists want to maintain control and humiliate victims others are more apologetic, telling us how offenders relates to women generally
Offender profiling- bottom-up- IP-
Is geographical profiling used in this?
Yes
Offender profiling- bottom-up- GP-
How does geographical profiling work?
Links known crime scenes to creat e and are in which they are based
Offender profiling- bottom-up- GP-
What is modus operandi?
The way criminals commit crimes
Offender profiling- bottom-up- GP-
What is canters circle theory?
Pattern of offending shoes a circle round the offenders home base
Offender profiling- bottom-up- GP-
What does canter circle theory describe the two types of offender as?
The marauder= near home base
The commuter= travelled form their usual residence
Offender profiling- bottom-up- evaluation-
What are the strengths?
EVIDENCE WHICH SUPPORTS.
Canter and Hretitage (1990)- 66 SA cases, using smallest space analysis, common behaviours include interpersonal language, lack of reaction to the victim. Can identify whether two or more offences were committed by the same person (linkage).
Can help common behaviours amounts t offenders, helping to identify them.
SUPPORTS GEOGRAPHICAL PROCESSING.
Lundrigon +Canter (2001)- 120 murder cases, smallest space analysis revealed consistent behaviour amongst the killers, found crime location reveals a circle around the home base.
This can help us to find a small area in which the offenders can live.
Offender profiling- bottom-up- evaluation-
What is a limitation?
GP IS NOT SUFFICIENT ON ITS OWN.
May be reliant on the quantity of data, the recording of the crimes is not always accurate. 75% are not reported.
Critics claim that other factor are important, timing of the offence was also important. And the age and experience (Ainsworth (2001)).
May not be main factor in solving crimes.
Biological explanations- historical approach-
Who created the book ‘the criminal man’?
Lombrosso
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What did Lombrossso do?
Analysed photos of criminals and found common features
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What is an example of feature that Lombrosso identify?
- big ears
- long arms
- dark skin
- protruding jaw
- deformed skull
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What are the biological beliefs of Lombrosso?
Seen as lacking evolutionary development (finding it impossible to adjust), he believes that crime id from genes
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What is the Atavistic form?
Physical features which make someone a criminal (narrow brow, high cheekbone, dark skin)
Non-physical features can also be factors, (insensitivity to pain, slang, tattoos and unemployment )
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What are examples of facial characteristics which can identify someone as a murderer?
Bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What are some characteristic which identify a person who commits sexual crimes?
Glinting eyes, swollen fleshy lips, protruding ears
Biological explanations- historical approach-
What are some characteristic which can identify a fraudist?
Thin and reedy
Biological explanations- historical approach- research-
Which country were the convicts Lombrosso examined from?
Italy
Biological explanations- historical approach- research-
How many dead convicts were examined?
383
Biological explanations- historical approach- research-
How many living convicts were examined?
3839
Biological explanations- historical approach- research-
What were Lombrossos conclusions?
40% of criminal acts were committed by people who had atavistic characteristics
Biological explanations- historical approach- evaluation-
What is a strength?
CHANGED THE FACE OF CRIME STUDIES.
Stated people committed crimes because of. Their genes not because they were bad people.
Lombrosso was named the father of psychology,
This shows hoe Lombrosso changed psychology.
CA- Delisi (2012)- questioned Lombrosso legacy because of the racist beliefs
Biological explanations- historical approach- evaluation-
What are the limitations?
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.
Goring (1913)- 3000 offenders and 3000 non-offenders were used, there was no evidence criminals had distinct facial features.
Showed people with lower iQs were more i Kelly to be criminals, not based on physical features.
Not accurate.
LACKED CONTROL OVER HIS VARIABLES.
Never compared to a control group, showing his lack of control.
Hay and Forst (2009)- created links to poverty and education rather than with genes.
Didnt look into criminals family history.
Biological explanations- genetic-
What did Christiansen investigate?
Twin and adoption studies
Biological explanations- genetic- Christiansen-
How many twin pairs were used?
3500 twin pairs
Biological explanations- genetic- Christiansen-
What was the concordance rate between male Mz twins?
35%
Biological explanations- genetic- Christiansen-
What was the concordance rate between male Dz twins?
13%
Biological explanations- genetic- Christiansen-
What did the research suggest?
Behaviour was not just inherited but also underlying predisposing traits
Biological explanations- genetic- Crowe-
What did Crowe investigate?
Twin and adoption studies
Biological explanations- genetic- Crowe-
What were the findings of this study?
Adopted children who had a bio mother who was a criminal had a 50% chance of having a criminal record (by 18).
Adopted children whose bio mother did not have a criminal record only had a 5% risk of having a criminal record at 18.
Biological explanations- genetic- Candidate genes- Tilhonen-
Who was used in this study?
800 Finnish offenders
Biological explanations- genetic- Candidate genes- Tilhonen-
Which genes were associated with violent crimes?
MAOA and CDH13
Biological explanations- genetic- Candidate genes- Tilhonen-
What is the function of MAOA?
Regulates serotonin
Biological explanations- genetic- Candidate genes- Tilhonen-
What is CDH13 linked to?
Aggressive behaviour, substance abound and ADHD
Biological explanations- genetic- Candidate genes- Tilhonen-
What percent of violent criminals have the MAOA or THE CDH13 gene?
5-10%
Biological explanations- genetic- diathesis stress model-
What does this mean?
Biological and environmental factors can be paired
Biological explanations- neural-
Is there believed to be a neural offenders between offenders and non offenders?
Yes
Biological explanations- neural- PC- Raine-
What did his analysis fund?
There are many Brian imaging studies which show a difference between the activity in the prefrontal cortex between an offender and non-offenders
Biological explanations- neural- PC-
What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?
Regulation of emotional behaviour
Biological explanations- neural- PC- Raine-
How much less activity was in the prefrontal cortex of an offender?
11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in a criminals prefrontal cortex
Biological explanations- neural- mirror neurones- Keysers-
What did Keysers study form about people with APD?
They can emphasise with film characters in pain when asked to do so, (which is controlled by mirror neurones in the brain)
Biological explanations- neural- mirror neurones- Keysers-
What does this research shoe about people with APD?
APD patients are not totally without empathy but have a neural switch which they can turn on and off
Biological explanations- neural- mirror neurones- Keysers-
What other areas of the brain contribute?
The amygdala, and the temporal lobes
Biological explanations- genetic- evaluation-
What is a limitation?
IT IS ASSUMED THAT TWINS HAVE THE SAME UPBRINGING.
Dz twins are not treated the same as they are not identical, meaning the nurture is different.
The concordance rate between Mz twins could be due to them being treated the same, not sue to their shared genetics.
Biological explanations- genetic- evaluation-
What is a strength?
RESEARCH SUPPORT.
Mednick- 13,000 adoptees. Found: no conviction (ap and bp) = 13.5%, bp conviction and no ap conviction= 20%, both convictions (ap and bp) = 24.5%
Biological explanations- neural- evaluation-
What is a strength?
RESEARCH SUPPORT.
Kandel and Freed- reviewed evidence of frontal lobe damage, including prefrontal cortex and antisocial behaviour.
People with this damage show impulsive behaviour.
Supporting brain damage is a factor in offending.
Biological explanations- neural- evaluation-
What is a limitation?
CONTRADICTING RESEARCH.
Farmington- studied men who score high on psychopathy, these men experienced many other risk factors (such as being raised by convicted parents, or being physically neglects).
Could be seen as early childhood experiences cause APD, showing th interactionist approach, and even neural factors (rauch), such as a reduced activity.
Suggesting complex relationships between offending causes.
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk-
What is Eyesenks theory?
Behaviour a an be represented by two dimensions:
+ introversion - extraversion
+ neuroticism - stability
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
Does the theory have a biological origin?
Yes, through the type of nervous system we inherit
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
What kind o nervous system does an extrovert have?
Under-active CNS
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
What do extroverts seek?
Excitement, stimulation and often take part in risky behaviour,
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
Do extroverts condition easily?
No
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
What nervous system do neurotics inherit?
An overactive sympathetic nervous system
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
Do neurotics respond quickly or slowly to situations?
Quickly, they tend to be nervous , jumpy and over anxious
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
Is it difficult or easy to predict a neurotics behaviour?
Difficult
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
What is the biological cause of psychotic?
High testosterone
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- biological basis-
What are psychotic people prone to?
Aggression and lack of emotions
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the criminal personality-
What is within the criminal personality?
A mixture of all three personality types,
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the criminal personality-
What is the neurotic part of the criminal personality?
Unstable and tend to over react
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the criminal personality-
What is the extrovert part of the criminal personality?
Seek more arousal and engage in danger.
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the criminal personality-
What is the psychotic part of the personality?
Aggressive and lacks empathy
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the role of socialisation-
What was the role of socialisation linked to?
Linked personality and offending type through the socialisation process
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the role of socialisation-
What is offending?
Developmentally immature
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the role of socialisation-
What socialisation are we taught?
Taught to delay gratification and be more socially orientated.
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- the role of socialisation-
Which nervous systems are difficult to condition?
Extrovert and neurotic
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- measuring criminal personality-
What did Eyesenk develop?
The EPQ (Eyesenk Personality Quiz)
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- evaluation-
What is a strength?
- research support
- Eyesenk (x2) (1977)- 2070 prisoners, 2422 controls, on the ENP scale prisoner had higher average scores.
- supports the claim of the EPQ, as prisoner score higher, the theory is more valid.
CA// Farmington (1982)- meta analysis, found criminals had high P and low N and E
Psychological explanations- Eyesenk- evaluation-
What are two limitations?
- too reductionist.
- Moffat (1993)- drew a difference between offending in adolescence and offending in adulthood. Personality is a poor factor got hoe long offending behaviour will go on for.
- per instance in offending was said to be due to personality and environment (interactionist)
- more complex
- culturally biased.
- Bartol anf Holanchock (1979)- studied Hispanic and African American offenders, found they were less extroverted than a non-offender control group.
- Eyesenk would have assumed these criminals had a higher E
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg-
What are the two stages in pre-conventional morality?
1: punishment orientation (tules are obeyed to avoid punishment)
2: instrumental orientation or personal gain (rules are obeyed for personal gain)
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg-
What are stages 3 and 4 in conventional morality?
3: good boy/girl orientation (rules are obeyed for approval)
4: maintenance off social order (rules are obeyed to maintain social order)
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg-
What is the 5 and 6 stage in post conventional morality?
5: morality of contract and individual rights (rules are challenged if they infringe on rights)
6: morality of conscience (individuals have a personal set of ethical principles)
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg- moral development-
What did Kohlberg do?
Applied mortal reasoning to offending behaviour
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg- moral development-
What does the higher stage of reasoning mean?
The higher the more sophisticated reasoning, which is based on responses to moral dilemmas.
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg- links with criminality-
Which stage would criminals fall into?
More likely to be classified as pre-conventional. Need to avoid punishment and gain rewards. May commit crimes if they can get a way with it or gain something.
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg- cognitive distortions-
What is this linked to?
The way offenders interpret other peoples behaviour and justify their won actions
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg- hostile attribution bias-
What is HAB?
A tenancy to misinterpret the action of other people. (Non-aggressive acts as aggressive)
Psychological explanations- cognitive- Kohlberg- hostile attribution bias-
What was Schoenberg and Jusyte study?
Looked at 55 violent offenders, shoes them ambiguous facial expressions. Compared to control group, found violent offenders are more likely to misinterpret.
