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Psychology Paper 3 > forensics > Flashcards

forensics Flashcards

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1
Q

offender profiling

A

a tool to help investigators to accurately predict likely offenders

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2
Q

american approach (top down)

A

offenders are assigned to one of two pre existing categories based on witness accounts and crime scene evidence

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3
Q

organised offender

A

evidence of pre planning, targets victim, socially and sexually competent and higher than average IQ

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4
Q

disorganised offender

A

little evidence of planning, leaves clues, socially and sexually incompetent and lower than average IQ

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5
Q

4 steps to constructing an FBI profile

A

data assimilation
crime scene classification
crime reconstruction
profile generation

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6
Q

top down approach strengths

A
  • research support from Canter- showed that the typology approach has some validity
  • it can be applied to other crimes such as burglary- has wider applications than just murder
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7
Q

top down approach limitations

A
  • (counterpoint) Godwin 2002- it is hard to classify offenders into one category as they may show contrasting characteristics- typology is more of a continuum
  • it is based on evidence from 36 sexually motivated murderers- small sample and cannot be generalised
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8
Q

bottom up approach

A

profilers work up from evidence collected at crime scene to develop a hypothesis

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9
Q

investigative psychology

A

establishes patterns of offending behaviour forming a statistical database

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10
Q

interpersonal coherence

A

offender’s behaviour at a crime scene reflects their everyday behaviour

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11
Q

forensic awareness

A

individuals that have been interrogated by police before will cover their tracks

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12
Q

geographical profiling

A

the location of crimes is a clue, crime mapping based on psychological theories of offender’s behaviour in relation to their home

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13
Q

canter’s circle theory

A

marauders operate close to their home

commuters operate further afield

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14
Q

bottom up approach strengths

A
  • (of investigative psychology) Canter and Heritage found that 66 sexual assault cases displayed that the offender showed similar behaviour in crime to real life
  • (of geographical profiling) Lundrigan and Canter used small space analysis for 120 murder cases and found that the residence was at the centre
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15
Q

bottom up approach limitations

A

-(counterpoint) case linkage depends on the database and previously solved crime. May not be helpful for crimes with no links

  • (of geographical profiling) may not be sufficient on its own as crimes aren’t always reported and recorded correctly. This info alone may not lead to capture pf offender.
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16
Q

historical approach

A

criminals are genetic throwbacks , primitive subspecies from non criminals

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17
Q

biological approach (atavistic form)

A

offending behaviour is innate, a natural tendency that the criminal cannot help and so shouldn’t be blamed

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18
Q

atavistic form

A

cranial features include narrow sloping brow, strong prominent jaw, high cheekbones and an asymmetric face

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19
Q

offender types (atavistic form)

A

murderers had bloodshot eyes, curly hair and long ears

Sexual deviants had glinting eyes, fleshy lips and projecting ears

Fraudsters has thin lips

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20
Q

Lombroso’s research

A

Analysed the facial and cranial features of 383 dead and 3839 living Italian criminals. Concluded that 40% of criminal acts can be explained by atavistic traits

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21
Q

atavistic form strengths

A
  • brought science to the study of crime- Based his ideas on empirical observations and detailed measurements

-revealed that crime may not be as a result of free will- a genetic component to it

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22
Q

]atavistic form limitations

A
  • DeLisi (2012) argues that his legacy is not positive as he used science to support eugenic principles (scientific racism)

-Lack of control- he did not give the same attention to non- prisoners as he did for prisoners when studying atavistic form

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23
Q

twin studies

A

Christiansen (1977) concluded that concordance rates for offending behaviour are

35% MZ
13% DZ

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24
Q

adoption studies

A

Crowe (1972)- 50% risk of criminal record for adopted children whose biological mother has a criminal record

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25
Q

Candidate genes

A

MAOA gene controls serotonin, links to aggression

CDH13 gene links to drug abuse and ADHD

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26
Q

diathesis stress model

A

offending behaviour is due to inherited factors and environmental influences

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27
Q

neural explanations

A

differences in brains in offenders and non offenders- research focuses on antisocial personality disorder

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28
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

Raine (2000) people with APD have reduced prefrontal activity

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29
Q

mirror neurons

A

Keysers (2011) people with APD showed empathy but only when asked to, neural switch on and off

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30
Q

genetic and neural explanations strengths

A
  • Research support for the diathesis stress model

-There is support for the link between the pre frontal cortex and committing crimes

31
Q

genetic and neural explanations limitations

A
  • the link between APD and neural differences may be more complex than Raine stated

-limitation of using twin studies as genetic evidence is the assumption of them having equal environments

32
Q

general personality theory (eysenck)

A

three dimensions combine to form personality:

introversion-extraversion

neuroticism-stability

psychoticism-sociability

33
Q

biological basis (eysenck theory)

A

personality type is innate due to inherited nervous system e.g. extraverts have an underactive system

34
Q

criminal personality

A

mostly neurotic extraverts: emotionally unstable, need arousal and enjoy risk/danger. Some lack empathy and are aggressive

35
Q

socialisation

A

neurotic-extraverts don’t condition easily so don’t learn to respond to antisocial behaviour by becoming anxious like most people

36
Q

eysenck strength

A

there is evidence to support the criminal personality- prisoners scored higher for neuroticism and extraversion than a non-criminal control group.

Offenders fit the personality type he created

37
Q

eysenck limitations

A
  • not all offending behaviour can be explained by personality traits alone- the course of offending behaviour is determined by an interaction between personality and environment
  • the cultural factors aren’t taken into account- there are some cultural differences that have been found
38
Q

stage theory of moral reasoning

A

Kohlberg- moral reasoning develops through stages that are progressively sophisticated

39
Q

moral dilemmas

A

stage indicated by responses to stories such as the Heinz dilemma

40
Q

stage theory link to criminality

A

offenders classified at pre conventional stage- child like moral reasoning, follow rules just to avoid punishment and gain rewards

41
Q

cognitive distortions

A

biased ways of thinking which may be used to rationalise or justify offending behaviour

42
Q

hostile attribution bias

A

judging situations as aggressive and/or threatening when in reality they may not be

43
Q

minimalisation

A

downplaying the significance of an event or emotion as a means of dealing with guilt

44
Q

cognitive explanations strengths

A
  • evidence for the link between level of moral reasoning and crime- Palmer and Hollin found that offenders had less mature moral reasoning

-has application to therapy- CBT reduces incidence of denial and minimalisation

45
Q

cognitive explanations limitations

A
  • the level of moral reasoning can depend on the offence- doesn’t apply to all types of crime

-Level of cognitive distortions depends on the type of offence- they aren’t used in the same way by all offenders

46
Q

differential association theory

A

we learn pro-offending or anti-offending values/attitudes through different people we associate with

47
Q

scientific basis ( DAT )

A

Sutherland wanted to identify the conditions that cause crime when they are present but not when they are absent

48
Q

learning attitudes ( DAT )

A

we will go on to offend if we acquire more pro-crime attitudes than anti-crime attitudes in groups we socialise in

48
Q

offending as a learned behaviour

A

offenders learn attitudes towards offending and also specific offending acts/techniques

49
Q

socialisation in prison

A

reoffending is high because prisoners associate with each other and learn techniques through imitation and direct tuition

50
Q

differential association theory strengths

A
  • when it was first published, it changed the focus of offending explanations- offers a more realistic solution to the problem rather than using eugenic beliefs
  • can account for offending in all sections of society- shows that it isn’t just lower classes that commit offences
51
Q

differential association theory limitations

A
  • it is difficult to test the predictions of differential associations
  • runs the risk of stereotyping individuals who come from crime ridden backgrounds as ‘unavoidably offenders’
52
Q

inadequate superego

A

superego formed out of phallic stage when oedipus conflict is resolved, but offending is more likely when superego is inadequate

53
Q

weak superego

A

child doesn’t identify with same sex parent so doesn’t internalise moral code

54
Q

deviant superego

A

child internalises an immoral superego from a criminal parent

55
Q

over-harsh superego

A

child identifies with harsh same-sex parent - needs to satisfy superego’s need for punishment

56
Q

maternal deprivation theory

A

offending caused by failure to form close bon with mother - 44 thieves study

57
Q

psychodynamic explanations strength

A
  • research support for the link between offending and the superego

COUNTERPOINT- the central principles of the inadequate superego theory are not supported

58
Q

psychodynamic explanations limitations

A
  • theory is gender biased- Freuds theory suggests that more women should be criminals, but crime statistics do not support this
  • Bowlby’s theory is only based on an association between maternal deprivation and offending
59
Q

aims of custodial sentencing

A

deterrence- unpleasant experience stops reoffending

incapacitation- protects public by removing them from society

retribution- prisoners pay for their crimes

rehab- offenders are reformed

60
Q

psychological effects of custodial sentencing

A

suicide rates are high
institutionalisation occurs- they cannot function outside
prisonisation- unacceptable behaviours are rewarded in prison

61
Q

custodial sentencing strengths

A

-provides an opportunity for training and treatment- allows them to become employed upon release

  • COUNTERPOINT- many offenders had mental health problems before conviction, so they aren’t that affected when going into prison
62
Q

custodial sentencing limitations

A
  • negative psychological effects on prisoners- suicide rates are 9x higher than outside prison
  • offenders may learn how to become better offenders- undermines attempts to rehab and increases recidivism
63
Q

token economy

A

it is based on operant conditioning- desirable behaviours are rewarded with tokens and can be removed when disobedient.

tokens are a secondary reinforcer, and are associated with a primary reinforcer (e.g. time in the gym)

64
Q

designing a token economy

A

operationalise target behaviours- break behaviours into categories

scoring system- amount of reward for each behaviour in a hierarchical system

train staff- must reward same behaviours in same ways and assess progress

65
Q

token economy strengths

A
  • evidence to support- more positive behaviour when used on young offenders (Hobbs and Holt)

-straight forward to set up in custody- can be established in most prisons and accessed by most prisoners

66
Q

token economy limitations

A
  • COUNTERPOINT- success depends on a consistent approach from prison staff- full participation is needed for them to work

-may not affect long term behaviour- once the token economy is discontinued, an offender will regress to previous behaviour

67
Q

stages of CBT for anger management

A

cognitive prep- offenders reflect on past experience and what causes anger

skills acquisition- offenders learn techniques to deal with anger-provoking situations more rationally and effectively

application practice- practise skills through role play

68
Q

anger management strength

A

benefits may outlast those of behaviour modification- it tries to tackle cause of offending

69
Q

anger management limitations

A
  • COUNTERPOINT- follow up studies do not support this assumption
  • success depends on individual factors such as those who are motivated to want to change- only benefits those who fit a certain profile
  • is an expensive option- requires highly trained specialists so it will not be available in most prisons
70
Q

restorative justice

A

rehab of offenders through reconciliation with the survivors

71
Q

key features of restorative justice

A
  • trained mediator supervises
  • non-courtroom setting
  • survivor can confront offender
  • positive outcome for survivor and offender
  • active involvement for both parties
72
Q

restorative justice strengths

A
  • evidence to suggest it has positive outcomes- only 2% wouldn’t recommend
  • leads to a decrease in recidivism- has a more positive influence than other ways of dealing with offending behaviour
73
Q

restorative justice limitations

A
  • COUNTERPOINT- Wood and Suzuki argue that the process isn’t as survivor focused as reported- needs of survivor are still secondary
  • offenders may abuse the system- they may use it to reduce their prison sentence

Psychology Paper 3 (4 decks)

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