Offender Profiling: Bottom Up Approach

Question 1

Describe the bottom up approach

Answer 1

Work up from evidence collected from crime scene to develop hypothesis about likely characteristics motivations etc about offender.

Question 2

Describe investigative psychology

Answer 2

A form of bottom up approach. Profiling that matches details from crime scene with statistical analysis of typical offender behaviour patterns based on psych theory.

Question 3

Describe interpersonal coherence

Answer 3

The way an offender behaves at the scene including how they interact with the victim, this can reflect everyday behaviour

Question 4

Describe geographical profiling

Answer 4

A form of bottom up profiling.
Based on spatial consistency- that offenders operational base and possible future offences are revealed by geographical location of previous crimes.

Question 5

Describe canter and larkins research and what they found

Answer 5

Circle theory:
Pattern of offending forms a circle around the offenders home base
Marauda: operates in close proximity from usual residence
Commuter: travelled a distance from usual residence
Can give insight into nature of offence ie. Planned or not

Question 6

Enlighten me on the supporting evidence for investigative psychology (AO3)

Answer 6

Canter + Heritage:
66 sexual assault cases used SSA
Several behaviours identified as common in different samples eg. Use of impersonal language and lack of reaction to the victim can identify if crimes done by the same person.
Supports basic principles of investigative psychology

Question 7

Describe the counterpoint of supporting evidence of investigative psychology (AO3)

Answer 7

Case linkage depends on database which only consists of solved historical crimes.
They may have been solved as they were straightforward to link crimes together —> circular argument
Investigative psych may tell us little about crimes which link so remain unsolved

Question 8

Describe the evidence for geographical profiling (AO3)

Answer 8

120 murder cases involving USA serial killers (SSA)
Revealed spatial consistency in behaviour of the killers
Location of each body disposal site ‘centre of gravity’ as home surrounded by a circle of body disposal sites.
More noticeable for maraudas