p3 (b) criminal psychology Flashcards
what are biological key assumptions?
-behaviour caused by our biology and way our body works
-mind resides in physical structures of the brain so all thoughts feelings and emotions have physiological cause
what are non physiological explanations for criminals?
Bandura SLT
self fulfilling prophecy
what is Banduras explanation of criminals?
-children around same sex role models who are criminals observe it
-if outcomes good behaviour is vicariously reinforced
-children imitate behaviour in hopes of also gaining a reward
what is the self fulfilling prophecy of what makes a criminal?
-when you are treated like a criminal u become one
-Jahoda: Ashanti culture
.Wednesday- aggressive
Monday- calm
-22% violent crimes committed by wednesday boys and 7% monday
what are physiological explanations for criminals?
-Lombroso ‘criminal evolution’
-Sheldon ‘the criminal body’
what is the Lombroso theory of criminals?
-Charles Darwin theory of evolution
-humans evolved to possess criminal features
-criminals subspecies of human
-narrow sloping brow
large ears
defined jawline
abnormalities
what is Sheldon’s explanation of what makes a criminal?
-ectomorphs, endomorphs, mesomorphs
-mesomorphs criminal (most inmates)
-those with muscular build can achieve anything (rewards) with force
-muscular build creates prejudice cant escape stigma
-historically wc due to diet and labour
what is the aim for Raine?
Study brain activities in murderers and non-murderers using PET
Find out if differences in areas thought to be involved in violence
what was the experimental sample for Raine?
41 murderers
39 men, two women
Mean age 34.3
NGRI
what was the control sample for Raine?
matched sex age
Six schizophrenic
what was the design Raine?
Quasi experiment
Matched pairs
what was the procedure Raine?
practice CPT
Began CPT session
30 seconds later injected with glucose tracer
CPT lasted 32 minutes
10 horizontal slices at 10 mm intervals
Brain scan using PET
what two techniques were used to identify brain regions?Raine
cortical peel technique ( lateral areas)
Box technique (middle area)
what regions did the cortical peel technique identify?Raine
superior frontal gyri
Middle frontal gyri
Inferior frontal gyri
what regions did the box technique identify? Raine
Orbital gyrus
Superior frontal gyrus
i what were the asymmetrical results?Raine
Abnormal asymmetrical activation in amygdala 0.88
Hippocampus
Thalamus
higher in right
what regions were lower in murderers?Raine
lateral prefrontal cortex1.09
medial prefrontal cortex
what were conclusions for?Raine
Aries with abnormal activity associated with aggressive behaviours
-Amygdala lack of fear
-Prefrontal cortex lowered self-control
-Issues expressing emotions
what are two biological strategies to prevent crime?
plastic surgery
drug treatment
why would plastic surgery work to prevent crime?
correct facial defects
associated with physical abnormalities with criminality
exposed to ugly villains and handsome princes
self esteem independently linked to risk of criminality
what study used plastic surgery to reduce crime?
lewinson
450 facial reconstructions for prisoners broken noses, facial scars, deformed ears
increased cooperation with authority and prison activities
inmates likely to learn a trade
what are strengths of plastic surgery to prevent crime?
reduces recidivism
enhances self esteem and perception
improves reputation and first impressions
breaks sfp ’new start’
42% reoffend not 75
what is a weakness of plastic surgery to prevent criminals?
reductions
not all crime
not all criminals need
issues with crime scenes and fingerprints
mistake made with fingerprints
golden hour
Competing motives
-motivated to identify criminals
-motivated to catch the right criminals
what are motivating factors and bias with fingerprints?
Charleston- 13 analyst main motivation
rewards
hope and satisfaction
case importance
feelings
-marks often poor quality, incomplete, sludge, distracted
what are problems with fingerprint analyst Dror?
lack of consistency
individual fingerprint analyst from one another and themselves over time
-range of cognitive factors bias decisions
what are causes of bias in fingerprint analyst?
-emotional context: Dror- high emotion increases chance of match decision
-desire to solve the case: when matched prints found- motivated to find more non existent
what are latent marks?
marks left by fingerprints on surfaces, ridges and patterns
what are Hall and players aims?
-if fingerprint experts emotionally affected by case details in report
-if emotional context would bias the decisions
what was Hall and Player sample?
70 experts
Met police bureau
volunteers
11 years mean experience
what was the design for hall and player?
lab experiment
independent measures design
IV- high emotion- fire two shots
low emotion- forgery fake £50
DV-impacted by emotional context and if it effected decision
what fingerprint where they given in Hall and Players study?
-fingerprint from known source
-superimposed- latent mark only just identifiable (confirmed by other experts)
-matched set of 10 donor prints
-colour, size and detail valid
what two objects were the analysts given?
-fingerprint magnifying glass
-Russell comparator
what were the analysts given in hall and players study?
-test mark card
right forefinger
examiners report
10 fingerprints
what were the results for hall and players study?
high emotion affected- 50%
low emotion- 6%
-no significant difference between decisions made identified 6 highs, 7 low
what were the conclusions for hall and players study?
-emotional context affects expert feelings
-doesn’t affect analysis/ decision
-experts better at analysing
what are application for fingerprint analysis?
-independent analysis of prints
-Filler- control method
-working in isolation from other evidence
what is independent analysis of prints?
-Kassin-linear approach
analyse print in isolation
analyse comparison print
compare
reconsider original analysis
what is the issue with not using independent analysis of prints?
low inter-rater reliability (Dror)
-comparison print set up cognitive expectations
affects analyst attention search for only similarities
what are strengths of using independent analysis?
mitigates impact of cognitive expectations improves objectivity
what are weaknesses of independent analysis?
-time consuming
-may not be possible in all circumstances
what is the filler control method?
6 comparison prints to remove motivation to match print to suspect
-drives competing motivation to find right criminal (Dror)
what are strengths of filler control method?
-increases validity and accuracy in finding criminal
what are weaknesses of filler control method?
-time consuming
-where do the prints come from
what is isolation from other evidence?
Kassin- unaware of crime scene info
-Hall + Player- info can influence and impact cognitive decisions
-verification should also be blind
what is a strength of isolation from other evidence?
-reduces psychological harm
-reduces emotional bias
what are weaknesses of isolation from other evidence?
-difficult to implicate
people talk/ news
can’t always be unaware
what are identity parades?
lineup of around six
Suspect and fillers
Witness one-way screen
what are issues with identity parades?
Witnesses feel under pressure to choose someone
How can we solve issues with identity parades?
Saying the criminal may or may not be in the lineup
double blind procedure
Show participants one at a time
what was Wells research into identity parades?
Research what affects lineups
Poor quality video shop camera
Man entered, told murdered security
Either they chose correct incorrect control
Asked how certain and how willing to testify in court
Those correct more confident
what are identikits?
drawing image of suspect
Now use sketch cop
E fit
faces
What is a standard interview?
very little training
Ask short answer questions
Ask whatever they feel is relevant
What are issues with standard interviews?
Fisher
interruptions, overreliance on short answer questions
Pushing witnesses results in false info
What are the steps of a cognitive interview?
context reinstatement
In-depth report
narrative re-ordering
Reporting from different perspectives
what was Fisher study on cognitive interviews?
16 experience detectives
Seven CI course
63% gained more information than standard interview interviews
What is ECI?
same for techniques as CI
Add social aspects
Distractions minimum allows pauses sensitive as possible
Interview encouraged to strengthen context by focus memory techniques like imagery
what was the aim for memon and high am?
review
components of CI and their effectiveness
Relationship between CI and others
Different measures of memory performance
Interview a variable and effective training quality
what did memon and higham find about ci components?
isolate and test individually
Milne- compare full ci with dif components
full produced more recall
cognitive reinstatement most recall
what did memon and higham find about the relationship between ci and others?
-ci many advantages over si
- ci has more training
-impossible to control individual differences of si
-suggests comparing with structured interview which encouraged rapport, pauses, no interruptions
what did memon and higham find about interview variables?
-ci demanding and exhausting
- memon- need 2 days training as 4 hours produced no difference to si
-develop baseline score for interviewers as some resist training and don’t follow instructions
-attitudes, motivations, pervious experiences
what did memon and higham find about different measures of memory performance?
-majority of studies measure memory by % of correct statements
-neglect amount of unreported info
-ci results in people reporting more info
-ci may change an interviewees understanding of what the interviewer wants
what are memon and higham conclusions?
need good research into ci
- individual differences still a significant challenge
-researchers need to establish comparison groups and suitable measures of memory
what are applications for collecting evidence?
peace model
eci
what are the steps of the peace model?
-prep- aims info needed
-engage- rapport
-account + accuracy- no interruptions, clarification
-closure- reinforce rapport
-evaluation- inconsistencies
what are strengths of the peace model?
standardised
reliable
ethical
what are weaknesses of the peace model?
individual differences of interviewers
-free will
time consuming
what is the eci?
enhanced cog interview
greater influence of social aspects
what are the steps of eci?
-explain aims
-reinstate context
-report everything
-recall dif order
-recall dif perspective
-closure
-eval
strengths of eci?
highly accurate
ethical
weakness of eci?
individual dif
-time consuming
hostile p
what are the factors of defendants that influence decisions?
attractiveness
race
language
accent
what is Stewart Halo effect study investigating attractiveness?
-neg correlation between attractiveness and severity of punishment
-60 USA trials
8 jury rated defendants score of attractiveness
physical, neat, clean, dress
what is Sigall+ Ostrave study investigating attractiveness?
120 suggested sentence for burglary or fraud
-shown no photo
-shown attractive/ unattractive photo
-long sentences for unattractive burglary
-long for attractive fraud
what is Lakoff study into language?
hedges + intonation
less likeable, competent, intelligent, believable
what is Pfeifer + Ogloff study into race?
white uni students rate black as likely to be guilty
-black longer USA prison sentences
-if murdered whit more likely to be guilty than if murdered black
-OJ Simpson- racial undertones, media attention
what is the Central Park Five study?
-black youths playing in park
-wrongfully convicted for rape + assault of white woman
what is Mahoney and Dixon study on accent?
-Brummie accent viewed negatively
-likely to be guilty in blue collar crime
what was the aim for Dixon, Mahoney, Cocks?
-hypothesis that Brummie suspect would be seen as guilty
-test if race, type of crime would effect choice
what was the method Dixon, Mahoney, Cocks?
2x2x2 factorial design
-independent measures
sample for Dixon, Mahoney, Cocks?
119 undergrad students white
-mean age 25.2
-part of their course
what was the procedure for Dixon, Mahoney, Cocks?
-transcript real interview
-standard accent 40s inspector, 20s suspect
-guises pre test validity
-blue collar= armed robbery
-white collar= forgery
-racial cues/ description
what scales were used in Dixon, Mahoney, Cocks?
-7 point guilt
-SEI speech evaluation instrument
rated attractiveness. superiority, dynamism
Dixon, Mahoney, Cocks results?
-Brummie lower superiority
-non standard speakers score lower on competence
-ANOVA 3 way analysis
-black, blue collar, brummie most guilty
what does Broeder say about the influence of inadmissible evidence?
being told to disregard information makes it more important
Lab experiment, Chicago law school
Listen to tape where women injured by care less driver
Awarded 4000 more when said he had liability insurance
Increased to 46,000 when judge said it was in admissible evidence
What can be done to decrease the influence of inadmissible evidence?
use fines/disbarring
retrial dismiss current jury
Train jurors to ignore evidence
what does Schweitzer and Saks say about the CSI effect?
forensic science portrayed as high-tech magic setting unrealistic expectations
Seen in DNA evidence the less the jury understands it the more likely the are regarded as infallible
What can be done to reduce the CSI effect?
improve quality/regulate TV shows
Train jurors to understand reality of DNA evidence
what does Weinberg say about the impact of FMRI scans?
Colorado State Uni students
Sean criminal trial were defending accused of killing his wife
Participants to read fMRI likely to see defendant as guilty
what can be done to reduce the impact of FMRI scans?
Use FMRI scans to help drawers reach decisions as long as they are made aware of the risks involved
what is the background for crime prevention?
-features of neighbourhoods
-broken windows
-ztp
what are features of neighbourhoods?
defensible space
-Newman- space easily protected if belongs to someone clearly
building size
-Newman and Frank- positive correlation between building size and crime in USA housing developments
what is the aim for Wilson and Kelling?
-challenge existing fears about crime and role of the police
method and sample for Wilson and Kelling?
-discussion piece
-Newark foot patrol experiment
-New Jersey USA safe and clean neighbourhood programme
procedure and design for Wilson and Kelling?
case study
-naturalistic participant observation
finding and implications for Wilson and Kelling?
-negative attitudes to foot patrol, seen as punishment reducing mobility
-prevent crime by maintaining public order and build rapport
-understood regulars
-Zimbardo- car
conclusion for Wilson and Kelling?
-relationship between crime explained through broken windows
-police and community work together to maintain public order
what are practical applications for crime prevention?
target hardening
surveillance
facilitating compliance strategies
what is target hardening?
target of crime less attractive
-bike locks, security tags, alarms
Liverpool- Alley gating reduce crime by 37%
evaluation for target hardening?
serious offenders undeterred
-displacement
what are facilitating compliance strategies?
encourage community to comply to rules
bins available, public toilets, positive reinforcement
what is surveillance?
-improved by technology
-cctv, ring doorbells
Brown- burglary reduced by 56% in Newcastle
evaluation of surveillance?
-help public feel confident
-less tempting to commit crimes
not all will be deterred
what is the background on the effect of imprisonment?
imprisonment
offender behaviour programmes
what is the background of imprisonment?
-deterrent from principle of behaviourism
-locked away, strict rules, assigned work
-further punishment if dont follow rules
-positive reinforcement, desired= phone calls
-classical conditioning, negative association of prison
-SLT- lack of freedom deters public
effectiveness of imprisonment?
-cant commit crimes in prison
-nearly 1/2 reoffend in one year
-prison pop increasing
-loose jobs
what are offender behaviour programmes?
-reduce offending by improving skills and opportunities
-accredited by HM prisons and probation service
-nearly 50
-meaningful life goals, practice new thinking and behavioural skills
what are examples of offender behaviour programmes?
-ARV- alcohol related violence
-RESOLVE- violence reduction programme
-SOTP core- sex offenders treatment
what is the aim for Haney Banks and Zimbardo?
-investigate effect of individual behaviour upon being assigned to roles
-behaviour of prisoners better explained by situational or dispositional factors
method for Haney Banks and Zimbardo?
lab experiment
naturalistic as possible
sample for Haney Banks and Zimbardo?
24 male volunteers
-respond to advert in newspaper
-pay $15 a day
-all Caucasian but 1 oriental
-3 standbys, 11 guards. 10 prisoners
procedure for Haney Banks and Zimbardo?
-mock prison, basement of Stanford uni psych building
-3 small cells, 3 prisoners each, small unlit solitary confinement
-max of 2 weeks, randomly assigned, some human rights removed
-no physical punishment
-khaki shirt and trousers, whistle, nightstick (guards)
-loose smock, light chain on ankle
results for Haney Banks and Zimbardo?
-stopped after 6 days due to mental deterioration
-behaviour strongly influenced role
-5 released early due to depression
-basic rights turned into privileges
conclusion for Haney Banks and Zimbardo?
-exemplifies how social roles influence behaviour
-environmental effect of imprisonment extremely negative
what are strategies of reoffending?
employment schemes
anger management
what are employment schemes?
-jobs provide structure and financial security
-Gillis and Nafekh- offenders complete programme involving how to look for employment and behaviour
-prison connect with prospective employers
-cv writing, interview practice
evaluation of employment schemes?
freewill- must want to change
anger management programmes?
Novaco- violence occurs when cant control emotional expression
-CBT- recognise and control anger
-CALM- cog preparation= identify anger
skill acquisition= relaxation techniques
application practice
evaluation of anger management programmes?
no impact on reoffenders for non violent crimes
-freewill
-8% in UK said CALM shows no improvement
