Psychological Profiling of Serial Arson Offenses

Question 1

What was the general aim of the study?

Answer 1

comparing accuracy of professional profilers with control and other groups in constructing profiles of serial arsonists

Question 2

In order of accuracy, list groups

Answer 2

1) Professional profilers 2) Science students 3) Senior detectives & fire investigators - no better than control

Question 3

What was deemed as the key factor in creating accurate profiles?

Answer 3

objective and logical analysis

Question 4

What did Hazelwood et al. hypothesise as being requisite skills for profiling?

Answer 4

1) experience in investigation of crime 2) some understanding of human behaviour/motivation 3) capacity for logical and objective reasoning 4) intuition

Question 5

Which group did the 2000 study find to be the most accurate?

Answer 5

The professional profilers - followed by the science students and psychologists

Question 6

How accurate did the 2000 study find the psychic group to be?

Answer 6

no more accurate than control

Question 7

Which group did the 2002 follow up study find to be the most accurate?

Answer 7

The science students

Question 8

What was the strange relationship found in the 2002 study?

Answer 8

Negative relationship between investigative experience and accuracy of profiling. The higher degree of experience, less accurate

Question 9

Criticisms of current study?

Answer 9

low female sample, non-uniform administration