Test 2 Flashcards
- Discuss fully the Kassin & Colleagues (2003) mock study on Investigator Bias (aka the stealing of the money & DVD player or Expensive Electronic Device in a locked office or cabinet…). What were the findings of this study & what do these findings tell us about Investigator Bias? (Please be sure to list and know all 6 points listed on pages 62 & 63).
Kassin et al. (2003): the researchers had students act as interrogators or suspects. Some of the interrogators were led to believe that the suspect was guilty of a mock crime (finding a hidden key and stealing $100 from a locked cabinet) while others were led to believe that the suspect was innocent. In reality, some of the suspects were guilty of the mock crime whereas others were innocent. Interrogators were instructed to devise an interrogation strategy to use on the suspects, and the suspects were told to deny any involvement in the crime and to convince the interrogator of their innocence.
Results:
1. An investigator with guilty expectations asked more questions.
2. Interrogators with guilty expectations used more interrogation techniques
3. Interrogators with guilty expectations judged more suspects to be guilty
4. Interrogators with guilty expectations exerted more pressure on suspects to confess
5. Suspects had a mostly accurate perception of interrogator behavior (innocent suspects believed their interrogator was exerting more pressure)
6. The neutral observers, viewed the Interrogators with guilty expectations as more coercive, especially on innocent suspects and viewed guilty suspects as more defensive
In conclusion investigator biases led to coercive interrogations that caused suspects to appear guiltier, even when they didn’t commit the crime
- After reading the R. v. MJS case (Box 3.5- Pg. 73- Ch. 3 Suggested Court Case Readings-LEA Doc), please explain how this case illustrates the complexities of assessing acceptable police interrogation trickery in obtaining a confession vs harsh unethical approaches when it comes to court-related legal admission of a confession. Support your answer by the pointing out of maximization and-or minimization techniques used (see Box 3.5 Pg. 73) (class notes).
V. M.J.S. Case: MJS was accused of aggravated assault on his baby son ad he supplied the police with a written confession and was charged with the crime. The investigator used the minimization techniques (ex: no doubt it was probably an accidental) and maximization techniques (the officers lied to him stating they talked to someone who might have been involved with the incident) to make the accused falsely confess. In conclusion the judge ruled that these techniques were coercive and the confession was deemed inadmissible.
- In your own words discuss the Kassin and Kiechel, (1996) ALT Key Paradigm study thoroughly. What were its specific findings, what type of false confession would it best be associated to, and how can the findings of this study be applied in a real-world legal context (i.e., a real-life situation)? - Pls be sure to use and know the following terms: compliance, internalization & confabulation. (Ch. 3 pages 68-70 & class notes).
Kassin & Kiechel 1996:
Their goal was to test whether people would confess to a crime they did not commit, they had participants take part in what they believed was a reaction time study. The participants hand a number of things to type but if they pressed the ALT key it would all be lost (the computer would crash 60 seconds after and the researcher would accuse them of having hit the Alt key). It adheres to compliance (A tendency to go along with demands made by people perceived to be in authority, even though the person may not agree with them), since many participants accepted responsibility for the crime despite the fact that they were innocent
- Compliance: when one follows the rules - Confabulate: The person lies but is unaware that they're lying and proceeds to explain how they did it (ex: Paul Ingram) *Need to internalize to confabulate - Internalization: you taken in an idea given to you and truly believe that u did it
2 groups: No False Evidence & False Evidence: ALT key example
- Conclusion: we’re all susceptible to suggestibility
What is a Moral Panic and what are the dangers of it on a societal level? (Please be sure to list three examples of Moral Panic discussed in class- class notes)
A moral panic is a widespread feeling of fear, often an irrational one, that some evil person or thing threatens the values, interests, or well-being of a community or society.
As such, a moral panic often draws on known stereotypes and reinforces them. It can also exacerbate the real and perceived differences and divisions between groups of people.
ex: - pizzagate
- falsefied US elections
- a) What is a Conspiracy Theory and when does it become Moral Panic (list one or two clear examples for portion a)? b) In addition, do all conspiracy theories become moral panic? Please explain how some conspiracy theories become moral panic and others do not (class notes).
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable.
- When it comes heinous crimes such as first-degree murder (planned and deliberate murder); is there a sex-related difference on how such an act is committed? (In simple words: males vs females- Do men kill the same way as women?) (class notes)
Female offenders are responsible for 40% of deaths involving poison, drugs, drowning and asphyxiation.
Discuss concisely how Multiple Cluster Analysis (MCA) to offender profiling is done. Be sure to include all clusters listed on page 77.
For learning related purposes and to grasp this detailed profiling approach to offender profiling, you may even want to use the profile of a specific serial killer and to the best of your knowledge, classify your chosen serial killer in each designated cluster in reference to your chosen serial killer’s approach, victim specificity…etc..) (class notes and pg. 77)
Multiple Cluster Analysis (MCA):
Ex:
- How Sex offenders search for their victims. (3 clusters)
1. Offenders who predominantly target females with specific physical features
2. Offenders who target children and teenagers
3. Offenders who don’t have a preferred victim
- Cluster analysis was also used to identify different clusters of background characteristics, which
1. the socially competent offender
2. the anti-social generalist offender
3. the sexually deviant offender.
They used the (MCA) to examine the inter-relationships between all of the clusters
Conclusion: MCA shows that those offenders who adopt a hunter search strategy (actively seeking out victims within a short distance from their home), are telio specific (target adult females with specific physical features), use the home intruder approach style (often assaulting the victim in their home), and employ an assault strategy based on violence and control. Compared to other offenders (who exhibited other crime scene behaviours), these offenders are likely to be sexually deviant, characterized by the following background characteristics: socially isolated, persistent sexually deviant fantasies, voyeurism in adulthood, poor self-image in adulthood, etc.
In reference to heinous serial crimes such as violent sexual murders and violent murders as well as their crime scenes, explain clearly and concisely what modus operandi (aka mode of operation) is & what a signature is (give a clear example to each- class notes).
- A modus operandi or MO refers to the method or procedure that a criminal uses when committing a crime. (EX: Type of weapon used, such as knife, blunt object, or gun.
Tape found on victim that was used to bind hands and cover mouth.) - A signature refers to the distinctive behaviors that help to serve the criminal’s psychological and emotional needs. (EX: Level of injury to the victim, minimal or excessive.
Specific location or sequence to the criminal act.)
What is the difference between deductive criminal profiling and inductive criminal profiling?
- Deductive: Analyzing specific elements of the crime scene in depth
Ex: Black Dahlia - Inductive: Profiling from previous known cases
What is the difference between organized and disorganized crime scene behaviors?
Organized: organized crimes = organized in their life (opposite of disorganized) ex: planned, little or no evidence.
Crimes are usually a reflection of one’s life * except: Derek Todd Lee (because situational factors can throw of the whole crime)
What is the impact of using ambiguous profiles in general, when looking into solving a crime?
Another common criticism of criminal profiling is that many profiles are so ambiguous that they can fit many suspects. (ambiguous: open to interpretation)
Briefly and clearly explain what Geographic Profiling is?
Geographic profiling: A criminal will most likely commit crimes in their comfort zone, therefore they will commit crimes near their homes
- There is validity and reliability to this process
Describe and outline the 2 problems with the Reid model of interrogation.
- Deception detection: the issue of whether investigators are effective deception detectors, since the actual interrogation of a suspect begins only after an initial interview. The decision to start an investigation relies on one’s assessment of whether the suspect is guilty or not
- Investigator Bias: The fact that when police begin their interrogation, the already believe the suspect to be guilty. This often results in them unknowingly seeking out and interpreting info of a situation that would confirm their belief.
Explain why police use criminal profiling and the potential problems with it.
Why they use it:
- To help set traps to flush out an offender
- To determine whether a threatening note should be taken seriously
- To give advice on how best to interrogate a suspect
- To tell prosecutors how to break down defendants in cross-examination
Problems with it:
Many forms of profiling appear to be based on a theoretical model of personality that lacks strong empirical support.
2. The core psychological assumptions underlying profiling currently lack strong empirical support.
3. Many profiles contain information that is so vague and ambiguous they can potentially fit many suspects.
4. Professional profilers may be no better than untrained individuals at construct- ing accurate profiles.
Define a false confession.
- False Confession: A person falsely confessing to a crime that they never actually did
