Top-Down Approach AO3

• What are the strengths of the Top-Down Approach?

  • Provides a structured method for profiling
  • Based on empirical evidence from investigations
  • High ecological validity
• What are the weaknesses of the Top-Down Approach?

  • Limited to certain types of crimes
  • May lead to different conclusions from the same evidence
  • Overly simplistic classification of offenders
• What was the outcome of Canter et al's analysis regarding organized and disorganized killers?

  • analysis of 100 US murders
  • findings did suggest evidence of an organised type, but there was no evidence of a disorganised type, with reference to 39 characteristics or organised/disorganised killers
• In which types of crime is top-down profiling most effective?

  It is best suited to crimes revealing important details, such as rape and torture. More common offences don't lend themselves to profiling as the crime scene reveals very little about the offender.
• What percentage rise in solved burglary cases was reported by Meketa (2017) after applying top-down profiling?

  85%
• What additional categories were included in the detection method for burglary according to Meketa (2017)?

  • Interpersonal
  • Opportunistic
• What did Canter (2000) point out about crime scene evidence?

  Different profilers may reach different conclusions from the same evidence as evidence is incomplete and ambiguous, which means judgements based on the evidence are speculative
• Why is the top-down approach considered high in ecological validity?

  It is based on commendable evidence and investigations by the FBI, therefore highly generalisable to current investigations
• What does the variety of killers suggest about the classification of organized and disorganized types?

  Killers may exhibit a mixture of characteristics and commit different types of murders.
• What limitation was noted regarding the initial interviews used for profiling?

  They were based on a small group of 36 extreme offenders, therefore low population validity, only suited to profiling murderers/rapists
• Why is it unreliable to rely on self-report data from convicted killers according to Canter?

  Self-reports may be affected by social desirability or the 'screw you' effects.
• What criticism is made about the classification of offenders in the top-down approach?

  The classification is too simple and does not account for changes in behavior.
• Why might Mischel be critical of the top-down approach's basis on behavioral consistency?

  • as the approach assumes consistent behavior across different crimes, which Mischel argues against
  • Ignores the potential for change in an offender's modus operandi
  • Overlooks individual differences among offenders