Forensic Psychology in depth

• What are the two main explanations for criminality discussed in this forensic unit?

  Innate biological factors and learned behavior
• What does Freud contribute to the discussion of criminality?

  Freud offers insights into the psychological aspects of criminal behavior
• What is the term used to describe the specific way an offender carries out their crimes?

  Modus operandi (MO)
• Why do profilers believe that crimes are not random?

  Because offenders have a modus operandi that they repeat
• What types of characteristics can be inferred from offender profiling?

  Demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and ethnicity
• In which types of crimes is offender profiling most effective?

  Serious offenses like rape and murder
• What are the two different approaches to offender profiling mentioned?

  Top down and bottom up
• What does the top-down approach to offender profiling involve?

  Using pre-existing categories of offenders
• Who developed the top-down approach to offender profiling?

  The FBI in America
• How are organized and disorganized offenders defined in the top-down approach?

  Based on characteristics observed at the crime scene
• What is the first stage of the top-down profiling process?

  Collecting all relevant data from the crime scene
• What is the second stage of the top-down profiling process?

  Deciding whether the offender is organized or disorganized
• What are some characteristics of organized offenders?

  Carefully planned crimes and higher than average intelligence
• What are some characteristics of disorganized offenders?

  Crimes committed in the heat of the moment with no planning
• What is the third stage of the top-down profiling process?

  Crime reconstruction to hypothesize the sequence of events
• What is the fourth stage of the top-down profiling process?

  Profile generation based on inferences about the offender
• What is a major criticism of the top-down approach to offender profiling?

  The small sample size of 36 offenders
• What does the bottom-up approach to offender profiling focus on?

  Statistical analysis of data collected from crime scenes
• Who created the five-factor model in investigative psychology?

  David Canter
• What does interpersonal coherence suggest in the context of crime?

  The criminal's behavior towards the victim reflects their behavior towards others
• Why is time significant in the bottom-up approach?

  It provides insight into the criminal's mental map of their environment
• What does forensic awareness indicate about a criminal?

  They have knowledge of forensic techniques and may have been previously arrested
• What is geographic profiling based on?

  The assumption that the location of the crime is not random
• What is the Marauder in geographic profiling?

  Criminals will choose locations closest to their home base
• What is the circle hypothesis in geographic profiling?

  The offender's home base is likely within a circle drawn around their furthest offenses
• What is the jeopardy surface in criminal geographic targeting?

  A 3D heat map showing the probability of the offender's home base location
• What evidence supports the bottom-up approach to offender profiling?

  87% of a sample of British serial assaulters fitted the marauding definition
• What is a limitation of the bottom-up approach?

  There is no way to know if a criminal is a commuter until they are caught
• Why is it difficult to assess the effectiveness of offender profiling?

  It is used in combination with other forensic techniques
• What did Snook's study reveal about police officers' views on profiling?

  94% of Canadian officers agreed that profiling helped solve cases
• What is the Barnum effect in relation to offender profiling?

  General statements that could apply to anyone are perceived as accurate
• What is a final evaluation of offender profiling?

  It may fail with statistically abnormal offenders
• What are the stages of the top-down profiling process?

  1. Collect all relevant data from the crime scene
  2. Decide if the offender is organized or disorganized
  3. Conduct crime reconstruction
  4. Generate a profile based on inferences
• What are the key characteristics of organized and disorganized offenders?

  **Organized Offenders:**

  • Carefully planned crimes
  • Higher than average intelligence
  • Minimal forensic evidence left

  
  

  **Disorganized Offenders:**

  • Crimes committed impulsively
  • Lower than average intelligence
  • More forensic evidence left
• What are the five factors in David Canter's model of investigative psychology?

  1. Interpersonal coherence
  2. Time significance
  3. Criminal characteristics
  4. Criminal career
  5. Forensic awareness
• What are the assumptions behind geographic profiling?

  • Location of crime is not random
  • Criminals prefer locations close to their home base
  • There is a buffer zone around the offender's home
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the top-down and bottom-up approaches to offender profiling?

  **Top-Down Approach:**

  • Strengths: Clear typology of offenders
  • Weaknesses: Small sample size, self-report bias

  
  

  **Bottom-Up Approach:**

  • Strengths: Scientific, data-driven
  • Weaknesses: Cannot identify commuter offenders until caught