evaluation

• limitation

  P lack of scientific credibility due to flawed evidence.

  E The FBI’s profiling system was based on interviews with 36 murderers, classified as organised (24) or disorganised (12). However, the interviews lacked a standardised structure, making the data inconsistent and difficult to compare.

  E Canter et al. criticised the study for using a small, unrepresentative sample that did not include different offender types. This weakens the reliability of the classification system, as it is based on subjective interpretations rather than scientific evidence.

  L As a result, the top-down approach may be an unreliable tool for criminal investigations.
• limitation

  P reliance on behavioural consistency.

  E The approach assumes offenders have a consistent modus operandi across all crimes, but situationist psychologists, like Walter Mischel (1968), argue that behaviour is more influenced by the situation than stable traits.

  E This implies the top-down approach may overestimate offender behaviour consistency, as patterns at crime scenes may not reflect behaviour in everyday life.

  L Therefore, the approach may be less valid due to its failure to account for situational influences.
• strength

  P applicable to broader range of crimes 

  E Meketa (2017) reports an 85% rise in solved burglary cases across three US states when top-down profiling was used.

  E The inclusion of new categories alongside the organised-disorganised distinction, shows that top-down profiling can be adapted to crimes beyond its original focus, such as burglary.

  L Therefore, top-down profiling has a wider range of applications than initially thought, making it more versatile in solving various crimes.
• strength

  P research support

  E Canter et al. (2004) analysed 100 US murders and 39 characteristics, such as torture and concealment of bodies. Using Smallest Space Analysis, they found a subset of traits that aligned with the FBI’s organised offender classification.

  E These findings show that certain behaviours are consistently linked to organised offenders, supporting the validity of the typology based on real-world patterns.

  L This research strengthens the top-down approach by demonstrating its connection to actual criminal behaviour.