Top down approach

• What is the origin of the top down offender profiling approach?


  It originated in the US.
• In which decade did the FBI develop the top down offender profiling approach?

  In the 1970s.
• What type of data was used to develop the top down profiling approach?

  Data from 36 sexually motivated serial killers.
• What is another name for top down offender profiling?

  Typology.
• How do profilers use existing knowledge in top down profiling?

  They match what is known about the crime and the offender with existing FBI templates.
• How are murders or rapists classified in the top down approach?

  They are classified into organized or disorganized categories.
• How does the classification of crimes shape police investigations?

  It shapes the police investigation by guiding the focus based on the classification.
• What are the steps to construct an FBI profile in the top down approach?

  1. Data Assimilation: Review all evidence.
  2. Crime Scene Classification: Classify the crime scene as organized or disorganized.
  3. Crime Reconstruction: Hypothesize the sequence of events and behavior of the offender.
  4. Profile Generation: Develop hypotheses related to offender's demographics and physical characteristics.
• What is a limitation of the top down profiling approach regarding generalisability?

  It lacks generalisability to other cultures and countries due to individual and cultural differences.
• What is a limitation of the top down profiling approach regarding temporal validity?

  It lacks temporal validity.
• What is a limitation regarding the sample size used in the top down profiling approach?

  It has a small sample size and is specific to a certain group.
• What types of crimes are primarily considered in the top down profiling approach?

  It primarily considers murder and rape, not other crimes like stealing.
• What is a potential issue with classifying some offenders in the top down approach?

  Some offenders can be classified into both organized and disorganized categories.
• What characterizes an organized offender?

  They plan the crime in advance, target victims, and leave little evidence behind.
• What characterizes a disorganized offender?

  They do not plan the crime, it is spontaneous, and the crime scene is very messy.
• Does the top down profiling approach apply to all crimes?


  No, it does not apply to all crimes.
• Why does the top down profiling approach lack generalizability?

  It originated from a sample of 36 sexually motivated serial killers, limiting its applicability.
• Briefly explain top down

  • conceptual categories/templates of organised and disorganised offender are pre-existing in the mind of the profiler
  • evidence from the crime scene and other details of the crime/victim/context are then used to fit into either of the pre-existing categories and determine the offender as one type or the other.