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Introduction to Forensic Psychology

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Introduction to Forensic Psychology Profiling and Psychology Investigative Psychology DEFINITION: The application of psychology to criminal investigation. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Introduction to Forensic Psychology


1
Introduction toForensic Psychology
  • Profiling and Psychology

2
Investigative Psychology
  • DEFINITION The application of psychology to
    criminal investigation.
  • Profilingone of the tasks often associated with
    investigative psychologyrequires sketching the
    significant psychological and demographic
    features of a person or persons.
  • Broadly defined, investigative psychology
    includes research and practice involving
  • -Profiling -Risk Assessment
  • -Police Line-ups -Interrogation
  • -Polygraph -Other?
  • - Hypnosis

3
CRIMINAL PROFILING Background
4
What is Criminal Profiling?
  • Criminal profiling is the process of identifying
    personality traits, behavioral tendencies,
    geographical location, and demographic or
    biographical descriptors of an offender (or
    offenders) based on crime scene characteristics.

5
Goals of Profiling
  • The primary goal of profiling is to narrow the
    field of possible suspects.
  • Profiling is also a form of prediction -- the
    profiler tries to predict who the offender or
    offenders might be and where and how the next
    crime may occur.

6
Why Use Criminal Profiles in Law Enforcement?
  • Traditional investigative techniques often fall
    short in extreme cases.
  • A subset of offenses/offenders are considered
    most suitable for profiling -- What subset of
    offenders and why more suitable for profiling??

7
Brief History of Criminal Profiling
  • 1940s - First recorded use by psychiatrist Walter
    Langer during WWII commissioned to construct a
    psychodynamic profile of Hitler.
  • 1957 - psychiatrist James Brussels worked with
    NYPD to construct a profile of the Mad Bomber.
  • 1970s-1980s - FBI (Howard Teten, John Douglas,
    Robert Ressler, Roy Hazelwood, and others) became
    involved in psychological profiling and
    popularized the technique.
  • 1990s 2003 - attempt (by David Canter, Maurice
    Godwin, Ron Holmes, Robert Keppel, Brent Turvey,
    Kim Rossmo and others) to scientize profiling and
    move the practice beyond the purview of the FBI.

8
The FBI Profilers
  • Small/prominent group of FBI profilers helped to
    popularize the term in 1970s in the Behavioral
    Science Unit -- called the National Center for
    the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) since 1984.
  • Responsible for establishing the Violent Criminal
    Apprehension Program (VICAP). Published Crime
    Classification Manual, Sexual Homicide Patterns
    and Motives and true crime novels.
  • Are known for the ORGANIZED/DISORGANIZED typology
    and focus on M.O. and SIGNATURE.
  • Criticized for relying too much on
    intuition/faulty use of the scientific method.

9
Is Profiling a Science or Profession?
  • Profiling has not yet achieved the status of a
    profession. Factors hindering professionalization
  • Lack of consensus (on terms, approaches,
    training, appropriate experience/educational
    background, etc.).
  • Practical issues (sensitivity and confidentiality
    of cases).
  • Ego/territorial issues.
  • Absence of uniform standards, practices, peer
    review, and ethics.
  • Small number (if any) of profiling positions
    where profiling is the primary job description.
  • The notion (and acknowledgement among many
    profilers) that profiling is more art than
    science.

10
Assumptions Made in the Profiling ProcessSee
Holmes Holmes (2001). Profiling Violent Crimes.
Sage.
  • Crime scene reflects the personality of the
    offender.
  • M.O. remains similar.
  • Signature will remain the same.
  • Offenders personality will not change.

11
The Organized-Disorganized Typology
  • Whether or not the crime scene is left ORGANIZED
    or DISORGANIZED is said to provide information
    about the offenders criminal sophistication and
    personality.
  • Organized crime scene reflects offender who
    commits crime out of a need for power. Motivation
    associated with PSYCHOPATHY.
  • Disorganized crime scene reflects offender who
    commits crime out of passion, compulsion,
    frustration, or anxiety. Motivation associated
    with PSYCHOSIS.

12
The Organized Crime Scene See Ressler, Burgess,
Douglas (1992) Sexual Homicide Patterns and
Motives. Free Press.
  • Offense planned
  • Victim a targeted stranger
  • Victim personalized
  • Controlled conversation
  • Crime scene reflects overall control
  • Demands submissive victim
  • Restraints used
  • Aggressive acts prior to death
  • Body hidden
  • Weapon/evidence absent
  • victim or body transported from scene
  • Associated with psychopathy

13
The Disorganized Crime Scene See Ressler,
Burgess, Douglas (1992) Sexual Homicide
Patterns and Motives.
  • Spontaneous offense
  • Victim or location known
  • Depersonalizes victim
  • Minimal conversation
  • Crime scene random and sloppy
  • Sudden violence to victim
  • Minimal use of restraints
  • Sexual acts after death
  • Body left in view
  • Evidence/weapon often present
  • Body left at death scene
  • Associated with Psychosis

14
Interview/Interrogation StrategiesSee Holmes
Holmes (1996) Profiling Violent Crimes. Sage.
  • ORGANIZED
  • Direct confrontation
  • Respects competency
  • One-person interview
  • Dont expect free information
  • No use of false evidence (are too sharp for
    this)
  • Conduct when suspect has no time to gather
    thoughts
  • DISORGANIZED
  • Relationship motivated
  • Empathy
  • Constant stream of conversation
  • Use positive personal relationship
  • Conduct at night
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