unit 9: criminal profiling

Question 1

what is psychology?

Answer 1

the scientific study of the mind and behavior

Question 2

what are the types of psychology (8)?

Answer 2

-> abnormal psychology
-> biopsychology
-> social psychology
-> cognitive psychology
-> developmental psychology
-> personality psychology
-> forensic psychology
-> industrial-organized psychology

Question 3

what is a psychologist?

Answer 3

a person who studies cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another

Question 4

what is a psychiatrist?

Answer 4

a medical doctor who is qualified to diagnose, prevent, and treat both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems

Question 5

what is criminal profiling?

Answer 5

a technique used to identify the perp of a violent crime by identifying the personality and behavioral characteristics of the offender

Question 6

Who was Robert Ressler?

Answer 6

an FBI agent who interviewed 36 incarcerated serial killers from 1973-1976

Question 7

Sociopath characteristics:

Answer 7

-> weak conscience
-> lack empathy
-> impulsive,
-> unable to play along,
-> cannot hide that they’re only interested in themselves
-> blame others
-> makes excuses

Question 8

Psychopath characteristics:

Answer 8

-> not able to feel for others
-> do not have a conscience but pretend to
-> manipulate others to get what they want
-> feel they are superior to others
-> calculators

Question 9

organized offender characteristics:

Answer 9

-> psychopaths
-> average to high IQ
-> socially adequate
-> has a job and car
-> follows news/police
-> plans details of crime
-> brings weapons, restraints
-> leaves little physical evidence
-> each crime is an attempt to create the perfect fantasy

Question 10

disorganized offenders characteristics:

Answer 10

-> sociopaths
-> below average IQ
-> old, unkept car
-> messy apartment, lives alone
-> socially inadequate
-> poor hygiene
-> leaves chaotic crime scene
-> commits crime near where they live
-> often leaves evidence
-> may return to crime scene to relive fantasy

Question 11

what is an MO?

Answer 11

-> Modus Operandi
-> what the offender must do in order to commit the crime
-> pattern or manner that become associated with the killer
-> ex: bring a rope, kill at night

Question 12

what is a Signature?

Answer 12

-> serves the emotional or psychological needs of the killer
->fulfills their fantasy
-> ex: going after victims who are red-head, dolling up the bodies

Question 13

what is the BAU?

Answer 13

-> behavioral analysis unit
-> a deductive profiling team that profiles based on the collection of physical evidence and the application of deductive reasoning

Question 14

What are the 4 stages of the BAU?

Answer 14

1. Forensic Analysis
   -> examination, testing, and interpretation of physical objects
2. Exposure Assessment
   ->assessing the victim’s lifestyle, hobbies, routines, etc.
   -> analyzing the existence of the possible victim-offender relationship
3. Crime Analysis
   -> method of approach and attack, control, location, nature, and sequence of events
4. Profile
   -> information from previous stages integrated and assessed using deductive reasoning