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Y13 Psychology > Forensic Psychology > Flashcards

Forensic Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is offender profiling?

A

Offender Profiling is a behavioural and analytical tool that helps investigators predict and profile the characteristics of unknown offenders

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2
Q

What are the two types of offender profiles?

A

Two types of offender profiles:
-Top-Down
-Bottom-Up

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3
Q

What is top-down profiling?

A

Top-Down Profiling:
-American Approach (adopted by the FBI)
-Creates a profile of an offender that allows us to predict the type of offender that commited the crime
-Organised or Disorganised offenders

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4
Q

What is top-down profiling based on?

A

Top-Down profiling is based on data gathered from interviews with 36 sexually-motivated killlers, such as Ted Bundy

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5
Q

What are the characteristics of an organised offender?

A

Characteristics of an organised offender:
-Shows evidence of planning
-Victim is deliberately targeted
-Maintains high level of control - leaves little amounts of evidence
-Above average intelligence and stable career
-Often married and with children

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6
Q

What are the characteristics of a disorganised offender?

A

Disorganised offender:
-Spontaneous offences
-Weapon and body usually left at scene - little control
-Lower than average IQ
-Unskilled employment
-Failed relationships, lives alone
-Residence tends to be close to the crime scene

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7
Q

How to construct an FBI profile?

A

Constructing an FBI profile:
1). Data assimilation (evidence is reviewed)
2). Crime scene classification (organised/disorganised)
3). Crime reconstruction
4). Profile generation

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8
Q

Top-Down approach to offender profiling evaluation

A

Top-Down approach to offender profiling evaluation:
- = Reductionist -> classification system too simplistic -> offenders may overlap
- = Simplistic -> applies to particular crimes -> based on sexually-motivated offences
- = Temporal validity low -> based on an outdated model
+ = Research support -> Caner’s metal analysis
+ = Real-world application -> Arthur Shawcross profiled enough that he was found at the crime scene -> however it is idiographic

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9
Q

What is the bototm-up approach to offender profiling?

A

Bottom-up approach to offender profiling:
-Generates a picture of the offender through systematic analysis of the evidence at the crime scene
->British model
-Does not begin with fixed topologies

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10
Q

Types of bottom-up profiling

A

Types of bottom-up profiling:
-Investigative psychology
-Geographical mapping

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11
Q

What is investigative psychology?

A

Investigative psychology:
-Aims to establish patterns of offending behaviour likely to happen
-Helps develop the statistical database

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12
Q

Assumptions of investigate psychology

A

Assumptions of investigate psychology:
-Interpersonal coherence (consistency between the way offenders interact with their victims)
-Time and place (time and location communicate
-Criminal characteristics (characteristics about the offender helps classify them)

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13
Q

What is geographical profiling?

A

Geographical profiling -> known as crime mapping -> uses location of crime to infer residence
-Canter’s circle theory: idea that serial offenders restricts offences to where they are familiar - forms circle around home base
-Marauder / Commuter

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14
Q

What is the marauder as stated by Canter?

A

The marauder - operates in close proximity to their home base

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15
Q

What is the commuter as stated by Canter?

A

The commuter = who is likely to have travelled a distance form their home base to commit their crimes

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16
Q

Bottom-Up approach to offender profiling evaluation

A

Bottom-Up approach to offender profiling evaluation:
+ = Scientific and empirical measurement of crime -> makes use of statistical analysis -> objective
+ = Research Support (Canter)
- = Unsucessful utilisation -> Copson -> only 3% of cases led to the correct identification of an offender

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17
Q

Canter’s meta-analysis study

A

Canter’s meta-analysis study:
-Analysis of 66 sexual assault cases
-Examined data using smallest space analysis
-Behaviours were found common across offences -> ‘case linkage’

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18
Q

Outline the historical approach to forensic psychology

A

Historical approach:
-Biological basis to behaviour - innate tendencies determined by genes
-Developed by Lombroso (1876)

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19
Q

What were the characteristics proposed by Lombroso for criminal behaviour?

A

Characteristics proposed by Lombroso for criminal behaviour:
-Narrow, sloping brow
-Prominent jaw
-High cheekbones
-Facial asymmetry
-Dark skin
-Physical irregularities (ie extra toes/fingers)

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20
Q

Lambroso’s research

A

Lambroso’s research:
-Studied heads and faces of convicts in Native Italy
-Used 383 dead and 3839 living criminals
-40% accounted for by atavistic characteristics

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21
Q

Lambroso’s research evaluation

A

Lambroso’s research evaluation:
- = Racial stereotypes -> Atavistic features mostly included African descent - = Contradictory research -> Goring compared criminals with non-criminals and found no particular characteristics
- = Lack of control group -> didn’t control confounding variables ie psychological disorders
+ = Contribution to criminology -> introduced the scientific approach

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22
Q

The genetic explanation of criminal behaviours

A

The genetic explanation of criminal behaviours:
-Suggests particular genes are involved
-Candidate genes
-Diathesis-Stress modeo

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23
Q

Lange’s twin study for the genetic explanation of criminal behaviour

A

Lange’s twin study for the genetic explanation of criminal behaviour:
-Found that most of the MZ and DZ twins had a co-twin also in prison

24
Q

The involvement of candidate genes in criminal behaviour

A

The involvement of candidate genes in criminal behaviour:
-The MAOA gene (linked to dopamin and serotonin and agressive behaviour) and CDH13 gene (ADD) associated with violent crimes

25
Q

The diathesis-stress model in the genetic explanation of criminal behaviour

A

The diathesis-stress model in the genetic explanation of criminal behaviour:
-Genetic bases of behaviour -> environmental trigger ie traumatic/dysfunctional childhood caused criminal behaviour

26
Q

Neural explanation of criminal behaviour

A

Neural explanation of criminal behaviour:
-How the structure and workings of the brain may be linked with criminal behaviour
-Antisocial personality disorder (APD) -> neural explanation -> lack of empathy
-Associated with the prefrontal cortex

27
Q

Raine’s research findings into the association of the prefrontal cortex and antisocial behaviours

A

Raine’s research findings into the association of the prefrontal cortex and antisocial behaviours:
-Brain imaging studies
-Individuals with APD had reduced prefrontal cortex activity -> 11% less brain matter than control group

28
Q

Role of the prefrontal cortex

A

The prefrontal cortex includes regulation of emotional behaviour
->Dysfunction in this area leads to a dysfunction in emotional response

29
Q

Keyser’s mirror neurones study

A

Keyser’s mirror neurones study:
-When criminals were asked to empathise with someone on film experiencing pain -> empathy controlled by mirror neurones activated -> suggests those with APD are capable of empathy but it is a process that can be switched on or off

30
Q

Evaluation of the genetic and neural approach to criminal behaviour

A

Evaluation of the genetic and neural approach to criminal behaviour:
- = Methodological issues -> Lange’s Twin study -> poorly controlled (based on looks not DNA testing) -> concordance rate also not 100%
- = Biologically reductionist
- = Biologically Deterministic -> moral issue -> criminal justice system
+ = Research support Mednick

31
Q

What was Eysenck’s psychological theory on criminal behaviour?

A

Eysenck proposed criminal behaviour is due to innate personality traits, and is measured across three dimensions

32
Q

Eysenck’s criminal behaviour theory dimensions of personality

A

Eysenck criminal behaviour theory dimensions of personality:
-Introversion-Extroversion
-Narcotic-Stable
-Psychotic-Sociable

-Criminals would rate high on extroversion, narcotic and psychotic

33
Q

Why are criminals typically extroverted (Eysenck’s theory)

A

Extroversion ->
-Underactive Nervous System
-Lacks excitement
-Don’t learn from mistakes

34
Q

Why are criminals typically narcotic? (Eysencks theory)

A

Narcotic:
->High levels of reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system
-Nervous and unstable

35
Q

Why are criminals typically psychotic (Eyesenck’s theory)?

A

Psychotic:
->High tostesterone
-Agressive behaviour

36
Q

How is criminal personality measured? (Eyesenck)

A

Criminal personality measurement = Eyesenck Personality Inventory -> measures where on the dimensions a person is

37
Q

What leads to criminal personality according to Eysenck?

A

Criminal personality:
-Social Immaturity
-Concerned with instant gratification due to a lack of socialisation (where people are taught to delay gratification)

38
Q

Eysenck’s criminal personality theory evaluation

A

Eysenck’s criminal personality theory evaluation:
+ = supporting evidence -> Eysenck found criminals score highly on E,N,P dimensions than control group -> reduced reliability
- = A meta-analysis contradicted Eysenck;s research as criminals were not found to score high across dimensions
- = Suggests one type of criminal with same personality type -> reductionist as ignores other causing factors eg environment
- = Mismeasurement of personality -> hard to quantify personality -> personality can be adopted to situiation nd not fixed
- = Culturally biased

39
Q

What is Kholberg;s different levels of moral reasoning?

A

Kholberg’s level of moral reasoning:
-Determining wether an action is right of wring
-investigated by presenting them with imagined moral dilemmas
-Basic level = rules seen to be obeyed as they involve punishment
-Sophisticated level = considerations of factors such as human rights
-He said criminals have lower levels of moral reasoning

40
Q

The levels of moral reasoning

A

Levels of moral reasoning:
-Level 1 = Pre-conventional -> simple need to avoid punishment and gain rewards -> Criminals are classed here
-Level 2 -> Conventional
-Level 3 -> Post-conventional

41
Q

What are Kholberg’s cognitive distortions?

A

Cognitive distortions:
-Errors or biases in people’s information processing system, categorised by faulty thiking
-Used to explain how criminals interpret other’s behaviour and justify their own
-Eg hostile attribution bias and minimalisation

42
Q

What is hostile attribution bias (Cognitive Distortions)

A

Hostile Attribution Bias:
-Tendency to misinterpret the actions of others, seeing them as hostile or confrontationa when they aren’t
-Trigger for possible agressive behaviour

43
Q

Minimalisation (Cognitive Distortions)

A

Minimilisation:
-Denying or downplaying the seriousness of an offence
-This may involve using euphemisms (‘job’ rather than robbery)

44
Q

Kholberg’s cognitive distortions evaluation

A

Kholberg’s cognitive distortions evaluation:
+ = Supporting Evidence -> Palmer and Hollin -> offenders showed less moral reasoning when presented with moral dilemma
- = Low levels of intelligence may be a bigger factor
+ = Real-world application -> offenders encouraged to confront seriousness of actions in CBT -> reducing denial and minimisation reduces re-offending

45
Q

What is the differential association theory for criminal behaviour?

A

Differential Association Behaviour:
-Suggests individuals learn the values, attitudes and techniques for offending behaviour through association and interaction with different people
-Arises from: Pro-criminal attitudes and learning criminal acts

46
Q

What are pro-criminal attitudes which increase criminality?

A

Pro-criminal attitudes:
-Individual is socialised into a group where that are more pro-criminal attitudes then anti, they go on to offend
-Includes disrepect for police and law

47
Q

Learning criminal acts as a cause of criminality

A

Learning criminal acts:
-Potential criminal learns the practicalities of how to carry out criminal acts
-Takes place in groups and prison settings, explains high rates of re-offending in released prisoners

48
Q

Socialisation in prison

A

Socialisation in prison:
-Offers explanation for why so many convicts reoffend on realease
-Assumes prisoners learn new skills and techniques from others in prison whilst surrounded by a criminal attitude

49
Q

Differential Association Theory Evaluation

A

Differential Association Theory Evaluation:
- = Difficult to measure -> based on exposure to criminal attitude which is hard to measure objectively
- = Deterministic -> just because individual exposed to criminal attitude does not mean they become a criminal
+ = Considers environment -> lessens eugenics and biology
+ = Supporting research -> meta analysis found most offences were due to family criminality and poor parenting

50
Q

What is the psychodynamic approach to criminal behaviour?

A

Psychodynamic:
Blockburn suggested criminal behaviour occurs as a result of an underdeveloped superego → ID is given ‘free reign’ to carry out selfish impulses, which manifests as criminal behaviour
-3 types of underdeveloped superego: Weak (due to absent same sex parent so doesn’t fully develop in childhood), Deviant (raised by criminal parent), Over-harsh (suerego focuses on punishment)
→ Considers the role of emotions which guides their moral behaviour
-Idea of maternal deprivation (Bowlby) → lack of an attachment leads to affectionless psychopathy

51
Q

Evaluation of the psychodynamic approach to criminal behaviour

A

+ = Contribution to criminology → links childhood experience and emotional basis of crimes
- = Androcentrism → suggests women more likely to commit crime due to lack of castration anxiety in childhood → statistically males are more likely
- = Hard to infer causality between childhood experience and criminal behaviour due to range of factors that could impact
- = Lack of empirical evidence + Psychic determinism

52
Q

What is Kholberg’s cognitive approach to criminal behaviour?

A
  1. Kholberg suggested individuals ahve different levels of moral reasoning which can be investigated by presenting them with imagined moral dilemmas. He argued criminals have low levels of moral reasoning.
    →Levels of moral reasoning → pre-conventional, convential, post-conventional ⇒ criminals are pre-conventional (simple need to avoid punishment and gain reward)
    →Cognitive distotions ⇒ errors or biases in people’s information processing system categorised by faulty thinking → two examples of cognitive distortions are hostile attribution bias and minimilisation
    → Hostile attribution bias = Tendency to misinterpret actions of others seeing them as hostile when they aren’t → potential trigger for agressive behaviour
    → Minimalisation = denying or downplaying the seriousness of their offence → involves euphemisms (eg job rather than robbery)
  2. Evaluate the cognitiv
53
Q

Evaluate the cognitive approach to criminal behavior

A

+ = Research shown support for lower moral reasoning when criminals faced with imaginative moral dilemmas
- = Individual differences in levels of moral reasoning
- = Range of other explanations eg biological, psychodynamic, psychological
+ = Real world application → CBT → offenders face seriousness of their crime by reducing minimisation

54
Q

What is custodial sentencing and its aims?

A

Custodial sentencing is where an offender spends time in a prison or other institution as punishment
4 main aims = deterrence (unpleasant experience), incapacitation (taken out of society due to danger), retribution (suffer to pay for crime), rehabilitation (reforming)
→ However there are psychological effects of incarceration → depression, suicide, instituionalisation (becoming accustomed to prison way of life makes it hard to adjust)
→Prisonisation = adoption of an ‘inmate code’ where certain behaviours viewed unacceptable in society are rewarded in instiution settings
→ Recidivism = reoffending = over 50% reoffend, highest in UK and US → lowest in Norway which emphasis on rehabilitation

55
Q

Evaluate custodial settings.

A
  • = Negative psychological effects → such as depression → may not be effective in rehabilitation
  • = Arguments on alternative provisions that emphasise on restoring future prospects of jobs and family
    + = opportunity for rehabilitation which uses CBT
  • = Dfferential association theory suggests socialisation in prison increases reoffending → Recidivism over 50%
56
Q

What is behaviour modification?

A

Behaviour modification programmes aims to reinforce obedient or desirable behaviour in offenders → based on behaviourist principle of conditioning
→ Token economies → based on operont conditioning → Positive reinforcement of good behaviour for rewards or punishment for bad behaviour
→ Designing and using token economies → operationalise target behaviours so its measurable, scoring system of how much behaviours are worth, train staff to standardise procedures

57
Q

Evaluate behaviour modification of criminals.

A

+ = Easy to implement → doesn’t need specialist training and is cost effecitve
- = Little rehabilitation value → token economy not maintainable outside prison system → obedience to laws not rewarded etc
+ = Supporting research → Field found high effectiveness
- = Ethical issues → conditions are manipulative and dehumanising → such as lack of conformity leads to loss of priveleges

Y13 Psychology (9 decks)

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