Forensic Psychology

Question 1

Raine’s study on genetics

Answer 1

Reviewed twins studies of delinquency,
52% concordance rate for MZ twins
21% concordance rate for DZ twins

Question 2

Raine’s study on neural explanations

Answer 2

Looked at 71 brain scan studies
Criminals have reduced prefrontal cortex functioning

Murders declared innocent by insanity have abnormal limbic systems

Question 3

Lombroso

Answer 3

Criminals are less evolved and have atavistic features
Looked at 383 Italian criminals
21% had only 1 atavistic feature
43% had 5+ atavistic features

Question 4

Top down approach

Answer 4

1. Profiling inputs
2. Decision process model
3. Crime assessment
4. Criminal profile
5. Crime assessment
6. Apprehension

Copson asked 182 police, 82% said it was useful, 90% said they’d use it again

Question 5

Eysenck

Answer 5

EPQ
measures neuroticism/stability, extrovert/introvert, psychoticism/normality

Looked at 2070 male prisoners and 2422 men
Higher levels of extroversion, neuroticism andpsychoticism in prisoners

Extroversion: under-aroused nervous system
Neuroticism: over-reactive sympathetic nervous system
Psychoticism: high testosterone

Question 6

Bottom up approach

Answer 6

Forensic awareness
Interpersonal coherence
Smallest space analysis
Geographical profiling

Question 7

Canter smallest space analysis

Answer 7

Find most common correlations between crime scenes and criminals

Looked at 48 crime scenes and characteristics from 82 murderers
Identified 3 themes:
Instrumental opportunistic: have a goal, took easiest route
Instrumental cognitive: have a goal, concern for apprehension
Expressive impulsive: uncontrolled, high emotions

Question 8

Canter and Larkin: circle theory

Answer 8

Imaginary circle where criminals commit their crimes
Marauders: live in the circle
Commuters: lives outside circle

Question 9

Kohlberg: levels of moral reasoning

Answer 9

3 levels, 6 stages

Pre-conventional: morals based on if you get rewarded or punished
Conventional: morals based on social norms
Poat-conventional: make own morals

Lower you are, more likely to commit crime

Question 10

Sutherland: differential association theory

Answer 10

People learn attitudes to crime
People might learn how to commit crime

Potential criminals need to learn a positive attitude and methods

Question 11

Osborne and West

Answer 11

40% of sons with criminal fathers commit crime
13% of normal sons

Supports genetic and differential association

Question 12

Bowlby: maternal deprivationand thieves study

Answer 12

Relationship with mother is template for future relationships
Maternal deprivation makes affectionless psychopaths

Looked at 44 juvenile thieves, diagnosed 14 as affectionless psychopaths
86% of those had experienced frequent seperations

Question 13

Freud

Answer 13

Underdeveloped superego: little morals, ruled by Id (instinct and selfish desire)
Overdeveloped superego: feel guilty, commit crimes to get caught and punished
Deviant superego: learn deviant morals

Question 14

Custodial sentencing

Answer 14

Incapacitation: criminals can’t harm public
Punishment: criminals don’t want to re-offend
Deterrent: others don’t want to commit crimes
Retribution: victims feel justice is done
Rehabilitation: make criminals ready for society

Question 15

Names of theorists

Answer 15

Eysenck - criminal personality, EPQ
Raine - genetic and neural explanations
Lombroso - atavistic features
Osborne and West - criminal dads and sons
Kohlberg - levels of moral reasoning
Sutherland - differential association
Canter - smallest space analysis
Canter and Larkin - circle theory
Bowlby - maternal deprivation
Freud - superego