Top-Down approach

Question 1

Mixed Research support (strength into limitation)
CW

Answer 1

• canter found evidence of a distinct organised type
• analysed data from 100 USA murders where details were referenced to 39 characteristics thought to be typical or organised and disorganised criminals
• provides some support for the top-down approach
• However there was no evidence for the disorganised type, undermining the classification system as it questions its validity

Question 2

Only works for particular crimes (limitation)
DW

Answer 2

• top-down profiling only applies to particular crimes
• best suited to crime scenes that reveal important details about the suspect such as rape, murder and cult killings
• this method does not help when the crimes are more common such as burglary, as the crime scene reveals little information about the offender
• reduces its applicability, as it is unable to be used to identify all criminals

Question 3

Based on incorrect assumptions (limitation)
DW

Answer 3

• based on the idea that people’s behaviour remains the same across all situations and contexts
• e.g. that personality drives behaviour and is not impacted by external factors
• several critics (Alison et al) have argued this is incorrect. continuing changing situational factors can drive behaviour and personality may not be as ‘stable’ as previously thought
• reduces validity as it may not be possible to predict offenders next move

Question 4

Classification is too simplistic (limitation)
DW

Answer 4

• behaviours that describe organised and disorganised type are not mutually exclusive
• e.g. a crime scene can have a mix of both organised and disorganised characteristics
• suggests this approach may be too restrictive
• lacks validity and has led to other researchers (Holmes) proposing more detailed typologies such as there being 4 types of serial killer

Question 5

Limited original sample (limitation)
HB

Answer 5

• sample is too small and unrepresentative
• developed using interviews with 36 US male killers
• critics have suggested that is it not sensible to rely on self-report data with convicted killers as the info could be inaccurate leading to an invalid classification system

Question 6

Lack of theory (limitation)
HB

Answer 6

• lack of theoretical foundation to this approach
• argued that this method is based more on hunch than reasoning. Reliance on intuition is problematic as personal emotion and memories can sway intuition
• reduces credibility as it lack background research to say why it works