Offender Profiling in Criminal Investigations

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What is the purpose of offender profiling in investigations?

To predict future crimes based on past trends
To eliminate all suspects from consideration
To identify likely suspects and link cases (correct)
To develop psychological profiles of all suspects

Criminals classified as disorganized typically exhibit planning and social skills.

False (B)

What does MO stand for in the context of offender profiling?

Modus Operandi

The top-down approach to offender profiling originated in the US in the _____

1970s Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of criminal to its characteristics:

Organized = High levels of planning and social skills Disorganized = Lacks planning and may leave evidence MO = Consistent behavior in committing crimes Typologies = Differ in planning, scene, evidence, character, and social skills Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics is associated with organized crime?

High degree of control (B) Signup and view all the answers

An offender involved in disorganized crime usually has above-average intelligence.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one common characteristic of offenders involved in organized crime?

Often married and may have children Signup and view all the answers

In disorganized crime, the _____ is usually left at the crime scene.

body Signup and view all the answers

Match the characteristic with the type of crime:

Organized Crime = Skilled and competent Disorganized Crime = Tends to live alone Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the nomothetic approach?

Establish general laws based on large groups (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of crime is NOT suitable for the top-down approach?

Burglary (A) Signup and view all the answers

The idiographic approach seeks to generalize results to larger populations.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of research methods does the idiographic approach primarily use?

Qualitative research methods such as case studies and interviews. Signup and view all the answers

The top-down approach is based on modern and adaptable models of personality.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What are the four types of serial killers identified in the evaluation of the top-down approach?

Visionary, mission, hedonistic, and control/power. Signup and view all the answers

Nomothetic approaches employ ______ research techniques, such as experiments and psychometric testing.

quantitative Signup and view all the answers

The classification system of the top-down approach is considered too __________.

simplistic Signup and view all the answers

Match the following nomothetic approaches with their descriptions:

Biological = Classifying people based on characteristics Cognitive = Establishing principles applied to people Behavioral = People can be compared Psychodynamic = Establishing dimensions Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of killers with their descriptions:

Visionary = Driven by delusions or hallucinations Mission = Believes they are saving the world by killing certain groups Hedonistic = Kill for pleasure or thrill Control/Power = Enjoys the process of controlling victims Signup and view all the answers

According to Lombroso, what are criminals seen as?

Genetic throwbacks (D) Signup and view all the answers

Lombroso believed that criminals should be fully accountable for their actions.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What physical characteristic is associated with all murderers according to Lombroso?

Bloodshot eyes Signup and view all the answers

Lombroso believed that criminals lacked __________ development compared to non-criminals.

evolutionary Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of criminal to their specific characteristics according to Lombroso:

Murders = Bloodshot eyes, long ears, curly hair Sexual deviants = Glancing eyes, swollen lips, projecting ears Fraudsters = Thin lips Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of individuals diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)?

Reduced emotional responses (C) Signup and view all the answers

People with Antisocial Personality Disorder generally display high levels of empathy.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What part of the brain shows reduced activity in individuals with antisocial personalities?

prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder may have a reduction of approximately _____% in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex.

11 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Reduced emotional responses = A characteristic of APD Prefrontal cortex = Area of the brain with reduced activity in APD Mirror neurons = Brain cells that fire during someone's actions Antisocial Personality Disorder = Disorder characterized by a lack of empathy Signup and view all the answers

What did Bowlby conclude about maternal deprivation?

It leads to lifelong damage and failure to form healthy bonds. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Contradictory evidence suggests that a lack of same-sex parent does not affect law-abiding behavior in adults.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

How many juvenile thieves in Bowlby's study showed signs of affectionless psychopathy?

14 Signup and view all the answers

Bowlby interviewed _____ juvenile thieves to study the effects of maternal deprivation.

44 Signup and view all the answers

Match the theory with its criticism:

Maternal deprivation theory = Lacks sufficient evidence regarding same-sex parenting. Freud's theory = Considered sexist due to the Oedipus and Electra complexes. Bowlby's conclusions = Assumed irreversible damage from a lack of maternal bonding. 44 Juvenile Thieves study = Links maternal deprivation to criminal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the ego in the psychodynamic explanation of offending behavior?

To find balance between the id and the superego. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A weak superego can arise from the absence of a same-sex parent during the phallic stage.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What might cause a deviant superego in an individual?

Internalization of an immoral superego from deviant parents. Signup and view all the answers

An over harsh superego may drive an individual to commit criminal acts to satisfy the need for __________.

punishment Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of superego with its description:

Inadequate Superego = Leads to lack of moral understanding and potential criminal behavior Deviant Superego = Internalized from immoral parents Over harsh Superego = Creates feelings of crippling guilt and anxiety Weak Superego = Caused by absence of same-sex parent Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by deterrence in the context of custodial sentencing?

The idea that prison serves to prevent reoffending. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Incapacitation refers to the idea of sending a broad message to society.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of UK offenders who reoffend within a year?

87% Signup and view all the answers

The psychological impacts of custodial sentencing can include depression, anxiety, and __________.

PTSD Signup and view all the answers

Match the sentencing purposes with their descriptions:

Deterrence = Prevents future reoffending through punishment Incapacitation = Removes the offender from society Rehabilitation = Aims to reform the offender Recidivism = The tendency of offenders to reoffend Signup and view all the answers

What significant shift did early criminologists like Lombroso bring to the study of criminal behavior?

Emphasis on scientific factors (C) Signup and view all the answers

Early criminological theories effectively eliminated biases related to race and ethnicity in their assessments.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did Goring's 1913 study reveal about the relationship between physical characteristics and criminality?

There was no evidence for distinct criminal groups. Signup and view all the answers

The theory that connected physical features, such as dark skin, with criminal tendencies is known as _____ racism.

scientific Signup and view all the answers

Match the following weaknesses of early criminological theories with their descriptions:

Scientific Racism = Incorporates pseudoscience and racial bias Contradictory Evidence = Goring's study found no distinct criminal groups Poor Control = Lack of matched control groups in research Learning Difficulties = Potential biases linked to facial feature impacts Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of early criminological theories is criticized for not being rigorously controlled?

Comparison of criminals to matched controls (D) Signup and view all the answers

The evaluation reports that early theories had a strong scientific basis and yielded definitive findings on criminal behavior.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What are some common physical features that were unfoundedly associated with criminal tendencies according to early criminological theories?

Dark skin and curly hair Signup and view all the answers

Organized Crime Scene

A crime scene categorized by careful planning, limited evidence, high control, and often involving offenders with above-average intelligence.

Disorganized Crime Scene

A crime scene characterized by impulsivity, little to no planning, abundant evidence, and usually involving offenders with below-average intelligence.

Crime Scene Classification

The method used to determine whether a crime scene is organized or disorganized, based on the scene's characteristics.

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Reconstructing the sequence of actions that occurred at the scene, including offender movements and interactions with the victim.