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Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Introduction to Forensic Psychology. Profiling and Psychology. Investigative Psychology. DEFINITION: T he application of psychology to criminal investigation.

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Introduction to Forensic Psychology

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  1. Introduction toForensic Psychology Profiling and Psychology

  2. Investigative Psychology • DEFINITION:The application of psychology to criminal investigation. • Profiling—one of the tasks often associated with investigative psychology—requires sketching the significant psychological and demographic features of a person or persons. • Broadly defined, investigative psychology includes research and practice involving: -Profiling -Risk Assessment -Police Line-ups -Interrogation -Polygraph -Other? - Hypnosis

  3. CRIMINAL PROFILING Background

  4. What is Criminal Profiling? • Criminal profiling is the process of identifying personality traits, behavioral tendencies, geographical location, and demographic or biographical descriptors of an offender (or offenders) based on crime scene characteristics.

  5. Goals of Profiling • The primary goal of profiling is to narrow the field of possible suspects. • Profiling is also a form of prediction -- the profiler tries to “predict” who the offender or offenders might be and where and how the next crime may occur.

  6. Why Use Criminal Profiles in Law Enforcement? • Traditional investigative techniques often fall short in extreme cases. • A subset of offenses/offenders are considered most suitable for profiling -- What subset of offenders and why more suitable for profiling??

  7. Brief History of Criminal Profiling • 1940s - First recorded use by psychiatrist Walter Langer during WWII commissioned to construct a psychodynamic profile of Hitler. • 1957 - psychiatrist James Brusselsworked with NYPD to construct a profile of the Mad Bomber. • 1970s-1980s - FBI (Howard Teten, John Douglas, Robert Ressler, Roy Hazelwood,and others) became involved in psychological profiling and popularized the technique. • 1990s – 2003 - attempt (by David Canter, Maurice Godwin, Ron Holmes, Robert Keppel, Brent Turvey, Kim Rossmoand others) to scientize profiling and move the practice beyond the purview of the FBI.

  8. The FBI Profilers • Small/prominent group of FBI profilers helped to popularize the term in 1970s in the Behavioral Science Unit -- called the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC)since 1984. • Responsible for establishing the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP). Published Crime Classification Manual, Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives and true crime novels. • Are known for the ORGANIZED/DISORGANIZEDtypology and focus on M.O. and SIGNATURE. • Criticized for relying too much on intuition/faulty use of the scientific method.

  9. Is Profiling a Science or Profession? • Profiling has not yet achieved the status of a profession. Factors hindering professionalization: • Lack of consensus(on terms, approaches, training, appropriate experience/educational background, etc.). • Practical issues(sensitivity and confidentiality of cases). • Ego/territorial issues. • Absence of uniform standards, practices, peer review, and ethics. • Small number (if any) of profiling positionswhere profiling is the primary job description. • The notion (and acknowledgement among many profilers) that profiling is more art than science.

  10. Assumptions Made in the Profiling ProcessSee Holmes& Holmes (2001). Profiling Violent Crimes. Sage. • Crime scene reflects the personality of the offender. • M.O.remains similar. • Signaturewill remain the same. • Offender’s personality will not change.

  11. The Organized-Disorganized Typology • Whether or not the crime scene is left ORGANIZED or DISORGANIZED is said to provide information about the offender’s criminal sophistication and personality. • Organized crime scene reflects offender who commits crime out of a need for power. Motivation associated with PSYCHOPATHY. • Disorganized crime scene reflects offender who commits crime out of passion, compulsion, frustration, or anxiety. Motivation associated with PSYCHOSIS.

  12. Offense planned Victim a targeted stranger Victim personalized Controlled conversation Crime scene reflects overall control Demands submissive victim Restraints used Aggressive acts prior to death Body hidden Weapon/evidence absent victim or body transported from scene Associated with psychopathy The Organized Crime SceneSee Ressler, Burgess, & Douglas (1992) Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives. Free Press.

  13. Spontaneous offense Victim or location known Depersonalizes victim Minimal conversation Crime scene random and sloppy Sudden violence to victim Minimal use of restraints Sexual acts after death Body left in view Evidence/weapon often present Body left at death scene Associated with Psychosis The DisorganizedCrime SceneSee Ressler, Burgess, & Douglas (1992) Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives.

  14. ORGANIZED Direct confrontation Respects competency One-person interview Don’t expect “free information” No use of “false evidence” (are too sharp for this) Conduct when suspect has no time to gather thoughts DISORGANIZED Relationship motivated Empathy Constant stream of conversation Use positive personal relationship Conduct at night Interview/Interrogation StrategiesSee Holmes & Holmes (1996) Profiling Violent Crimes. Sage.

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