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FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY LECTURE 7

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY LECTURE 7. Psychological Profiling of Homicidal Offenders. Motivational Spectrum of Homicide. REVITCH AND SCHLESINGER (1989) – (See Article Handout) Spectrum of Motivational Stimuli - based on clinical experience rather than empirical research.

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FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY LECTURE 7

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  1. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGYLECTURE 7 Psychological Profiling of Homicidal Offenders Forensic Psychology

  2. Motivational Spectrum of Homicide • REVITCH AND SCHLESINGER (1989) – (See Article Handout) • Spectrum of Motivational Stimuli - based on clinical experience rather than empirical research. • The Catathymic Crisis – Schlesinger (1996) – Article • Howitt, Dennis. (2009), Introduction to Forensic and Criminal Psychology: 3rd Edition. London: Pearson Prentice Hall – Chapter 14 & 15. Forensic Psychology

  3. Origins of Psychological Profiling • 1886 - Jack the Ripper – Dr. Bond • Physical Strength, no accomplice, respectable, neatly dressed, solitary habits, no full time employment. • 1956 – George Metsky “New York Bomber” – Dr. Brussel • Male, heavy, middle aged, single, living with a sibling. • Modern Profiling • FBI Classification • Geographical Profiling (Canter) Forensic Psychology

  4. Psychological Profiling • Psychological Profiling of Homicidal Offenders involves the investigative aspects of forensic work, including work on crime detection and offender profiling. It involves various psychological profiles, different levels of motivation and different prognoses of homicide. • Behavioural and psychological evidence of the offender can be gained from assessment of the crime scene. Crime scenes that are disorganised/organised in appearance can actually give the police an insight into the personality of the offender. Forensic Psychology

  5. Psychological Profiling • The goal of creating a profile is to gain an idea of the physical, behavioural and demographic characteristics of the offender, what his behaviour is likely to be after committing the crime and when he might strike again. The profile may also provide useful information for interrogation methods after the offender is identified and apprehended. • (Keppel and Birnes, 2003). • Jackson and Bekerian (1997) believe that profiling will only become completely successful when “there is a direct interaction between basic theoretical hypotheses and the applied domain. Forensic Psychology

  6. Psychological Profiling • Crime Scene Profiling uses information from the scene of the crime (physical and other evidence) to generate a picture of the unknown offender. • Psychological Profiling uses standard personality tests and interviewing to assess the extent to which the individual fits the known personality template of a certain type of offender. • Offender Profiling is the collection of empirical data in order to collate a picture of the characteristics of those involved in a certain type of crime. • Homant and Kennedy (1998) Forensic Psychology

  7. Crime Scene Assessment • What Do the Police Look for? • Chief Constable Atcherly – (1896) - Categories for MO of Offender • (Location, Entry, Time, Style, Confederates, Transport, Trademark) • Who? • What? • Where? • Why? • Behaviour reflects Personality (Douglas) Forensic Psychology

  8. Classification of Murderers • Patterns of Murderers: Organised Vs. Disorganised (Nonsocial vs. Asocial) • Ressler et al. Article (1986) Sexual Killers and their Victims • Schlesinger (2000) • Douglas (1980), (Hazelwood & Douglas et al., 1986) • Schlesinger categorises Organised and Disorganised offenders according to: • Crime scene characteristics • Personality characteristics Forensic Psychology

  9. Common Terms • Modus Operandi – the operating technique used by the offender. The actions necessary to commit murder. • Signature – The signature is often referred to as the “calling card” of the offender. The person goes beyond what is necessary to commit the crime, i.e. burglarise and defecate home, stab a number of times. • Staging – Altering the crime scene to throw the investigation, this may happen with organised offenders. • Undoing – Undoing usually takes place when there is a close relationship between the victim and offender. Forensic Psychology

  10. Common Terms • Concept of Escalation • The concept of escalation involves an increase in the intensity of criminal behaviour. Crimes start at a minor level and progress to worsening levels. Burglary is often correlated with murder. Forensic Psychology

  11. Classification of Offenders Forensic Psychology

  12. Classification of Offenders Forensic Psychology

  13. Classification of Offenders Forensic Psychology

  14. Mixed Crime Scenes • Most crime scenes are mixed in nature as • The organised offender may have been interrupted. • There may be more than one offender, patterns are different at the crime scene. • Primary motive may have been rape, but murder may have resulted in disorganised offender. • Reaction from victim may not have been anticipated, and the offender may not have been able to control the victim. • Organised offenders may become disorganised after a spree of killings. • Alcohol or drugs may have had an effect. • Offenders themselves may have mixed patterns of behaviour. Forensic Psychology

  15. Factors that should be considered • Crime Assessment Stage • Reconstruct in your mind what went on – was it planned or sudden action, weapon is important for assessment – “weapon of opportunity” demonstrates no planning- weapon of choice demonstrates some planning. • Staging – Does the offender try to make it look like something else? • Positioning of body – important, location of excessive trauma. Forensic Psychology

  16. Factors that should be considered • Time Factors • What time of day did the murder take place? • Mornings might attribute to a character that is unemployed/shift worker. How long did the offender spend with the victim? – The longer the time, the greater the risk of being apprehended. • Location Factors • Where was the victim apprehended? • Was she persuaded to go elsewhere? • Where was the person found? (Was the body moved? – has the person a means of transport?) • Is it likely that the victim or offender has some familiarity with the place? Forensic Psychology

  17. Conducting A Profile • 1)Get facts of the crime (behaviour, what he did and the crime scene). • 2)Background information on the victim/offender. • 3)Autopsy report. • Behavioural information at the scene. • Type of murder • Consider profiles are used in conjunction with so many other crime solving methods • Consider victim risk and offender risk • Consider the usefulness of psychological profiling Forensic Psychology

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