PSYC1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 36: Offender Profiling, Homicide
2 Jul 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
30/05/2018 Profiling and Lie Detection
Define Profiling
o“A technique for identifying the major personality and behavioural characteristics of an
individual based upon an analysis of the crimes he/she has committed” (Douglas et al., 1986)
oOften includes information about demographics, personality, and behavioural characteristics
oOften used for homicide and rape cases
Describe the history of profiling
o1400s: a text was written for the Catholic Church for identifying witches
o1888: police surgeon attempted to profile ‘Jack the Ripper’
o1956: profile of the “Mad Bomber”
o1970s: development of a criminal profiling program at the FBI
oToday: developed internationally
Name, describe and critically evaluate different methods of profiling
oDeductive Criminal Profiling
Profiling the background characteristics of an unknown offender based on evidence left
at crime scene
Relies on logical reasoning (but this can be faulty!)
oInductive Criminal Profiling
Profiling the background characteristics of an unknown offender based on what we
know about other solved cases
Relies on determination of how likely it is an offender will possess certain background
characteristics given their prevalence among known, similar offenders
oFBI Approach
Behavioural Science Unit – 1980s - interviewed 36 convicted sexually motivated
murderers – lead to distinction between Organised and Disorganised crime scenes
Organised: planned in advance; specific victim targeted (personalised); controlled
conversation; crime scene shows signs of control; restraint used; body moved and
hidden; evidence and weapon removed
Organised: intelligent, socially competent, skilled job, sexually competent, lives with
partner, follows details of crime in news
Disorganised: spontaneous offence; depersonalises victim; minimal conversation;
chaotic scene; sudden violence to victim; little use of restraints; body left in view at
scene; evidence and weapon present
Disorganised: average IQ, immature, poor work history, sexually incompetent, lives
alone, lives near crime scene, little interest in media
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Name, describe and critically evaluate different methods of profiling: deductive criminal profiling. Profiling the background characteristics of an unknown offender based on evidence left at crime scene. Relies on logical reasoning (but this can be faulty!: inductive criminal profiling. Profiling the background characteristics of an unknown offender based on what we know about other solved cases. Relies on determination of how likely it is an offender will possess certain background characteristics given their prevalence among known, similar offenders: fbi approach. Behavioural science unit 1980s - interviewed 36 convicted sexually motivated murderers lead to distinction between organised and disorganised crime scenes. Organised: planned in advance; specific victim targeted (personalised); controlled conversation; crime scene shows signs of control; restraint used; body moved and hidden; evidence and weapon removed. Organised: intelligent, socially competent, skilled job, sexually competent, lives with partner, follows details of crime in news.
