Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Transcription

1 Introduction to Forensic Psychology

2 We have culture that is obsessed with criminals and those who catch them:

3 Serial murder Films USA Decade No. of films 1920s s s s s s s s 64 3

4 Serial murder Films USA No. US Films 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s

5 Serial Killers & Profiling: culture? Talk Shows Films TV Show Plots Art Exhibits Comic Books Trading Cards Pop Songs T-Shirts 900 Numbers Cult groupies

6 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. stab a specific 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. 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. 6

7 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.

8 Investigative Psychology Broadly defined, investigative psychology includes research and practice involving: Profiling Risk Assessment Police Line-ups Interrogation Polygraph Hypnosis

9 3 Questions asked by Profilers What are the important behavioral features of the crime that may help identify and successfully prosecute the perpetrator? What inferences can be made about the characteristics of the offender that may help identify him or her? Are there any other crimes that are likely to have been committed by the same person?

10 CRIMINAL PROFILING Background

11 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.

12 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.

13 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 --

14 What crimes are more suitable for profiling?? Suggested Crimes for Profiling Sadistic sexual assaults Sexual homicide Postmortem cases of abuse and humiliation Motiveless fire settings Lust and mutilation murders Rape Occult and ritualistic crimes Child sexual abuse including pedophilia Bank robberies Anonymous obscene communications

15 First Profile?: Jack the Ripper First known case of killer profiling-dr. Thomas Bond examined the victim-mary Kelly. Determined some personality traits of the killer from victim. Often considered the first recorded serial killer because of the nature of the crimes (a typical sexual motive).

16 Brief History of Criminal Profiling First well documented use by psychiatrist Walter Langer, a psychiatrist, was commissioned during WWII to construct a psychodynamic profile of Hitler. His profile diagnosed Hilter s mental state and correctly predicted what would happen were he to be defeated i.e. suicide.

17 1957 NYC s Mad Bomber. Psychiatrist James Brussels worked with NYPD to construct a profile. George P. Metesky, terrorized NYC for 16 years (1940s - 50s) with explosives planted in theaters, terminals, libraries, phone booths, storage lockers and offices. Bombs were left in public buildings. Perhaps most notably, Metesky bombed movie theaters, where he cut into seat upholstery and slipped his explosive devices inside.

18 Does not always get it right Example: The Boston Strangler Profiled as two male schoolteachers living alone, one of whom was probably homosexual Reality: Albert DeSalvo heterosexual construction worker living with his family

19 1970s-1980s - FBI became involved in psychological profiling and popularized the technique. 1990s attempt to scientize profiling and move the practice beyond the purview of the FBI.

20 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 Responsible for establishing the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP). Published Crime Classification Manual, Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives and true crime novels. Criticized for relying too much on intuition/faulty use of the scientific method.

21 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 positions where profiling is the primary job description. The notion (and acknowledgement among many profilers) that profiling is more art than science.

22 Assumptions Made (About a single subject) in the Profiling Process: Crime scene reflects the personality of the offender. M.O. remains similar. Signature will remain the same. Offender s personality will not change.

23 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.

24 The Organized Crime Scene Offense planned Restraints used Victim a targeted stranger Aggressive acts prior to death Victim personalized Body hidden Controlled conversation Crime scene reflects overall control Demands submissive victim Weapon/evidence absent victim or body transported from scene Associated with psychopathy

25 The Disorganized Crime Scene 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

26 Interview/Interrogation Strategies 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

27 FBI Psychological Profile of Lust Killers Organised Killer intelligent high birth order masculine image charismatic socially capable sexually capable occupationally mobile lives with partner geographically mobile experienced harsh childhood discipline controlled emotions interested in media model inmate Dis-organised Killer below average IQ low birth order socially immature seldom dates high school failure unemployed father lives alone has secret hiding places nocturnal lives/works near crime unskilled worker behaviour change low interest in media little alcohol consumption high anxiety during crime 27

28 Organized Killers: Dexter Ted Bundy BTK Jeffery Dahmer

29 Disorganized Killers: Ed Gein Son of Sam David Berkowitz

30 Classification of Offenders ORGANISED DISORGANISED VICTIMS Wives and girlfriends safe gets more pleasure from killing than sex with wives and girlfriends Single White Female. Anybody very poor relations with women in general. Usually live alone. CRIME SCENE Crime scene staged, and transport body No staging, leave body where killed. WEAPON May carry weapon with him, and take them away after the crime, i.e. rape kits Uses weapon of opportunity, frenzied attack, often depersonalizes the victim, i.e. turn them on their stomachs 30

31 Classification of Offenders ORGANISED DISORGANISED CHILDHOOD Troublemaker at school. Classmates won t remember the offender. PERSONALITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN Externalize anger, often attractive, confident, intelligent, good verbal skills. History of problems with authority. Talks to women, mood is fairly controlled. Internalize anger, physically unattractive, low self-esteem, and previous suicide attempts, not very articulate in conversation. Doesn t often talk to women, mood is anxious 31

32 Classification of Offenders PLACE OF RESIDENCE PRE-OFFENCE ORGANISED Live some distance from the crime, except the first crime, as it is close to home and more comfortable. Usually live with a woman. May be precipitated by loss of job or break-up with partner. DISORGANISED Kills where there is familiarity, usually close to home or to work. Lives alone. Low self-esteem comes on victim of opportunity. PUBLICITY Takes interest in media reports of crime, will often try to get involved with the police investigation No interest in / fear of media reports of crime. 32

33 Distinction Between Psychopathy and Psychosis PSYCHOPATHY Personality disorder made up of a particular constellation of characteristics). Lack of attachment, defect in affect, absence of anxiety. In touch with reality. Severe Lack or Empathy. PSYCHOSIS Clinical mental illness Schizophrenia. May meet legal definition of insanity. Out of touch with reality.

34 Criticism of the Organized/Disorganized Typology Developed/oversimplified for use by law enforcement professionals with little academic training in criminology, psychology, and forensic science and encourages unsophisticated profiling. Is a FALSE DICHOTOMY --few offenders/crime scenes fit neatly into either type. Hillside Stranglers, Bianchi and Buono. Zodiac Killer

35 M.O. and Signature METHOD OF OPERATION (M.O. Modus Operandi) How the offender committed the crime. Tells about the experience of the offender and situational/contextual factors involved in the crime. SIGNATURE The behavior/expression of fantasy the killer must leave at the scene to satisfy emotional/psychological needs. Goes beyond what s necessary to commit crime and tells about the offender s psychological needs and motivation. Zodiac BTK

36 Factors that Shape M.O. Trade/Professional Experience Criminal experience and confidence Contact with the criminal justice system Media and pop culture Offender Mood/Mental state X-Factors (unknown/unplanned influences)

37 Factors that Shape Signature Personality/Psychopathology Evolution of Fantasy Zodiac operated under the assumption that he was too smart to be caught I guess he was right. Zodiac s fantasy evolved as he taunted police.

38 Distinguishing M.O. from Signature Signature and M.O. needs may be satisfied by the same behavior. Important to remember the two most important axioms of criminal profiling : Different offenders do similar things for different reasons. Offender behaviors can be the result of multiple motivations and/or external influences.

39 Static and Dynamic Risk Offender risk factors are static and dynamic. Are important in understanding M.O. and Signature behaviors. STATIC RISKs: Stay the same over time. Possibility of getting caught during a rape or robbery. DYNAMIC RISKs: Change over time. Stable dynamic: change slowly over months or years. Acute dynamic: change rapidly over minutes or days. Changing of police patrols. Possible victims being more aware or their danger.

40 Geographical Profiling and Mapping Geographical profiling refers to the analysis of geographical locations associated with the spatial movements of a single serial offender, Geographical mapping is concerned with analyzing the spatial patterns of crimes committed by numerous offenders over a period of time. Geographical mapping focuses on identifying the hot spots of certain types of crime.

41 The Polygraph The polygraph commonly called the lie detector detects psychophysiological responses that accompany emotional reactions to guilt, shame, and anxiety through heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and skin conductance. In addition to observing the physiological measures, the skillful polygrapher makes behavioral observations and notations to infer truth or deception in the subject being examined. The polygraph can accurately measure and record the physiological responses but it is unclear whether it can detect actual lying and deception.

42 This movie isn t exactly how it works

43 Current Approaches to Offender Profiling: American Approach: Incarcerated serial murderers (36) interviewed. Categorised into organised or disorganised. View crime scene for indicators.

44 Current Approaches - American Basis of FBI Approach is: Crime scene and MO as indicators of individual pathology. Compare with known offenders. May fit pattern. Can be used to detect, but also to predict and therefore prevent.

45 Current Approaches - American Aims of American profiling approach are: Reduce scope of investigation. Allow some prediction of future offences. Provide a psychological evaluation of belongings found in the murderers possession, e.g. souvenirs from previous offences. Provide strategies for interviewing.

46 Current Approaches - American Known as holistic or top-down approach. Data from scene and from MO compared with previously known information. Mainly with murderers in USA, not so often with lesser crimes.

47 Current Approaches - British British approach is less subjective. Called bottom up method, or data-driven. Data is collected and analysed to produce definite, measured, specific associations between offences and offender characteristics.

48 Current Approaches - British Dominated by David Canter Made his name with the Railway Rapist in 1985

49 David Canter Traditionally, the only valuable clues at a crime scene were hard evidence, e.g. blood, semen Fingerprints Hair etc.

50 David Canter Profiling proposes that there are also less recognised clues which also define the offender. The problem is to interpret these clues correctly. the choice of victim, the location, the nature of the assault, what is and isn't left behind, what is and isn't said to the victim, whether or not the victim is killed

51 David Canter Over a period of four years, a series of sexual assaults and rapes, culminating in the murder of three women, had been committed in the London area. The police had linked all these crimes to the same man but, despite extensive inquiries, had failed to make an arrest.

52 David Canter Canter went through each case in detail, looking at the location, time of day, and the nature of the victim, and drew up a profile of the likely suspect, including where he was likely to be living.

53 Information Collected: North London: Kilburn Area. 3 Murders and 26 Rapes and Victims: Women, Early 20 s, Strangers. Attacked During Night. On or Near Railway. Used Mask & Conversation. Violent Rapes. Used a Knife. Talked to victim after rape. Questioned victims about where they lived. Varied Description of Rapist by victims. Greeted victims as he passed and then attacked from behind.. Restrained victims by fastening hands behind their backs. Gave victims instructions on how to get home.

54 Some Profile Details: Home Location Marital Status Friendships Extracurricular activities Previous Actions Toward Women Pornography Interest? Occupation Age Lived in middle of crimes Married, no kids, later separated Only two male friends Martial Arts Violence towards wife Collector of hard-core porn Carpenter with British Rail 28 when arrested (Started age 24)

55 David Canter As a result of this profile, the police were able to focus their investigation on John Duffy, a man who had previously ranked no higher than 1,505th on the list of possible suspects and, within a comparatively short period of time, had gathered enough evidence to convict.

56 How often is profiling used? > 100 profilers in USA and U.K. FBI produces 1000 profiles/year in USA. 242 profiles U.K.

57 Law Enforcement Satisfaction Evaluation studies (e.g., Copson, 1995 N = 182) 83% operationally useful 69% definitely use profiling again But 2.7% profiling helped identify offender 14% helped solve case 16% open new lines of inquiry

58 Profile Content Analysis Categories Statements in a profile were placed in one of the categories below by the people who evaluated the effectiveness of a profile: Factual/Summary information case info Unsubstantiated opinion (e.g., no backing) Unverifiable (e.g., emotions) Ambiguous (e.g., vague poor skills ) Opposing alternatives multiple outs

59 Results of Content Analysis 3090 statements (Mean =147/profile) Only 25% statements were predictions about offender (780) 82% unsubstantiated 55% unverifiable 24% ambiguous 6% opposing alternatives 1% fully justified (most from 1 profile)

60 Hare s Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) Factor 1: Measures of selfish, callous & remorseless use of others & includes most of the following: Glibness/superficial charm Grandiose sense of self-worth/narcissism Pathological lying & deception Conning (insincere), manipulative behaviour Lack of remorse or guilt Shallow affect Callousness/lack of empathy Failure to accept responsibility for actions

61 Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) Other Factors: Promiscuous sexual behaviour. Many short-term marital relations. Criminal versatility. Drug & alcohol addition, but not the direct cause of anti-social behavior.

62 Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) Factor 2: Measures social deviance manifest as a chronically unstable & anti-social lifestyle - more explicit than Factor 1. Need for stimulation/prone to boredom. Parasitic lifestyle/behaviour. Poor behavioural controls. Early behavioural problems. Lack of realistic long-term goals. Impulsivity. Irresponsible. Juvenile delinquency/criminal record. Revocation of conditional release or supervision.

63 Psychopathy Vs Reactive Offender PSYCHOPATH Self-concept: Invulnerable Superior Pre-emptive rights. Sees Others: Dupes/stupid Inferior Weak Strategies: Manipulation Violence REACTIVE Self-concept: Vulnerable Fluctuates/unstable Fragile rights Sees Others: Hostile Oppositional The enemy Strategies: Inadequate problem solving. Defensive violence