Psychology & Law Lecture Notes by Dr. Laurence Miller

These flashcards cover key concepts related to psychology and law, specifically focusing on mass homicide, serial homicide, and criminal profiling.

Mass Homicide

The act of killing multiple people, with different classifications such as disciples, family annihilators, and terrorism.

Serial Homicide

A type of murder where a killer commits three or more murders with a cooling-off period in between.

Cooling-off period

The time interval during which a serial killer does not kill between murders.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Mental health disorders that include antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders, often characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior.

Demographic Features (of Serial Killers)

Characteristics related to the serial killers' age, employment, and family life.

Modus Operandi

The method or technique used by a serial killer during the commission of a crime.

Organized Serial Killer

A type of serial killer who is intelligent, organized, and typically normal in appearance, and plans crimes and selects victims.

Disorganized Serial Killer

A type of serial killer who tends to act impulsively, has lower intelligence, and leaves a chaotic crime scene.

Victimology

The study of victims' characteristics and circumstances related to a crime.

Behavioral Profiling

A method used to help identify potential suspects based on patterns of behavior.

FBI's Behavioral Science Unit

The division within the FBI responsible for criminal profiling and behavioral analysis.