FPSYC3400: Offender Profiling (Definitions)

Lecture 5

Offender Profiling (OP)

the derivation of inferences about a criminal from aspects of the crime(s) he or she has committed

Homology Assumption

states that if two perpetrators exhibit similar crime scene behaviour they will also possess similar characteristics

Pragmatic Approach

 Initially based on intuition, educated guesswork, the experience of FBI agents

Theory-led Approach

 Later on, after some criticism, they incorporated theory into their approach and started to publish their results

Pragmatic Typology: Serial Murders - Visionary

A

Pragmatic Typology: Serial Murders - Mission Oriented 

B

Pragmatic Typology: Serial Murders - Hedonistic (Thrill)

C

Pragmatic Typology: Serial Murders - Hedonistic (Lust)

D

Pragmatic Typology: Serial Murders - Power/Control-Oriented

E

Theory-led Classification: Anger

A

Theory-led Classification: Power

B

Theory-led Classification: Sadistic 

C

Individualistic Approach

• Reliant on clinical judgement, training, knowledge, experience, and/or intuition

• Methods dependant on the individual practitioner – “one-off” methodology

• Focused on the individual case

Classification model of sexual offenders: Massachusetts Treatment Centre Rape Classification System (MTC:R3) - Opportunistic 

A

Classification model of sexual offenders: Massachusetts Treatment Centre Rape Classification System (MTC:R3) - Pervasively Angry

B

Classification model of sexual offenders: Massachusetts Treatment Centre Rape Classification System (MTC:R3) - Vindicative

C

Classification model of sexual offenders: Massachusetts Treatment Centre Rape Classification System (MTC:R3) - Sadistic

D

Classification model of sexual offenders: Massachusetts Treatment Centre Rape Classification System (MTC:R3) - Non Sadistic

E

Sexually Motivated Murder

engages in sophisticated & detailed masturbatory fantasies of killing unknown but specifically targeted victims and who can be clearly seen as sadistic type with a primary motivation to kill

Sexually Triggered Murderer

who commits an aggressive, yet controlled murder, where killing is used as a means to keep the victim quiet and to avoid later detection

Grievance Motivated Murderer

who commits an aggressive and uncontrolled murder but who has no prior intent to kill, yet does so because of something the victim does or says during the assault. Extreme violence and/or humiliation against the victim, usually taking a sexual theme (e.g. mutilation to the genitals), will be evident, suggesting a loss of control

Neuropsychological Dysfunction Sexual Murderer

which was developed around the unclear motivations of one offender who exhibited clear neuropsychological deficits and does not necessarily depict a group of sexual offenders

The Statistical (Academic) Approach

 Assumes offender’s actions at the crime scene can reveal information about his background

Model of OP: Intimacy

Model of OP: Sexuality

Model of OP: Violence

Model of OP: Impersonal

victim is seen as an object

Model of OP: Criminality

Power Reassurance

A

Power Assertive

B

Anger Retaliatory 

C

Anger Excitation (Sadistic)

D