Forensic Psychology

Romsso 1997

Geographical Profiling

identified criminals dependent on spatial consistency, operational base, possible future offences revealed by these locations

also known as crime mapping

Canter + Larkin 1993

Geographical profiling

marauder - commit crime in areas close to home

commuter - travel a distance to commit crimes

Lombroso 1876

Atavistic research

examined facial features of 100s of Italian offenders

studied 383 dead criminal skulls, 3839 living skulls, 40% had atavistic features

features: wide jaw, big nose, dark skin

Lange 1930

Genetic explanations for offending behaviour

twin study - 13MZ 17DZ, one twin had served time in prison.

10MZ+2DZ had co-twin also in prison.

Genetic factors play key role in offending behaviour.

Tiihoren et al 2014

Candidate genes in offending behaviour - bio exp

Genetic analysis of 900 offenders

abnormality in MAOA gene associated with violent crime and CDH13

Finnish sample, people with high risk of combination more likely to have violent history

Raine et al 2000

Neural exp for offending - Prefrontal Cortex

several dozen brain imaging studies → reduced activity in prefrontal cortex (regulates emotions)

11% reduction in grey matter volume in prefrontal cortex compared to controls

Keysers et al 2001

Mirror neurones:

criminals can experience empathy, but more irregularly

only when criminals asked to empathise did empathy reaction occur, controlled by mirror neurones

‘neural switch’ that can be turned on and off

Eysenck 1947

Criminal Personality - 3 dimensions, biological basis

neuroticism - jumpy, overactive and unpredictable behaviour

psychoticism - cold + heartless, inability of remorse

extraversion - overactive nervous system, thrill seekers, risky behaviour

Individuals with the personality are harder to socialise, antisocial personality → offending behaviour

EPI - eysenck’s personality inventory

Sutherland 1924

Differential Association

mathematical exp of how ppl learn criminal behaviour by exposure to attitudes of crime (pro/anti)

if one outweighs the other, explains attitudes to crime

learn techniques for committing crime in prison + may want to practice once released

accounts for why released convicts reoffend

learning occurs by observation, imitation and tuition from criminal peers.

Kohlberg 1973

Levels of Moral Reasoning - process where individual draws upon own value system to determine legal morality

pre conventional - rules obeyed for personal gain/punishment avoidance

conventional - rules obeyed for approval/maintaining social order

post conventional - morality of individual rights + conscience

theory based on people’s responses to a series of moral dilemmas

used moral dilemma technique, violent youths significantly lower in moral development than non-violent youths, social background variable controlled.

Schönberg & Justye 2014

Cognitive Distortions

hostile attribution bias - tendency to judge ambiguous situations or others’ actions as aggressive/threatening

55 violent offenders shown emotionally ambiguous facial expressions, significantly more likely to perceive angry/hostile images compared to control

Barbaree 1991; Pollock & Hashmall 1991

Cognitive Distortions

Minimalistion - type of deception that downplays significance of an event/emotion. common strategy dealing with guilt

B - 26 incarcerated rapists, 54% denied to committing an offence, 40% minimised the harm caused to the victim

P + H - 35% child molesters argued that crime was non-sexual, 36% said victim gave consent

Blackburn 1993

Inadequate Superego - deficient/inadequate, criminal behaviour becomes inevitable as id not properly controlled

weak superego same sex parent absent in phallic stage, child can’t internalise fully formed superego due to lack of identification, immoral behaviour more likely

deviant superego immoral or deviant values of superego results in offending behaviour

over-harsh superego excessively punitive results in crippled guilt + anxiety, may unconsciously drive individual to do crime to satisfy superego’s need for punishment

Bowlby 1944

Maternal Deprivation

44 Thieves

Affectionless psychopathy, effects of prolonged maternal separation results in offending behaviour (12/14 deprived criminals had AP).

Novaco 1975

Anger Management - therapeutic programme identifying triggers to anger, techniques for calming + dealing with situations positively

cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal

anger reinforced by the feeling of control in the situation

CBT teaches how to recognise loss of control + how to develop non-violent techniques for conflict resolution

Braithwaite 2004

Restorative Justice

‘crime hurts, justice heals’

features:

- focus on acceptance of responsibility + positive change for people who harm others, move away from punishment

- not restricted to courtrooms, may meet face to face

- active involvement of all parties wherever possible

- focus on positive outcomes for victims and offenders