Forensics 2.0

What do forensic scientists do?

They collect and analyze physical evidence, report findings to law enforcement, and may testify in court.

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Quantitative data is measurable (e.g., weight, height, mass),

while qualitative data is descriptive (e.g., color, shape, texture).

What is deductive reasoning?

Drawing a conclusion based on known facts using logical steps.

What are the stages of memory?

Perception/Attention, Encoding, Short-Term Memory, Long-Term Memory.

How does a person’s emotional state impact what they see?

Stress, anxiety, or strong emotions can distort perception; fear can interfere with memory recall.

Name ten factors that affect observational skills.

Being alone vs. in a group, Number and types of people/animals, Surrounding activity, Visual abilities, Health condition, Fatigue/stress levels, Emotional involvement, Electronic distractions, Disguises, Cognitive bias.

What steps do investigators take to determine if witness testimony is accurate?

Separate witnesses, ask open-ended questions, compare statements with evidence, look for inconsistencies.

How much guidance should an interviewer provide to a witness?

Minimal to avoid influencing memory.

What are the four interviewing techniques?

Separate witnesses, write down observations immediately, ask open-ended questions, recount events forward and backward.

Why ask a witness to recount their story forward and backward?

It's harder to maintain false memories in reverse, inconsistencies can indicate dishonesty, and it strengthens recall of actual events.

What is the cognitive interview?

A memory-retrieval technique using reinstating context, reporting everything, reversing order, and changing perspectives.

What are the additional components of the enhanced cognitive interview?

Rapport building, supportive behavior, transfer of control, focused retrieval, witness-compatible questioning.

What is a criminal personality profile?

An analysis predicting the personality, behavior, and habits of a suspect based on crime scene evidence and victimology.

When can profiling be productive?

When crimes show psychological patterns or when evidence suggests a mental disorder.

What is needed to create a profile

1. Method

2. Crime scene report

3. Crime scene photographs

4. Autopsy

5. Background victim

6. Background relationships/live/occupation

What steps must crime scene investigators take to assist profilers?

Document the scene, collect all forensic materials, conduct victimology research.

What is victimology, and what items are needed for a profile?

Victimology is the study of the victim’s life; needed items include crime scene photos, neighborhood demographics, medical examiner’s report, and background on the victim.

What is the difference between an organized and disorganized killer?

Organized Killers plan the crime and leave little evidence, while Disorganized Killers act impulsively and leave evidence.

What is the profile of an organized serial killer?

Intelligent, well-groomed, lives far from the crime scene, targets victims deliberately, hides body, and removes evidence.

What is the profile of a disorganized serial killer?

Below-average intelligence, socially awkward, kills impulsively, leaves body at the crime scene.

What are the three types of multiple murderers?

Mass Murderer, Spree Murderer, Serial Murderer.

What motivates serial killers?

Psychological urges linked to power, control, or personal gratification.

What are the four types of serial killers?

Visionary, Mission-Oriented, Hedonistic, Power/Control.

What are the nine stages of a serial killer?

Genetic predisposition, abusive mother, absent father, unstable home, childhood trauma, brain injury, bullying, sexual abuse, hormonal imbalances.

What is antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)?

A disorder where a person consistently violates others' rights and lacks remorse.

What are the six criteria for diagnosing ASPD?

Failure to conform to norms, deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, irresponsibility, lack of remorse.

What is the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?

Sociopaths are impulsive and emotional; psychopaths are calculated and manipulative.

How do sociopaths and psychopaths differ in relationships?

Sociopaths have unstable personal lives; psychopaths manipulate relationships without emotional attachment.

What is a mass muerder

Killing several people only once at one location

Spree murder

Several victims during a short period of time at multiple different locations

Serial murderer

The killing of three or more people in separate events over a period of time

Visionary

Psychosis something is telling them to kill

Mission oriented

They think they are doing the world a favour

Hedonistic

They do it for lust/personal pleasure

Power and control

They want to feel dominant over the victim

The aggressive gene

Manyserial killers are born with the aggressive gene that is often triggered for no specific reason one extra X or Y chromosome found there is usually neglect from the mother child rearing. The child is raised family instability, or even an absent father, if he was even in the picture to start with very likely abusive/alcoholic or very distant/

When can Sociopath a psychopath be diagnosed?

Between the ages 15 and 18 while the brain is developing before the age of 15

What are things specialists look for when diagnosing?

1. Failing to Conform to social norms, including breaking the law

2. Repeated lies for profit or personal pleasure/gain

3. Impulsivity and failing to plan a hunt

4. Aggressiveness and irritability includes repeating, physical assaults

5. Consistent responsibility, including failure to meet, obligations commonly financial

6. LackOf remorse, being in different one hurting mistreating or stealing from people

Traits of a Sociopath

Physically aggressive

Loves to manipulate others for personal gain

Angry and hostility towards others

Unpredictable mood swings

Impulsive

No problem, exulting others

unReliable in relationship

Traits of a psychopath

No emotion when breaking the law

Sadistgets pleasure from others pain

They lack care for others

Charming personality

Lacks all kind of fear

Willing to take the risk

Will show no remorse for what they did wrong

Poor judgement

Will use relationships for personal gain

What makes a Serial killer

Qhormones the idea of killing turns them on when they kill. It is a feeling of sexual gratification.

Genetics the aggressive gene y or X chromosomes found in genes

Their mother is neglectful, absent, and unreliable

Their father was absent, abusive, alcoholic, distant, or un

Their home is abusive, dysfunctional, and unstable

Asia 3 to 5 children will form sexual obsessions at this age

Ages 8 to 11 many face sexual abuse to this age, bulling intensifies and they are withdrawn

Bullying they get bullied elementary school besides unstable home these kids are targeted at school

integro , a brain injury, mother being beaten well pregnant can happen anytime and shaken baby syndrome