FLP 511-Midterm

Forensic and Legal Psychology

narrow definition of forensic psychology

professional practice by psychologists within clinical, counseling, school, etc. psychology, when engaged regularly as experts in the judicial system

narrow definition of forensic psychology

forensic psychology does not equal psychology and law

broad definition of forensic psychology

application of psychological knowledge and expertise to the legal system

broad definition of forensic psychology

forensic psychology does equal psychology and law

legal system's criticism of psychology (hint: there are 3)

* lack of ecological validity of psychological research
* ignoring the data to make moral judgements
* intruding upon the legitimate activities of the legal system

expert witness

expert in their “field”

fact witness

not considered an expert but is aware of the facts

central dilemma

relating to his or her field’s knowledge to the cause at stake in the litigation

3 types of central dilemma

1. conduit-educator
2. philosopher-ruler/advocate
3. hired gun

conduit-educator (definition)

* genuine educators
* discuss limitations
* educate the jury
* believe their field is most important

philosopher-ruler/advocate (definition)

* using only evidence to support their own side
* evidence comes from a biased standpoint


* conceal evidence that doesn’t support their side

hired gun (definition)

* “whore of the court”
* sell themselves out to whatever side is willing to benefit them personally

signature (definition)

* not required to commit the crime
* best known in serial murders
* their “sign” they committed the crime
* what they’re known for

\*different from the MO

satyriasis (definition)

uncontrollable sexual compulsion

staging (definition)

crime scene they’re trying to represent by deliberately altering the scene

modus operandi (MO) \[definition\]

* method of operation during a crime
* tends to be very consistent

2 assumptions of the offender’s characteristics

* behavioral consistency
* homology

behavioral consistency (definition)

an offender will show similar behaviors across their offenses

case linkage (what is it)

where the body of research for behavioral consistency comes from

homology (definition)

if 2 perpetrators exhibit similar crime scene behavior, will also possess similar characteristics

where the term “homology” comes from?

same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function

what is behavioral consistency and homology used to validate?

the profiling equation

what are the typologies under the Pragmatic Criminal Investigative Approach? (hint: 3 styles with subcategories)

* organized/disorganized (CIA)
* organized/disorganized/mixed/sadistic
* Holmes and Holmes (5 classifications)

who really started offender profiling? (hint: 2 people)

Ressler and Douglas

what is the approach of Ressler and Douglas called?

Criminal Investigative Analysis (CIA)

what is the FBI’s method to criminal profiling?

Pragmatic Investigative Approach (PIA)

organized killer (definition)

* logic/planning
* victim = selected/hunted
* victim capture = has a ruse
* perpetrator has/keeps control
* time is taken with victim
* won’t leave weapon behind
* conceals/hides the body
* intelligent
* feels superior to peers

disorganized killer (definition)

* no logic/unplanned/random
* victim = picked in same manner ^
* leave behind weapon
* victim = chance to fight back
* makes crime sloppy
* possibly in a high-risk environment
* tries to disfigure victim
* obliterate the personality and physical features
* perpetrator
* unattractive
* poor self-image
* disabled (possibly)
* considered strange
* owns pornography
* (if) has a car, in poor condition

what is one main characteristic that runs counter to everything else in organized and disorganized characteristics?

the use of alcohol before or during the crime

mixed category killer (definition)

combination of characteristics of the organized and disorganized killer

sadistic category (definition)

offenders who derive pleasure and gratification from causing suffering and pain, through torture and humiliation of their victims

what are the Holmes and Holmes: 5 classifications?

* visionary killer
* mission killer
* hedonistic-thrill killer
* hedonistic-lust killer
* power/control-oriented killer

visionary killer (definition)

* told to kill by visions or voices in their head
* crime/offenses = chaotic/disordered

mission killer (definition)

* kill who they deem unworthy/undesirable
* offense = swift
* no premortem/postmortem activities with victim

hedonistic-thrill killer (definition)

* kill for pleasure/excitement from murder
* long process
* planned/organized offense

hedonistic-lust killer (definition)

* kill for sexual gratification
* while victim is alive and after death
* planned/organized offense

power/control-oriented killer (definition)

* motivated by need for power/dominance over their victim
* gain greater gratification the longer they have their victim

what are the stages of generating a criminal profile used by the FBI?

1. profile inputs
2. decision process model
3. crime assessment
4. criminal profile
5. investigation
6. apprehension

profile input - step 1 (definition)

gather and study all information that is relevant to solving the crime

decision process model- step 2 (definition)

all profiling inputs are organized and arranged into specific patterns

crime assessment - step 3 (definition)

* profiler reconstructs the sequence of events of the crime to establish just how certain things have happened
* how those involved interact with one another
* determine the category the crime fits into

criminal profile - step 4 (definition)

create the profile

investigation - step 5 (definition)

apply the profile created to the investigation

apprehension - step 6 (definition)

evaluate profile for accuracy and success in identifying the suspect in custody

what are the critiques of the Criminal Investigative Approach (CIA), and the expansions on typologies? (hint: there are 5)

* lack of generalizability to other crimes and studies
* some items not weighed into importance
* some profilers weigh things differently
* offenders give self-reports
* little reliability/replication
* no one checked their work when an offender was categorized
* organized and disorganized typologies are on a continuum

what are the critiques of the Holmes and Holmes: 5 classifications system? (hint: there are 4)

* lack of systematic account of how the interviews were conducted
* how the interview lead to their classification system
* no empirical testing of the typologies
* terminology wasn’t well described
* not sure how offenders were supposed to be assigned to the typologies
* typologies tended to overlap

what are the critiques of the theory-led approach? (hint: there are 3)

* lack of empirical support/evidence
* described abstract concepts
* no sure way to measure them
* original typology wasn’t meant to be categorized or mutually exclusive

profiling stories are not considered “who-dun-its”, but more of what?

“he-dun-its”

contemporary profiling (definition)

* focus on the location of the offenses
* try to identify/provide prediction of the offender’s home
* try to identify/provide prediction of where the offender’s life takes place

contemporary psychology is a type of ______________ psychology

investigative

what is there a lack of interest of in investigative psychology?

motivation

what are the 5 factors of the 5 factor model of investigative psychology?

1. interpersonal coherence
2. significance of time and place
3. forensic awareness
4. criminal career
5. criminal characteristics

interpersonal coherence - 5 factor model (definition)

how an individual interacts with people in their daily lives

forensic awareness - 5 factor model (definition)

criminal becomes aware of the forensics of crime

example: forensic awareness - 5 factor model

a rapist will start to use a condom when committing their criminal acts

least effort principle - geographical profiling

the criminal will pick the easier option

distance decay - geographical profiling

the further they are from their “homebase”, the less likely they are to commit the crime

buffer zone - geographical profiling

commit the crime to close to their home = will make it too obvious

mental maps/schema - geographical profiling

maps the offenders create in their minds that reflects how they act/think in a particular environment

commuter killer (definition)

offender won’t commit a crime near where they live and/or work

marauder killer (definition)

* less likely to commit crimes outside of a certain range
* the further they get, the more distance decay will increase

what are they concerned with about geographical profiling? (hint: 3 reasons)

* software is not as good as profiling commuters compared to marauders
* positive linkage assumption
* your output is only as good as the information that law enforcement gives
* the home range can change

what is inductive profiling based on?

statistical and correlational reasoning

statistical and correlational reasoning for inductive profiling (describe it)

you have number of believed linked cases, so you look at the information and compare it to databases of known similar offenders, then apply those back to the current case

what are the 3 datasets for inductive profiling?

* formal and informal studies
* practical experiences
* public data sources

what are the assumptions of inductive profiling? (hint: 3 assumptions)

* known offenders share the same characteristics as unknown offenders
* the cultural similarity between known and unknown offenders
* behavior and motivation are statistically predictable

what are the advantages of inductive profiling? (hint: 2 advantages)

* no specialized forensic knowledge
* can be completed in a short period of time

what are the disadvantages of inductive profiling? (hint: 3 disadvantages)

* limited population samples
* based on known offenders
* generalization has been used to target innocent people

what are the 2 types of polygraphs?

* comparison question technique (CQT)
* guilty knowledge test (GKT)

what channels do polygraphs measure?

* respiratory rate
* electro-dermal activity (sweat on your fingertips)
* blood pressure/heart rate

what is the biggest channel looked at during a polygraph test?

electro-dermal activity (sweat on your fingertips)

comparison question technique (CQT) \[describe it\]

* based on the concern approach
* people concerned about how they will be perceived and with being caught

what type of questions make up the CQT? (hint: 2 kinds)

* RQ (relevant questions) and CQ (comparison questions/control questions)
* yes and no

relevant question (definition)

deal directly with the incident or crime

comparison/control question (definition)

give innocent person the chance to become more concerned with the questions (innocent should react more to these questions)

steps of the CQT (hint: 3 steps)

* pretest
* presentation of questions
* post test interview

purpose of the pretest for the CQT

determine if the subject is suitable for testing

purpose of the post test interview

to determine if someone is lying

how do examiners get subjects to focus on the RQs or CQs based on innocence or guilt? (hint: 2 ways)

* convinced the subject that lies will be detected
* establish the correct psychological set

guilty knowledge test (GKT) \[describe it\]

focused on asking questions about the details of the crime (things only the perpetrator would know)

how are questions asked in the GKT?

“multiple choice” = ask a question and a series of responses are given \[only one choice is correct = respond strongly to\]

what principle is the GKT based on?

orienting reflex

cocktail phenomenon to the orienting reflex (describe it)

in a crowded noisy room, while having a conversation, if someone at a different spot in the room says your name or something meaningful to you, your attention will immediately shift to that

what are the critiques of the GKT? (hint: 4 critiques)

* lack of applicability to certain situations
* difficulty in formulating proper questions
* leakage of information
* countermeasures

specify the “lack of applicability” criticism (GKT) \[hint: 3 things\]

* if examinee is not lacking knowledge
* if examinee knows a few facts
* no specific events

specify the “difficulty in formulating questions” criticism (GKT) \[hint: 4 things\]

* guilty people need to know the answer to the question
* strength of orienting reflex
* innocent people need to not know the answer to the question
* selection of the appropriate filters

specify the “leakage of information” criticism (GKT) \[hint: 2 things)

* guilty can claim they know the information because of leakage
* innocent people can look guilty

specify the “countermeasures” criticism (GKT) \[hint: 2 things\]

* physical
* mental

what are the 4 possible outcomes of the GKT?

* true +
* false -
* true -
* false +

true positive (+) of GKT (definition)

failed polygraph and are guilty

false negative (-) of GKT (definition)

incorrectly classified as innocent

true negative (-) of GKT (definition)

they passed and are innocent

false positive (+) of GKT (definition)

failed polygraph but are innocent

are there inconclusive results in the GKT? (yes/no)

NO

is the hypothesis testable in the LAB for the CQT? (yes/no)

NO

is the hypothesis testable in the FIELD for the CQT? (and WHY?)

* problematic
* confessions and ground truth

is there a known error rate in the LAB and FIELD for the CQT?

yes (for both), but the field is way too high

has the hypothesis been subjected to peer review in the LAB and FIELD for the CQT?

yes for both

is the theory for the hypothesis and the technique generally accepted in the LAB and FIELD in science for the CQT?

no for both

is the hypothesis testable in the LAB for the GKT?

YES