Introduction to Forensic Psychology We have culture that is obsessed with criminals and those who catch them: Serial murder Films USA Decade No. of films 1920s 2 1930s 3 1940s 3 1950s 4 1960s 12 1970s 20 1980s 23 1990s 64 3 Serial murder Films USA 70 1920s 60 1930s 50 1940s 40 1950s 30 1960s 20 1970s 1980s 10 1990s 0 No. US Films Serial Killers & Profiling: culture? Talk Shows Trading Cards Films Pop Songs TV Show Plots T-Shirts Art Exhibits 900 Numbers Comic Books ‘Cult’ groupies Common Terms Modus Operandi – the operating technique used by the offender. The actions necessary to commit murder. Signature – The signature is often referred to as the “calling card” of the offender. The person goes beyond what is necessary to commit the crime, i.e. stab a specific number of times. Staging – Altering the crime scene to throw the investigation, this may happen with organised offenders. Undoing – Undoing usually takes place when there is a close relationship between the victim and offender. Concept of Escalation - The concept of escalation involves an increase in the intensity of criminal behaviour. Crimes start at a minor level and progress to worsening levels. Burglary is often correlated with murder. 6 Investigative Psychology DEFINITION: The application of psychology to criminal investigation. Profiling—one of the tasks often associated with investigative psychology—requires sketching the significant psychological and demographic features of a person or persons. Investigative Psychology Broadly defined, investigative psychology includes research and practice involving: Profiling Risk Assessment Police Line-ups Interrogation Polygraph Hypnosis 3 Questions asked by Profilers What are the important behavioral features of the crime that may help identify and successfully prosecute the perpetrator? What inferences can be made about the characteristics of the offender that may help identify him or her? Are there any other crimes that are likely to have been committed by the same person? CRIMINAL PROFILING Background What is Criminal Profiling? Criminal profiling is the process of identifying personality traits, behavioral tendencies, geographical location, and demographic or biographical descriptors of an offender (or offenders) based on crime scene characteristics. Goals of Profiling The primary goal of profiling is to narrow the field of possible suspects. Profiling is also a form of prediction -- the profiler tries to “predict” who the offender or offenders might be and where and how the next crime may occur. Why Use Criminal Profiles in Law Enforcement? Traditional investigative techniques often fall short in extreme cases. A subset of offenses/offenders are considered most suitable for profiling -- What crimes are more suitable for profiling?? Suggested Crimes for Profiling Sadistic sexual assaults Sexual homicide Postmortem cases of abuse and humiliation Motiveless fire settings Lust and mutilation murders Rape Occult and ritualistic crimes Child sexual abuse including pedophilia Bank robberies Anonymous obscene communications First Profile?: ‘Jack the Ripper’ First known case of killer profiling-Dr. Thomas Bond examined the victim-Mary Kelly. Determined some personality traits of the killer from victim. Often considered the first recorded serial killer because of the nature of the crimes (a typical sexual motive). Brief History of Criminal Profiling 1942 - First well documented use by psychiatrist Walter Langer, a psychiatrist, was commissioned during WWII to construct a psychodynamic profile of Hitler. His profile diagnosed Hilter’s mental state and correctly predicted what would happen were he to be defeated – i.e. suicide. 1957 – NYC’s Mad Bomber. Psychiatrist James Brussels worked with NYPD to construct a profile. George P. Metesky, terrorized NYC for 16 years (1940s - 50s) with explosives planted in theaters, terminals, libraries, phone booths, storage lockers and offices. Bombs were left in public buildings. Perhaps most notably, Metesky bombed movie theaters, where he cut into seat upholstery and slipped his explosive devices inside. Does not always get it right – Example: The Boston Strangler Profiled as “two male schoolteachers living alone, one of whom was probably homosexual” Reality: Albert DeSalvo – heterosexual construction worker living with his family 1970s-1980s - FBI became involved in psychological profiling and popularized the technique. 1990s – 2003 - attempt to “scientize” profiling and move the practice beyond the purview of the FBI. The FBI Profilers Small/prominent group of FBI profilers helped to popularize the term in 1970s in the Behavioral Science Unit -- called the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) since 1984. Responsible for establishing the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP). Published Crime Classification Manual, Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives and true crime novels. Criticized for relying too much on intuition/faulty use of the scientific method. Is Profiling a Science or Profession? Profiling has not yet achieved the status of a profession. Factors hindering professionalization: Lack of consensus (on terms, approaches, training, appropriate experience/educational background, etc.). Practical issues (sensitivity and confidentiality of cases). Ego/territorial issues. Absence of uniform standards, practices, peer review, and ethics. Small number (if any) of profiling positions where profiling is the primary job description. The notion (and acknowledgement among many profilers) that profiling is more art than science. Assumptions Made (About a single subject) in the Profiling Process: Crime scene reflects the personality of the offender. M.O. remains similar. Signature will remain the same. Offender’s personality will not change. The Organized-Disorganized Typology Whether or not the crime scene is left ORGANIZED or DISORGANIZED is said to provide information about the offender’s criminal sophistication and personality. Organized crime scene reflects offender who commits crime out of a need for power. Motivation associated with PSYCHOPATHY. Disorganized crime scene reflects offender who commits crime out of passion, compulsion, frustration, or anxiety. Motivation associated with PSYCHOSIS. The Organized Crime Scene Offense planned Restraints used Victim a targeted Aggressive acts prior to stranger death Victim personalized Body hidden Controlled conversation Weapon/evidence Crime scene reflects absent overall control victim or body Demands submissive transported from scene victim Associated with psychopathy The Disorganized Crime Scene Spontaneous offense Minimal use of Victim or location restraints known Sexual acts after death Depersonalizes victim Body left in view Minimal conversation Evidence/weapon often Crime scene random present and sloppy Body left at death Sudden violence to scene victim Associated with Psychosis Interview/Interrogation Strategies ORGANIZED DISORGANIZED Direct confrontation Relationship motivated Respects competency Empathy One-person interview Constant stream of Don’t expect “free conversation information” Use positive personal No use of “false evidence” relationship (are too sharp for this) Conduct at night Conduct when suspect has no time to gather thoughts FBI Psychological Profile of Lust Killers Organised Killer Dis-organised Killer intelligent below average IQ high birth order low birth order socially immature masculine image seldom dates charismatic high school failure socially capable unemployed father sexually capable lives alone occupationally mobile has secret hiding places lives with partner nocturnal geographically mobile lives/works near crime experienced harsh unskilled worker childhood discipline behaviour change low interest in media controlled emotions little alcohol consumption interested in media high anxiety during crime model inmate 27 Organized Killers: BTK Dexter Jeffery Dahmer Ted Bundy Disorganized Killers: Ed Gein “Son of Sam” David Berkowitz Classification of Offenders ORGANISED DISORGANISED VICTIMS Wives and girlfriends safe – Anybody – very poor gets more pleasure from relations with women in killing than sex with wives general. Usually live alone. and girlfriends – Single White Female. CRIME SCENE Crime scene staged, and No staging, leave body transport body where killed. WEAPON May carry weapon with him, Uses weapon of and take them away after the opportunity, frenzied attack, crime, i.e. rape kits often depersonalizes the victim, i.e. turn them on their stomachs 30 Classification of Offenders ORGANISED DISORGANISED CHILDHOOD Troublemaker at school. Classmates won’t remember the offender. PERSONALITY Externalize anger, often Internalize anger, attractive, confident, physically unattractive, intelligent, good verbal low self-esteem, and skills. History of previous suicide attempts, problems with authority. not very articulate in conversation. RELATIONSHIPS WITH Talks to women, mood is Doesn’t often talk to WOMEN fairly controlled. women, mood is anxious 31 Classification of Offenders ORGANISED DISORGANISED PLACE OF Live some distance from the Kills where there is RESIDENCE crime, except the first crime, familiarity, usually close to as it is close to home and more home or to work. Lives comfortable. Usually live alone. with a woman. PRE-OFFENCE May be precipitated by loss of Low self-esteem comes on job or break-up with partner. victim of opportunity.