A-Level Psychology (AQA): Forensic Psychology - The Top Down Approach

Introduction to Offender Profiling

In this lesson, we will be discussing the top-down approach to offender profiling, which is an American approach. We will explore what it is, where it came from and how it can be applied to real-life examples of serial killers.

The Main Aim of Offender Profiling

• Offender profiling is a tool used by police to narrow down the field of inquiry and list of likely suspects.

• It involves deducing characteristics of an offender from the crime scene and evidence.

• A profile is generated based on hypothesis about probable characteristics such as age, background, occupation etc.

The Top-Down Approach

• The top-down approach originated from interviews conducted by the FBI in the 1970s with 36 sexually motivated killers.

• Crimes were categorized into organized or disorganized based on certain characteristics.

• Other characteristics about the offender could then be predicted based on whether they fit into one category or another.

Organized vs Disorganized Offenders

• Organized offenders plan meticulously, show high levels of control and leave little evidence behind.

• Disorganized offenders lack control, are impulsive and leave behind DNA and other evidence at crime scenes.

Real-Life Examples

Ted Bundy - Organized Offender

• Bundy was charming, intelligent and articulate with a girlfriend and a type (young college girls).

• He planned his crimes carefully using ruses/tricks to draw in victims before abducting them.

• He exerted high levels of control over his actions leaving little evidence behind.

Richard Chase - Disorganized Offender

• Chase had no social life or girlfriend, lived with his parents and abused drugs and alcohol.

• He had no victim type and was in and out of mental health institutions.

• He left behind DNA evidence at crime scenes.

Characteristics of a Disorganized Offender

This section discusses the characteristics of a disorganized offender and how they differ from an organized offender.

Disorganized Offender Characteristics

• A disorganized offender shows little evidence of planning and is impulsive. They often leave victims behind and are seen with bloody clothes or blood on their face.

• Crime scenes reflect impulsivity, with lots of blood and DNA everywhere.

• They have a history of sexual or relationship dysfunction, live alone, and are close to the crime scene.

Stages in FBI Profile Construction

This section outlines the four main stages in constructing an FBI profile.

Four Stages in FBI Profile Construction

• Data assimilation involves reviewing evidence such as crime scene photographs, pathology reports, witness reports, etc.

• Crime scene classification involves deciding whether it's an organized or disorganized crime.

• Crime reconstruction generates a hypothesis about the sequence of events and behavior of victim/suspect.

• Profile generation creates a hypothesis relating to likely offender demographics, physical/psychological characteristics, behavior etc.

Research Support for Organized Offenders Typology

This section discusses research support for the distinct organized category of offenders.

Research Support for Organized Offenders Typology

• David Cantor conducted an analysis using smallest space analysis technique that identified correlations across different samples of behavior.

• The analysis revealed that there were features matching the FBI typology for organized offenders.

• However, many studies suggest that organized/disorganized types are not mutually exclusive but rather exist somewhere along a continuum.

Adaptability to Other Types of Crimes

This section discusses how top-down profiling can be adapted to other types of crimes.

Adaptability to Other Types of Crimes

• Critics initially claimed that the technique only applied to a limited number of crimes like murder, rape, and arson.

• However, Makita reported that the top-down approach has been applied to burglary leading to an 85% rise in solved cases in three separate US states.

• Two new categories were added: interpersonal and opportunistic burglaries.

• This suggests that top-down profiling has a wider application than originally assumed.

Methodological Issues with the Top-Down Approach

The top-down approach to profiling lacks a sound scientific basis due to methodological issues. The sample size is small and not random, there were no standardized questions, and self-report information from convicted criminals may be inaccurate.

Methodological Issues

• Sample size is small and not random

• No standardized questions, making comparisons between interviews difficult

• Self-report information from convicted criminals may be inaccurate due to social desirability bias or exaggeration of crimes for notoriety/fame