Psychology and the Law Profiling

Plan for Today What is Profiling? Offender typologies Problems with profiling

Profiling What do profilers do? -provide investigators with a personality composite, behavioral tendencies and demographic features of the unknown offender -Also, crime and threat analysis, investigative assistance, strategies for interviews and prosecution, and expert testimony -Mostly homicide, also rape, arson, bombing, espionage, stalking, extortion, kidnapping, terrorism and product tampering

History of Profiling George Metesky (the Mad Bomber) 1957 Dr. James Brussel (Psychiatrist) Howard Teten (1962) applied psychology FBI (1972) – Behavioral Sciences Unit Investigative Support Unit John Douglas and Robert Ressler National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime

How do you create a Profile? Look at evidence, police and autopsy reports, crime scene photos, i.e., learn everything about the offender Use inductive and deductive reasoning, experience of violent behavior, facts of particular case, and statistical probabilities. In depth interviews with violent offenders

Profiling Behavior reflects personality! Actions before, during and after crime Look at what offender chose to do and what he chose not to do. (Behavioral fingerprint) Signature What did he do that he did not have to?

Profiling Profile may include: Gender, age, race, occupation, socioeconomic status, mental status, area of residence, educational and family background, social habits and probable arrest history Geographical profiling

Organized, Disorganized, Mixed – typology Organized crime scene predicts: Premeditation, manipulative, cunning, deliberate and methodical. Psychopathic (narcissistic and remorseless) Pride in appearance, articulate, outgoing, charming Crimes and aftermath well planned and executed Chooses targets carefully, brings own weapon, tries to conceal the body CONTROL (a thinking criminal) Older, more mature, leave general area (drive)

Disorganized Crime Scene Loner, few social skills and ties, feels inadequate Sloppy unkempt appearance (home), haphazard impulse crimes against victims of opportunity. More likely to attack family, friends, neighbors or acquaintances Frenzied crime scene – sparked by drugs, mental illness, or inexperience. Mutilation and overkill Symbols of disorganization reflect delusions Blitz attack, leaving victim Attack close to home, walk or public transportation

Mixed crime scene Young offender making transition to organized predator Short temper but plans revenge without taking unnecessary risks Situational factors (inability to control victim) leading to improvised behavior More than one perpetrator

Role of Fantasy Fantasy fuels most predatory crimes (arson) Sexual aspect to crimes, most often sex is secondary to power, control and domination Powerlessness overcome by controlling Jerry Brudos – escalation of fantasy, trophies Homicidal triad – fire setting, animal abuse and age inappropriate bedwetting

Homicidal trends Serial killers -generally target strangers, consistency in victim profile -Cooling off period -Trophies -At least 3 victims

Spree killers No cooling off period Different, indiscriminate locations Victims are generally strangers or are utilitarian murders High suicide rate Often “suicide by cop”

Mass Murderers Kill 4 or more people at one time and place Mentally unbalanced, paranoid and suffering from chronic depression Plagued by personal failure “workplace violence”

Serial Rapists Power Reassurance rapist -lacks confidence socially and sexually with women, rapes to reassure his masculinity -Will fantasize a consensual relationship (may even believe it) -Can be apologetic e.g., “the gentleman rapist”

Power Assertive Rapist Attacks to assert his masculinity Believes women are objects for gratification Macho self-perception Women are seen as second class citizens Will strike impulsively

Anger Retaliatory Rapist Wants to hurt, punish and humiliate victims Hates women in general (or specific group) Wants to “get even” for some real or perceived injustice Will strike impulsively

Anger Excitation Rapist Known more commonly as sexual sadists Least common but most violent rapists Highly ritualistic crimes Fantasies usually involve some master-slave relationship Seeks complete control over victims and derives pleasure from their suffering Crimes are methodically planned

Opportunistic and Gang Rapists Opportunistic rapist is already committing another crime -often involves drugs (especially alcohol) Gang rapes often operate on a mob or pack mentality (always a pack leader) - likelihood of serious physical injury to victim

Problems with profiling Can only create imprecise stereotypes, descriptions are vague and general There is little theoretical foundation for generated demographic and personality factors Can narrow the investigation parameters Art based on experience rather than science Kocsis, Irwin, Hayes, and Nunn (2000)