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Criminal Psychology

Criminal Psychology. What is criminal psychology?. The application of psychological principles to criminal activity. Involves: Criminal behavior Risk assessment Crime prevention The criminal justice system. What is meant by “criminal behavior?”.

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Criminal Psychology

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  1. Criminal Psychology

  2. What is criminal psychology? The application of psychological principles to criminal activity. Involves: • Criminal behavior • Risk assessment • Crime prevention • The criminal justice system

  3. What is meant by “criminal behavior?” Conditions resulting in criminal behavior include: • Antisocial personality disorder • Sociopathy • Psychopathy • Conduct Disorder • Borderline personality disorder

  4. Antisocial Personality Disorder • Manipulates, exploits, or violates the rights of others. • Behavior is often criminal • Chronic behavior that begins in childhood • Fire-setting and cruelty to animals during childhood are often present

  5. Anti-social Personality DisorderSymptoms: • Breaks the law repeatedly • Lies, steals, and fights often • Disregards the safety of self and others • Demonstrates a lack of guilt • Had a childhood diagnosis (or symptoms consistent with) conduct disorder

  6. Sociopath • Person having antisocial personality disorder • Physical aggression • Disregard for others • Inability to keep a job or form relationships • Violates the rights of others • Lack of regret for inappropriate actions

  7. Psychopath: • No concerns for the feelings of others • Complete disregard for social obligation. • Egocentric • no sense of responsibility or consequence. • Emotions are superficial, shallow, or absent • Callous • Manipulative • Incapable of forming lasting relationships • Incapable of meaningful love. • Acts only for personal benefit

  8. Sociopath vs Psychopath • Psychopaths are • More organized in crimes • Less easily recognized – appear “normal” • More cunning • Sociopaths are • More agitated/nervous • Act more spontaneously • More socially inadequate – don’t fit in

  9. Anti-social Personality Disorder vsPsychopathy All psychopaths have antisocial personality disorder, but not all patients with ASPD are psychopaths

  10. Conduct Disorder • The childhood equivalent of Antisocial personality disorder • Characterized by: • Aggression to people/animals • Destruction of property • Deceitfulness, lying, stealing • Serious violation of rules

  11. Types of criminal behavior • Arson • Stalking • Rape • Murder • Mass murder • Serial killers • Gang Activity

  12. Arson • Arson is usually for profit, or from anger • Most arsonists are young, white males • Most arsonists have unstable family history & background of humiliation • Other motivations are excitement, revenge, thrills

  13. Stalking Repeated harassment or other forms of invasion of a person's privacy in a manner that causes fear to its target. Statutes vary between jurisdiction but may include such acts as: • repeated physical following • unwanted contact • observing a person's actions closely for an extended period of time • contacting family members, friends, or associates of a target inappropriately • Cyberstalking

  14. Stalking Psychology • Some stalkers believe they can make the victim love them • Stalkers often manipulate through threats of suicide or intimidation • Stalkers often objectify the victim so they will feel less guilt about actions

  15. Rape Definition: an act of sexual violence which is accompanied by threat and intimidation, and which is imposed upon a victim against his/her will Rape is about power, control, domination. Rape is not about sex, though it is a violent crime that is expressed sexually.

  16. Types of Rape • Stranger rape (by a person unknown) • Date or associate rape (by a relative, colleague, husband, or friend) • Gang rape (by a number of men during one incident)

  17. Multiple Murderers • Multiple murderers are people who have killed more than one victim. • multiple killers are classified into three basic categories – • mass murderers • spree killers • Serial killers

  18. Mass Murderers • kills four or more people at one location during one continuous period of time, whether it is a few minutes or over a period of days. • Make no attempt to hide • Often die by suicide or police after incident

  19. Three Types of Mass Murderers: • Family annihilators • Paramilitary/political enthusiasts • Revenge/Disgruntled workers

  20. Family Annihilators • In 2007, A man in LAYTONSVILLE, Md., shot and killed his ex-wife, their three children (12 y/o boy, 10 y/o girl, 6 y/o boy) and himself after winning custody of the kids in a divorce. • Ronald Lee Simmons: the father of his daughter's son, killed fourteen members of his family on Christmas in 1987 when his wife threatened to divorce him.

  21. Paramilitary/Political Murderer • Adolf Hitler blamed & killed the Jews for Germany's problems • The terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center perceive the victims as violating the terrorists' political or religious goals. • Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, because they were angry at the federal government over the Waco, raid against the Branch Davidians

  22. Revenge/Disgruntled Worker • David Burke, a fired airline employee, followed his boss onto a plane in 1987, shot him, and caused the plane to crash, killing forty-three people. • Pat Sherrill, fearing that he might be fired from his postal job, killed fourteen coworkers and wounded six others in 1986. • In 1999, Mark Barton, a day trader, killed his family and entered two brokerage firms, slaying nine and wounding twelve after losing a great deal of money .

  23. Another type of revenge mass murder: School Shootings In 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 classmates, 1 teacher, and wounded 24 others at Columbine High School before shooting themselves. In 1998, Kip Kinkel, 15, killed 2 classmates and wounded 25 others at Thurston HS (Oregon) after killing his two parents in their home.

  24. Spree Killers • kill two or more victims, but are in more than one location. • the spree is considered a single event, because there is no "cooling off" period between the murders.

  25. Example of Spree Killer: George Banks • In George Banks, a prison guard, went hunting for his loved ones in various locations at 2 am. The following were killed in the spree: • three girlfriends • his five children (ages 1 – 11) • two neighbors who were trying to flee • A former girlfriend & their 5-year-old son • his Former girlfriend’s mother • His former girlfriend’s 7-year-old nephew • Two brothers of the former Girlfriend (survived)

  26. Serial Killers • murder three or more victims, but each is killed on separate occasions • usually select their victims • cooling off periods between murders • plan their crimes carefully

  27. Serial Killers • Most serial killers will fall into a pattern, either of modus operandi, location, victim type, motive, etc. • The patterns of activities often allow police to apprehend the killer. • Serial killers are often described as ‘normal’, ‘very chatty’ and ‘a good neighbor’.

  28. Serial Killers Typical serial Killers are: • Predominantly male • White • Within their twenties or thirties • Middle class • Kill within their ethnic group

  29. Types of serial killers (patterns)Organized • Characteristics: Socially competent, intelligent , a planner, generally targets strangers, someone who uses restraints, Sexually assaults their victims and uses a vehicle. • Typical behaviors: living with a partner, follows the crime in the media, plans the killing, the victim’s body is hidden, evidence is often absent, may return to the crime scene and anticipates police questioning.  • Very difficult to catch

  30. Example of organized killers • Ted Bundy: fake cast on arm, gained sympathy and then beat victims with a metal post • Harold Shipman: a physician who killed over 250 elderly patients by making it look like death from natural causes

  31. Types of serial killers (patterns)Disorganized • Characteristics: socially immature, may know his victims, kills spontaneously, often sexually inhibited, harsh childhood discipline. • Typical behaviors: lives alone, knows victim, sloppy crime scene, evidence present, shows no interest in the media, and does not change lifestyle as a result of the killing. • Easier to catch than the organized killer

  32. Examples of disorganized killers • Ed Gein: collected parts and displayed them around the house. He got the parts both from women that he killed and from exhumed graves • David Berkowitz: stabbed or shot couples sitting in their cars, and then ran away

  33. Types of Serial Killer (motives) • Visionary type: “visions” or “voices” guide their actions • Mission-orientated type – want to remove a certain group from society • Hedonistic type - derive pleasure or gain from the killing • Power/ control-orientated type - enjoy controlling their victims with some sexual satisfaction

  34. Risk Assessment:How are criminals ‘made’? • Genetics/DNA/chromosomes • Environmental factors • Biochemistry • Family traits • Economic circumstances • Neurological damage A combination of these factors can be devastating

  35. How are criminals made?Genetics • Criminals have a genetic predisposition • Genetic anomaly limits the function of the amygdala, leaving psychopath with inability to understand & feel emotion • Studies show similar tendencies in twins raised apart • Extra chromosomes have been linked to some serial killers

  36. How are criminals made?Environmental The roots of antisocial behavior lie in early childhood events: • insecure attachment • a weak sense of self • a dysfunctional family • coercive or indifferent parenting • physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect • the death of a parent • low family income • Separated or divorce • low academic achievement

  37. How Criminals are madeEnvironmental Henry Lee Lucas’ mother beat him with a broom handle for years, dressed him as a girl, and made him watch her have sex with men who later beat him.

  38. How are criminals made?Biochemistry • Reduced glucose levels • Reduced seratonin levels (seratonin mellows us out) • Increased testosterone (creates need to dominate) • Sometimes have high traces of toxic metals

  39. How are criminals made?Brain traits Psychopaths have abnormal brain activities: • Less active pre-frontal cortex (impulse control) • Overactive limbic system (aggression, sexual desire) • Overactive temporal lobes (temper outbursts and mood disturbances)

  40. Crime Prevention • Criminal psychology is used to predict, identify, find, and convict criminals • Criminal profiling is the primary tool

  41. What is Criminal Profiling? Study and prediction of criminal behavior used to indicate: • How the criminal thinks • Motivation for crime • Modus operandi • Signature

  42. How is Profiling Used? • As a tool to identify possible suspects • As a tool to point investigators in the right direction • As a tool to open new leads • As a tool to help investigators know what evidence to look for • Not as a tool for conviction – conviction requires evidence, not speculation

  43. Elements of a criminal profile • Probable AGE, sex, and race • Probable residence and living arrangements • Intelligence level • Probable occupation • Probable marital status • Psychosexual maturity • Probable type/condition of vehicle • Probable motivating factors • Probable arrest record • Provocating factors to incite the suspect • Recommended interrogation techniques

  44. Modus Operandi and Signature • Modus operandi (MO): the method commonly used by the criminal • Victim/location selection, means of attack, use of weapon, planning, means of transport • Valuables taken • Evidence left behind • Bundy: approach victim in daylight, gain their trust, lure them to his car, and hit them in the head with a crowbar, disposal in one specific dump site.

  45. Ritual and Signature • Signature: what the criminal does beyond the crime; the acting out of a fantasy • Wound patterns, sex acts, means of control, rituals, talk, staging the body • Souvenirs taken • Evidence destroyed • Bundy: Post-mortem rape, applying make-up to corpse, decapitation, photo keepsakes, cremating body parts to prevent capture

  46. MO vs. Signature • MO can change or evolve over time as criminal becomes more experienced • Signature is the ‘calling card’ or Trademark • Signature points to personality traits, hang-ups, and compulsions • Signatures do not change, but may worsen over time

  47. Steps in Profiling a Case 1. Determine the physical, behavioral and demographics of the unknown offender 2. Identify post-offense behavior of the offender and strategies for apprehension 3. Develop interview strategies once the offender is apprehended 4. Determine the signature of the offender 5. Determine where evidence can be located

  48. Input Needed by Profiler • Crime scene video, photos, sketches, evidence logs • Autopsy video, photos, hospital, forensics, reports • Neighborhood data, Maps, victim's travels, lifestyle • Investigative reports, witness statements

  49. Criminal Psychology and Crime Prevention/Intervention Criminal psychologists may: • Provide victim or witness evaluation and treatment • Assess and treat individuals in the workplace who are high risk for aggression • Screen and treat police officers • Juvenile Assessment, intervention, and crime prevention

  50. Criminal Psychology and the Criminal Justice System • A criminal psychologist May: • perform psychiatic evaluation for insanity or trial competency • Provide expert testimony for trial • Consultation for jury selection, child testimony, or expert witness • Determine treatment or intervention for mentally ill defendents

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