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Top down approach - forensics - AQA

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Notes of the top down approach for psychology

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A01 :

Top-Down Approach American Approach



Offender profiling TypologyLead
↳ investigative tool
; entify an unknown offender = provides info on potential next victims -


look at other cases (where interviews have taken place


↓ ↳ ↳ build picture of typical offender profiles
* usually for serious crimes ; murder , rape *
social characteristics mental characteristics

↳ employment, marital ↳ Level of education,
status


supportinaEviert-erBurge
motivation

Hazelwood & Douglas (1980) and Doug name motivated serial tive a

Organise Offenders Disorganised offenders serial killer, (including Ted Bundy) .
From the data obtained , typologies




!
planned their crimes in advance do not plan in advance
S
were identified from the crime scene and the crime itself
rapist, necrophile ;
· ·




·
live orderly lives ·
evidence is usually left at the organised offender
·
usually will someone after major scene ; blood, semen , weapon ↳ categories : groups of

life events
·
usually less socially competent, charming , intelligent, offenders displaying certain clusters

bring weapons and restraints to low 1Q and are typically
·
the attended law school of behaviours and attitudes

crime scene unemployed

·
average -

1Q & employed
high Top-down Approach : methodology steps



1 murder type :
isolated ? stabbing ? Strangulation ? Classification : serial , spree , mass



ORDER OF INVESTIGATION 2 primary intent : pre-meditated ?
.




3. Victim risk : ↑or ↓ (
1 .
What happened at the crime scene ? due to vulnerability as targets (Children ,
elderly , prostitues


would've committed that/those crimes ? Offender risk : the risk the criminal took (busy
4
. Who
2 . Street = high risk)

3. What kind of personality would this person have ?
5



. escalation : extent to which the crimes have escalated


6 time factors : time of day informs us of their schedule and risk levels
Jackson and Bekerian
.
7 location factors : informs us of their familiarity
·

inferences about criminals can be made from the crime scenes


I due to the M O .
.


of the Criminal since criminals usually operate in the same way


modus operandi

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