KRM 310 chapter 5
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 5- MULTIPLE MURDER,
SCHOOL, AND WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE
INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Profiling is generally directed at unsolved crimes, such as serial killings,
robberies, or burglaries, rather than the mass murders illustrated at the be-
ginning of this chapter, in which the perpetrators soon become known.
Psychological profiles of known offenders may be undertaken in an effort to
understand what led someone to commit these crimes as well as anticipate
further similar events.
Predicting multiple murder is almost impossible.
o Predicting the next target of a serial killer is somewhat more likely, but it,
too, is a daunting task.
Profiling is often avoided:
1. The activity is unregulated in the United States, persons with minimum
degrees or experience can call themselves profilers.
2. These profilers tend to rely on “hunches” rather than on scientific data.
3. Some profilers in the past have written self-serving personal accounts of
their experiences that minimize the imperfect nature of their art.
4. Depictions of profilers in novels or entertainment media too often suggest
they are infallible and can solve most crimes.
Investigative psychology: The application of psychological research and
concepts to the investigation of crime.
3 fundamental questions that are crucial in criminal investigations:
1. What are the important behavioral features of the crime that may help
identify and successfully prosecute the perpetrator?
2. What inferences can be made about the characteristics of the offender
that may help identify him or her?
3. Are there any other crimes that are likely to have been committed by the
same person?
In recent years psychologists worldwide have embraced the need to
accumulate data based on empirical research in order to consult with
investigators looking to solve crimes.
1
, KRM 310 chapter 5
Erin Polyblank
FORMS OF PROFILING
There are 5 categories of profiling:
1. Psychological profiling.
2. Suspect-based profiling.
3. Geographical profiling.
4. crime scene profiling.
5. Equivocal death analysis.
Some of the profiling categories rely on either the clinical or actuarial
approach to profiling.
o Clinical profiling: Profiling based on experience and “gut feelings” rather
than on re-search and statistical data.
This is case focused and tries to infer characteristics of an offender
from the analysis of evidence gathered from a specific crime or series
of crimes.
The method concentrates on the description, understanding, and
identification of a single offender based on the material gathered on an
individual case.
It is based on the premise that every case is unique and often
emphasizes discovering the motivation for the crime to obtain a basic
understanding of the offender.
o Actuarial profiling: A procedure that employs statistical group data
based on prior offenders to identify an individual offender who committed
similar crimes.
Concentrates on a database gathered from groups of offenders who
have committed similar crimes or engaged in similar incidents.
This is based on how groups of offenders who have committed similar
crimes have acted in the past.
The accumulated data from these groups of behavioral patterns are
called the base rates.
Base rates: The unconditional, naturally occurring rate of a
phenomenon in a population.
2
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 5- MULTIPLE MURDER,
SCHOOL, AND WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE
INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Profiling is generally directed at unsolved crimes, such as serial killings,
robberies, or burglaries, rather than the mass murders illustrated at the be-
ginning of this chapter, in which the perpetrators soon become known.
Psychological profiles of known offenders may be undertaken in an effort to
understand what led someone to commit these crimes as well as anticipate
further similar events.
Predicting multiple murder is almost impossible.
o Predicting the next target of a serial killer is somewhat more likely, but it,
too, is a daunting task.
Profiling is often avoided:
1. The activity is unregulated in the United States, persons with minimum
degrees or experience can call themselves profilers.
2. These profilers tend to rely on “hunches” rather than on scientific data.
3. Some profilers in the past have written self-serving personal accounts of
their experiences that minimize the imperfect nature of their art.
4. Depictions of profilers in novels or entertainment media too often suggest
they are infallible and can solve most crimes.
Investigative psychology: The application of psychological research and
concepts to the investigation of crime.
3 fundamental questions that are crucial in criminal investigations:
1. What are the important behavioral features of the crime that may help
identify and successfully prosecute the perpetrator?
2. What inferences can be made about the characteristics of the offender
that may help identify him or her?
3. Are there any other crimes that are likely to have been committed by the
same person?
In recent years psychologists worldwide have embraced the need to
accumulate data based on empirical research in order to consult with
investigators looking to solve crimes.
1
, KRM 310 chapter 5
Erin Polyblank
FORMS OF PROFILING
There are 5 categories of profiling:
1. Psychological profiling.
2. Suspect-based profiling.
3. Geographical profiling.
4. crime scene profiling.
5. Equivocal death analysis.
Some of the profiling categories rely on either the clinical or actuarial
approach to profiling.
o Clinical profiling: Profiling based on experience and “gut feelings” rather
than on re-search and statistical data.
This is case focused and tries to infer characteristics of an offender
from the analysis of evidence gathered from a specific crime or series
of crimes.
The method concentrates on the description, understanding, and
identification of a single offender based on the material gathered on an
individual case.
It is based on the premise that every case is unique and often
emphasizes discovering the motivation for the crime to obtain a basic
understanding of the offender.
o Actuarial profiling: A procedure that employs statistical group data
based on prior offenders to identify an individual offender who committed
similar crimes.
Concentrates on a database gathered from groups of offenders who
have committed similar crimes or engaged in similar incidents.
This is based on how groups of offenders who have committed similar
crimes have acted in the past.
The accumulated data from these groups of behavioral patterns are
called the base rates.
Base rates: The unconditional, naturally occurring rate of a
phenomenon in a population.
2
