Use the flash cards below to revise the key ideas, terminology and research linked to the top-down or typology approach to offender profiling. Try to answer each prompt before revealing the answer.
Flash Card 1: What is offender profiling?
Using offence, crime-scene and victim information to infer likely characteristics of an unknown offender.
Flash Card 2: Why is the top-down approach deductive?
It starts with a general offender category and applies it to a specific case.
Flash Card 3: What is the current AQA name for the top-down approach?
The typology approach.
Flash Card 4: What does an organised crime scene suggest?
Planning, control, victim targeting and attempts to reduce detection.
Flash Card 5: What does a disorganised crime scene suggest?
Greater spontaneity, weaker planning and more evidence left at the scene.
Flash Card 6: What sample supported the original FBI typology?
Interviews with 36 US sexual murderers, including 25 serial murderers, alongside case information.
Flash Card 7: Name the six stages described by Douglas et al. (1986).
Profiling inputs, decision-process models, crime assessment, criminal profile, investigation and apprehension.
Flash Card 8: What did Canter et al. (2004) analyse?
39 crime-scene characteristics from 100 murders committed by 100 US serial killers.
Flash Card 9: What was Canter et al.’s key finding?
The crimes did not form two clear organised and disorganised clusters.
Flash Card 10: Give one practical caution when using offender profiles.
Profiles are probabilistic and should guide an investigation rather than exclude suspects who do not fit the predicted type.