1
Q
Explain Mischel’s criticism of behavioural consistency.
Offender profiling: the top-down approach
A
- Our behaviour changes over time and in different situations in response to external factors
- If behaviour is situational rather than fixed traits, the top down approach has poor validity
- our behaviour may be situational/ depends on the situation we are in
2
Q
Evaluate the usefulness of the TDA
Offender profiling: the top-down approach
A
- Social desirability may affect evaluations given by police
- In Pinizotto’s study less than half of the crimes using profiles were solved
- Barnum effect= ambiguous descs of criminals, broad to fit a range of offenders so it APPEARS useful.
3
Q
Give a strength of utility of the TDA.
Offender profiling: the top-down approach
A
In pinizzotto’s research 77% of police depts reported that the FBI profile significantly helped their investigations
E.g they opened new avenues for investigation
4
Q
What did Canter’s research show?
Offender profiling: the top-down approach
A
- How routinely behaviours found in offences were
- Used smallest space analysis looking for correlations across 39 diff behaviours across 100 murders
- High correlation for organised (valid)
- Low validity for disorganised though as many behaviours could be or could not be involved in disorganised crimes.
5
Q
How is using typologies an issue with TDA?
Top down approach
A
- offenders may show characteristics of either offender type
- godwin= difficult to classify killers as one or the other
6
Q
Support for investigative psychology.
Bottom up approach.
A
- Evidence to show effectiveness of stat analysis used
- carter and heritage used small space analysis to analyse 66 SA cases
- key variables identified as being central
- used to look for patterns
7
Q
CP for investigative psychology
Bottom up approach.
A
Case linkage depends on the database of historical crimes that have been solved
The fact that they were solved may be because it was straightforward to link the crimes in the first place
May tell us little about crimes that have few links between them
8
Q
How does the bottom up approach have mixed results?
Bottom up approach.
A
- Copson surveyed 48 police depts
- found tgat advice provided by profiler was judged as useful in 83% of cases
- only 3% of cases had accurate identification of the offender
9
Q
Describe evidence supporting geographical profiling
Bottom up approach.
A
- Lundrigan and carter
- collated info from 120 murder cases in the US
- SSA revealed spatial consistency
- the location of each disposal site created a centre of gravty
- created a circular effect around home base
- shows how GP can be used to identify an offender
10
Q
How is geographical information insufficient?
Bottom up approach.
A
- succes of GP may be reliant on the quality of data the police can provide
- recording of crimes are not always accurate
- 75% of crimes arent reported
- other factors are just as important in creating a profile
- GP may not always lead to successful captures
11
Q
What is a strength of Lombroso’s research?
Biological exp: a historical approach
A
- It changed the face of the study of crime
- credited as shifting the emphasis in crime research away from a moralistic discource towards a more scientific and credible position
- heralded the beginning of offender profiling
12
Q
How can Lombroso’s research be criticised?
Biological exp: a historical approach
A
- DeLisi has questioned whether his legacy is entirely positive
- RACIST UNDERTONES
- many of the atavistic features are similar to african facial features
- fitted the 19th century eugenic attitudes
13
Q
How is there contradictory evidence regarding the bio exp?
Biological exp: a historical approach
A
- Goring set out to establish whether there were any physical or mental abnormalities among offenders
- compared 3000 offenders and 3000 non offenders
- no evidence that offenders are a distinct group
14
Q
How does Lombroso’s research have poor control?
Biological exp: a historical approach
A
- failed to control variables
- he didnt compare his offender sample with a non offending sample
- allowed for confounding variables
- sample sizes were also not the same….
15
Q
Evaluate the use of twin studies in understanding genetics.
Bio exp: genetic and neural
A
- Twins may have different upbringings
- Different experiences affect each twin differently, personality will not be identical
- MZ twins do not have 100% concordance so other factors may be at play
16
Q
Evaluate the use of adoption studies in relation to genetics.
Bio exp: genetic and neural
A
- Factors prior to birth and adoption may influence the study
- regular contact with bio family may have an ongoing influence
- adoption studies cannot completely disentangle the impact of genes and environment
17
Q
Evaluate candidate genes in relation to genetic explanations.
Bio exp: genetic and neural
A
- Not all crimes are violent so genes cannot fully explain crime
- Gives an allibi for violent behaviour, separating a person from their genes
- Has been used in court
- Waldroup= murderer, had an unusual variant of MAOA, forensic scientist stated that it left him at risk of violent behvaiour
18
Q
What can we say about scientific credibility for neural explanations?
Bio exp: genetic and NEURAL
A
- Objective
- Used PET scans and MRI
- not open to personal bias
19
Q
How does the neural explanation have RWA?
Bio exp: genetic and NEURAL
A
- if low serotonin leads to aggression
- treated with SSRIs
- Simpson= found that mindfulness amongst young offenders strengthened nerual pathways between the PFC and amygdala regulating emotions and stress response
20
Q
Evaluate the generalisability of the neural exp
Bio exp: genetic and NEURAL
A
- Not all offenders have APD
- provides a limited explanation which does not apply to all offenders
- crime is not a homogenous category
21
Q
Describe the validity of the neural exp.
Bio exp: genetic and NEURAL
A
- may lack validity
- third variable/ intervening variable issues
- could have been born with APD or another factor may have caused it
22
Q
How does Eysenck have evidential support?
Eysenck
A
- compared 2070 prisoners’ scores on EPQ with 2422 controls
- prisoners averaged higher than controls
- agrees that offenders rate higher
23
Q
How does Farrington criticse supporting evidence?
Eysenck
A
- carried out a meta analysis of studies
- offenders score higher on psychoticism, not E or N
- inconsistent EEG measures between differences between extraverts and intravert
- challenges central assumptions
24
Q
How is Eysenck too simplistic?
Eysenck
A
- moffitt= made distinction between offending only in adolescence and continuing to offend in later life
- personality traits are a poor indicator for length of offending, cannot predict if someone is a career offender
- suggests that it is a reciprocal process between environment and traits which continue offending
25
What is an issue with Eysenck and cultural factors?
| Eysenck
- Bartol and Holanchock= studied hispanic and AA offenders in max prison NY
- divided into 6 groups based on history and type of offence
- all groups are less intraverted which goes against Eysenck's prediction
- different cultural group used, may be limited in what it tells us in other cultures
26
How does Kohlberg have research support?
| Cognitive: Kohlberg
- Hollin and Palmer
- compared reasoning in 332 non offenders and 126 convicted offenders using the SRM-SF
- gave 11 dilemmas
- found that offenders are less mature
27
What is an issue with the supporting evidence for Kohlberg?
| Cognitive: Kohlberg
- Hollin and Palmer
- Poor predictive validity= may think a certain way but act differently in the situation
- sample sizes aren't the same so comparison may not be accurate
28
Who criticises the moral reasoning theory?
| Cognitive: Kohlberg
- Thornton and Reid
- depends on type of offence
- financial gain crimes more likely to show preconventional reasoning signs rather than impulsive crimes
- this is because they believe that they have a good chance of evading punishment
29
Describe a mixed evaluation for moral reasoning.
| Cognitive: Kohlberg
- provides insight into the mechanics of criminal minds
- moral thinking doesn't equal moral behaviour
- moral reasoning of the kind that kohlberg was interested in justifies behaviour after it happened
30
How do cognitive distortions have real world application?
| Cognitive: distortions
CBT= offenders are encouraged to face up to their crimes and stop distorting
E.g writing letters to victims acknowledging and apologising. Acceptance is key, refusal to accept is linked to reoffending
31
What is an issue with using cognitive distortion to explain crime?
| Cognitive: distortions
Is it descriptive or explanatory
- if a person has distorted thinking it doesn't mean that it is inevitable that they will go on to commit a crime
- minimalisation DESCRIBES the cog process by which a criminal avoids guilt AFTER they committed a crime
- Doesn't explain why in the first place
- other explanations are needed
32
Name a study which supports the idea of cognitive distortions.
| Cognitive: distortions
Howitt and Sheldon
- Questionnaires with sex offenders
- non contact and contact (physically abused children)
- non contact minimalised
Alvaro and Gibbs
- measured CD's in antisocial adults
- strong relationship between the level of antisocial behaviour and minimalisation (more antisocial more they downplayed)
33
How is DAT socially sensitive?
| DAT
- may lead to stereotyping of individuals who come from impoverished, criminal backgrounds
- people will assume they will committ offences
- self fulfilling prophecy
- denied opportunities
34
How is DAT determinisitic?
| DAT
- does not account for individual differences
- some people are easily led than others
- neglects the role of temperament and personality
35
Is DAT falsifiable?
| DAT
- No
- you cannot test it
- cannot count up someone's associations and influences accurately
- may be a combination of influences rather than a simplistic one or two
- lacks features of science which is important for psychology as it is the science of the mind
36
Name a strength of DAT
| DAT
- shifted emphasis away from early biological accounts of offending (lombroso)
- draws attention to the fact that deviant social circumstances and environments may be more to blame for offending than deviant people
37
How is freud's theory of complexes sexist?
| Psychodynamic approach
- focused on oedipus and added electra complex as an afterthought
38
How does freudian theory have gender bias?
| Psychodynamic approach
- girls develop weaker superego than boys because identification with SS parent isnt as strong
- due to girls not experiencing castration anxiety and are under less pressure to indetify with mothers
- means that women are more prone to offending behaviour
39
How is Freud's assumption about women offending more (due to weak superego) wrong?
| Psychodynamic approach
- trends show that up to 20x more men are in prison than women
- Freud is incorrect, his theory may have no real basis in real life, possibly just ideological
40
Describe conflicting evidence regarding Bowlby.
| Psychodynamic approach
- Hilda Lewis
- 500 young people
- Found that maternal deprivation was a poor predictor of future offending and the ability to form close relationships in adolescence
- Even if there is a link, may not be causational
- Other factors like growing up in poverty
| correlation vs causation
41
Who investigated negative psych effects on prisoners?
| Custodial sentencing
- Bartol= imprisonment can be brutal, demeaning and generally devastating
- 119 people suicide in prisons in 2016, an increase of 32%
- most at risk are young single men during the first 24h
- 25% of women and 15% of men reported symptoms of psychosis
- supports the view that oppressive prison regimes may be detrimental
42
What is a limitation with the statistics regarding negative psych effects?
| Custodial sentencing
- figures do not include the number of inmates who were experiencing psychotic symptoms before incarceration
- may have pre-existing conditions
- importation model argues that prisoners may import some of their psych porblems so we don't know if it is a problem with prison regimes or trauma
- confounding variables that influence the link between prison and its psych effects
43
What is a strength of custodial sentencing and treatment?
| Custodial sentencing
- rehabilitation
- improving character
- accessing education to find a job
- vera inst of justice= offenders who take place in college education programmes are 43% less likely to reoffend
- prison may be worthwhile
44
What is an issue with custodial sentencing and other prisoners?
| Custodial sentencing
- prisoners undergo a more dubious education
- long term offenders may give younger inmates the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade
- may also acquire criminal contacts
- undermines attempts at rehabilitation
45
Evaluate the effectiveness of TEPs
| TEPs
- Hobbs and holt observed a significant difference in positive behaviour compared to the non token economy group in their investigation
- However...
- Field found a TEP used with young people with behavioural problems was generally effective but there was a number of young people who did not respond
46
Evaluate the cost and easiness of implementing TEPs
| TEPs
- No need for specialist professionals to be involved
- Can be designed and implemented by anyone
- Cost effective and easy to follow once workable methods of reinforcement have been established
47
Are there ethical concerns with TEPs?
| TEPs
- Manipulative and dehumanising
- It is obligatory to follow the scheme rather than optional
- Human rights campaigners argue that withdrawal of privileges is unethical
48
Describe the issue with behaviour mod schemes and staff
| TEPs
- success of systems depend on consistent approaches from staff
- Bassett and blanchard= if any staff applied techniques inconsistently benefits were lost
- due to factors like lack of training or high staff turnover
49
How does RJ have research support?
| Restorative justice
- The RJC reported the results of a major 7 year research project
- 85% of survivors reported satisfaction meeting face to face
- 78% would recommend to other people
- 60% felt it had made them feel better about the incident enabling closure
- Only 2% said it made them feel worse
50
How might RJ not be focused on victims?
| RJ
- Wood and Suzuki suggest that RJ is not as survivor focused as reported
- Researchers say that RJ processes can become distorted such as when survivors are used as a way of helping to rehabilitate offenders rather than being helped themselves
- The needs of the survivor may be seen as secondary
51
Describe the effect of RJ on recidivism +
| RJ
- A meta analysis of 10 studies by Strang compared offenders who experienced face to face restorative justice schemes with those who experienced custodial sentencing
- The RJ group was significantly less likely to reoffend
- This reduction was larger in offenders convicted of violent crime than crimes against property
- Shows that RJ does work to rehabilitate
52
How might RJ be limited in terms of crimes it can be used in?
| RJ
- cant be used in DV cases
- Liebman argues that the main concern is that the power imbalance between abuser and abused puts pressure on survivors who may fear the worst if they do not go along with their partner or ex partner’s suggestions during mediation
- Not ethical, abused is traumatised and may further harm their mental wellbeing if brought face to face again
53
How might AM be better than other behavioural programmes?
| Anger management
- It focuses on changing the way an offender both thinks and behaves/ tackles cognitive processes leading to anger and offending behaviour
- TEP's teach offenders association between behaviour and consequence, can be easily forgotten if not consistent
54
How might AM not actually be better ?
| Anger management
- may work in short term
- the lack of re offending data means that we don't know if the effects last
- very different from role playing controlling anger to controlling anger outside of prison
- Blackburn= little evidence that it reduces recidivism in the long term
55
Name an implication of AM
| Anger management
- Cost implications
- Expesnive as they require highly trained specialists used to dealing with violent offenders
- many prisons ma not have the resources to fund such programmes
- also takes committment and maturity for the offenders
- change takes time, likely to add to the expenses
56
What is the issue with the AM approach regarding the link between anger and offending?
| Anger management
- assumed in AM that there is a causal relationship between anger and comitting crime
- Loza and Fanous found no differences in levels of anger between offenders classed as violent and non violent
- AM may be misguided as they provide offenders with a justification for their behaviour
psychology
flashcards
Decks in class (23)
# Cards
-
Exam techniques2
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Attachment AO181
-
Attachment AO349
-
Memory AO157
-
Memory AO333
-
Approaches in psychology AO170
-
Approaches in psychology AO326
-
Psychopathology AO148
-
Psychopathology AO340
-
Social influence AO152
-
Social influence AO345
-
Research methods AO158
-
Research methods AO324
-
Research methods Y257
-
Gender AO171
-
Gender AO343
-
Forensics AO192
-
Forensics AO356
-
Schizophrenia AO152
-
Schizophrenia AO341
-
Biopsychology AO150
-
Biopsychology AO320
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Issues and debates AO158
