Deck 5: Criminal Profiling and Psychological Autopsies

Question 1

A distinctive, personal aspect of the crime that presumably reveals the personality of the killer is known as a(n):

A) attribution.
B) anchor.
C) covfefe.
D) signature.

Answer 1

signature.

Question 2

Unlike profiling, behavioral investigative advice (BIA) offers help to investigators on all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) whether a crime might be part of a series of crimes.
B) what questions to ask during police interviews.
C) how to use the media.
D) what personality traits can be inferred from the crime scene evidence.

Answer 2

what personality traits can be inferred from the crime scene evidence.

Question 3

An influential, though unproven, taxonomy dividing killers into the organized and disorganized categories, makes a questionable leap from features of the _____ to the _____ of the perpetrator.

A) crime scene; name
B) crime scene; personality traits
C) suspect; name
D) suspect; personality traits

Answer 3

crime scene; personality traits

Question 4

According to the text, easily observable characteristics such as race should NOT be used for the purpose of classifying people as suspects because:

A) large groups of innocent people are likely to be harassed as a result.
B) suspects may mask themselves to obscure or alter visible characteristics.
C) these characteristics can change over time.
D) these characteristics are listed in identifying documents.

Question 5

Profiles are created primarily for the purpose of:

A) aiding in understanding human nature.
B) developing some leads in the ongoing investigation.
C) studying criminal investigation techniques.
D) embarrassing investigators for pursuing the wrong suspects.

Question 6

The hypothesized four categories of serial killers suggested by Holmes and Holmes (2010) are _____, and most serial killers _____.

A) overlapping; do not fit neatly into the categories
B) very telling; belong to the power-oriented type
C) useful in crime investigations; are apprehended as a result of being categorized correctly
D) hard to test; have been vocal in refusing to provide data for their correct classification

Question 7

When profilers create a profile of the criminal based on the information about the crime, one could say they are constructing a:

A) valid characterization.
B) tentative description.
C) development of personality.
D) signature.

Question 8

Mokros and Alison (2002) analyzed 100 stranger rapes for the presence of 28 characteristics of the rapists, who committed them, and found:

A) most of the 28 characteristics present in nearly all of the crimes.
B) no discernible demographic resemblance between criminals that committed very similar crimes.
C) clear demographic grouping into distinct categories among those criminals who committed similar crimes.
D) that almost none of the 28 characteristics were present in any of the crimes.

Question 9

The following attributes are characteristic of many serial killers, EXCEPT:

A) a history of childhood abuse.
B) some form of brain injury that impairs rational thinking.
C) the use of firearms in killing.
D) the use of alcohol or drugs before killing.

Question 10

Studies found that profilers were _____ than other people at guessing some characteristics of murder perpetrators. The overall accuracy rates of their profiles were _____.

A) slightly better; still fairly low
B) slightly better; pretty high
C) less accurate; still high
D) significantly better; amazingly high

Question 11

Which one of the following types of serial killers is most likely to be psychotic, as hypothesized by Holmes and Holmes (2010)?

A) Hedonistic
B) Power-oriented
C) Mission-oriented
D) Visionary

Question 12

Somebody has murdered a dark-haired pre-pubescent girl in the area last year and left her mutilated body near the train tracks. This year, another dark-haired girl of about the same age was murdered and her body left near the train tracks in the same general area. Based on what you have learned from the textbook, can it be a serial killer's job?

A) Yes because there are enough similarities between the two cases.
B) Not conclusive because there are fewer than three cases with similarities.
C) Only if there is matching DNA evidence from the scenes of both crimes.
D) It must be either a serial killer or a mass murderer.

Question 13

The process of drawing inferences about a suspect's personality, behavior, motivation, and demographic characteristics based on the crime scene information is referred to as:

A) profiling.
B) characterization.
C) development of personality.
D) visionary types.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT typical for an organized murderer as hypothesized by the organized/disorganized distinction?

A) Average or above average intelligence.
B) Sexually incompetent.
C) Controlled mood during crime.
D) Geographic mobility.

Question 15

Whereas _____ profiling relies on instinct, _____ profiling relies on maps and mathematics.

A) criminal; psychological
B) actuarial; criminal
C) geographic; actuarial
D) psychological; geographic

Question 16

Most serial murder cases _____ solved by diligent police work _____ profiles.

A) are not; but are rather solved by
B) are not; nor are they solved by
C) are; with a huge help from
D) are; and not by

Question 17

Psychological autopsies are typically used in cases involving:

A) serial murders.
B) equivocal death.
C) mass murders.
D) unequivocal death.

Question 18

All of the following are possible reasons profiling may be useful in an ongoing investigation, EXCEPT:

A) profiles help focus the efforts of investigators.
B) a profile can help set a trap for the criminal.
C) when interrogating a possible suspect, detectives may ask questions suggested by the profile.
D) if a suspect is caught, the profile may help pick him out of the lineup.

Question 19

A British study found that police detectives found profiling _____ the profiles helped catch a perpetrator in _____ of the cases where profiles were developed.

A) helpful, and; the majority
B) not useful, and; none
C) helpful, but; a very small proportion
D) not useful, but; the majority

Question 20

Victims in a string of murder cases were all mutilated in a specific way, which makes profilers think of this feature as a(n) _____ that may reveal something about the perpetrator's personality.

A) anchor
B) vision
C) signature
D) lead

Question 21

Many people believe that profiling is effective in solving crimes. These perceptions are:

A) corroborated by systematic research.
B) based on first-person accounts of FBI profilers.
C) a result of DNA evidence testing.
D) supported by the use of psychometric scales.

Question 22

Killers that tend to be more impulsive and select victims more randomly are referred to as:

A) disorganized killers.
B) organized killers.
C) stalkers.
D) mission killers.

Question 23

When profilers construct a criminal profile, they mostly seem to rely on:

A) psychometric scales.
B) instinct-based judgments.
C) investigative reporting.
D) systematic research.

Question 24

Killers that can be described as carefully selecting their victims are referred to as:

A) disorganized killers.
B) serial killers.
C) stalkers.
D) organized killers.

Question 25

Rational thinking, in serial killers, is often:

A) intact.
B) highly developed.
C) impaired.
D) dependent on the killer's age.

Question 26

According to the text, one of the first criminal profiles was developed by Dr. Bond based on the victims' autopsies in the _____ case, in _____.

A) Jack the Ripper; 1996
B) Jack the Ripper; 1888
C) Mad Bomber; 1957
D) Mad Bomber; 1996

Question 27

Many serial killers suffer from _____ that impairs their _____.

A) brain injury; modus operandi
B) brain injury; rational thinking
C) bedwetting; self-esteem
D) low self-esteem; modus operandi

Question 28

Which of the following is a correct statement about research on profiling?

A) Profiling has been extensively tested in scientific studies.
B) Research on profiling strongly supports its effectiveness.
C) Stories and case studies found profiling helpful to investigators.
D) There has been little systematic research on profiling.

Question 29

Many serial killers seem to prefer to use _____ methods of killing, such as _____.

A) intimate; strangulation or torture
B) intimate; guns or explosives
C) distant; bombs or other explosive devices
D) distant; guns or poison

Question 30

Most serial killers are _____ males of _____ intelligence.

A) African American; above average
B) African American; average
C) white; above average
D) white; average

Question 31

When detectives were asked in a study about their views on profiling, most said they found it:

A) helpful.
B) accurate.
C) overbearing.
D) questionable.

Question 32

Holmes and Holmes (2010) have categorized serial killers into four types: visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic, and power-oriented. Subsequent research showed that:

A) visionary killers are more common than hedonistic ones.
B) most serial killers do not fall neatly into just one of these categories.
C) organized killers can only belong to either mission-oriented or power-oriented types.
D) stalkers can easily turn into either of the four types of serial killers.

Question 33

According to the text, Dr. _____ is considered to be the first individual to develop a criminal profile when working on the Jack the Ripper case, at the end of the 19th century.

A) James Brussel
B) Thomas Bond
C) James Bond
D) John Douglas

Question 34

One of the characteristics thought to be indicative of childhood maladjustment has been identified among quite a few serial killers. It is:

A) cruelty to animals.
B) mental illness.
C) extroversion.
D) temper tantrums.

Question 35

Like with any other technique, what would be required to demonstrate the usefulness of profiling is:

A) systematic research.
B) stories and case studies.
C) DNA evidence.
D) media portrayals.

Question 36

Psychological profiling mostly relies on the _____ of a particular profiler.

A) psychological education
B) clinical experience
C) skilled intuition
D) unstructured interview

Question 37

According to the text, profiling is regarded as a mostly _____ technique.

A) unvalidated
B) validated
C) research
D) biometrical

Question 38

The characteristics of serial killers seem to have _____ though there are _____ common to all serial killers.

A) no similarities; a few traits
B) some recurring patterns; only two characteristics
C) a lot of similarities; only two characteristics
D) some recurring patterns; no characteristics

Question 39

Serial killers tend to select victims:

A) completely at random.
B) of a particular type.
C) based on their movie crushes.
D) of above-average intelligence.

Question 40

Many serial killers appear to have an elevated level of:

A) religious zealotry.
B) violent sexual fantasies.
C) sense of grandeur.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 41

In a study examining the effectiveness and accuracy of profiling, the vast majority of criminal profiles were found to be:

A) inaccurate and inconsistent.
B) inaccurate but useful.
C) accurate and useful.
D) accurate but of little help.

Question 42

Research has essentially discredited the idea at the heart of the profiling process: that _____ crimes are committed by _____ people.

A) different; different
B) different; similar
C) similar; similar
D) similar; different

Question 43

The hypothesized differences between organized and disorganized killers:

A) can lead to easy identification of a suspect.
B) were not confirmed in empirical studies.
C) earned the Nobel prize for the authors of the typology.
D) were extensively tested in field experiments.

Question 44

Which one of the following statements about the application of criminal profiling to police investigations is INCORRECT?

A) Most characteristics in the profiles are of little use to investigators.
B) Most cases for which criminal profiles were developed, have been solved with their help.
C) Many traits identified in criminal profiles are ambiguous and open to interpretation.
D) Incorrect profiles may divert police resources to pursuing the wrong trail.

Question 45

As a rule, _____ approaches have been found to be superior to _____ approaches.

A) geographic; statistical
B) psychological; statistical
C) psychological; geographic
D) statistical; intuitive

Question 46

One of the most serious _____ of profiles is that _____ profiles may direct the police to look at the wrong suspects.

A) problems; misleading
B) uses; accurate
C) inconsistencies; correct
D) advantages; additional

Question 47

Alexis is trying to figure out whether murders in three different states were committed by the same person. This process is referred to as:

A) case linkage.
B) psychological autopsy.
C) random speculation.
D) probative evidence.

Question 48

According to the text, courts have been reluctant to allow expert testimony based on psychological autopsies. One exception to this rule is a routine use of psychological autopsies in cases where:

A) there was a history of domestic violence in a case that ended up in a homicide.
B) the will is contested based on whether the deceased person was legally competent when the will was written.
C) a defendant in a murder case argues there was an attack and provocation by the victim who tried to commit suicide by the defendant's hand.
D) a car accident with a resulting fatality occurred.

Question 49

A serial killer has been dumping his victims' bodies along the highways in several states. Using computer programs for geographic profiling, a crime analyst is close to pinpointing a buffer zone, which is an area where the perpetrator:

A) is less likely to commit crimes.
B) is more likely to commit crimes.
C) did commit crimes that have not been discovered yet.
D) tries to return to, in order to clean up the crime scene.

Question 50

According to the text, some persistent problems with profiling include all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) low likelihood that a profile would help in the investigation.
B) ambiguity of characteristics identified in profiles.
C) high frequency of the use of profiling by law enforcement.
D) lack of substantial research evidence of the validity of profiling.

Question 51

When assessing for common traits among stranger rapists, Mokros and Alison (2002) found that there was _____ among criminals who committed similar crimes.

A) no demographic resemblance
B) a great deal of similarity
C) a common theme in the motives for rape
D) a similar childhood history

Question 52

In a study examining the effectiveness and accuracy of profiling, criminal profiles led to the identification of a perpetrator:

A) in less than 3% of the cases.
B) in over 90% of the cases.
C) within a week of the profile construction.
D) within a month of the profile construction.

Question 53

All of the following statements are true about implicit bias, EXCEPT:

A) implicit bias is subtle.
B) people are unaware of their own implicit biases.
C) in highly stressful situations, a person is more likely to act based on implicit bias.
D) implicit bias cannot be corrected, even with time and reflection.

Question 54

A basic assumption of profiling is that particular crime scene characteristics are associated with specific _____. Research has _____ this assumption.

A) personality types; confirmed
B) personality types; not supported
C) occupations; been funded to prove
D) occupations; further elaborated on

Question 55

According to the text, an attempt to examine the mental state of an individual prior to his or her death is known as:

A) the NASH system.
B) geographic profiling.
C) psychological autopsy.
D) probative evidence.

Question 56

The reliance on maps and mathematics to develop predictions about possible locations of future crimes is referred to as:

A) criminal profiling.
B) characterization.
C) geographic profiling.
D) the NASH system.

Question 57

The NASH system is utilized to classify the:

A) probative evidence.
B) criminal typology.
C) causes of death.
D) profile data.

Question 58

In a study by Pinizzotto and Finkel (1990) that has compared the accuracy of profiles developed by trained profilers with those of students, it was found that _____ created more accurate profiles _____.

A) students; across the board
B) profilers; but only for sex offenses
C) students; but only for murder cases
D) profilers; in all cases

Question 59

Janet is a chief of police in a city where a string of rape-murder cases are being investigated. She has received an offer of help from the FBI. The FBI's Behavioral Science Unit specialists have developed a profile to help Janet's department solve the cases that look like a serial killer spree. All of the following are serious problems with the characteristics of the perpetrator identified in the profile, EXCEPT:

A) Most characteristics in the profile are unusual.
B) Most characteristics in the profile are hard to observe.
C) Most characteristics in the profile are ambiguous.
D) Most characteristics in the profile are contradictory.

Question 60

In geographic profiling, an anchor point refers to:

A) the location from where attacks might be launched.
B) the area where the offender is least likely to commit crimes.
C) the last known area where the offender committed a crime.
D) one of a series of locations where the offender is believed to be hiding.

Question 61

Compare and contrast criminal profiling, geographic profiling, and behavioral investigative advice (BIA).

Question 62

What is the purpose of a psychological autopsy and when would it be used?

Question 63

How is profiling used in criminal investigations? Is it effective?