Forensic and Criminal

Psychology
Stage 1 Psychology
 Criminal and
Forensic Psychology
The study of the thoughts, emotions and
behaviours/intentions that contribute to
criminal behaviour.

Although criminologists and criminal psychologists both study

criminals, their focus is quite different.

Criminology: the study of the causes of crime and ways to

prevent and/or control it.

Criminal Psychology: the study of the thoughts, feelings and

behaviours of criminals.

Forensic Psychology: Specialised area of psychology that applies

psychological theory to the legal and criminal justice system.
 The role of a Criminal Psychologist

Criminal Psychologists use their psychological knowledge and expertise to evaluate criminals.

This includes:
• Creating criminal profiles
• Interviewing criminals to gain insight and understanding
• Look for cues of deception
• Evaluate the mental capacity of criminals
• Determine if criminals are legally competent
• Psychologically evaluates defendants using tests
Criminal
Profiling
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
Criminal Profiling
Criminal profiling is intended to help investigators to accurately predict
and profile the characteristics of unknown criminal subjects or offenders.

Steps in criminal profiling:

1. The crime is compared to other similar crimes from the past.
2. The crime scene is analysed.
3. The life of the victim is analysed.
4. The motivation of the crime is analysed.
5. A description of the possible offender is developed.

It is also necessary to try and establish the criminal’s MO (modus

operandi) which means mode of operating or working/usual way of doing
something.
Blood
Spatter
Analysis
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
Blood Spatter 101

Blood spatter analysis can be extremely useful, not only for scientists and
law enforcement analysing the crime scene, but for criminal psychologists
to determine motive, weapon used and help build the criminal profile.

Blood spatter can range from a few drops to large pools. Regardless, the
pattern is left by blood travelling into space and coming into contact with
another surface.

The average adult has approximately 10 pints of blood (4-5 litres).

 Types of Blood
Spatter
There are three main types of
blood spatter, each with their
own-examples depending on the
case.

• Passive spatter
• Transfer spatter
• Projected spatter
 Passive Spatter
Drops, flows and/or pools of
blood resulting from gravity.

The surface of the blood falls onto due

to gravity causes different patterns i.e.
Smooth surface i.e.
glass
Rough surface i.e.
wood
blood drops falling onto a smooth
surface such as glass will cause smooth
edges whereas rough/uneven surfaces
will cause spiny edges to form.
 Satellite spatter is when smaller droplets of blood bounce
Passive Spatter
out to the sides of a larger central pool when they hit.
Satellite spatter also very common when there is blood-in-
Examples blood i.e. where blood drips repeatedly into an existing
pool of blood.

Satellite Spatter Blood into Blood

Passive Spatter
Examples
A ‘saturation’ or
‘pooling’ pattern
indicates the victim has
been bleeding from a
certain part of the body
for an extended period
of time with no
movement. Typical to
see on mattresses,
beds and floors. Pooling blood spatter
 Transfer Spatter
Occurs when an object that has
wet blood on it comes into
contact with another object.

Common examples include a shoe,

hair, hand, weapon or clothing
transfers. Can be extremely useful in
determining the victims and offenders’
movements at a crime scene.
 Transfer Spatter Examples
Shoe swipe transfer
A ‘swipe’ refers to blood that gets smeared as you
move a bloody source across an unsoiled source.
This causes ‘feathering’ typically in the direction of
the movement. This typically also involves hands,
hair and fabric.

Hand swipe transfer A ‘wipe’ pattern by contrast is when you drag an

object through an existing blood stain, removing
sections of the blood. Very typical when offenders
rub a cloth through blood stains to conceal their
crimes.

Wipe transfer
 Projected Spatter
Occurs when a force is applied to
the source of the blood.

Important to look at the velocity of

the projected stain: categorized in
one of three categories: low,
medium and high.
 Low velocity
Projected spatter
Occurs when a minimal amount of
force is used to spatter blood, or
when gravity alone causes blood to
drip (passive stains are an example
of low velocity).

Characterised by large drops, much

bigger and chunkier than medium or
high velocity spatter. Examples of
inflection include a punch/fist or a
small stab wound.
Knife/sharp wounds in particular can
also cause arterial blood spatter in
which a spurt of blood is released Arterial blood spatter
when a major artery is severed.
 Medium velocity
Projected spatter
Occurs when there is a
moderate amount of force.

The force applied to the blood

source (usually the victims body)
means that the blood travels
faster and produces smaller
airborne droplets than it would in
a low velocity pattern.

Very common pattern to find in a

crime scene involving violence Medium velocity spatter
with a blunt weapon.
Medium velocity
Projected spatter
‘Cast off’ is blood that flies
off an object whilst it is in
motion.

Several ways this could

occur, such as someone with
blood-soaked sleeves
swinging their arms as they
run, but more commonly the
blood gets inadvertently
flung off a weapon being Cast off blood spatter
used to make multiple blows.
 High velocity
Projected spatter
Occurs when something hits
blood with tremendous
force and atomizes it to a
fine mist or airborne
particulates.

Though it is frequently
accompanied by saturation
or pooling, the high velocity
mist leaves droplets so tiny
that they are often
High velocity spatter
imperceptible to the naked
eye.
Biopsychosocial
Model
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
The Biopsychosocial Model
• Human behaviour needs to be studied from
different perspectives.

• This helps to explain behaviour as a holistic concept.

Breakdown of the bio-psycho-social model:

• ‘Bio’ = biological influences on behaviour

• ‘Psycho’ = cognitive/psychological influences on
behaviour
• ‘Social’ = social factors that influence behaviour
 Bio = BIOLOGICAL
The biological and/or
chemical factors that
influence behaviour

• Inheritable Traits
• Hormones such as
Testosterone (links to
Aggression)
• Drug and Alcohol Consumption
• Imbalance in
Neurotransmitters
• Differences in Brain Anatomy
 Psycho = PSYCHOLOGICAL
The cognitive and/or
psychological factors that
influence behaviour. Includes
universal and individual
aspects of humans
• Aggressive
• Controlling
• Masochistic
• Feelings of Invincibility
• A desire for Power
• Personality Traits or Disturbances
• Past Experiences
• Childhood Trauma
• Relationship with Parents
 Social = SOCIAL
INFLUENCES
Examines an individual's
social environment and
how these factors influence
behaviour
• Customs
• Concepts of Law
• Childhood Raising Practices
• Cultural Identity
• Discrimination
• Family Structure
• Racism
• Religious Beliefs
Psychopath
y
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
 Psychopaths
Psychopathy is not a mental
illness, it is a personality
disorder.

Personality disorders are broadly

defined as:

‘Personalities that are

outside the social norms
and are associated with
maladaptive behaviours,
emotions and thoughts.’
 Psychopathy features antisocial behaviours, a lack of empathy
and remorse and a lack of inhibition.

PsychopathyCriminals with a psychopathic personality:

• Experience low levels of fear and feelings of invincibility.
• Have an inability to control their impulses.
• Use cruelty to gain control.
 Psychopathy
There have been links determined
between Psychopathy and criminal
activity, imprisonment and substance
abuse.

There is also a very strong link between

psychopathy and violence.

Psychopaths are more likely to be violent

and commit crimes ‘in cold blood’ rather
than as a reaction to an antagonist.
 There is some evidence to
suggest that genetics may play a
Causes of Psychopathy role:
Lack of empathy has been found
to be hereditary.
There is a gene called
‘The Warrior Gene’ that is linked
to aggression and violence.

It is important to remember that just

because a disorder is genetic doesn’t
mean that all related people will suffer,
just that there is an increased likelihood.

Relates to the ‘bio’ in the

biopsychosocial model of behaviour.
 Research suggests that the
environment can contribute to an
individual becoming psychopathic.

Such environmental factors can include:

• Having a convicted parent

• Being physically neglected
• Low involvement between father
and son
• Low family income
• Coming from a disrupted family
• Harsh discipline
• Poor treatment by peers/bullying

Causes of Psychopathy Relates to the ‘socio’ in the

biopsychosocial model of behaviour.
 Diagnosing Personality
Disorders: DSM-V
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders 5th edition (DSM-V) is a manual compiled
by American Psychiatrists that lists the symptoms
and criteria of all mental health issues.

It is used by GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists and other

mental health professionals to assist in diagnoses of
patients.

This leads to all medical practitioners diagnosing the same

symptoms in the same way across the Western world.

Interestingly, Psychopathy used to be listed, but is now

referred to as ‘Antisocial Personality Disorder’
Psychopathy/Anti-Social Personality
Disorder
DSM-V Criteria Checklist for Anti-Social Personality Disorder:
 Repeated law breaking
 Deceitfulness, lying
 Impulsivity
 Irritableness and Aggressiveness
 Reckless disregard of own safety and that of others
 Irresponsibility as seen in unreliable employment history or not meeting financial obligations
 Lack of remorse
 Evidence of conduct disorder before age 15
 Aged at least 18
 Anti social behaviour occurs outside of episodes of schizophrenia or mania
 A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of
the rights of others, occurring since age 15, as
Diagnosis indicated by three or more of the following:

of Anti- 1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviours as

indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;

Social
2. Deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others
for personal profit or pleasure;
3. Impulsivity, or failure to plan ahead;

Personality 4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or

assaults;
5. Reckless disregard for safety of self or others;

Disorder 6. Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain

consistent work behaviour or honour financial obligations;

from the 7. Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having

hurt, mistreated or stolen from another.

DSM-V • The individual is at least 18 years of age.

• There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before 15 years of age.
• The occurrence of anti-social behaviour is not exclusively during the course of
schizophrenia or a manic episode.
Narcissistic
Personality
Disorder
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
Narcissistic Personality
Disorder
People with narcissistic personality disorder have a
grandiose view of their abilities and are preoccupied
with fantasies of great success.
Require constant attention and excessive
admiration.
Relationships affected by lack of empathy, high
arrogance, envy for others and entitlement.
Very sensitive to criticism and may become enraged
by those who do not admire them.
Have unrealistic expectations of partners and will
reject them at the smallest inconvenience.
 DSM-V Criteria Checklist for Narcissistic Personality
Disorder:

Grandiose views of one’s importance

Narcissistic Preoccupation with one’s success, brilliance, beauty

Belief that one is special and can be understood
Personality only by other high-status people
Extreme need for admiration

Disorder Strong sense of entitlement

Tendency to exploit others
Lack of empathy
Envious of others
Arrogant behaviour or attitudes
Theories of
Criminality
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
Bowlby’s Theory of
Maternal Deprivation
Bowlby believed that mental health and behavioural
problems can be attributed to early childhood

The THREE PARTS of Bowlby’s Theory:

1) A child has an innate ability to form an attachment to
one main caregiver (usually the mother).
2) The child should receive continuous care from this
person for the first two years of their lives.
3) If this does not occur, consequences may be
delinquency, aggression, depression and psychopathy.

Demonstrated by Harry Harlow’s experiment on monkeys.

The
MacDonald
Triad
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
 MacDonald
Triad
The Macdonald triad is a
set of three factors that has
been suggested if all three
or any combination of two,
are present together, to be
predictive of or associated
with later violent
tendencies, particularly
with relation to serial
offenses.
The Dark
Triad
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
 The Dark Triad
Research on the Dark Triad is used in Criminal Psychology. People
scoring high on these traits are more likely to commit crimes and
cause social distress. They also tend to be less compassionate,
agreeable, empathetic, satisfied with their lives, and less likely to
believe they and others are good.

• Narcissism is characterized by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a

lack of empathy.
• Machiavellianism is characterized by manipulation and
exploitation of others, an absence of morality, and a higher level
of self interest.
• Psychopathy is characterized by continuous antisocial behavior, 
impulsivity, selfishness, callous and unemotional traits and 
remorselessness.
Emotion and
Criminality:
Expressive
Behaviours
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
Expressive Behaviour

Expressive Behaviour refers to the

observable expressions of behaviour.

The most common type of expressive

behaviour are facial expressions.

Facial expression are often used by

detectives to reveal liars or how a
criminal honestly feels about a
situation.
Expressive behaviour
Emotions are also expressed
by changes in body posture.
• Slouching
• Standing Erect
• The way we hold our heads
• The way we sit
• Whether or not we fold our
arms
Expressive behaviour – Mick Philpott
• The press release you just saw occurred only a
few days after Mick Philpott and his partner
killed six of his children in an arson attack.
• Mick Philpott was already a suspect, but after
this press release, the police became even
more suspicious and brought in two body
language experts to analyse the footage.
• The analysts determined the Philpott was
guilty. But what was it that gave him away?
Expressive behaviour Hint #1 - Lack of Tears
Mick Philpott Philpott did not cry many ‘real’
tears. His tears appeared to be
forced.

"All of these pictures show Mick

using the tissue to dab away his
tears but the tissue never gets
wet and crumpled as would
normally be the case," he said.

"Instead Philpott is using this to

hide his eyes and face from
cameras."
Expressive behaviour Hint #2 - Static Forehead
Philpott does not crease his forehead
Mick Philpott when expressing his ‘grief’. The analysts
stated that they thought it looked as
though he had Botox. This is not normal
when expressing grief and sadness.
In contrast, his partner’s forehead and
eyebrows changed throughout the press
conference, expressing true grief.
Ms James said: "The thing with criminal
body language though is that they often
feel no guilt which makes it very hard to
spot textbook leakage signals."
ACC Cotterill said: "What was lacking, I
think for me, was perhaps some heartfelt
appeal in relation to finding the killer of
his six children and proper displays of
emotion, and maybe anger as well."
 Hint #3 - Eye Signals
Expressive behaviour Both Philpott and his
Mick Philpott partner looked downwards
for much of the press
conference.

It is suggested that this

helped them avoid making
eye contact with others.

It also shows a lack of self-

esteem and an attempt to
conceal the truth.
 Hint #5 - Suppression of
Expressive behaviour Input
Mick Philpott Philpott’s partner, Mairead,
did not speak during the
press conference.
The analysts believe that she
doesn’t speak because he
has told her that he will
control the conference and
she must obey him.
"She's biting her lip, holding
back, just like the expression
biting your lip or tongue, so
you don't say something you
might regret."
Activity
• Choose a partner.
• Sit directly across from them in your
chairs.
• You will be looking into your partners
eyes in silence (no speaking!) for 2
minutes.
• If your partner looks away, record it on
your paper.
• Mrs C will time you all.
• Which group can do this without
looking away?
 Eye contact
Eye contact in adults triggers a state of
increased self consciousness.

Emotions such as happiness and anger

cognitively more recognisably intense when
shown by a person making eye contact.

People who avert their eyes are seen to be

less trustworthy and/or suspicious.

People who maintain appropriate eye

contact are seen to be more sincere,
empathetic and friendly.

Too much eye contact i.e. staring has the

opposite effect to the above – seen as an
intimidation technique.
 Eye contact
experiment
• New York Psychology professor Arthur Aron developed a famous
experiment on empathy involving eye contact.

• Strangers are asked to look into each others eyes in silence for 4
minutes.

• This can bring about intense emotions of empathy and closeness with
the person. Also used on friends and loved ones to establish connection.

• People with Anti-Social Personality Disorder often find this exercise very
difficult due to their lack of empathy, so will stare or ‘look through’ the
person.
 Eye contact
experiment
• Disclaimer – just because
some people may find this
hard does not mean they are
a psychopath!!

• Looking into someone's eyes

can be very intimidating for
anyone to experience due to
the intimate nature of it.
 Arthur Aron Eye
Contact Experiment
• Would you like to try
again?

• Same or different partner.

• Look into each others

eyes (not staring) in
silence for 4 minutes.

• Mrs C will time you.

 • Another way of detecting lies
is to study the ‘liar’ for micro-
expressions.

• Micro-expressions are very

fast changes in one’s face to
depict their true emotion,
even though they are trying
to hide it behind a ‘mask’ of
another emotion.

• http://www.microexpressions
test.com/micro-expressions-t
Micro-expressions est/
Physiologic
al
Responses
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
Physiological Responses
Physiological responses refer to the
changes in our bodies that occur when
we experience an emotion.

Example: When we are walking alone

at night and feel someone coming up
behind us, our heart rate increases, our
breathing rate increases, muscles
tense, mouth becomes dry.

Flight or fight response.

Physiological
Responses
Polygraph
Tests
Forensic and Criminal
Psychology
 Polygraph Tests
The polygraph test measures
heart rate, blood pressure,
breathing rate and galvanic skin
response.

Although the polygraph is often

called a ‘lie detector’ it doesn’t
actually measure lies. It monitors
certain physiological indicators of
arousal.
Polygraph Tests

A polygraph test compares a person’s physiological activity while in a

relaxed state with their physiological activity when asked an
emotionally charged question.

Control Questions are used to establish a baseline physiological

response which can be used for comparison purposes.

Control questions are routine and non-emotional such as ‘What is

your name?’
Polygraph Tests

Relevant questions are those which relate to the investigation.

During the test, relevant questions are mixed with control

questions. The control questions are usually strung together, as
though they are part of ‘small talk’ and relevant questions are
unexpectedly presented to the person being tested.

If physiological responses are weaker on the control questions, it is

inferred the person is lying.
 Polygraph
Tests
Not accepted as a legitimate means of
lie detection.
LIMITATION: Guilt and anxiety show
similar physiological changes.
LIMITATION: A dishonest person may
be able to beat the polygraph if they
can control their responses.
Have very low validity (accuracy).

Criminals have been able to beat the

polygraph machine by purposely
creating highly emotional responses to
the control questions. This means their
polygraph reading just shows that their
normal level of arousal is higher than
usual.