data gathered from in-depth interviews with 36 sexually motivated serial killers including Ted Bundy and Charles Manson. Profilers who use this method will match what is known about the crime and the offender to a template that the FBI developed using the data they gathered from the interviews they conducted. Murderers or rapists are classified in one of two categories (organised or disorganised) on the basis of the evidence, and this classification informs the subsequent police investigation. Organised and disorganised types of offender The distinction between organised and disorganised offenders is based on the idea that serious offenders have a particular way of 'working' (this is referred to as modus operandi – MO) and that these generally correlate with a particular set of social and psychological characteristics that relate to the individual. See table on the next page. Notes: Disorganised offenders Organised offenders Shows evidence of having planned the crime Shows little evidence of planning suggesting in advance the offence may have been a spontaneous, The victim is deliberately targeted and will spur of the moment act. often reflect the fact that the killer or rapist has The crime scene tends to reflect the impulsive a 'type'. nature of the attack – the body is usually still at They maintain a high level of control during the the scene and there appears to have been crime and may operate with almost detached very little control on the part of the offender. surgical precision. They tend to have a lower than average IQ, be There is little evidence or clues left behind at in unskilled work or unemployed, and often the scene. have a history of sexual dysfunction and failed They tend to be of above-average relationships. intelligence, in a skilled, professional They tend to live alone and often relatively occupation and are socially and sexually close to where the offence took place. competent. They are usually married and may even have children. Constructing a profile:
data gathered from in-depth interviews with 36 sexually motivated serial killers including Ted Bundy and Charles Manson. Profilers who use this method will match what is known about the crime and the offender to a template that the FBI developed using the data they gathered from the interviews they conducted. Murderers or rapists are classified in one of two categories (organised or disorganised) on the basis of the evidence, and this classification informs the subsequent police investigation. Organised and disorganised types of offender The distinction between organised and disorganised offenders is based on the idea that serious offenders have a particular way of 'working' (this is referred to as modus operandi – MO) and that these generally correlate with a particular set of social and psychological characteristics that relate to the individual. See table on the next page. Notes: Organised offenders Disorganised offenders Shows evidence of having planned the crime in advance The victim is deliberately targeted and will often reflect the fact that the killer or rapist has a 'type'. They maintain a high level of control during the crime and may operate with almost detached surgical precision. There is little evidence or clues left behind at the scene. They tend to be of above-average intelligence, in a skilled, professional occupation and are socially and sexually competent. They are usually married and may even have children. Shows little evidence of planning suggesting the offence may have been a spontaneous, spur of the moment act. The crime scene tends to reflect the impulsive nature of the attack – the body is usually still at the scene and there appears to have been very little control on the part of the offender. They tend to have a lower than average IQ, be in unskilled work or unemployed, and often have a history of sexual dysfunction and failed relationships. They tend to live alone and often relatively close to where the offence took place. Constructing a profile:
forensic_psychology_pack.docx