Understanding the "Criminal Mind" Why it looks so easy on TV, and Why TV so often gets it wrong

Transcription

1 Understanding the "Criminal Mind" Why it looks so easy on TV, and Why TV so often gets it wrong Charles A. Weaver, III, Ph. D. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Baylor University Waco, TX 1

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3 According to TV, criminals are.. Clever Careful Knowledgeable Rational Engaged in a game with investigators The product of troubled families 3

4 And forensic psychologists are.. Almost as clever (at the beginning) and more clever (at the end) Intuitive Insightful Able to deduce motives Able to predict next crime Capable of explaining behavior 4

5 Criminal Profiling: Performed by FBI/Law Enforcement (not psychology) Extremely few in number More an art than science Profilers not often allowed to testify in a trial No universally accepted methodology 5

6 Behavioral Science Unit Founded in 1974 by FBI First psychologically-driven explanations of exceptional criminals (e.g., serial killers) John Douglas Also founded VICAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) in 1985 Roy Hazelwood 6

7 Approaches to Profiling Psychological Analysis Look for Common Characteristics Look for Exceptional Characteristics 7

8 Which is most successful? Usually, those based on Common Characteristics VICAP Allows crimes to be Coded according to attributes Weapons used Time of Day Char. of victim Nature of Violence Physical evidence (DNA, clothing, etc.) 8

9 How can Causes of Criminal Behavior be studied? Comparison of genetically-related and adoptive Allows genetic influences to be separated from family influences Often, we see that what appears to be a family influence is really genetic predisposition Genetic influence are predispositions, not certainties. 9

10 Common Personality Traits? Antisocial Personality Disorder Deception/lying Impulsiveness Lack of Empathy Lack of Remorse Failure to Conform to Social Norms Irritability and/or aggressive behavior While many criminals would be diagnosed as APD, most with APD are not criminals 10

11 Common Personality Traits? Psychopathy/Sociopathy Not a clinical diagnosis, but elements of APD: Aggressive Narcissism Social Deviance Often, superficially charming Very strong genetic component Incredibly difficult to treat Those considered Psychopaths/Sociopaths overrepresented in prison 11

12 Antisocial Personality Traits? Early predictors of Psychopathy/Sociopathy Animal Torture Fire starting Violence/vandalism Violence Lying As children, often diagnosed with Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder 12

13 What about Criminal Minds? Not a single criminal type, but Most are below average in IQ/education Minorities over-represented in prison (1 in 10 A-A males between under correctional control ) More than 90% are male About 2/3 of those released re-offend within 3 years 13

14 What about Criminal Minds? Not a single criminal type, but Substance Abuse common (plus, more than half of those in prison sentenced for drug-related crimes) Mental Illness common 14

15 Prevalence of Mental Health Problems in Prisoners Federal State Jails General Population Depression 24% 22% 40% 8% Psychotic (Schizophrenia) Alcohol & Drug Dependence/Ab use 10% 15% 24% <3% 64% 74% 76% 7% Sources: National Alliance of Mental Illness, CDC, NIAAA 15

16 How to Interact? Resist our tendency toward Hindsight Bias Confirmation Bias Fundamental Attribution Error 16

17 Hindsight Bias Tendency to see events that have already happened as being more predictable than they really were 17

18 Confirmation Bias Tendency to see what we expect to see, or to accept more readily information that affirms our pre-existing beliefs 18

19 Fundamental Attribution Error (& Self-serving Bias) OUR Actions: Good things are the result of personal character. Bad things are the result of circumstances OTHERS Actions: Good things are the result of circumstances ( luck ). Bad things are the result of personal character 19

20 How to Interact? Take into Account Possible Lower IQ & Limited Education Possible History of Substance Abuse Likelihood of Mental Health Problems 20

21 Conclusions No Easy Explanations for Behavior Be skeptical of simple, universal explanations Behavior is always a combination of predispositions and environment Be mindful of complicating factors (education, mental health/substance abuse) Mental Health problems more likely at local levels Understanding is not the same as being able to change 21