Assingments % - Apply Psychological Theories to the Criminal’s Behavior

1. a panel of experts reviews articles before they are accepted for publication;
2. a scholar or specialist in the field writes articles;
3. articles report on original research or experimentation;
4. are often published by professional associations;
5. utilize terminology associated with the discipline.
Newspapers, magazines, and similar periodicals must be used sparingly and are acceptable only as sources of supplementary information.
References like Wikipedia, Psychology Today, and Court TV are not primary sources, are not peer-reviewed (reviewed for empirical integrity, accuracy, and authenticity), and are not appropriate for scholarly writing (with the possible exception of use for anecdotal background information).
This assignment is a criminal profilingr. The student will pick a high-profile criminal listed on the assignment page and explain the biological, situational, and developmental factors contributing to this criminal’s behavior, including geographic mobility, victimology, and M.O./signature.
Examples of Possible Criminal Profiles
David Berkowitz (son of sam)
Dennis Rader (BTK)
Ted Bundy
Jeffry Dahmer
Albert Fish
John Wayne Gacy
Aileen Wuornos
Make sure you provide the following:
1. Give a thorough description of the criminal’s background (life story).
2. Utilize course material to explain the criminal’s behavior to include geographical mobility, victimology, modus operandi, and signature
3. Discuss how psychological theories and research contributed to this criminal’s apprehension, prosecution, understanding and/or treatment.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide for Completing the Criminal Profiling Assignment

This assignment will require you to create a criminal profile by analyzing a high-profile criminal case, explaining factors that contributed to the criminal’s behavior, and exploring psychological theories. Here’s how you can approach this assignment step by step:

Step 1: Choose Your High-Profile Criminal

Pick a Criminal Case:
Select one of the high-profile criminals listed in your assignment. For example:
- David Berkowitz (Son of Sam)
- Dennis Rader (BTK)
- Ted Bundy
- Jeffry Dahmer
- Albert Fish
- John Wayne Gacy
- Aileen Wuornos
Tip: Choose a criminal whose background and behavioral patterns are well-documented so you have enough material to research and analyze.

Step 2: Research the Criminal’s Background

Provide a Thorough Description of the Criminal’s Background:
Gather information on the criminal’s life history. You will need to research both their childhood and adult life to create a comprehensive profile.
- Where were they born, and what was their early life like?
- Were there any early signs of violent or antisocial behavior?
- What events or influences in their life could have contributed to their criminal behavior?
Tip: Use scholarly articles, books, and reputable sources to obtain accurate information. Avoid unreliable sources like Wikipedia or general news articles.

Step 3: Analyze the Criminal’s Behavior

Geographical Mobility:
Explore the criminal’s movement and how their geographic mobility contributed to their crime spree. For instance, did they commit crimes in different locations? How did their travel impact their ability to evade capture?
Victimology:
Investigate the profile of the victims that the criminal targeted. What common characteristics did the victims share (e.g., age, gender, occupation)? Understanding the victimology is key to profiling the criminal’s behavior.
Modus Operandi (M.O.) and Signature:
Describe the criminal’s modus operandi (the method or pattern used in committing crimes) and signature (specific personal behaviors or rituals that are part of their crimes). These can help law enforcement in identifying and catching the criminal.

Tip: Use course material to explain these patterns and connect them to the criminal’s overall behavioral profile.

Step 4: Apply Psychological Theories to the Criminal’s Behavior

Psychological Theories:
Use psychological theories and research to help explain the criminal’s behavior. Focus on theories such as:
- Biological Factors: How genetics or brain chemistry might have contributed to their criminal behavior.
- Situational Factors: Environmental or social circumstances that could have influenced their actions.
- Developmental Factors: Childhood experiences or trauma that may have led to criminal tendencies.
Tip: Discuss how these theories could have helped law enforcement understand the criminal, leading to their apprehension or prosecution. Explore if any psychological treatments or assessments were used.

Step 5: Discuss the Criminal’s Apprehension, Prosecution, and Understanding

Apprehension:
Discuss how the criminal was eventually caught. Was their modus operandi identifiable by investigators? How did psychological profiling contribute to their capture?
Prosecution:
Describe how the criminal’s psychological state was taken into account during the prosecution. Were there any psychological evaluations done during their trial?
Treatment:
If applicable, discuss how psychological theories influenced the criminal’s treatment, either during or after incarceration. Did they undergo therapy or psychological evaluations? Was their mental state used as part of their defense?

Step 6: Use Course Material to Support Your Argument

Support Your Analysis:
Use course materials and scholarly sources to support your analysis of the criminal’s behavior, psychological theories, and their apprehension. Make sure you reference academic journals or peer-reviewed sources for credibility.

Step 7: Organize Your Paper and Proofread

Structure Your Paper Clearly:
Ensure your paper is organized with clear sections covering:
- Introduction (brief overview of the criminal)
- Background (detailed life history)
- Analysis of Behavior (geographical mobility, victimology, M.O., signature)
- Psychological Theories (biological, situational, and developmental factors)
- Apprehension, Prosecution, and Treatment
- Conclusion (final thoughts on the criminal’s profile)
Proofread for Clarity and Grammar:
Make sure your paper is free from spelling and grammatical errors, and that your arguments are presented logically.

Step 8: Submit Your Paper

Double-check Requirements:
Before submitting your paper, review the assignment criteria and rubric to make sure you’ve covered all necessary points and followed any formatting guidelines (APA style, length, etc.).

Tip: Ensure your sources are credible and properly cited in APA format.

By following this step-by-step guide, you will be able to create a thorough criminal profile, analyzing the biological, situational, and developmental factors that contributed to the criminal’s behavior. The use of psychological theories will further enhance your understanding and evaluation of the criminal’s actions and the investigation process.