The Top-down approach: Evaluation

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  • The Top-down approach: Evaluation
    • P- Only applies to particular crimes
      • E- More common offences such as burglary and destruction of property do not lend themselves to profiling because the resulting crime scene reveals very little about the offender
      • C- Does reveal important details from crime scene about a suspect for crimes such as ****, murder, cult killings, etc.
      • E- Lacks generalisability
    • P- Based on outdated models of personality
      • E- Alison et al. suggested that the top-down approach is naïve and is informed by old fashioned models of personality
        • Sees behaviour as being driven by stable emotional traits rather than external factors
      • C- Adopts a reductionist approach. Breaks down behaviours into operationalised behaviour categories
      • E- Poor validity (based on 'static' models of personality.
    • P- Evidence does not support 'disorganised' offender
      • E- Canter et al. used smallest space analysis which analysed data from 100 murders.
        • Suggested evidence of a distinct organised type, but not the case for disorganised.
      • C- Still used as a model for professional profilers in the US and has widespread support.
      • E- Conflicting evidence suggests lack of reliability

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