Support and Criticisms of the Top-Down Approach

Research has both supported and criticized the organized and disorganized typology central to the top-down approach in Forensic Psychology.

Canter (2004) used smallest space analysis, a statistical technique comparing data, to assess the usefulness of the top-down approach:

• Analyzed 100 US murderers cross-referenced with 39 organized and disorganized characteristics
• Found support for organized characteristics
• Found no support for disorganized characteristics

Highlight: The lack of support for disorganized characteristics undermines the validity of the classification system, as it fails to substantiate half of its core typology.

Problems with the original sample used to develop the approach include:

• Only 36 killers in the US were studied, which is a small sample size
• 25 were serial killers, making the sample unrepresentative of other types of crimes
• 11 were single or double murderers
• The sample was limited to one culture (American)

Example: The narrow focus on American serial killers limits the approach's applicability to crimes in other cultures or to non-serial offenses.

Evaluation points:

1. Limited applicability: The approach can only be applied to certain crimes that reveal substantial information about the criminal, such as rape, arson, and cult killings. This reduces its reliability for other types of crimes like theft or fraud.

2. Outdated personality models: The typology was developed using old-fashioned personality models that assume personality doesn't change and behavior/motivation remains consistent. This assumption may not hold true in modern contexts.

3. Lack of support for disorganized characteristics: Canter's (2004) study found support for organized characteristics but not for disorganized ones, reducing the validity of the approach.

4. Sample limitations: The original sample's small size, focus on serial killers, and limited cultural representation reduce its generalizability and population validity.

Quote: "A weakness of the classification system is that it is too simplistic and cannot categorise all criminals" (Goodwin, 2002).

These criticisms highlight the need for ongoing research and refinement in criminal profiling techniques to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in modern law enforcement contexts.