Criminal Psychology Study Group
Time Wednesday 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Classroom location HAB 107, CSB
Instructor Aubrey Immelman, Ph.D.
Facilitator Tony Kirsch
Office Richarda P23
Phone (320) 363–5481 (office) or 240–6828 (home)
E-mail aimmelman@csbsju.edu
Program Content
The study group replicates Dr. Immelman’s Psychology Seminar in Criminal Investigative Analysis in simplified format. It focuses on psychological profiling – the practice of using concepts from the science of psychology to determine the psychological makeup and/or predict the behavior of a fugitive criminal.
The core resources include the following works:
Campbell, J. H., & DeNevi, D. (Eds.). (2004). Profilers: Leading investigators take you inside the criminal mind. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. (2002). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Procedure
Classroom presentations are conducted by senior Tony Kirsch, who is facilitating the study group as a capstone integrative experience for his psychology major. Kirsch, in collaboration with his moderator, Dr. Immelman, develops the curriculum for the Criminal Psychology Study Group, compiles written summaries of selected topics from the core readings, and presents those topics to the group under Dr. Immelman’s direct supervision.
Academic Content / Outcomes Used for Evaluation
Grading is S/U, based on regular attendance of study group meetings, participating in class discussion, and a short reflective paper on the topic of criminal psychology.
Presentation Schedule
January 31
“Psychological profiling: An introduction” (PVC 1)
“Criminal profiling from crime scene analysis”
(Profilers 1)
February
7 “Crime scene and profile characteristics of organized and disorganized
murders” (Profilers 8)
“Classifying sexual homicide crime scenes”
(Profilers 7)
“Analyzing the crime scene” (PVC 5)
(Note: An review of investigative techniques popularized in the media by
TV programs such as CSI)
February 14
“Profiling serial murderers” (PVC 7)
Interviewing serial killers: “The men who murdered” (Profilers 5)
“Interviewing techniques for homicide investigations” (Profilers 9)
(Note: A look at the psychology of prolific offenders such as Ed Kemper, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, “Green River Killer” Gary Ridgway, and Bind-Torture-Kill [BTK] Strangler Dennis Rader)
February 21 “How to interview a cannibal” (Profilers 12)
(Note: A look at the psychology of Jeffrey Dahmer)
March
7 “Rape and rape-murder” (Profilers 11)
“Sexual homicide of elderly women” (Profilers 18)
“Psychological profiling and rape” (PVC 8)
Methods of avoiding/deterring different types of rapists
March 14 “Pedophilia and psychological profiling” (PVC 9)
“Nonfamily child abductors who murder their victims: Offender demographics from interviews with incarcerated offenders” (Profilers 20)
(Note: A look at Albert Fish and Internet predators)
March
21 “JonBenet Ramsey: The Murder of A Beauty Queen” (PVC 14)
“Sexual Fatalities” (Profilers 13)
March
28 “The split reality of murder” (Profilers 6)
“Profiling Satanic and Cult-Related Murders” (PVC 11)
(Note: A look at Charles Manson)
April 11 “Geography, profiling, and predatory criminals” (PVC 12)
“Geographic profiling update” (Profilers 19)
“The victim in psychological profiling” (PVC 15)
April 18 “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Solving Cold Cases” (Profilers 17)
April 25 “Autoeroticism” (PVC 10)
Equivocal Death Analysis
Profilers = Campbell, J. H., & DeNevi, D. (Eds.). (2004). Profilers: Leading investigators take you inside the criminal mind. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
PVC = Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. (2002). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
On the Web: http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/CrimPsych/CPSG-Description.htm
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