Sunday, June 2, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds
Ramsland, Katherine M. The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds. New York: Berkley Boulevard, 2010. Print.
This book talks about the reality of forensic psychology as not seen on TV. The book covers many different aspects of forensic psychology starting with the history of criminal profiling and building up from there to how to even go about developing a profile and how to use that profile on different types of crimes. Some other topics that are covered include negotiation techniques, profiling on trial and profiling abroad and what to expect in the future from criminal profiling.
This is probably my best source for my project. It is very informational and really helped clarify criminal profiling. The book went into depth about some reasons or motives behind some of these killers, which is why I'm doing my project on criminal profiling in the first place. The book also contains many different case studies done on individuals that I found rather intriguing.
This book talks about the reality of forensic psychology as not seen on TV. The book covers many different aspects of forensic psychology starting with the history of criminal profiling and building up from there to how to even go about developing a profile and how to use that profile on different types of crimes. Some other topics that are covered include negotiation techniques, profiling on trial and profiling abroad and what to expect in the future from criminal profiling.
This is probably my best source for my project. It is very informational and really helped clarify criminal profiling. The book went into depth about some reasons or motives behind some of these killers, which is why I'm doing my project on criminal profiling in the first place. The book also contains many different case studies done on individuals that I found rather intriguing.
Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs. Dir. Jonathan Demme. Perf. Jodie Foster, Lawrence A. Bonney, Anthony Hopkins. Strong Heart/Demme Production, Orion Pictures Corporation, 1990. DVD.
The movie Silence of the Lambs is about FBI agent, Clarice Starling, who is sent to talk to notorious serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lector, to try and get information out of him about a recent serial killer who skins his victims. Lector doesn't make it easy for Clarice, he gives her the answers she is looking for in cryptic messages. Once Clarice figures out Lector's game, she is able to solve the case.
This movie is very suspenseful and thrilling. It can make you squirm in your chair, because of the graphic nature, but since it was made in 1991, they don't show much blood and guts. This movie was made around the time that criminal profiling started to take off and many people started to take and interest in criminal profiling after this movie came out. The movie is a little inaccurate about how criminal profiling in the FBI really works, but most movies now-a-days stretch the truth for better entertainment value. The camera angles used really helped make this movie.
This movie is very suspenseful and thrilling. It can make you squirm in your chair, because of the graphic nature, but since it was made in 1991, they don't show much blood and guts. This movie was made around the time that criminal profiling started to take off and many people started to take and interest in criminal profiling after this movie came out. The movie is a little inaccurate about how criminal profiling in the FBI really works, but most movies now-a-days stretch the truth for better entertainment value. The camera angles used really helped make this movie.
The Serial Killers
Vlatko. "Serial Killers." Top Documentary Films RSS. TDF, 2013. Web. 05 May 2013.
The Serial Killers documentary is a documentary about some the most infamous serial killers. Some of the serial killers mentioned include Kenneth Bianchi, Ted Bundy and Henry Lee Lucas; they give first-hand accounts of their brutal crimes. The documentary also examines the sadistic crimes of other lesser-known serial killers/murderers.
I found this documentary very chilling. It makes me ask myself how people can harm other people in such a brutal manner. Yet in a way, it is very interesting because of the fact that we don't believe we are capable of such horrors. That is why I chose this topic, because it is a topic everyone is interested in but doesn't want to admit they are interested in it because of it's gruesome nature. People are curious about things that aren't like themselves or the society they live in, so they take an interest in those things. Which is why there are so many movies and TV shows about crazy, deranged psychopathic killers.
The Serial Killers documentary is a documentary about some the most infamous serial killers. Some of the serial killers mentioned include Kenneth Bianchi, Ted Bundy and Henry Lee Lucas; they give first-hand accounts of their brutal crimes. The documentary also examines the sadistic crimes of other lesser-known serial killers/murderers.
I found this documentary very chilling. It makes me ask myself how people can harm other people in such a brutal manner. Yet in a way, it is very interesting because of the fact that we don't believe we are capable of such horrors. That is why I chose this topic, because it is a topic everyone is interested in but doesn't want to admit they are interested in it because of it's gruesome nature. People are curious about things that aren't like themselves or the society they live in, so they take an interest in those things. Which is why there are so many movies and TV shows about crazy, deranged psychopathic killers.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Beautiful Malice
James, Rebecca. Beautiful Malice: A Novel. New York: Bantam, 2010. Print.
I read the book Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James. The book revolves around the character Katherine Patterson. Who has moved to a new city, changed her name and enrolled in a new school, all to escape her past. Before the incident, Katherine had it all. She was popular in school, had many friends, went to parties and had a boyfriend. She even went by the name Katie. The incident that occurred happened at a party that Katie was at. Her sister, Rachel, who was only 12 begged Katie to let her come to the party. Little did Katie know what was going to happen next. Rachel ended up in a car with four unknown boys; she was completely drunk. Since Katie was also drunk she need to find a ride home for her and Rachel. Katie accepts the offer from the unknown boys to drive them home because her efforts to get Rachel to stand and walk are denied. The ride home goes horribly wrong. The boys drugged Rachel, drove the girls out in the middle of nowhere. The leader locks Katie in a shed, but she finds a way to escape only to find the boys raping her sister. Afraid that they will do the same to her, Katie runs to the nearest source of light for help. Rachel ends up dead. The media coverage of the case is unbearable. To escape the media and try and forget her past, Katie changes her name to Katherine Patterson, moves to a new city, and enrolls in a new school. While at the school she ends up becoming friends with the most popular girl in school, Alice. But this relationship with Alice proves to be nothing but deadly, with twists and turns that even I didn't see coming.
I absolutely loved this book! My sister recommended that I read it because she said that it was good. This book is a really good intro to my topic about psychology because this book is very psychological. The fact that Katherine blames herself for her sisters murder makes for a compelling and haunting story. I loved how the author picked such a rateable topic that many teenagers may be going through; it may not be as traumatic as murder but still a traumatic event in their life. The interesting character in the story though is Alice. In the beginning she is the popular girl, very outgoing and charismatic. But Katherine soon finds out that Alice is a manipulative bitch. Yet despite all that Alice has put Katherine through, she still deems Alice her friend. Until Alice starts harassing her with things about the incident with Rachel. Alice is an interesting person to observe because she exhibits many different behaviors. This is how the book relates to my project about criminal profiling and forensic psychology; I want to know what compels people to do certain things and in the end of the book you find out what Alices' motives were. Making the story that much creepier and engaging.
I read the book Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James. The book revolves around the character Katherine Patterson. Who has moved to a new city, changed her name and enrolled in a new school, all to escape her past. Before the incident, Katherine had it all. She was popular in school, had many friends, went to parties and had a boyfriend. She even went by the name Katie. The incident that occurred happened at a party that Katie was at. Her sister, Rachel, who was only 12 begged Katie to let her come to the party. Little did Katie know what was going to happen next. Rachel ended up in a car with four unknown boys; she was completely drunk. Since Katie was also drunk she need to find a ride home for her and Rachel. Katie accepts the offer from the unknown boys to drive them home because her efforts to get Rachel to stand and walk are denied. The ride home goes horribly wrong. The boys drugged Rachel, drove the girls out in the middle of nowhere. The leader locks Katie in a shed, but she finds a way to escape only to find the boys raping her sister. Afraid that they will do the same to her, Katie runs to the nearest source of light for help. Rachel ends up dead. The media coverage of the case is unbearable. To escape the media and try and forget her past, Katie changes her name to Katherine Patterson, moves to a new city, and enrolls in a new school. While at the school she ends up becoming friends with the most popular girl in school, Alice. But this relationship with Alice proves to be nothing but deadly, with twists and turns that even I didn't see coming. I absolutely loved this book! My sister recommended that I read it because she said that it was good. This book is a really good intro to my topic about psychology because this book is very psychological. The fact that Katherine blames herself for her sisters murder makes for a compelling and haunting story. I loved how the author picked such a rateable topic that many teenagers may be going through; it may not be as traumatic as murder but still a traumatic event in their life. The interesting character in the story though is Alice. In the beginning she is the popular girl, very outgoing and charismatic. But Katherine soon finds out that Alice is a manipulative bitch. Yet despite all that Alice has put Katherine through, she still deems Alice her friend. Until Alice starts harassing her with things about the incident with Rachel. Alice is an interesting person to observe because she exhibits many different behaviors. This is how the book relates to my project about criminal profiling and forensic psychology; I want to know what compels people to do certain things and in the end of the book you find out what Alices' motives were. Making the story that much creepier and engaging.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Inside the Mind of a Sadistic Serial Rapist and Criminal
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5ILlOXzVTg
In this Youtube video, retired FBI agent Peter Smerick talks about what it's like to be a criminal profiler. He discusses how important criminal profiling can be in apprehending a criminal. Criminal profiling was very prominent in the apprehension of the notorious James Mitchell DeBardelben. He was known as "The Mall Passer." He was wanted by the secret service because he was counterfeiting twenty dollar bills. What he would do was go from mall to mall and buy cheap items that only costed him around 2-3 dollars. He would pay with the fake twenties and receive real money in return. He was eventually apprehended, but was also charged with multiple other offenses like rape, kidnapping, and bank robbing. He was active over an 18-year span. Towards the end of the video is when we learn about why DeBardelben did what he did. Smerick talks about how some of the women that he raped and murdered resembled his mother. Smerick then makes the connection that DeBardelben must have had hated feelings towards his mother.
When I was watching this video and they mentioned James Mitchell DeBardelben as "The Mall Passer" I immediately recognized the name from my non-fiction book. In my book, they only talked about him counterfeiting the money, not the fact that he also raped women. I guess it just goes to show you that people can change who they are, and what they are into. Peter Smerick mentioned in the video that many killers will change what they do because they aren't getting the same release or feeling out of it. Which I think applies to everyone. If you aren't that into playing basketball, then you aren't going to want to play it anymore, and so maybe you try playing a different sport. We all go through phases, and some people just take them to the extreme.
Inside the Mind of a Sadistic Serial Rapist and Criminal. Prod. Youtube. Perf. Peter Smerick. YouTube. YouTube, 14 July 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5ILlOXzVTg
In this Youtube video, retired FBI agent Peter Smerick talks about what it's like to be a criminal profiler. He discusses how important criminal profiling can be in apprehending a criminal. Criminal profiling was very prominent in the apprehension of the notorious James Mitchell DeBardelben. He was known as "The Mall Passer." He was wanted by the secret service because he was counterfeiting twenty dollar bills. What he would do was go from mall to mall and buy cheap items that only costed him around 2-3 dollars. He would pay with the fake twenties and receive real money in return. He was eventually apprehended, but was also charged with multiple other offenses like rape, kidnapping, and bank robbing. He was active over an 18-year span. Towards the end of the video is when we learn about why DeBardelben did what he did. Smerick talks about how some of the women that he raped and murdered resembled his mother. Smerick then makes the connection that DeBardelben must have had hated feelings towards his mother.
When I was watching this video and they mentioned James Mitchell DeBardelben as "The Mall Passer" I immediately recognized the name from my non-fiction book. In my book, they only talked about him counterfeiting the money, not the fact that he also raped women. I guess it just goes to show you that people can change who they are, and what they are into. Peter Smerick mentioned in the video that many killers will change what they do because they aren't getting the same release or feeling out of it. Which I think applies to everyone. If you aren't that into playing basketball, then you aren't going to want to play it anymore, and so maybe you try playing a different sport. We all go through phases, and some people just take them to the extreme.
Inside the Mind of a Sadistic Serial Rapist and Criminal. Prod. Youtube. Perf. Peter Smerick. YouTube. YouTube, 14 July 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
Exploring the Mind of a Killer
Video:
http://www.ted.com/talks/jim_fallon_exploring_the_mind_of_a_killer.html
This TED talk discussed the mind's of killers. Jim Fallon gave this talk about the minds of killers, and talked about how he analyzes the brains of psychopaths along with brains of normal people; the people don't tell him what kind of brain he is looking at. Three of the things he has noticed while looking at these brains is the interaction of genes, brain damage and the environment, and how all three of these things tie together. The timing of when each of these things occurs is how you end up with a psychopathic killer. He goes on to explain how all the brains that belonged to murderer's and serial killers all had damage to their orbital cortex, and contained the major violence gene called MAO-A. This gene is sex-linked and is usually passed on by the mother to her off-spring. Fallon also states how childhood experiences contribute a lot to the environment component.
I found this TED talk very informational. It is always good to hear the biological understanding of what makes a psychopath a psychopath. I agree with Fallon on how timing is everything, because when you are younger you encode traumatic situations a lot differently than an adult would. And with the MAO-A violence gene, I was watching a CSI: episode and this serial killer was on trial and the killers lawyer was trying to blame the murders he committed on the fact that he had this MAO-A violence gene. But it also turned out that one of the characters working for the crime lab also has that violence gene and he went on the stand and said how you can still have the gene and not kill people. Overall this was a very good TED talk and it is full of good scientific information.
Exploring the Mind of a Killer. Prod. TED Talks. Perf. Jim Fallon. TED: Ideas worth Spreading. TED Conferences, LLC, Feb. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
http://www.ted.com/talks/jim_fallon_exploring_the_mind_of_a_killer.html
This TED talk discussed the mind's of killers. Jim Fallon gave this talk about the minds of killers, and talked about how he analyzes the brains of psychopaths along with brains of normal people; the people don't tell him what kind of brain he is looking at. Three of the things he has noticed while looking at these brains is the interaction of genes, brain damage and the environment, and how all three of these things tie together. The timing of when each of these things occurs is how you end up with a psychopathic killer. He goes on to explain how all the brains that belonged to murderer's and serial killers all had damage to their orbital cortex, and contained the major violence gene called MAO-A. This gene is sex-linked and is usually passed on by the mother to her off-spring. Fallon also states how childhood experiences contribute a lot to the environment component.
I found this TED talk very informational. It is always good to hear the biological understanding of what makes a psychopath a psychopath. I agree with Fallon on how timing is everything, because when you are younger you encode traumatic situations a lot differently than an adult would. And with the MAO-A violence gene, I was watching a CSI: episode and this serial killer was on trial and the killers lawyer was trying to blame the murders he committed on the fact that he had this MAO-A violence gene. But it also turned out that one of the characters working for the crime lab also has that violence gene and he went on the stand and said how you can still have the gene and not kill people. Overall this was a very good TED talk and it is full of good scientific information.
Exploring the Mind of a Killer. Prod. TED Talks. Perf. Jim Fallon. TED: Ideas worth Spreading. TED Conferences, LLC, Feb. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
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