Signature behavior and modus operandi (MO) are the two tools used by Forensic psychology to identify unknown offenders who commit violent crimes. Signature behavior is an action by an offender that is not necessary to complete their crime. They are images and reproduction of the individual’s lifestyle, personality and evolving practice of the offender.
These actions fulfils their emotional and psychological desires when they commit criminal behaviors. All offenders have a Modus Operandi (MO) consisting of techniques, habits, and peculiarities in behavior which are performed with three basic objectives (Turvey, 2008):
Complete the crime, affect an escape and avoid capture. Here you will see how Criminal
Profiling works to establish the …show more content…
In high school, Dahmer utilized drugs and alcohol to mask destructive behaviors, and would sometimes arrive in class under the influence (Purcell & Arrigo, 2006). Though sometimes considered the class clown, Dahmer was unable to form any lasting relationships.
From a psychological perspective, Dahmer’s background was troubling, but that did not necessarily mean that Dahmer would become a serial killer. Many children are the product of sexual abuse, experience marital discord, lack of attention by parents, and even demonstrates antisocial personality disorder without also becoming murderers. Some believe that Dahmer’s first victim, Steven Hicks, who he murdered then dismembered in 1978, might have been a sexual encounter gone wrong (Purcell & Arrigo, 2006). Dahmer may have never wanted to murder Hicks, but once he had, the opportunity for sexual gratification left him feeling both conflicted and satisfied. Though it would be nine years before Dahmer would kill again, the first victim marked a “point of no return” where Dahmer had crossed a line in seeking …show more content…
Wolf (2007) maintained that any method for criminal profiling other than an ideographic approach fails to recognize that most serial killers do not fit prescribed paradigms. Dahmer committed his crimes, often in his own apartment, and then kept his trophies there for himself and others to see. Dahmer kept skulls and penises in jars, while also keeping human flesh, including one victim’s bicep, in order to consume it at a later time.
Dahmer’s cannibalism was a method of seeking power and control. Dahmer was able to keep his victims with him forever if he ate them (Strubel, 2010).
Dahmer’s sadistic characteristic was related directly to his need to express his power, anger and his need for control over others. His behaviors were predatory and sought to secure individuals who met his physical criteria (Pardue & Arrigo, 2008). The individuals he brought back to his home and victimized were young boys and men, often-ethnic minorities, many of who were gay. Dahmer would seek out these victims, and bring them back to his house.
Crime scene evidence showed that Dahmer had a long pattern of this kind of behavior and
These actions fulfils their emotional and psychological desires when they commit criminal behaviors. All offenders have a Modus Operandi (MO) consisting of techniques, habits, and peculiarities in behavior which are performed with three basic objectives (Turvey, 2008):
Complete the crime, affect an escape and avoid capture. Here you will see how Criminal
Profiling works to establish the …show more content…
In high school, Dahmer utilized drugs and alcohol to mask destructive behaviors, and would sometimes arrive in class under the influence (Purcell & Arrigo, 2006). Though sometimes considered the class clown, Dahmer was unable to form any lasting relationships.
From a psychological perspective, Dahmer’s background was troubling, but that did not necessarily mean that Dahmer would become a serial killer. Many children are the product of sexual abuse, experience marital discord, lack of attention by parents, and even demonstrates antisocial personality disorder without also becoming murderers. Some believe that Dahmer’s first victim, Steven Hicks, who he murdered then dismembered in 1978, might have been a sexual encounter gone wrong (Purcell & Arrigo, 2006). Dahmer may have never wanted to murder Hicks, but once he had, the opportunity for sexual gratification left him feeling both conflicted and satisfied. Though it would be nine years before Dahmer would kill again, the first victim marked a “point of no return” where Dahmer had crossed a line in seeking …show more content…
Wolf (2007) maintained that any method for criminal profiling other than an ideographic approach fails to recognize that most serial killers do not fit prescribed paradigms. Dahmer committed his crimes, often in his own apartment, and then kept his trophies there for himself and others to see. Dahmer kept skulls and penises in jars, while also keeping human flesh, including one victim’s bicep, in order to consume it at a later time.
Dahmer’s cannibalism was a method of seeking power and control. Dahmer was able to keep his victims with him forever if he ate them (Strubel, 2010).
Dahmer’s sadistic characteristic was related directly to his need to express his power, anger and his need for control over others. His behaviors were predatory and sought to secure individuals who met his physical criteria (Pardue & Arrigo, 2008). The individuals he brought back to his home and victimized were young boys and men, often-ethnic minorities, many of who were gay. Dahmer would seek out these victims, and bring them back to his house.
Crime scene evidence showed that Dahmer had a long pattern of this kind of behavior and