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Testing the assumption of behavioural consistency in a New Zealand sample of serial rapists Tapper, Sarah

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Wellington, [N.Z.] Victoria University of Wellington 2007Description: xii, 274 leaves : ill. ; 30 cmOther title:
  • A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
Subject(s): Online resources: Summary: This thesis presents research testing the assumption of behavioural consistency in serial rape offences in New Zealand. The aims of the research were to test the behavioural consistency of a range of individual behaviours, and if consistency was found, to explore whether there were any underlying patterns to the consistency of offending behaviour. Dichotomous data on 30 behavioural variables for a total of 439 offences committed by 121 serial rapists was analysed. The analysis found moderate to high levels of consistency for the majority of individual behaviours and clear patterns to the behavioural consistency of offenders, consistent with previous analysis of offence characteristics. Three themes to behaviour were found: hostility, involvement and control. The findings have implications for the assumption of behavioural consistency in serial rapists, for the concepts of modus operandi and signature in offence behaviour, and for the understanding of the profiling process. There are practical implications for the practice of profiling and case linkage in New Zealand, and raise possibilities for future directions in research.
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Item type Current library Call number Status Barcode
Access online Access online Vine library Online Available ON13020168

Thesis (Ph.D.--Psychology)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2008 Supervisors: Dr. Marc Wilson and Dr. Devon Polaschek

This thesis presents research testing the assumption of behavioural consistency in serial rape offences in New Zealand. The aims of the research were to test the behavioural consistency of a range of individual behaviours, and if consistency was found, to explore whether there were any underlying patterns to the consistency of offending behaviour. Dichotomous data on 30 behavioural variables for a total of 439 offences committed by 121 serial rapists was analysed. The analysis found moderate to high levels of consistency for the majority of individual behaviours and clear patterns to the behavioural consistency of offenders, consistent with previous analysis of offence characteristics. Three themes to behaviour were found: hostility, involvement and control. The findings have implications for the assumption of behavioural consistency in serial rapists, for the concepts of modus operandi and signature in offence behaviour, and for the understanding of the profiling process. There are practical implications for the practice of profiling and case linkage in New Zealand, and raise possibilities for future directions in research.

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