What is criminal profiling?
Criminal profiling is the process of using evidence and testimonies of witnesses/ victims to gain a general knowledge of the most probable demographics and psychographics to which a suspect belongs to.
Modern day criminal profiling derives from the combination of three fields of science:
Modern day criminal profiling derives from the combination of three fields of science:
- Criminology is the study of crimes and their criminals.
Criminal profiling sounds like it should fall under criminology, but there is
one main difference. Criminology is a science developing theories
based on written factual information, while criminal profiling brings in aspects
of other sciences and other occupational fields developing probable assumptions
based on unproven other assumptions and speculations (Turvey
18). - Psychology is “the science of the mind or of mental states and processes” (Dictionary.com). The idea of thinking
like the criminal to help find the criminal was around long before criminal
profiling, almost a human nature or human instinct. Criminal profiling
brought in the attributes of a psychological view point to essentially think
like the criminal (Turvey 19). - Forensic science is the application of science into law. Forensics mainly deals with the biology
and chemistry including autopsies, DNA testing, and almost anything else
conducted in a criminal lab (Turvey 32). Forensics adds physical evidence
of the crime scene and lab results to help begin building the profile of a
criminal.