PSYC 3310 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Offender Profiling, Serial Crime, Serial Killer

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3310
• Professor: Caroline Dufour

Document Summary

Profili(cid:374)g is the pro(cid:272)ess of dra(cid:449)i(cid:374)g i(cid:374)fere(cid:374)(cid:272)es a(cid:271)out a (cid:272)ri(cid:373)i(cid:374)al"s perso(cid:374)alit(cid:455), (cid:271)eha(cid:448)ior, (cid:373)oti(cid:448)atio(cid:374), a(cid:374)d demographic characteristics based on crime scenes and other evidence. There are only about a dozen fbi agents in the u. s who specialize in profiling. The profiling techniques used by the fbi have been most famously applied to cases involving serial killers- murderers who kill three or more people in separate events, with a cooling-off period between murders. Profilers analyze crime scenes, gather information about the victims, and study both police and autopsy reports. Profiles are used to provide leads for police and to focus the efforts of the investigators. Profilers who have been trained in the fbi model of criminal profiling emphasize the importance of the signature aspect of the crime. This signature is distinctive, personal aspect of the crime that presumably reveals the personality of the killer (example, particular form of torture used or particular sexual activity)