The use of psychological profiling in criminal investigations
In the book and subsequent movie, “The Silence of the Lambs,” incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter demonstrates the use of psychological profiling as he helps FBI agent Clarice Starling profile a serial killer she’s investigating. While this plot has received a heavy dose of Hollywood treatment, the use of psychological profiling in criminal cases is partially grounded in truth. However, the work that psychological profilers really do is much more involved than what the film captures.
What is psychological profiling?
Psychological profilers, also called criminal profilers and forensic psychologists, are often featured on popular TV shows like “Criminal Minds” and “Mindhunter.” But Dr. Dana R. Anderson, PsyD, a forensic psychologist at PsychologyDr. And host of the Killer Psychologist Podcast, explains that media depictions only focus on part of the job.
“While popular media often highlights ‘profilers’ creating criminal profiles, the actual work of forensic psychologists is rooted in rigorous psychological evaluations and evidence-based assessments within the legal system,” she explained.
…the actual work of forensic psychologists is rooted in rigorous psychological evaluations and evidence-based assessments within the legal system.
Psychological profiling bridges the legal and psychological fields. Forensic psychologists may work on criminal and civil cases, and they use their specialized clinical psychology knowledge to assess the individuals who are involved in those cases.
Depending on their role, psychological profilers may work in many different settings, including court systems, government agencies and mental hospitals. Some individuals work as consultants and may travel and work with different court systems, lawyers and investigators in need of their expertise.
Anderson explains that forensic psychologists aren’t traditional “profilers.” “While we may assist law enforcement or legal teams in understanding psychological motivations or risk factors, our primary role is rooted in clinical expertise and legal consultation rather than predicting future criminal behavior,” she said.
How is psychological profiling used in criminal investigations?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), criminal profiling owes its start to the case of George Metesky, a bomber who New York City police struggled to catch from 1940 to 1956. Frustrated by their inability to identify the bomber, investigators asked James Brussel, a psychiatrist, to study the crime scene photos and the notes that the bomber left. Brussel used the information and psychological ideas to create a description of the subject, including specifics like the fact that he was unmarried, foreign, in his fifties and self-educated. That profile proved to be impressively accurate and allowed police to identify and arrest Metesky in January of 1957, Metesky immediately confessed to being the bomber.
Given the success of consulting with Brussel on the case, the police continued to turn to psychologists and psychiatrists when they encountered offenders who were difficult to catch. Criminal profiling developed into a field, and forensic psychologists now frequently work to help investigators and law enforcement. In some cases, psychologists work to develop a description of an offender, which can be as detailed as to include information on an offender’s behavior patterns, personality traits, geographic location, age, race and more.
The FBI now employs and conducts research with forensic psychologists, and established its Behavioral Analysis Unit in 1972.
In fact, the FBI now employs and conducts research with forensic psychologists, and established its Behavioral Analysis Unit in 1972. More recently, a collaborative study between the FBI and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice examined the relationship between burglaries and types of sexual offenses. The study valuated whether any aspects of a crime scene different when a crime began as a burglary and ended in a sexual offense, compared to crime that started as a sexual offense. Understanding these nuances can help investigators to better focus their search on potential offenders. Embracing psychology has given law enforcement additional tools and resources to use in their investigations, as well as in court cases.
Criminal profilers can help law enforcement to better predict criminal behavior and identify potential suspects. But psychological profilers aid law enforcement in other ways, too. They may:
- Help detectives identify appropriate interrogation techniques for a suspect
- Build profiles to help identify suspects in recurring or unusual violent crimes
- Aid in detaining and caring for criminals who suffer from mental illness
- Act as expert witnesses and give context to evidence in criminal trials
- Evaluate defendants to determine their mental state, whether they have the capacity to understand legal proceedings, and more
What responsibilities does a psychologist have in a criminal investigation?
Dr. Anderson’s responsibilities as a forensic psychologist are far-reaching. Superior Courts appoint Anderson to complete forensic evaluations for criminal cases, and she handles about 15 cases each month. Anderson’s responsibilities encompass several types of evaluations:
- Insanity evaluations: Anderson works to determining a defendant’s mental state at the time of the alleged crime.
- Competency to stand trial evaluations: Anderson assesses whether a defendant has the capacity to understand legal proceedings and participate in their defense.
- Mental health diversion: Anderson evaluates defendants to determine their eligibility to receive treatment in place of being incarcerated.
- Sex offender evaluations and sentencing assessments: Anderson provides the court with her expert opinions on an offender’s treatment needs, risk and recommendations for sentencing.
In performing these different evaluations, Anderson must administer different clinical and forensic assessments. She also reviews case records, conducts interviews and crafts detailed, objective reports for the court.
“Defense attorneys or public defenders often hire me to gain a deeper understanding of their clients in criminal cases,” she explained. “I provide valuable insights into the individual, including any mitigating factors that may influence their legal situation.”
In addition to criminal cases, Anderson is also involved in civil cases, such as lawsuits involving psychological harm or damages, as well as in family law, such as custody evaluations. She also assesses the psychological needs and risks associated with minors involved in juvenile court cases.
One example of Anderon’s work involves her being appointed to a case involving a triple homicide. In such a situation, Anderson would assess the psychological state of the deceased victims as part of the investigation. “These types of cases require integrating clinical skills with legal knowledge to provide insights that can guide decision-making in the justice system,” she said.
What skills do psychological profilers need?
Psychological profilers and forensic psychologists need several key skills to succeed in this field:
- Analytical skills:
- Profilers must be able to review and sort large amounts of information.
- Organizational ability:
- Profilers need to be highly organized, especially when building a profile or working with sensitive information.
- Analysis skills:
- Profilers need to be able to analyze information like crime scene reports and case files, so they must be highly detail-oriented and able to identify key information.
- Attentive listening:
- When interviewing defendants, attentive listening skills are key and can help psychologists to accurately evaluate and assess individuals.
- Oral and written communication:
- Psychological profilers must have excellent oral and written communication skills, which are essential when interviewing and assessing individuals and when writing reports and profiles.
How to become a psychological profiler
To become a psychological profiler, you’ll need to earn at least a master’s degree. To start, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. Consider pursuing a degree in a field like general psychology, sociology or criminal justice, which will give you a good foundation of knowledge to apply to your career.
“For anyone interested in this field, I recommend gaining hands-on experience through internships in forensic settings and developing a strong foundation in psychological assessment and legal principles,” said Anderson.
Next, you’ll need to complete a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Once you’ve earned your master’s, you can work as a psychological researcher or a consultant.
If you want to work directly with individuals and patients in the legal system, you will need to earn a doctoral degree in psychology, which is required for licensure. Earning your doctoral degree will open up more career options, and forensic psychologists with doctoral degrees can qualify for higher-paying positions.
Most jobs require you to be licensed, though specific licensure requirements vary depending on your state. However, most states require the following:
- A bachelor’s and doctoral degree from accredited programs
- Completion of 1,500 to 6,000 clinical hours under a licensed psychologist
- Passing scores on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology
- License application fees
Once you’ve earned your license, you will have to periodically renew it, which is typically required every five years. You may need to complete continuing education hours to renew your license.
Deciding to pursue psychological profiling
A career as a psychological profiler can be highly rewarding because you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping individuals and the legal system through evaluation, assessment and analysis. While there’s significant education required, this career path can be an excellent choice if you’re highly motivated and find criminal cases and psychology interesting. To start your journey, simply click Find Schools to begin researching tradional and online accredited programs in psychology and forensic psychology.