What do you think about FBI profilers?

Answer 1

Profiling is not as easy as it looks.

It demands the ability to:

* be creative and logical all at once.
* not have lots of preconceptions about a crime.
* fit "broad" patterns of behavior to specific crimes.
* draw conclusions that are no weaker or stronger than the evidence (this part is tough).
* be open-minded enough to keep tweaking one's idea rather than getting attached to it.
* perceive quickly how "someone works," and which behaviors might follow from what attitudes/experiences -- as well as how likely those behaviors might be to occur.

The main problem I've seen when people with the wrong temperament/background try to profile is that they read too much into a particular piece of evidence, trying to draw too specific of a conclusion from it.

Sometimes it's because they don't have enough experience or imagination to envision all the possibilities that could be connected to that evidence. Sometimes it's because they have TOO much imagination and so their conclusions aren't really realistic or logical...

Probably the best mainstream profiler I've read (in terms of the applying the right thought processes and evaluation of evidence) is John Douglas. He's got good instincts.

I'm not as fond of Ressler (for example), who who seems to have some pre-drawn conclusions and not enough imagination at times.

Anyway, profiling is as much "art" as it is "science." You must draw conclusions, but can only take them as far as they can logically go.

Answer 2

I really admire profilers and in another life would like to come back as one!!!

Answer 3

I think they are awesome.

Answer 4

interesting...how do i apply??