Basic Information on Criminology & Criminal Profiling

Criminology means the scientific study of the nature, causes, extent and control of criminal behaviour. It is mainly used in the Behavioural Sciences. One department of the FBI that uses Criminal Profiling alot is the Behavioural Analysis Unit. There is also a show based on the work of that unit called Criminal Minds. It delves into how profling helps to catch a serial killer.

There is a term known as the Homicidal Triad and contains three different behaviours: Animal Cruelty, Obsession with setting fires and Persistant Bedwetting.

The Homicidal Triad is also called the MacDonald Triad as it was discovered by a man called J.M MacDonald in 'The Threat to Kill', which was a paper in the Americal Journal of Psychiatry.

Criminal Profiling, also known as Offender Profiling, is a tool used by Investigators to profile the behaviour of an unknown suspect. To build the profile of an offencer, investigators try to collect the personality through a series of questions.

What fantasy or plan did the murderer have in place before the act? What triggered the murderer to act some days and not others? What type of victims did the murderer select? What manner was the victim killed: shooting, stabbing, strangulation, or something else? Was the body disposed of at another site? Is there one person in particular that is injecting themselves into the investigation?

Investigator aslo search for a signature, which is a unique mark left by every different killer to show Police that the victim belongs to them.

Serial killers often keep trophies or memories of each of their victims. These can range from a lock of hair, to an organ, or a bone in some cases.

Criminal Profiling takes alot of skill and mental capacity. You have to understand the workings of the mind and psyche to get a profile as accurate as possible.