REPORT

Book

Axlerod, Alan 2003, The complete Idiot’s Guide To Criminal Investigation,
Alpha publishing, United States of America. Specifically “Criminal
Profiling” (p 102 onwards)

The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Criminal Investigation, despite its strikingly condescending title, is a concise and detailed textbook into the varied field of criminal investigation. The section relevant to my topic, “Criminal Profiling” is neatly set out and easy to follow. Using many examples from actual instances of criminal cases, the book outlines a Criminal Profiler’s job, necessary training and practical applications. The very sound start to the section stresses the difference between “Hollywood” profiling and the real-life processes. A profiler’s work includes painstaking observation of physical evidence and an in-depth knowledge of psychology, and the resulting profile is rarely suddenly appearing and perfect.

The book uses retellings of past events and current facts to illustrate a subject that could easily become dull. An interesting instance of how accurate profiling can be is presented at every available occasion. An example of this is when the book is covering how, if the profiler is adequately knowledgeable, the psychological profile of a person can be startlingly accurate. Walter Langer was hired during World War II to profile Hitler so that the Americans may have a better idea of his strategy. Langer predicted that a leader as healthy and strong as Hitler would not die of natural causes, and if one ignored the possibility of assassination, he would surely commit suicide rather than admit defeat. Much to Langer’s rivals’ disappointment, the prediction came true.

The information presented is concise, entertaining and easily understood. The validity of the material is undoubtable, with every new facet presented being supported by a reputable source or situation.

Scientific Journal

Kocsis, Richard N. 18/12/2004 Lancet, Vol. 364, p14, 2p Profiling the criminal mind: does it actually work?

Kocsis’ article opens with the strong opinion that criminal psychology is a recent fascination, and that it is not very different from its roots of the unscientific and since disproved theories about physical characteristics governing criminal behaviour. Kocsis then goes on to give a brief history of modern criminal psychology, giving examples such as the profiling of Jack the Ripper and psychologists being consulted about the bombing of New York from 1940 to 1956. The article then outlines the development of the first governmental training and application of criminal psychologists at the US Federational Bureau of Investigation.

Then Kocsis starts to almost delightedly point out that, despite the fact that profilers are becoming continually more widely used in many countries, there is no scientific proof that their practice is a valid one. He says that most of the criminal psychology “hype” has been caused by unreal television shows and novels claiming that profiling is infallible. Kocsis gives three examples of criminal profiles being completely wrong to
substantiate this. But then, rather strangely, the article goes on to present some scientific research that supports profiling. Suddenly the entire mood changes, and profiling becomes a miraculously accurate thing.

The validity of this article is questionable for the reason that a strong argument is presented, continued with, and then suddenly changed near to the end. The actual scientific study quoted was perfectly pertinent, but the interpretation of the results and the conclusions drawn may be entirely inaccurate. Though Kocsis is a forensic psychologist, his normally elevated position on this topic has been wholly diminished by the unclear position of the article.

Internet

“Criminalogical Theories – an overview”
Last updated: 2005
http://www.criminalprofiling.com/article.php?sid=18

This article begins with an arresting first paragraph and continues to hold the reader’s attention with clean, simple and understandable facts. Criminal Theories – an overview presents exactly what the title suggests: a concise look into the different schools of Criminology, and how they have evolved over time. These schools include Biological Positivism, Personality Theories, Psychoanalytic Theories, Social Learning Theories and Biochemistry and Neurology. Each category is given a brief history, explanation of the theory presented and scientific facts either supporting or debunking the school of thought.

The paragraph outlining “Biological Positivism”, for example, begins with stating the time in which the theory was popular. It then continues on with a brief sketch of Lombroso, the father of the Biological Positivism movement. Biological Positivism is then explained to be the theory that criminals can be identified by physical characteristics, ie. Large ears and uneven eyes. The next section of the paragraph gives a brief synopsis of significant studies done to explore this theory, and concludes with the now established fact that Bilogical Positivism is an incorrect supposition. Each theory is also linked in with the general beliefs of the psychology of their era, his shows how criminal psychology and psychology as a whole are irrevocably linked.

The article is written impartially and clearly, with no extraneous words or sentences impeding understanding. No spelling mistakes, perfect grammar and only one typo add credibility. Here is a short excerpt about Personality Theory that illustrates the article’s clarity.

“Eysenck attempted to explain crime through a combination of biological and individual factors which he believed led to an individuals inability or failure to follow rules. Eysenck believed that certain personality types were inclined to crime. He classified these individuals as 'neurotic extroverts' and felt that they would be unlikely to learn the basic rules of social behaviour.”

Criminalogical Theories – an overview’s facts are all presented plainly, without any noticeable bias or opinion.

Video: Wire in the Blood

Wire in the Blood is a television series about the “brilliant” psychologist Dr. Antony Hill, and his involvement in catching psychotic murderers. Dr.Hill is called in to help the police department to help profile and track down murderers. The Wire in the Blood series has six episodes, and the first two are adapted from Val McDermid’s original “Wire In The Blood” novels. Remaining episodes are co-written by the screenwriters, Val McDermid and actor to portray Tony Hill, Robson Green.

Despite having no training in the area of criminal psychology, Dr. Hill has an amazingly astute mind and finds himself perfectly capable of putting himself into a criminally insane person’s head. It has been established that, to be a properly functioning criminal psychologist, you need appropriate training.

If one suspends belief on that point of failure, Wire In The Blood is a realistic and often gritty insight into the world of criminal psychology, profiling, and the actual apprehension of the criminally insane. The murderers exhibit a wide range of psychological problems, from sexual perversion to hallucinogenic schizophrenia. In each case Dr. Hill uses well-known profiling techniques such as observation of the crime scene and corpse, questioning those close to the victim, and methodically grouping the murderer’s behaviour under headings of each psychological category he thinks they may fall within.

The program is highly academic and unforgivingly fast paced. Through effective use of characterisation, the viewer is brought into realistic and entertaining storylines that explore many aspects of this fascinating subject realistically and engagingly. Research teams are used in the program’ creation to ensure that accuracy is maintained whenever possible, guaranteeing the final episode to be correct in all psychological aspects explored.

For more information such as character profiles and episode synopses of Wire In The Blood, please see “Psychosis”, my website.
http://www.geocities.com/nightshade_pheonix/wire/index.htm

Newspaper article

“Mind of a killer”
Anna Cook, The Daily Telegraph, 19/7/2001

Mind of a Killer illustrates a profiler in action. The article first gives the reader an overview of an abduction and attempted rape case. Cook then introduces profiler John Clarke. Clarke is a Sydney University psychologist who is currently completing a doctorate in Criminal Profiling, and his assistance is called upon by the police to profile for murder and rape cases.

After Clarke and the crime’s brief introduction, the article goes on to consist chiefly of quotes from Clarke. He talks through his profile of the criminal, methodically speculating on different facets of the most probable personality type.

“He is probably of average to above average intelligence.” Clark begins at a classic starting point for all profilers. He goes on to what the police would find more useful: “… and most probably knows the area around where the killing took place.”

Clarke covers all potentially important aspects of the criminal, such as most likely working habits, social habits, and details of upbringing.

The result of this is that the reader is allowed a glimpse into the world of profiling in Australia this century from the most reputable source available – a profiler. Quotes seem to be consistent and not paraphrased, ensuring that ambiguity and openness of interpretation is left to a minimum. There is no arbitrary opinion whatsoever, the article is written from a professional and impartial viewpoint. This removes any doubt – this is a reputable and informative piece of writing that is as accurate as is possible, that gives the reader a new understanding of Criminal Profiling.

SPEECH VERSION

I set out to find my sources for this assignment with quite some optimism, convinced that newspaper articles and scientific journals must often cover this interesting and increasingly popularised field of psychology. By chance I found the perfect book as I walked into the library, and on further investigation found a proliferation of books written about Criminal Psychology. I already had the entire series of Wire In The Blood on my shelf, so I had no need to research the video section.

Many websites vied for my attention from the friendly face of a google search, however Scientific Journals and especially Newspaper articles proved more elusive. This surprised me, as one would think that a field as hyped by the media as Criminal Psychology would have a higher profile in newspaper print.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Criminal Investigation had one chapter set aside for Criminal Psychology, specifically the practice of Criminal Profiling. The chapter was clearly set out, beginning with an overview of appropriate training needed to become a Criminal Psychologist. The book then went on to outline the process of developing a criminal profile and the practical applications that the profile will have.

A profiler’s work includes painstaking observation of physical evidence and an in-depth knowledge of psychology, and the resulting profile is rarely instant and perfect. The Complete Idiot’s guide is sure to emphasise this whenever the opportunity presents itself, but by no means presents Criminal Profiling as an inaccurate form of detective work. Many positive examples of perfect and useful profiles are given, such as the work of Walter Langer.

Walter Langer was hired during World War II to profile Hitler so that the Americans may have a better idea of his strategy. Langer predicted that a leader as healthy and strong as Hitler would not die of natural causes, and if one ignored the possibility of assassination, he would surely commit suicide rather than admit defeat. Much to Langer’s rival’s disappointment, the prediction came true.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Criminal Psychology presents concise, entertaining and easily understandable information. The validity of this information is unquestionable, every new fact is presented plainly and supported by a reputable source or situation.

Profiling the criminal mind: does it actually work? So asks a scientific journal written by Richard N. Kocsis. The article opens with a definite opinion – that criminal psychology is a recent fascination, and that it is not very different from its roots of the utterly disproved theories about physical characteristics governing criminal behaviour. The reader is presented with a brief history of modern criminal psychology, and is given examples such as the unsuccessful profiling of Jack the Ripper to substantiate this.

Then Kocsis starts to almost delightedly point out that, despite the fact that profilers are becoming continually more widely used in many countries, there is no scientific proof that their practice is a valid one. He says that most of the criminal psychology “hype” has been caused by unreal television shows and novels claiming that profiling is infallible. Kocsis gives three examples of criminal profiles being utterly wrong to emphasise his strong position…

Then the article quotes a scientific study into criminal psychology which seems to disprove everything Kocsis has been saying. So, rather than argue with the scientific evidence, Kocsis changes his perspective and suddenly supports criminal profiling. The entire mood changes, and profiling becomes a miraculously accurate thing.

The validity of this article is questionable for the simple reason that a strong argument is presented, continued with, and then suddenly changed. I believe the actual scientific study quoted was perfectly pertinent, but the interpretation of the results and the conclusions drawn by Kocsis may be entirely inaccurate. Though Kocsis is a forensic psychologist, his normally elevated position on this topic has been utterly diminished by the unclear opinion of the article.

Criminalogical Theories – an overview practically shone with believability compared to all of the other websites I had visited. The article begins with an arresting first paragraph and continues to hold the reader’s attention with clean, simple and understandable facts.

Criminal Theories – an overview presents exactly what the title suggests: a concise look into the different schools of Criminology, and how they have evolved over time. These schools include Biological Positivism, Personality Theories, Psychoanalytic Theories, Social Learning Theories and Biochemistry and Neurology. Each category is given a brief history, explanation of the theory presented and scientific facts either supporting or debunking the school of thought.

For example, the paragraph outlining “Biological Positivism” begins with stating the time in which the theory was popular. It continues with a brief sketch of Lombroso, the father of the Biological Positivism movement. Biological Positivism is then explained to be the theory that criminals can be identified by physical characteristics, like large ears and uneven eyes. The next section of the paragraph gives a brief synopsis of significant studies done to explore this theory, and concludes with the now established fact that Bilogical Positivism is superficial and incorrect.

Each theory is also linked in with the general beliefs of the psychology of their era, this shows how criminal psychology and psychology as a whole are irrevocably linked.

The article is written impartially and clearly, with no extraneous words or sentences impeding understanding. No spelling mistakes, perfect grammar the facts presented. Information is given plainly, without any noticeable bias or opinion.

Wire in the Blood is a television series about the “brilliant” psychologist Dr. Antony Hill, and his involvement in catching psychotic murderers. Tony is called in to help the police department to help profile and track down murderers. The Wire in the Blood series has six episodes, and the first two are adapted from Val McDermid’s original “Wire In The Blood” novels. Remaining episodes are co-written by the screenwriters, Val McDermid and actor to portray Tony Hill, Robson Green.

Despite having no training in the area of criminal psychology, Dr. Hill has an amazingly astute mind and finds himself perfectly capable of putting himself into a criminally insane person’s reality. It has been established that, to be a properly functioning criminal psychologist, you need appropriate training, but if one suspends belief on that point of failure, Wire In The Blood is a realistic and often gritty insight into the world of criminal psychology, profiling, and the actual apprehension of the criminally insane.

The murderers exhibit a wide range of psychological problems, from sexual perversion to hallucinogenic schizophrenia. In each case Dr. Hill uses well-known profiling techniques such as observation of the crime scene and corpse, questioning those close to the victim, and methodically grouping the murderer’s behaviour under headings of different psychological categories.

The program is highly academic and unforgivingly fast paced. Through effective use of characterisation, the viewer is brought into realistic and entertaining storylines that explore many aspects of this fascinating subject realistically and engagingly.

Mind of a Killer is a newspaper article that illustrates a profiler in action. The article first gives the reader an overview of an abduction and attempted rape case. Cook then introduces profiler John Clarke. Clarke is a Sydney University psychologist who is currently completing a doctorate in Criminal Profiling, and his assistance is called upon by the police to profile for murder and rape cases.

After Clarke and the crime’s brief introduction, the article goes on to consist chiefly of quotes from Clarke. He talks through his profile of the criminal, methodically speculating on different facets of the most probable personality type.

“He is probably of average to above average intelligence.” Clark begins at a classic starting point for all profilers. He goes on to what the police would find more useful: “… and most probably knows the area around where the killing took place.”

Clarke covers all potentially important aspects of the criminal, such as most likely working habits, social habits, and details of upbringing.The result of this is that the reader is allowed a glimpse into the world of profiling from the most reputable source available – a profiler. Quotes seem to be consistent and not paraphrased, ensuring that ambiguity and openness of interpretation is left to a minimum. There is no arbitrary opinion whatsoever, the article is written from a professional and impartial viewpoint. This removes any doubt – this is a reputable and informative piece of writing that is as accurate as is possible.

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