4 Critical Assumptions for Offender Profiling – Factual?

Offender profiling is defined as “a process by which offender characteristics can be deduced from a detailed knowledge of offender characteristics” (Ainsworth, 2000). It can be used to deduce characteristics of an unknown offender, understand future levels of threat, give advice on how to interview the offender, and determine if certain offenses are linked. It is usually used on stranger sex offences and murder, but there is debate about whether it could be used for different offences. It is commonly depicted in TV and films (think Criminal Minds), although these depictions are not always accurate.

Offender profiling is built upon personality psychology, and thus there are some assumptions behind the practise that must be true for offender profiling to work and be useful. This article will explore four of these assumptions, presenting evidence for and against them. You can evaluate how useful offender profiling is in terms of these assumptions.