Taking Stock of Accuracy in Criminal Profiling: The Theoretical Quandary for Investigative Psychology

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article presents an overview of quasi-experimental research that has investigated the performance of individuals engaged in the forensic psychological technique commonly known as criminal profiling. Recent conflict in the literature is examined with the result that, consistent with earlier findings, empirical evidence is found to support the capabilities of expert profilers in decisively surpassing nonprofilers in accurately predicting the characteristics of an unknown offender. Observations are offered in conclusion on the broader ramifications of these findings for competing theoretical approaches to criminal profiling. KEYWORDS: Criminal profilingmeta-analysispredictive validitypsychological profiling Notes 1. For the purpose of brevity, the studies discussed are those composite to the meta-analysis study by CitationSnook et al. (2007) and CitationKocsis (2003). 2. This initial study is the one exception that did not feature a stereotype control group in the experimental design.