Criminal Profiling of Serial Killers: Does It Work?

Introduction

Criminal profiling allows law enforcement to develop their understanding of particular types of crime, criminals, criminal behaviors, and crime-ridden areas. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program is one data set tool used in criminal profiling (FBI, 2019). However, criminal profiling is not an exact science but rather more of an art, and there is a high degree of subjectivity that goes into creating a criminal profile. Thus, when it comes to the criminal profiling of serial killers, there are many factors that must be considered—biological, sociological, environmental, criminological, and psychological inputs.

This paper describes what is involved in the criminal profiling of serial killers, how the process works, who conducts it, what traits serial killer profiles tend to focus on, and how effective the process is at helping law enforcement agents catch killers. It will ultimately show that while criminal profiling of serial killers has enjoyed some success in the past, it is far from being the definitive facilitator of serial killer investigations. Far more helpful, in fact, is traditional police and detective work—interviewing witnesses, collecting forensic evidence at the scene of the crime, and getting police into the community to raise awareness about ongoing threats.

The Process of Criminal Profiling

The primary task of profiling serial killers falls to the FBI's Behavioral Unit and the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) (Van Aken, 2015). Although profiling assists investigators, it is not 100% reliable and is understood more as an investigatory tool than a prosecutorial one (Van Aken, 2015). The FBI's NCAVC has definitions and typologies that can be used to assist law enforcement investigations in the identification of or search for serial killers in cases where serial killing is suspected.

The term serial killer stems from the Son of Sam killings in the 1970s, when the phrase "serial murderer" was used to characterize and label the individual behind that string of murders (Miller, 2014). However, since the introduction of the term, the exact parameters for inclusion in this category have been debated. Because of the alternative phrase "mass murderer" and the overlapping nature of the two categories—including time spans and number of victims—there has been no precise, universally accepted definition of serial killer.

The process of criminal profiling of serial killers begins with establishing what type of individual is most likely to engage in this kind of act. Based upon data collected from crime reports in databases like the UCR, the typical demographic for serial killers is white, middle-aged, and male (Miller, 2014). Another data source used by profilers is the theoretical framework developed by social-psychology researchers. Biology, society, and psychology are all studied to help researchers better understand what shapes a serial killer, and case studies such as those of Ted Bundy help researchers identify patterns and behaviors common among serial killers (Samuel & Widiger, 2007). To develop a full-spectrum analysis, profilers must also know the history of serial killings, which extends as far back as the 1400s.

Serial Killer Typologies and History

From Gilles de Rais in 15th-century France to Jack the Ripper in 19th-century England, the West has no shortage of cases to study. Sexual deviance, necrophilia, violent mood swings, isolation, and social dysfunction have generally stood out as cues of the abnormal mental behaviors associated with serial killers. It was not until the mid-20th century, however, that criminal profiling of the Mad Bomber in New York City led law enforcement to the arrest of a suspect (Van Aken, 2015). One of the differences eventually established between serial killers and spree killers was that serial killers were assessed to be compulsively motivated—unable to stop their obsessions—while spree killers operated out of a desire to exact revenge on society (Warf & Waddell, 2002).

Researchers also agree that serial killers tend to have some form of personality disorder and must kill more than one person at separate times; that is, some amount of time should pass between killings (Van Aken, 2015). Beyond this broad definition, several typologies of serial killers have developed over time. These include: the control type, the predator type, the hedonistic type, the visionary type, and the mission-focused type (Dogra et al., 2012).

The control type is motivated by a compulsion to exert power and control over victims—Ted Bundy is a commonly cited example. The predator type enjoys hunting victims as though for sport. The hedonistic type derives pleasure or satisfaction, often sexual, from the act of killing. The visionary type is motivated by voices or visions. The mission-focused type believes he is performing a good deed by ridding the world of people he considers evil, such as sex workers—Jack the Ripper would fall into this category. In many cases, there is overlap among typologies. The FBI has further stated that serial killers tend to fall into one of two broad categories in their approach to killing: either they are "organized, methodical, careful, and purposeful—or disorganized, erratic and usually suffering from mental illness" (Van Aken, 2015, p. 132).

Typologies alone are not sufficient to completely identify a serial killer. The FBI also looks at relationships between killer and victim (if any exist) to better understand the possible identity of the perpetrator. Environment, time of day, and characteristics of the victim are also helpful clues. The history of the suspect matters as well; many serial killers had disturbed childhoods (as was the case with Dahmer, Bundy, and others), or they harbor serious mental issues that rarely surface in daily life, allowing the killer to blend into everyday settings without arousing suspicion. Although most profiling of serial killers focuses on white, middle-aged men, there is a growing population of female serial killers that deserves attention; by the end of the 20th century, female serial killers accounted for approximately one-fifth of all serial killings (Taylor, Lambeth, Green, Bone & Cahillane, 2012).

Conclusion

Though criminal profiling can be said to be more an art than a science, it is nonetheless a helpful tool that investigators and law enforcement officers can rely upon in the pursuit of suspected serial killers. The tool has been used in the past to catch killers like the Mad Bomber, and despite what critics of profiling argue, profiles can assist police in narrowing a search—particularly when killings are confined to a certain region or community.

However, this does not mean criminal profiling cannot be used erroneously to prosecute and convict innocent persons. The case of Tim Masters demonstrates that it can. In the end, criminal profiling is a useful tool that must be applied cautiously and ethically; that is precisely when it provides the best service to law enforcement and the communities they protect.

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