Misconceptions about Criminal Profiling

Criminal profiling is one of the most misunderstood investigative tools. Criminal profiling is usually discussed in the field of criminology; however, empirical research and its elements remain limited. Despite the lack of empirical research on criminal profiling, the public is often exposed to this investigative tool through media portrayals, such as shows like “Criminal Minds”, which add to the pool of misconceptions. Surveying a student population (N=200), we plan to uncover the misconceptions and perceptions this population holds about criminal profiling and criminal investigations. Further, we will analyze the level to which the participants are exposed to media portrayals of criminal profiling. These findings will improve our understanding of how laymen interpret media perceptions of criminal profiling and how that contributes to misconceptions about the investigative tool.