Contents
Hello! Do you know what individual profiling is? This is the ability to determine the psychological type of a person by appearance, behavior, speech or manifestations of emotions. Its features and the most effective methods of influence. To present in more detail the image of a person who is engaged in profiling (and he is also called that), it is enough to remember or watch, if you have not seen, the series “Theory of Lies”.
History of occurrence
It is believed that Thomas Bond gave life to this science in 1888. He was a surgeon and tried to help the investigation draw up a psychological portrait of a serial killer. They called him Jack the Ripper. The FBI became interested in this method. And already in 1985, the ViCAP crime prevention program appeared.
Do you know which airline is considered the safest in the world? Israeli, «El-Al». Its employees are trained to recognize passengers who pose a threat to the flight. And timely detain them before they stage a terrorist attack or take other violent and criminal actions.
Many scientists have contributed to the development of profiling. For example, such as:
- Karen Horney. She studied the behavioral strategies of a person, depending on what kind of childhood they had. Or more precisely, relationships with significant adults who took care of them and raised them;
- Sigmund Freud. He described the defense mechanisms of our psyche as a reaction to any events or stress. They operate on a subconscious level and affect not only a person’s behavior, but also his style of thinking, values, lifestyle, relationships, and so on.
- Carl Gustave Jung. A student of Freud, he revealed to the world 12 archetypes, according to which in each of us there is a collective unconscious, something that we received, as it were, as a legacy from our ancestors. They determine our life, as they influence behavior and attitude;
- Alfred Adler. He was of the opinion that the chosen life style of a person forms his character.
Directions
In addition to the fact that profiling is used in various fields of activity, the main areas can be distinguished, such as:
Forensic
Its essence is to simplify the search for criminals and prevent their activities. With the help of knowledge from the field of forensic science, psychology and psychiatry, the so-called psychological portraits of maniacs, rapists, and murderers are created. It is used in the work of such special services as the FBI, CIA, Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB and so on.
Aviation
As mentioned above about the Israeli airline, this direction was created for the safety of people who use its services. Experts have developed a number of questions to which a person who has planned to commit illegal acts will give certain reactions that will give him away. Many terrorist attacks in the world have been anticipated thanks to the coordinated actions of employees who use this technique.
Research
Paul Ekman, on whose books the famous series “Lie to Me” was filmed, was engaged in the study of facial expressions depending on the feelings experienced. Based on the results obtained, he created a program that helps to identify a liar by micro expressions. It is actively used by specialists of security services of various structures and organizations.
Medical and psychological
It is used, respectively, in the field of psychology and psychiatry. Of no small importance are the works of Karl Leonhard on the accentuations of the character of a person. And also Peter Gannushkin, who developed a whole typology of various psychopathy.
Psychotechnological
It was created so that a person, understanding the nature and motives of the actions of other people, their character and other features, could effectively interact with them, resolve conflicts and get closer. It is based on the knowledge developed by such a direction in psychology as neuro-linguistic programming, and if abbreviated — NLP.
personnel
Used to select the most effective and suitable personnel. Employees are checked not only for knowledge in a certain area, but also for the absence of addictions, criminal records. This allows you to avoid problems related to drugs, alcohol, or, say, theft in the future.
Also, thanks to the techniques, it is possible to identify the weakest or strongest character traits of employees in order to direct them to the benefit of the company. For example, giving tasks that they can handle better than others.
Insurance and banking
Diagnosis and timely detection of fraud in an attempt to obtain a loan or insurance payment. Organizations identify schemes that will bring financial losses in time.
Training
There are various trainings aimed at developing the skills of recognizing a person’s psychotypes. But it is important to take into account the qualities and skills that are necessary in this business. For example, a profiler must be attentive in order to notice and recognize the feelings and state of the interlocutor in time, which he prefers to hide.
He must have a good memory in order to memorize and reproduce the necessary information in time. Stress resistance to handle stress and withstand contact. As you understand, people are different and communication does not always bring pleasant emotions. Why is it important in the process not only not to lose control over yourself, but also to achieve certain results.
Analytical thinking also plays a role. Since it is necessary to qualitatively process the information received, and not «blindly trust» the words.
On the blog you can find the necessary material to independently improve or develop the above qualities. For example, this article will help to increase the level of attentiveness, you will learn about stress resistance here, and here about how to think rationally.
Literature
In addition to learning through trainings and useful articles, I would like to recommend a list of books needed to master profiling.
- Paul Ekman. It would be surprising if his works were not at the top of the list. They are like a base necessary for further deepening into the topic. The most noteworthy areRecognize a liar by facial expression«and “Psychology of emotions. I know what you feel».
- Anna Kulik. Anna is a polygraph examiner, that is, she conducts research to detect lies using a polygraph, a special technical tool. Knowledge gained from her book «Profiler Notes» you can apply not only in personnel, commercial activities, but also in personal relationships. After all, sometimes we don’t know at all who we let close to us, especially if the partner is an excellent manipulator.
- Charles Darwin. It would be useful to get acquainted with his work “On the Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals”, if only because Paul Ekman himself relied on it in his research. Considering that at one time mankind did not pay due attention to this material. So, who knows what thoughts it can inspire, for example, you.
- Evgeny Ilyin. Benefit «Emotions and Feelings» will help to recognize the true state of the interlocutor. It contains many references to the works of other psychologists, as well as schemes and methods. The information is presented in a clear, concise and simple way.
- Victor Obraztsov in collaboration with Bogomolova Sappho. «Forensic Psychology» — this is if it becomes interesting to study the psychological portrait of criminals. In it you will find a detailed classification of murderers and maniacs.
- Ernst Kretschmer. The work of a famous psychiatrist is called «The structure of the body and character.» Ernst, using the example of famous geniuses such as Schopenhauer, Kant, Voltaire and others, showed the connection between a person’s temperament and his physique.
Completion
And finally, I want to recommend you a wonderful course that the Wikium website offers. Go to this link and you can get acquainted with all the details and nuances. As you could understand from the article, it is useful to master profiling not only for professional activities, but also in everyday life, it is very useful to you. At least in order to recognize in time people who want to deceive or take advantage of your trust. And this is at least.
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina