Forensic Psychology: Just the FAQ's

1.6 Is a Forensic Psychologist by definition a Criminal Profiler?

No! Very very few forensic psychologists profile. And not all profilers are psychologists (at least in North America; most European profilers are psychologists).

1.7 Can I be just a profiler?

Probably not. There is simply not just enough work to support full-time profilers. Most psychologists who profile work as either police psychologists or correctional psychologists. They just do the profiling on the side.

1.8 The FBI has full-time profilers - can I take that route?

If you want. It is a risky way to go though. First you have to become an FBI special agent, work in a normal agent capacity, then get transferred to the Behavioral Science Unit. It is not easy, but there is help.

1.9 What is Investigative Psychology?

Investigative Psychology is in theory a sub-discipline of Forensic Psychology. In that, it is the application of psychological knowledge to investigations and police work. In reality, however, the two disciplines are considered somewhat different. Forensic Psychologists are either clinical or experimental psychologists that have taken these programs with a primary forensics focus. They have other courses that a typical clinical/experimental psychologist takes and outside of the sub-speciality they are not much different then a regular psychologist. Investigative Psychologists are the product of an applied psychology graduate degree (typically a MSc). They do not take typical psychology grad programs. Rather they deal with a number of applied projects and independent learning assignments. There are very few investigative psychologists out there (since they're are only two programs that teach it).

Here is some direct quotes from an Investigative Psychologist. Perhaps they can allow you to better understand the discipline:

"Investigative psychology introduces a more scientific and systematic basis to previously subjective approaches to police investigations. This behavioral science contribution is best thought of as working at various levels, from that of the crime itself, through the gathering of information and on to the actions of police officers working to identify the criminal."

"Furthermore, investigative psychology involves the application of all kinds of sociology, psychology, social psychology, and geography to study/model criminal behavior..."

"the MSc degree in investigative psychology *DOES* not prepare the student for any job other than a low level/pay crime analyst, which is what most of the MSc graduates are getting. One reason this is, is because the course is not really taught, but by research only as is the

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