Pure vs. Pathological Profiling

Pure profiling involves analyzing an individual's consistent traits, behaviors, or tendencies, aiming to understand their typical patterns over time. Pathological profiling, on the other hand, focuses on identifying abnormal or dysfunctional behaviors that deviate from the norm, often related to mental health issues or maladaptive traits. While pure profiling seeks to build a general character profile, pathological profiling zeroes in on diagnosing and understanding problematic or harmful behaviors. Both approaches are used in criminal investigations and psychological assessments but serve different purposes: one for understanding typical behavior and the other for identifying atypical or concerning patterns.