A Brief History of Criminal Profiling is the third book in the series Student Guides Simplified. It is written by best-selling author David Elio Malocco (Forensic Science: Crime Scene Analysis; Criminal Profiling: An Introduction; Psychotherapy: The Top 50 Theories and Theorists; A Brief History of Criminal Profiling; and Psychotherapy: Approaches and Theories) The book is a simple and uncomplicated introduction to the history and evolution of Criminal Profiling. It provides a basic understanding and summary of the development of profiling. The book is principally aimed at first year criminology and forensic science students, students thinking about taking these courses as a major or anyone interested in reading about criminal profiling from its inception in 1486 throughout the centuries. It begins with an overview of criminal profiling, its aims and the various definitions and the approaches involved. It then deals with the development of profiling which begun in 1486 with the publication of Malleus Maleficarum, a diatribe on how to identify witches. It also covers the Salem Witch Trials. Then in 1876 an Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso published the then highly influential L'uomo delinquente (The Criminal Man) and claimed to be able to identify criminals by virtue of their physical appearance. The author discusses the influence of other criminologists including Franz Joseph Gall, Enrico Ferri, Gerald Fosbroke, Franz Von Liszt, Ludwig Fuld, Abraham Baer, Paul Nacke and others. The birth of Forensic Science is also covered in a separate chapter and the influence of Hans Gross and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is discussed in detail. Profiling was later dealt with by medical practitioners and eventually psychiatrists like Dr. James Brussel before the FBI brought their influence to bear. As with all Student Guides Simplified books it is entertaining and very readable with everything explained in a simple manner so the reader doesn't feel drowned by complicated theories or high brow discussions on esoteric topics which they don't feel are properly defined. The book is ideal as a reference for existing students and provides a comprehensive evolution of all major events in the development of profiling. Some students will use it as a stand-alone text as it provides the basis for all major essays that a first year criminology or forensic science student might be asked to undertake. A special feature is the chapter on crime scene analysis which anyone with an interest in crime will find fascinating. As with all Students Guides Simplified books it is short, to the point, easy to read and understand, packed with all kinds of interesting information and inexpensive to purchase. Enjoy!
About the Author: David Elio Malocco was born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. His father was born in Casalattico in Frosinone in Italy and his mother was born in Monaghan in Ireland. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Dundalk and his parents later sent him to St. Patrick's College in Cavan where they hoped he would be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. But he chose law and business instead. He received his Bachelor of Civil Law degree from University College Dublin and spent fifteen years as a criminal lawyer before taking a second degree at the Open University, Milton Keynes in England where he obtained a first class honors degree in Psychology majoring in Cognitive Development. In 1991 he realized a personal ambition and moved to New York where he studied film direction, production and writing for film at New York University. Since then he has written numerous screenplays in several genre and has written, produced and directed numerous shorts and three feature films, Virgin Cowboys, Magdalen and Jack Gambel: The Enigma. He later studied creative writing at Oxford University. He has written several books on true crime and forensic science. The books were motivated by dual diplomas he had taken. The first was in the Psychology of Criminal Profiling and the second in Forensic Science specializing in crime scene analysis. His publications include: Who's Who Serial Killers: The Top 100; Murder for Profit: They Killed for Money; Sexual Psychopaths: British Serial Killers; Serial Sex Killers: Real American Psychos; Wicked Women; I am a Cannibal: A Study of Anthropophagy; The World's Worst Serial Killers; Criminal Profiling: A Basic Introduction; The Beatles Conspiracy: John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bill!; Forensic Science: Crime Scene Analysis. Psychotherapy: The Top 50 Theorists and Theories His next book is a discussion on the crime of murder and those who make a living from killing others. Witty, informative and slightly tongue in cheek, it also features evidence from crime scene analyses and is sub-titled How to Commit the Perfect Murder. David is a lifelong supporter of Liverpool Football Club and enjoys filmmaking, writing, drinking wine, cooking and rescuing abandoned and abused dogs.