Criminal profiling: What makes them tick?

Is there actually a genetic blueprint that makes someone a born criminal, or is it all just shaped by their early years?

Isn't it obvious when you look at these people? You can practically see the criminality written all over their faces, or am I just falling for the media hype?

The way I see it, criminals come from three main roots:
-revenge
-genetics
-childhood trauma

Steven Allen9 said:Is there actually a genetic blueprint that makes someone a born criminal, or is it all just shaped by their early years?

Isn't it obvious when you look at these people? You can practically see the criminality written all over their faces, or am I just falling for the media hype?

The way I see it, criminals come from three main roots:
-revenge
-genetics
-childhood trauma

Yeah, it's definitely both.

So, what actually constitutes a crime? Are we talking about a gas station robbery or a brutal murder involving thirty stab wounds? 🤷 In my view, these initial offenses are simply reflections of pure lack of discipline, laziness, and a total absence of morality—not necessarily the result of a broken mind.🤷

Steven Allen9 said:Is there actually a genetic blueprint that makes someone a born criminal, or is it all just shaped by their early years?

Isn't it obvious when you look at these people? You can practically see the criminality written all over their faces, or am I just falling for the media hype?

The way I see it, criminals come from three main roots:
-revenge
-genetics
-childhood trauma

When it comes to crime, people start throwing out endless questions... Most of what you said is spot on, but I’m looking at it from a different angle. How much of a crime is it when one criminal takes out another? Or rather, how useful can a crime actually be? What about killing out of sheer fear or desperation? And what about politicians who sign a piece of paper and effectively wipe out hundreds or thousands of lives without a second thought, walking away completely unscathed? ... As for genetics, there's that Y chromosome factor, where the owner is basically hardwired for aggression from a young age, eventually leading them straight into a life of crime.

rustyraven8 said:So, what actually constitutes a crime? Are we talking about a gas station robbery or a brutal murder involving thirty stab wounds? 🤷 In my view, these initial offenses are simply reflections of pure lack of discipline, laziness, and a total absence of morality—not necessarily the result of a broken mind.🤷

Even a total psychopath or a sadist could walk into a gas station just to feed on someone else's fear... you can never truly know...

Pardon, I meant an EXTRA Y chromosome...

So, I spent some time working as a medical tech in a prison hospital, bouncing between different wards, and honestly? I could probably write a whole book on the madness. Most of the guys are just harmless idiots—junkies and petty thieves, really. There’s this tiny percentage that actually fits the "hardened criminal" stereotype you see in movies, but even then, they're mostly just goofy patients or weirdly brilliant people. If you went door-to-door in any neighborhood in the States, you'd find the exact same mix of characters 😂😂 Real criminals are a completely different breed 😉 I've had a few of those types pass through my hands, thankfully not too many 😁

Steven Allen9 said:Is there actually a genetic blueprint that makes someone a born criminal, or is it all just shaped by their early years?

Isn't it obvious when you look at these people? You can practically see the criminality written all over their faces, or am I just falling for the media hype?

The way I see it, criminals come from three main roots:
-revenge
-genetics
-childhood trauma

Since poverty and bad environments can push anyone toward crime—and let's face it, violence isn't anything new to humanity—I’m guessing your question is really aiming at the
sociopaths and psychopaths.

Research actually shows they definitely have a biological predisposition. Most studies on convicted heavy murderers and serial killers show that over 50% of them have one disorder or another, a neurological diagnosis, or something similar.

It's also been found that 65% of them have damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. This is characteristic of a condition where their brain was essentially bathed in too much serotonin (that "happy hormone") during the fetal stage, which makes them totally numb to things that would give us pleasure. They need way more intense stimulation.
The frontal lobe houses many of the mechanisms that make us social beings, like self-control, planning, reasoning, and balancing individual needs against social ones.

So yeah, there's a biological predisposition. Then you add early childhood and environment into the mix.
About 85% (we're talking about those heavy hitters, the serial killers, etc.) suffered severe physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood.
That can trigger certain behaviors, leading to what's known as the McDonald's triad—three specific traits of sociopathic behavior: constant bedwetting after age five or six, cruelty to animals, and an obsession with fire and arson. This triad shows up in a lot of serial killers during their youth.

Basically, biology + abuse + a traumatic upbringing = the perfect storm.

Robert Gomez6 said:Even a total psychopath or a sadist could walk into a gas station just to feed on someone else's fear... you can never truly know...

Fine🤣, that specific example is irrelevant. My point was simply that I don't see white-collar financial fraud and homicide sitting in the same category.🤷

Robert Gomez6 said:Pardon, I meant an EXTRA Y chromosome...

Women can't be criminals, essentially, since we don't have a Y chromosome at all.

Sandra Barrett4 said:Women can't be criminals, essentially, since we don't have a Y chromosome at all.

That was just a passing thought, a possible reason... nothing more...

Robert Gomez6 said:When it comes to crime, people start throwing out endless questions... Most of what you said is spot on, but I’m looking at it from a different angle. How much of a crime is it when one criminal takes out another? Or rather, how useful can a crime actually be? What about killing out of sheer fear or desperation? And what about politicians who sign a piece of paper and effectively wipe out hundreds or thousands of lives without a second thought, walking away completely unscathed? ... As for genetics, there's that Y chromosome factor, where the owner is basically hardwired for aggression from a young age, eventually leading them straight into a life of crime.

Not sure why, but this reminds me of an old saying:
"The fool doesn't notice the fool, but the smart guy pays the price."

Steven Allen9 said:Not sure why, but this reminds me of an old saying:
"The fool doesn't notice the fool, but the smart guy pays the price."

First you start an incredibly grateful thread for some reason, and then we end up playing a game of word association... I put three questions in my post that you can answer or not... sometimes it's actually good to hear someone's opinion... as for the folk jokes, we can do that another time... we're young and healthy, we have plenty of time...

Robert Gomez6 said:When it comes to crime, people start throwing out endless questions... Most of what you said is spot on, but I’m looking at it from a different angle. How much of a crime is it when one criminal takes out another? Or rather, how useful can a crime actually be? What about killing out of sheer fear or desperation? And what about politicians who sign a piece of paper and effectively wipe out hundreds or thousands of lives without a second thought, walking away completely unscathed? ... As for genetics, there's that Y chromosome factor, where the owner is basically hardwired for aggression from a young age, eventually leading them straight into a life of crime.

Robert Gomez6 said:First you start an incredibly grateful thread for some reason, and then we end up playing a game of word association... I put three questions in my post that you can answer or not... sometimes it's actually good to hear someone's opinion... as for the folk jokes, we can do that another time... we're young and healthy, we have plenty of time...

Maybe it's because those questions feel more like legal or philosophical puzzles rather than psychological ones?

Robert Gomez6 said:First you start an incredibly grateful thread for some reason, and then we end up playing a game of word association... I put three questions in my post that you can answer or not... sometimes it's actually good to hear someone's opinion... as for the folk jokes, we can do that another time... we're young and healthy, we have plenty of time...

Just trying to wrap this thought up with a rhyme. Sorry.

In my book, the criminal is a finished product long before the act. It’s like a kid who gets a kick out of tormenting small animals or bullying classmates, only to grow up and find a victim to sadistically target in their adult life.
The kind of people like that really shine during the chaos of war.
Nightmares don't exist for them. They see slaughter as nothing more than a ritualistic feast—a message, or a signature left behind for whoever owns the bodies.
They make up a tiny percentage of the population, but they’re dangerous because they can easily manipulate a dozen idiots into doing the same thing.
Let’s be clear: these are pathological individuals who are experts at manipulating empathy. They can look anyone in the eye and lie without blinking. They show up to work on time, they're diligent, maybe even organized to a fault, but their ultimate peak is finding joy in someone else's misery and pain. That's where they live.

And when they run into another predator—someone they recognize through those primal instincts we all share—they can't even fathom it. It’s probably like watching two completely unhinged, "good" citizens talking shop, understanding each other perfectly from hobbies to careers, even bragging about their life achievements. It’s like they’re invisible to the rest of the world. Their sickness will never be caught. In everyday life, they'll just be seen as quiet grumps or polite bullies, and during wartime, their brutality and bloodlust will be brushed off as just "dealing with stress."
For them, "stress" is a cashier giving them a dirty look, not the sight of dismembered bodies...

dustyranger64 said:Maybe it's because those questions feel more like legal or philosophical puzzles rather than psychological ones?

When we talk about a man whose family was slaughtered by some psychopath—someone surviving unimaginable trauma only to obsess over and eventually execute revenge—are we looking at it through a philosophical lens or a psychological one?... In this instance, I'm betting on the soul...

Robert Gomez6 said:When we talk about a man whose family was slaughtered by some psychopath—someone surviving unimaginable trauma only to obsess over and eventually execute revenge—are we looking at it through a philosophical lens or a psychological one?... In this instance, I'm betting on the soul...

That’s the fourth question, and man, it’s a total pivot from the first three.
Sure, you could take a psychological approach, but honestly, it feels a bit disconnected from our main topic. At this point, the subject becomes the driver. We aren't talking about biological predispositions or sociological environments anymore—that's what the whole theme is about. Now, it's just a direct motive.
Even "temporary insanity" doesn't really fit here if we're talking about someone who obsessively organizes and plans their vengeance over a long period before executing it.
The situation is triggered by a massive, direct stressor. It’s pure, extreme rage combined with a thirst for revenge and probably a complete disregard for self-preservation. Total no-brainer. 🤷

dustyranger64 said:That’s the fourth question, and man, it’s a total pivot from the first three.
Sure, you could take a psychological approach, but honestly, it feels a bit disconnected from our main topic. At this point, the subject becomes the driver. We aren't talking about biological predispositions or sociological environments anymore—that's what the whole theme is about. Now, it's just a direct motive.
Even "temporary insanity" doesn't really fit here if we're talking about someone who obsessively organizes and plans their vengeance over a long period before executing it.
The situation is triggered by a massive, direct stressor. It’s pure, extreme rage combined with a thirst for revenge and probably a complete disregard for self-preservation. Total no-brainer. 🤷

That’s just a reaction.
But what about the guy who's hardwired to be evil, whether there's a war going on or things are peaceful?
Is there another category out there? Like, crimes written in their DNA? Just born to kill and cause chaos?

Steven Allen9 said:That’s just a reaction.
But what about the guy who's hardwired to be evil, whether there's a war going on or things are peaceful?
Is there another category out there? Like, crimes written in their DNA? Just born to kill and cause chaos?

😕 Well, I think I gave you a pretty solid, detailed answer up above.

Steven Allen9 said:That’s just a reaction.
But what about the guy who's hardwired to be evil, whether there's a war going on or things are peaceful?
Is there another category out there? Like, crimes written in their DNA? Just born to kill and cause chaos?

You watch far too many American movies and TV shows. That concept doesn't exist; nobody is born to kill. It's pure fantasy.