Career Essay Criminal Psychology 1

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Le’Isys Diaz
Mr.Taylor
English I Honors
18 February 2021
Criminal Psychology
When I was about 13 years old, I found police shows like “Blue Bloods” or “NCSI” a
little weird and scary most of the time. As I grew older, I now find these shows interesting rather
than scary or weird. Before the second quarter of school started, I began watching a show called
“Criminal Minds.” As I continued to binge-watch this series, my fascination with Criminal
Psychology grew at an increasing rate. It was fascinating how their teams worked together as one
to profile an offender and combine their ideas to show the colleagues that they're working with
and share with the rest of the police department. In More ways than one, this career takes a great
deal of knowledge and understanding of the brain.
WHAT IS CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY?
Criminal psychology is the study of the feelings, behavior, thoughts, and
characteristics of a criminal. They study these behaviors of criminals to have an understanding
of the criminal. Understanding the “unsub” ( the criminal) and his M.O is something that not
only involves profiling, but understanding the brain. They often look back into the history of the
offender such as: childhood, family, relationships, education, jobs, etc. These questions that are
asked, play a significant role in the behavior of the unsub now. A criminal psychologist’s work is
closely linked to detectives. For example, Sophia Reyes was molested and abused by her father
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at a very young age. She told her mother and the police but no one believed her story. She feels
alone, confused, and terrified. A few years later, she returns home after a long period of being
traumatized, afraid, and angry; She wants to make her trauma go away-- she wants to be free.
By doing this, she goes to the source who caused her pain and suffering; her father. She
predimates the murder, thinking of a way to make her father suffer just as he made her suffer.
After the killing, she feels a sense of high and release while watching the pool of blood engulf
her father’s body. She longed for that same high again, again, and again to the point where it
drove her insane. This causes her to lash out and grow a need to kill more men that are similar to
her father. As a profiler, they would go to the crime scene and study the body. They ask
questions like “ Were there any signs of struggle wounds?”, “ Did Julio Reyes know the unsub?”,
or “ What kind of weapon was used?”. Without these questions answered, this can be another
unsolved puzzle that profilers and detectives have to solve. But this is what criminal psychology
is, solving puzzles.
WHY CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY?
I chose criminal psychology because I loved the show “Criminal Minds.” I loved the
problem solving in the show and the profiling that took place within it. The characters in
the show could decipher information to lead them on trails and solve cases involving
murders,kidnappings, human-trafficking, arsonists, psychopaths, and sociopaths. This
piqued my interest in this career field because I feel that I could take on the same tasks
that are done on the show, in real life. I also find studying the brain fascinating, seeing as
though it helps with profiling or comprehending why an offender is behaving or lashing
out in a certain way that could actually be a mental illness. Psychology is the study of the
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human mind and its functions, which is incorporated into criminal psychology by
studying the behavior of an offender or individual. I imagine that criminal psychology/
understanding the brain is a predominant part of the career path, and I feel that I can excel
in this area of expertise.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGISTS?
There are many requirements that need to be met in order to become a criminal
psychologist. In the Article “ Criminal Psychology Careers” ( 2020), In order to become a
criminal psychologist I must “ First earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field,
followed by a master’s degree in psychology.” Colleges like Arizona State University, Simmons
University, Purdue University, and Capella University offer online degrees/ bachelor degrees in
psychology. In “How Much Do Criminal psychologists make?”, It's said that “ Most professional
psychologists need a Psy.D, or doctor of psychology, to practice.” And without these degrees in
psychology, I won’t really be a psychologist. “ About half of all psychologists earn at least
$45,380 a year or more.” In Addition, to become a criminal psychologist I would need to earn
both bachelor and masters degrees in psychology, along with a Psy.D. without these specific
requirements I will not be able to become a psychologist.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I feel that I can benefit from becoming a criminal psychologist. I think it would be
a rather thrilling yet exciting experience to actually solve puzzles and profile criminals. By doing
this, I can see that this career choice was probably my favorite yet most challenging career. I
hope that one day, after meeting the requirements to become a criminal psychologist, that this
was all worth it.

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Works Cited
Contributor, Chron. “How Much Do Criminal Psychologists Make?” Work, 21 Sept. 2020,
work.chron.com/much-criminal-psychologists-make-10977.html.
“Criminal Psychology Careers.” CareersinPsychology.org |, 30 Oct. 2020,
careersinpsychology.org/criminal-psychology-careers/#:~:text=To become a criminal
psychologist,basis or offer clinical opinions.

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Diaz 1

“Criminal Minds.” As I continued to binge-watch this series, my fascination with Criminal

deal of knowledge and understanding of the brain.

WHAT IS CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY?

Criminal psychology is the study of the feelings, behavior, thoughts, and

characteristics of a criminal. They study these behaviors of criminals to have an understanding

is, solving puzzles.

WHY CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY?

murders,kidnappings, human-trafficking, arsonists, psychopaths, and sociopaths. This

though it helps with profiling or comprehending why an offender is behaving or lashing

studying the behavior of an offender or individual. I imagine that criminal psychology/

in this area of expertise.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGISTS?

psychologist. In the Article “ Criminal Psychology Careers” ( 2020), In order to become a

requirements I will not be able to become a psychologist.

was all worth it.

“Criminal Psychology Careers.” CareersinPsychology.org |, 30 Oct. 2020,

careersinpsychology.org/criminal-psychology-careers/#:~:text=To become a criminal

psychologist,basis or offer clinical opinions.

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