Hunting Serial Predators: A Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior [Hardcover]

Grover Maurice Godwin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849313988 | ISBN-13: 978-0849313981 | Publication Date: September 28, 1999 | Edition: 1

The majority of the available published accounts of serial murderers are not in scholarly or technical publications. Even such few academic reviews as do exist typically commence with reference to fictional accounts so that the profile of a serial murderer is typically far from clear or precise.

Hunting Serial Predators is unique in that each chapter, written in detail, explains how to research and interpret, psychologically, the crime scene actions of serial killers. The book provides the reader an empirical facet model of the crime scene actions of American serial murderers based on information available to a police inquiry; an overview of the related scientific knowledge, introducing a new method to classify the serial predator, and accounts of the process and difficulties of profiling the serial murderer.

By presenting a classification model of serial murderers and their crime scene behaviors based on empirical and repeatable studies, this book makes significant advances in the areas of police investigations, etiology, and treatment possible.

The empirical process used to analyze serial murderers' crime scene actions described in Hunting Serial Predators makes it possible to make logical decisions about how to detect, apprehend, and eventually access their dangerousness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr. Godwin has written a thorough and eminently readable work that is unique in the growing literature on serial murder. Combining a judicious review of past approaches to crime scene behavior, crime reconstruction, and classification theory, with a meticulous presentation of the newest precision investigative methodology, he has made a contribution to the field that is essential reading for mental health and law enforcement professionals." -- Dr. John Philpin - Retired forensic psychologist and author of Tunnel of the Night and Stalemate

About the Author

Godwin; Grover Maurice Methodist College, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA,

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (September 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849313988
• ISBN-13: 978-0849313981
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,821,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Alot of Research but very confusing interpretations, December 9, 1999

By 

R. Ressler (Anachorage, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunting Serial Predators: A Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior (Hardcover)

I have read many books pertaining to profiling and Godwin has by far done the most research on crime scene behavior. I commend him for this but does it really take SSA to come to the conclusion that serial murderers utilize the same behaviors in the majority of their offenses. Also one needs a Ph.D in Stats to understand the majority of Godwin's discussions. It appears to me that Godwin has attempted to mask his weak arguments, and very difficult arguments to understand, with a whole lot of meaningless statistics. Statistics I might add, that are displayed on very hard to read graphs and tables. I was also very confused at how Godwin described inductive and deductive reasoning. If I am correct, Godwin believes the FBI's method is deductive. This is anything but the truth. It is purely an inductive process. The FBI utilizes specific behaviors in a crime scene to develop a generalized profile.(Specific to General). Like I said, Godwin did much work but much work does not always equate to a quality piece of work. I also find it very hard to believe that an investigator can find this book useful. If a law enforcement officer can understand this book I'd be very surprised. They have enough trouble with simple charts and graphs. SSA would most likely be gibberish to them.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turning Profiling from an Art to a Science, January 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hunting Serial Predators: A Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior (Hardcover)

I gleaned a totally difference opinion from Dr. Godwin's book, Hunting Serial Predators than the review by Pat Brown. First of all, I think that the book demolished more than a few specific myths about current profiling approaches - Dr. Godwin covered a broad range of approaches and showed their weaknesses. Obviously the reader, Pat Brown, did not read the entire book or fully understand what she was reading. Dr. Goodwin examined for the very first time the consistency of serial killers' crime scene behaviors from one offense to another and showed that they are very consistent on an empirical foundation. This very finding explodes the myths propounded in all the literature on serial murder. While others claim this fact might be obvious, they have not provided the literature demonstrating this. In regards to the grouping of behaviors, the behaviors were not done subjectively as is the case by individual profilers who use their experiences and gut feelings. Rather, the behaviors were group by the computer analysis and each classification was defended strongly with the support of psychological literature. For example, Dr. Godwin found a group of crime scene actions that revealed the aspects of serial killers who specifically targeted and murdered their victims indoors - no other serial murder classification does this. He also showed what the dominant focus of serial murder is - that it was not entirely sexual. Can't quite understand how this Pat Brown misses these very important points in the book. Also, the four case studies in the book were just used for demonstrating purposes as I understand the reading of the book. I found the book to be a strong foundation to built a computerized linking data system for law enforcement use using the four classification types described. I also found the way in which Dr. Godwin used the information in his research to profile the serial murder case in Raleigh, North Carolina helpful. I also found the book, considering the statistical nature of the book, an easy read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not easy to read, June 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Hunting Serial Predators: A Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior (Hardcover)

If Godwin wants to reach people, he is going to have to learn to write to the audience that needs this information. Based on this book, he seems confortable with data. There is a lot of it in this book. However, it is difficult to understand and follow the way it is written. For that reason, I don't believe that many in law enforcement will find this book helpful.