1921 Book on Profiling
Here’s a book from 1921 on how to profile people.
Comments
Rich • July 26, 2010 12:56 PM
Great find! Thanks!
Peter E Retep • July 26, 2010 1:39 PM
Profiling is a term that has changed as much in meaning as has consumption over the same time frame.
Social astrology of any type generates a bad name for itself among those who desire hard and fast predictability, while it appeals to those who wish their interpretations of its pronouncements to be both true and genuine.
This phrenology-by-observation social astrology is an example of the former.
VICAP signature and surveillance analysis adjunct to a crime scene is an example of the latter.
The chief danger to our security is when those charged to be Authorities begin to confuse the two.
One of the signal momentys in history was when a wax effigy of the new queen was discovered and Elizabeth 1 was closeted with her security and intelliegece advisors for several days as they taught her the difference between magical intentional witchcraft and poisoning by field agents acting as assassins.
Dare we hope we have learned anything from that?
Thank you, Bruce, for the brief trip down history lane.
Stephanie • July 26, 2010 2:01 PM
“Types That Should and Should Not Marry Each Other” is especially encouraging.
Steve Seidman • July 26, 2010 2:34 PM
The full text of the book is available at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30601/30601-h/30601-h.htm
frater mus • July 26, 2010 3:05 PM
@SPasquino
“Funny. The first thing I noticed is that a book from 1921 had a woman Business Manager. Seems a rather rare occurrence for the 1920s.”
Perhaps it’s a function of (or reference to) the millions of males killed globally in WW1? Certainly more a factor in Europe than in NYC where the book was published, but something to consider.
peri • July 26, 2010 3:44 PM
Compare and contrast with this report!
March 1920
Robert H. Goddard
American Rocket Pioneer
“Report Concerning Further Developments” in Space Travel
http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/documents/goddardmarch1920.htm
Farrow • July 27, 2010 7:40 AM
After a quick scan, it seems to have the same kind of credibility as Phrenology:
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/30489
The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology by L. N. Fowler
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/33223
How to Become Rich
A Treatise on Phrenology, Choice of Professions and Matrimony
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/21646
GPowers • July 27, 2010 2:07 PM
Yet another system of stereotyping people: people strive for simplicity in understanding others so as to nurture their own biases against them and support their own feelings of superiority which confirm their existence
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Sidebar photo of Bruce Schneier by Joe MacInnis.
SPasquino • July 26, 2010 12:54 PM
Funny. The first thing I noticed is that a book from 1921 had a woman Business Manager. Seems a rather rare occurrence for the 1920s.