Sweets

[a_blackpanther]

I've been watching this other TV show, Bones. They have a psychologist on the team too. Except they can't seem to make up their minds if he's a therapist for the FBI or a profiler. I know a psychologist can be a profiler, but on CM besides Reid no one has a formal training as a psychologist. My question is how does this work at the FBI? Do their therapists also do consults on cases as profilers? Hotch saw a therapist after Mayhem who wasn't necessarily a profiler, but Rossi also mentions they wrote the questions on the eval.

Also, how long does the behavioural analysis training last in the FBI academy?And what does it entail? Is it focused on the criminal aspect or is it a bit more general?

I'm asking those of you who are studying for this, or who have done more research (and know where to look better than i do)?

edit: a bit of clarification

Comments

[erinya.livejournal.com]

My understanding, gathered here and there from the grumblings of cranky forensic pathologists and other law enforcement folks, is that Bones IN NO WAY represents actual procedure in actual investigations. My guess is that the structure, composition, and protocol of the Criminal Minds team may be a little more true to life, but probably not by much. In TV, drama and convenience always win over accuracy.

[a_blackpanther]

Oh, i imagined so. Not to mention their science seems a bit too far fetched sometimes. And i'm curious as to how it's done in real life.

[iamtheliquorr.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This comment makes me think of my experience watching that ABC Family show Make It or Break It, which is about gymnasts training for the Olympics. As a former gymnast (never elite, though) and a longtime fan of the sport, I think I'm pretty knowledgeable about it, and am safe in saying the show's portrayal of elite gymnastics has vaguely realistic elements but is by no means an accurate reflection of the sport. They seem to pick and choose factual details to incorporate depending on how it serves them dramatically. So basically, what you said.

Everything I know about actual criminal procedure I learned from crime shows, so I can't really speak for their accuracy, but I imagine the same principle is at work here. I'm sure if any RL forensic anthropologists watch Bones, they're probably uttering their equivalent of, "Bitch is going to win with a tucked Yurchenko? Seriously?"

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I have watched an anthropologist watch Bones (I do not watch it myself, in part because I trained as an anthropologist) and I had to offer her a nice cup of tea to calm her.