지각된 프로파일러의 전문성이 수사관의 프로파일링 활용 의향에 미치는 영향: 과학성 지각 및 성과기대의 매개효과

초록

In recent years, criminal profiling has gained attention as a scientific investigative technique, particularly for cases involving ambiguous motives and complex offender behavior. However, its practical utilization often depends on investigators’ trust in the profiler and their perception of the analytical process, yet empirical studies examining these factors remain limited. This study aims to examine the effect of profiler expertise on police investigators’ intentions to utilize profiling in investigations, with a specific focus on the mediating roles of perceived scientific validity and expected utility of the results. Survey data from 287 police investigators across South Korea were analyzed using logistic regression and mediation modeling. The findings indicate that profiler expertise positively influences investigators’ perceptions of profiling as a scientific and systematic method (β = 0.54, p < .001), which in turn enhances their trust in the results (β = 0.56, p < .001) and their willingness to apply profiling in practice (β = 0.48, p < .001). Mediation analysis further confirmed that scientific validity partially mediates the relationship between perceived expertise of profiler and intention to utilize in investigation (β = 0.21, p < .01), whereas expected utility of results did not show a significant mediating effect (β = 0.11, p = .29). These results suggest that investigators prioritize the scientific rigor and procedural reliability of profiling over the anticipated accuracy of the results. To enhance the practical application of profiling, it is essential to strengthen profiler expertise through structured, multidisciplinary education and to improve investigative perceptions by reinforcing the scientific credibility and procedural validity of profiling practices.

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