Profling Vs Racial Profiling - 848 Words

Recently there have been many issues concerning wrongful searches and police brutality in the criminal justice system. Cries for racial equality and social justice have been heard from across the nation. Profiling and stereotyping are generally seen as almost the same concept, but this is not the case. Specifically, criminal profiling is defined as â€Å"the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies,† according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In contrast, stereotyping is defined as â€Å"an idea that is used to describe a particular type of person or thing, or a person or thing thought to represent such an idea,† by Cambridge English Dictionary. The term â€Å"racial profiling† has grown recently†¦show more content†¦Through observations and educated decisions, officers can conclude whether or not a subject poses a danger to their surroundings, or how they can use their new knowledge to help further the ir investigation. In order to accurately profile a suspect, one would observe and profile them based on their behaviors and body language, not taking race, gender, or religion into account when making a decision. On the other hand, the motives behind stereotyping are quite different. In â€Å"Where Bias Begins: The Truth About Stereotypes,† Annie Murphy Paul refers to the ultimate goal of stereotyping by saying, â€Å"Humans, like other species, need to feel that they are part of a group, and as villages, clans, and other traditional groupings have broken down, our identities have attached themselves to more ambiguous classifications, such as race and class.† Following this concept, Paul explains, â€Å"We want to feel good about the group we belong to—and one way of doing so is to denigrate all those who who arent in it.† Unlike profiling, stereotyping does not seek to find danger, but to find a flaw in someone in order to categorize and besmirch them wi thout taking the time to truly understand that person. Profiling is rooted in logic, while stereotyping is largely based on assumptions and opinions, both leaving little room for empathy. Neither thought process accounts for someone’s feelings, struggles, or personality.