Abstract
The literature regarding the activity of profiling, which is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the recording and analysis of a person's psychological and behavioural characteristics, so as to assess or predict their capabilities in a certain sphere or to assist in identifying categories of people, is reviewed. A number of offender profiling approaches have been applied, with varying degrees of success; however the reliability and validity of these approaches is hampered by the retrospective nature of the technique, in addition to weaknesses in experimental studies. The literature regarding sexual offenders is reviewed, with a focus upon summarising profiling of offender groups including of rapists, child molesters, female sex offenders, and adolescent sex offenders. Similar reliability and validity issues apply within the domain of sexual offender profiling. The literature regarding juvenile delinquents is reviewed. A number of typology models are summarised, as are the personal factors, peer influences, and family factors which have been found to influence rates and types of juvenile delinquency. Finally, the literature regarding profiling of high risk young drivers is reviewed. The 'problem young driver' is placed within the context of the 'young driver problem', and a range of characteristics which are demonstrated by and apparent in high risk young drivers is discussed.