Season 01 · 13 case files
The Birth of the Behavioral Science Unit
How criminal profiling and behavioral analysis emerged within the FBI.
Season 1 examines how criminal profiling and behavioral analysis emerged within the fbi. Each case file separates documented history, analytical interpretation, and unresolved questions.
S01E01Before the BSU: Hunting Killers Without Profiling
Before criminal investigative analysis became an established law-enforcement resource, detectives relied primarily on physical evidence, witnesses, local knowledge, records, interviews, and investigative experience. This episode examines what violent-crime investigation looked like before the Behavioral Science Unit and introduces the questions that eventually led investigators to study offender behavior systematically.ListenS01E02The Birth of the FBI
A documentary case file exploring the birth of the fbi within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E03J. Edgar Hoover and the Modern Bureau
A documentary case file exploring j. edgar hoover and the modern bureau within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E04Crime and Social Change in 1960s America
A documentary case file exploring crime and social change in 1960s america within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E05When Traditional Investigations Reached Their Limits
A documentary case file exploring when traditional investigations reached their limits within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E06The FBI Academy at Quantico
A documentary case file exploring the fbi academy at quantico within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E07The Behavioral Science Unit Is Created
A documentary case file exploring the behavioral science unit is created within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E08Howard Teten, Patrick Mullany, and the Early Instructors
A documentary case file exploring howard teten, patrick mullany, and the early instructors within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E09Psychology Meets Criminal Investigation
A documentary case file exploring psychology meets criminal investigation within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E10Building a New Investigative Discipline
A documentary case file exploring building a new investigative discipline within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E11Profiling, Psychology, and Behavioral Analysis
A documentary case file exploring profiling, psychology, and behavioral analysis within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E12The Myths Popular Culture Created
A documentary case file exploring the myths popular culture created within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E13The Legacy of the Early BSU
A documentary case file exploring the legacy of the early bsu within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.Listen
Before criminal investigative analysis became an established law-enforcement resource, detectives relied primarily on physical evidence, witnesses, local knowledge, records, interviews, and investigative experience. This episode examines what violent-crime investigation looked like before the Behavioral Science Unit and introduces the questions that eventually led investigators to study offender behavior systematically.ListenS01E02The Birth of the FBI
A documentary case file exploring the birth of the fbi within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E03J. Edgar Hoover and the Modern Bureau
A documentary case file exploring j. edgar hoover and the modern bureau within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E04Crime and Social Change in 1960s America
A documentary case file exploring crime and social change in 1960s america within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E05When Traditional Investigations Reached Their Limits
A documentary case file exploring when traditional investigations reached their limits within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E06The FBI Academy at Quantico
A documentary case file exploring the fbi academy at quantico within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E07The Behavioral Science Unit Is Created
A documentary case file exploring the behavioral science unit is created within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E08Howard Teten, Patrick Mullany, and the Early Instructors
A documentary case file exploring howard teten, patrick mullany, and the early instructors within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E09Psychology Meets Criminal Investigation
A documentary case file exploring psychology meets criminal investigation within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E10Building a New Investigative Discipline
A documentary case file exploring building a new investigative discipline within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E11Profiling, Psychology, and Behavioral Analysis
A documentary case file exploring profiling, psychology, and behavioral analysis within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E12The Myths Popular Culture Created
A documentary case file exploring the myths popular culture created within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.ListenS01E13The Legacy of the Early BSU
A documentary case file exploring the legacy of the early bsu within the history, practice, and limits of behavioral analysis.Listen
Sources and research
Every episode transcript includes its source bibliography. The master source librarycollects and deduplicates those citations across all five seasons.