19. Application of Profile Process - RonaldMah

Ronald Mah, M.A., Ph.D.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist,
Consultant/Trainer/Author
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19. Application of Profile Process

Therapist Resources > Therapy Books > How Dangerous


 How Dangerous is this Person? Assessing Danger & Violence Potential Before Tragedy Strikes
Chapter 19: APPLICATION OF PROFILE PROCESS


Chapter 19: APPLICATION OF PROFILE PROCESS
The list below has the criteria applicability identified for each of the nine profiles.  Each therapist, professional, or concerned person based on his or her consideration of implicit contexts or sets of circumstances fills out each profile both objectively and subjectively.  However, they are useful for focusing assessment regarding the violence potential of an individual of concern or in treatment.  There may be differences in how individuals would answer for these characteristics or characteristics, criteria, or elements regarding the different origins for behavior.  As a result, one should remember that these are not definitive profiles.

Characteristics, Criteria, or Elements for Aggression & Violence Potential
1. Specific Triggering Event
2. Opportunistic Behavior
3. Sense of Entitlement
4. Self-Righteous Attitude
5. Ego-syntonic Perception
6. Self-Esteem Gain or Loss
7. Intense Emotional Arousal
8. Pleasure
9. Resentment
10. Functional Reinforcement (Positive or Negative)
11. Characterlogical Behavior or Perceptions
12. Transitory Behavior or Perceptions
13. Isolation/Avoidance Behavior
14. Social
15. Presence or Lack of Remorse
16. Empathy
17. History

Here again is the chart with all nine profiles with the criteria identified for each one.



One way to use this process is to assess an individual of attention according to the seventeen criteria.  After filling out the chart to create the individual’s profile, it can be compared to the nine profiles in the chart above.  Cho and Jim as clients or individuals of attention or concern would be profiled in the following manner.  The profiles that most resemble Cho and Jim respectively are included for comparison.

Cho and PARANOID compared to Jim and FRUSTRATION: Characteristics, Criteria, or Elements for Aggression & Violence Potential
-- Code: NO=not applicable; YES=applicable; DEPENDS= Depends on other issues or occurs sometimes
Cho: NO, Specific Triggering Event -- PARANOID: DEPENDS, Specific Triggering Event
Jim: NO, Specific Triggering Event -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Specific Triggering Event
Cho: YES, Opportunistic Behavior -- PARANOID: YES, Opportunistic Behavior
Jim: NO, Opportunistic Behavior -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Opportunistic Behavior
Cho: YES, Sense of Entitlement -- PARANOID: YES, Sense of Entitlement
Jim: NO, Sense of Entitlement -- FRUSTRATION: DEPENDS, Sense of Entitlement
Cho: YES, Self-Righteous Attitude -- PARANOID: YES, Self-Righteous Attitude
Jim: DEPENDS, Self-Righteous Attitude -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Self-Righteous Attitude
Cho: YES, Ego-syntonic Perception -- PARANOID: YES, Ego-syntonic Perception
Jim: NO, Ego-syntonic Perception -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Ego-syntonic Perception
Cho: YES, Self-Esteem Gain or Loss -- PARANOID: YES, Self-Esteem Gain or Loss
Jim: YES, Self-Esteem Gain or Loss -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Self-Esteem Gain or Loss
Cho: YES, Intense Emotional Arousal -- PARANOID: YES, Intense Emotional Arousal
Jim: DEPENDS, Intense Emotional Arousal -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Intense Emotional Arousal
Cho: YES, Pleasure -- PARANOID: YES, Pleasure
Jim: NO, Pleasure -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Pleasure
Cho: YES, Resentment -- PARANOID: YES, Resentment
Jim: YES, Resentment -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Resentment
Cho: NO, Functional Reinforcement (positive or negative) -- PARANOID: NO, Functional Reinforcement (positive or negative)
Jim: NO, Functional Reinforcement (positive or negative) -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Functional Reinforcement (positive or negative)
Cho: YES, Characterlogical Behavior/Perceptions  -- PARANOID: YES, Characterlogical Behavior/Perceptions
Jim: NO, Characterlogical Behavior/Perceptions  -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Characterlogical Behavior/Perceptions
Cho: NO, Transitory Behavior/Perceptions -- PARANOID: NO, Transitory Behavior/Perceptions
Jim: YES, Transitory Behavior/Perceptions -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Transitory Behavior/Perceptions
Cho: YES, Isolation/Avoidance Behavior -- PARANOID: YES, Isolation/Avoidance Behavior
Jim: NO, Isolation/Avoidance Behavior -- FRUSTRATION: NO, Isolation/Avoidance Behavior
Cho: NO, Social -- PARANOID: NO, Social
Jim: YES, Social -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Social
Cho: NO, Remorse -- PARANOID: NO, Presence of Remorse
Jim: YES, Presence of Remorse -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Presence of Remorse
Cho: NO, Empathy -- PARANOID: NO, Empathy
Jim: YES, Empathy -- FRUSTRATION: YES, Empathy
Cho: YES, History -- PARANOID: DEPENDS, History
Jim: NO, History -- FRUSTRATION: DEPENDS, History



Comparison of Cho’s profile of the seventeen criteria shows it almost identical to that of the paranoid personality disorder.  This confirms or suggests a paranoid personality disorder diagnosis may be appropriate for focusing further therapeutic assessment, treatment strategies, or intervention.   On the other hand, Jim’s profile comes closest to the profile for frustration.  Moreover, closer examination reveals important differences that make Jim less likely to lash out aggressively even in frustration.  Specifically as indicated by criteria with gray shading, there are not identified triggers to ignite aggression from Jim; he does not have a sense of entitlement to aggress that some frustrated aggressors have; he is not strongly emotionally aroused or reactive; and he does not have any history of aggression or violence.  Overall, there are many mitigating characteristics for Jim as indicated by underlined criteria: remorse, empathy, not being reinforced by violent acts, violence not being ego-syntonic, wanting to be social and not be alone, etc.), which weigh against much violence potential.  The therapist, professional, or concerned person can assess another client or individual according to the seventeen criteria.  If the resulting profile is similar to one of the nine profiles, then the diagnosis will suggest further investigation and direct therapy.  Of particular value would how the therapist can utilize the profile or diagnosis’ likely entries to therapy and change and avoid those that are blocked.  Jim for example offers many entries to therapy and change that are unavailable with Cho.  


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Ronald Mah, M.A., Ph.D.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT32136
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