Modern media is obsessed with looking inside the minds of criminals. But these stories aren’t just plotlines in Hollywood; the psychology of crime is an essential — and important — part of the security professional’s toolbox for protecting businesses and their employees.
Anticipating and managing risks for a business, such as workplace violence or insider threats, requires more than securing a facility’s perimeter. No matter the industry, safety issues at organizations of all sizes often arise from the inside because of an employee, client, or former associate who feels wronged.
A security professional’s expertise comes into play long before a crime is reported. The best way to deal with workplace violence is to identify and diffuse problems before they occur. Understanding human psychology allows our investigations and threat management teams to help businesses understand employee behavior, along with the motivations and frustrations of employees.
At Pinkerton, our approach combines advanced threat assessment with a new way of thinking about psychology in the workplace, giving our team a better grasp of the people and issues that could threaten a business. These advanced methods garner crucial insights that inform a safer workplace and minimize organizational liability. By integrating psychological insights with other disciplines, we offer clients industry-leading comprehensive security services.
Operational Psychology: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding Human Behaviors & Motivations
Pinkerton’s multidisciplinary approach to security draws on the wide-reaching skill sets and abilities of our experts. Our response team brings together leaders with decades of experience in psychology, law enforcement, federal investigations, human resources, and criminal law. This collective approach allows our team to identify, assess, and manage high-risk situations with a coordinated response tailored to each client’s needs.
Our operational psychology experts study human behaviors, motivations, and personality types, and apply that information to aid investigations and identify potential threats. Because of this, their objective is never to diagnose individuals, but rather to assess behavioral patterns that may signal risk. By examining the personality factors and social interactions that comprise each work environment, our investigators can identify potential risks and step in before they escalate.
Behavioral Analysis in Corporate Settings: A Proactive Approach
Our focus on behavioral analysis, rather than formal diagnoses, is crucial for both preventative and responsive measures. Before speaking with a subject, our team first connects with supervisors, HR, and other coworkers to get a better idea of the motivations of someone perceived as a threat. This data is used to develop an in-depth profile of the subject before a conversation with them even takes place.
The goal is to understand an individual’s behavior and support employees, when possible, not penalize them. In many cases, perceived threats can be seen via anomalous login times or noticeable declines in job performance. Often, employees with unusual behavior don’t necessarily present a risk, but are experiencing hardships outside of work. Supervisors trained to notice these issues can help employees access assistance, whether related to health, family concerns, or financial difficulties.
Maximizing Information in an Investigation
Unfortunately, workplace safety isn’t always solved by a cordial conversation. At times, a perceived threat is moments away from being an active one. Pinkerton’s team understands that people who pose threats may not perceive the world as others do — often due to trauma, mental health conditions, or other factors.
Our investigative process is designed to build rapport and allow the subject to share their perspective openly. With an empathetic approach, our investigators can maintain control of the conversation without directly challenging the subject’s perceptions, which can derail cooperation.
In one recent case, our threat management experts interviewed a subject involved in celebrity stalking. Prior to the interview, our team researched the subject and used that information to develop an empathetic, non-confrontational approach to establish initial contact with the individual, which proved crucial for building trust and subsequent cooperation throughout the investigation.
Empathy, Security, and the Human Element
Ultimately, the goal of this empathetic approach to relationship-building is to make the subject feel comfortable enough to engage further, and thus possibly offer insights that may otherwise remain hidden. When people — even those who may be perceived as threats — feel understood and valued, they’re more likely to open up about details regarding their intentions, motivations, and frustrations.
Empathy is not just a moral imperative in the world of corporate security; it’s also a practical one. Trying to understand, rather than blame, at-risk individuals can defuse situations that may otherwise turn volatile. This allows organizations to handle sensitive, highly emotional issues safely, even in situations like an employee termination. By making an effort to connect with the emotional experiences of individuals, we support a more secure and functional work environment while also taking a proactive approach to managing fear.
The integration of psychology expertise into security puts Pinkerton in a class of its own. Workplace safety isn’t solely found in catching a bad actor in the act of committing a crime — it starts long before that with the creation of a security model that respects and responds to the complexities of human behavior. In a field where stakes are high, our psychology experts bring safer outcomes, reduced risks, and, ultimately, a better workplace environment for our clients and their teams.
