Final answer:
To differentiate between a criminal's M.O. and signature, the M.O. is the practical technique for committing the crime, while the signature is personalized and psychological. The M.O. may change, but the signature often remains consistent and can provide insight into the offender's mindset and potentially assist in geographic profiling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The M.O. is considered a learned behavior that may evolve over time as the criminal adapts to prevent detection or improve efficiency in committing crimes. It is often focused on the actual act of the crime, for instance, how a burglar gains entry or how a kidnapper avoids being seen. In contrast, the criminal's signature encompasses behaviors that aren't necessary for completing the crime but serve to express the criminal's personality. This could manifest as a particular phrase left at the scene or a unique method of staging the crime scene that has a symbolic meaning to the culprit.
Identifying these patterns plays a crucial role in criminal investigation, with practical applications such as geographic profiling, which employs spatial analysis to predict where a criminal may strike next based on the locations of past crimes. Investigators may evaluate crime statistics, statements from witnesses, and the criminal justice system's categorization of crimes to differentiate between these two aspects of criminal behavior.