The Criminal Mind

The Criminal Mind

By Katherine Ramsland Ph. D

The Criminal Mind dispels myths, faux pas, and the rest created by our diet of television shows that bend the rules of real Writer should consult the work life to fit the show. Creative license, perhaps, but misinformation no less. It probably does make for better viewing with the way the particular role of the psychologist or expert witness is used/portrayed, but it is not always accurate and a disservice to the crime writer/author of mystery fiction.

Ramsland explores the theories of criminality, the types of character disorders and much much more. The Criminal Mind shows writers there is more to a psychological profile than a simple interview. Many things need to be considered and weighed. Not the least of which is the interview subject, suspect, himself. Some criminals have already become adept at manipulating or conning the investigator/interviewer. Think of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs.

The mind is a powerful and complicated thing. The Criminal Mind leads the reader down the path of solving some pieces of that mysterious puzzle. Some interesting light is shed on the Characteristics of a Confession: “…some people can be induced to accept responsibility for things they did not do, especially, if false evidence is produced. …Writers should consult the work of Richard Ofshe and Richard Leo, who have documented over sixty cases of police induced false confessions, twenty nine of which led to false convictions…”

Even the way an interview/interrogation of a suspect can be questioned can color the testimony. Writers/psychologists should be familiar with legal history,  i.e. landmark cases.

Insanity is a high risk defense method that rarely works. Diminished responsibility, or diminished capacity,  a defense that is used only in three percent of the cases, must prove purpose, knowledge, recklessness,  and other things are not considered by the defendant/suspect during the commission of the crime. Some states do not allow insanity defenses. A writer needs to be certain of what he/she is presenting to the reader.

To have your character call a psychologist as an expert witness or have that psychologist solve a crime—you need to be aware of the psychologists strengths and their limitations. This book is a must read for mystery, suspense, thriller writers.

It's February Love is in the Air

by Billie A Williams

“What’s Love Got To Do With it?” I’m reminded of a song by the dynamic, energetic signer Tina Turner.  In reality love, has much to do with murder and mayhem. You have heard the phrase “Hell hath no fury like the woman scorned,” haven’t you?  In my novel Purple Haze, the antagonist is just such a woman. She has two names to fit her personalities Lavender Paige and Eleanor Muich, Jekyll and Hyde personalities that don’t stop with merely mindset but rather it oozes into everything from her corporate black and white business world attire to her life style. Eleanor is a woman on a success path. Lavender, on the other hand, is vixen and vamp always in shades of purple she is a serial avenger.

In deciding the perfect mix of protagonist and antagonist you will try to develop the personas, the characteristics that pitch your two main characters against each other in a successful peri and thrust duel of equals.  The one with evil on his side, the other that defining good trait that out weighs all the evil burdening your antagonist. Love, or as some say the opposite of love, hate—is at the heart of many a murder mystery.  [As a side note, you need to love or care about someone in order to hate them. Without the emotion of love, there would be no reason to hate because you wouldn’t care enough to be bothered.]

January Flannel and her best friend Echo, aka Sasha Folio, are pitted against Leroy Rogers. He and Echo had a very brief romantic relationship and he refuses to let go. She has become an obsession to him. He blames January for their break up.  This is only one of the themes love can play in our own story. Jealousy, sibling rivalry and a host of other possible scenarios can fuel your whodunit. The only real consideration is making those who will do the sparing, equals. A trick I learned that will take you a long way along those lines is using the zodiac signs while fleshing out your characters.

Here’s how I do it:

1.                  Do a Google search for Zodiac, or Signs of the Zodiac. You will come away with a staggering list of sources. Some very detailed others quite sketchy. Pick one you think will be adequate for you to match the strengths and weaknesses of your various characters that you wish to develop.

2.                  In your search you will discover some signs which should NEVER hook up, and some who are mildly antagonistic to each other. There will be some who are the perfect soul mate match. Pick two signs that clash. Say one fire and one water.

3.                  Make a list of the strengths and weaknesses of each.

4.                  Now, as you write use these lists to create situations where your characters  might hit head on, or trample on one another’s personality or life’s purpose.

5.                  Compatible signs can be used in a romance to develop a believable, he chases her until she catches him, sort of a plot that all romances have.

Here is an example of the above exercise in detail:

Aries – a fire sign – March 21 – April 20 birthdays (pick a date as this could become important in your story. Let’s for ours say April 13.

Cancer – a water sign – June 22-July23 – we’ll pick July 12 for this birthday.

Aries: Warrior or Criminal

Strengths: Pioneering, initiating, born leader, assertive, direct, high powered, capable of new beginnings, open, passionate, energizing, creative, dynamic, independent, individualistic, courageous, confrontational, personal, personally involved.

Weaknesses: Overly excitable, rash, reckless, impractical, pushy, impulsive, hasty, agitating, self-absorbed, lacks foresight and follow through, impatient, conceited seeks immediate satisfaction, headstrong, unreceptive, quick tempered, self-absorbed, egotistical, black and white, narcissistic, simplistic.

Cancer – Mother or Child (if you need a male character just substitute – father – child)

Strengths: Sensitive, protective, self-protective, nurturing, maternal, intuitive, psychic, deeply feeling, attuned to the unconscious, soft-hearted, comforting, receptive, empathetic, consoling, responsive, family oriented, rooted, shrewd, appreciative of the past, cautious, thrifty.

Weaknesses: Possessive, smothering, pampering, suffocating, hypersensitive, overly emotional, easily hurt, crybaby, impressionable, childish, touchy, selfish pathetic. Self-pitying, martyr-like, indulgent, secretive, withdrawn, self-absorbed, clinging, needy, helpless, passive.

Try placing some of the characteristics of the Aries strengths with the strengths of the Cancer – The Warrior hardly seems compatible with the child.  The criminal hardly seems compatible with the mother. Play with one’s weaknesses against the other’s strengths and you will have rivals fitting of their quest.  You will find more ways to use the Zodiac and other character building exercises in my book Characters in Search of an Author available from Filbert Publishing (http://www.filbertpublishing.com ) or your favorite bookstore. I this book I delve into the various ways you can find help to make fully rounded, viable characters your reader will be able to love and empathize with or despise. Either way, they will find a reason to care about you, your book and whodunit. Love has a lot to do with it.

Billie A Williams

http://www.billiewilliams.com/