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.