Psycholinguistics and the Analysis of Criminal Behavior
A Psycholinguistic Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31973/fj3eet22Keywords:
Psycholinguistics, Criminal Behavior, Psychological Motives, Psychopathic Personality, Discourse Analysis, Serial KillerAbstract
This study seeks to bridge the research gap in understanding the relationship between language and the psychological structure of the criminal through a psycho-linguistic analysis of criminal discourse. It highlights the capacity of psycholinguistics to interpret criminal behavior through discourse analysis, moving beyond the traditional role of forensic linguistics in merely identifying the perpetrator.
The research adopts a qualitative analytical approach through a case study of the confessions of the serial killer Samuel Little, in which the texts were subjected to psycho-linguistic analysis.
The findings reveal that language is not merely a means of communication; rather, it serves as a mirror reflecting the criminal’s psychological makeup, patterns of thinking, and strategies for managing internal conflict. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of psycholinguistics in providing a precise analysis of criminal behavior and opens broad prospects for its application in criminal psychology, judicial investigations, and the design of specialized therapeutic and rehabilitation programs grounded in a deep understanding of language and behavior.
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