Criminal psychology and crime fiction: an interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

Interdisciplinary studies are the norm in this fast-paced world where everything is connected and nothing can stake its claim to an independent existence. Popular literature has often drawn flak for being sensational and merely entertaining. Consequently, crime fiction writers have often been overlooked and their craft has long been disregarded by literary critics. However, contemporary crime fiction has moved on from redundant plot twists and weak characterisation. Criminal psychology and profiling have been enjoying new found popularity owing to its portrayal in popular media. Through a combination of these two spheres of popular interest, this paper aims to dispel some myths surrounding the limits of profiling and make it a viable medium that could critique and guide the creative process by which a good crime fiction is formed. This work focuses upon applying the science of crime scene profiling and offender profiling to the fictional crime scenes and offenders depicted in crime fiction. The analysis is performed upon two novels-The Devotion of Suspect X (2011) and Malice (2014)- authored by Keigo Higashino, which are taken as being representative of the genre of crime fiction. The central idea is to establish a scientific cornerstone that can support textual analyses of crime fiction and consequently generate more interest around the combination of these two disciplines.