Bring out your inner Sherlock!
The first popular show on forensic science was Bones that started premiering in 2005. However, with the advent of the path-breaking BBC series 'Sherlock', starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the subject of forensic psychology has become very popular. The interest in the particular subject gathered steam too. After that, True detective, Hannibal, Mindhunter among many other shows has cemented forensic psychology as one of the most sought-after professions. Let's take a look at 5 amazing aspects about forensic psychology that might intrigue you beyond your expectations.
There has been a common misconception about the similarities about the field of criminal psychology and forensic psychology. It is true that both attributes are used in crime scenes, but there are huge differences. Criminal psychology is used to analyze the mind of an individual criminal and find their motives behind the crime. Meanwhile, forensic psychology covers a more expanded field and deals with the aftermath of a crime scene and sends reports to the law enforcement officials. Forensic psychologists apply the wisdom they have about psychology in examining the impact on the victim.
In several TV shows it was shown that detecting the fingerprint is the last nail on the coffin of the criminal. Detectives find the culprit in a fairly easy way after the matching fingerprint. However, in real life things might not be that rosy. Firstly, fingerprints can be altered nowadays with proper technology, making it hard to become the ultimate indicator. Moreover, the fingerprints can be very complex to read on, and it takes a long time to precisely identify the fingerprints, even with the introduction of high-end technology.
There are many crime scenes where the body of the victim was fully burned or voraciously mutilated. Sometimes the body becomes unrecognizable when they are found after many years of the mishap. Teeth contain enamel, the strongest component of our body. That is why even in these horrendous situations, there are high chances that the teeth will remain intact. The samples that will be obtained from that need to be matched with the dental records of the suspected victim and here we go, the victim has been identified.
When the body starts to rot, the corpse starts emitting gas that is smelly in nature. The gas contains elements like ammonia and sulfur that cause a stifling smell. If a body is hidden or trapped under some heavy objects, the smell can be immensely useful to locate the exact place. In addition to that, when the culprit is also an arsonist, the nose comes into effect again. The chemicals that are used to burn a place down contain specific aromas similar to kerosene and gasoline. Sniffing them out is one of the best ways to know the source of the attack.
