The utilization of psychoanalysis in criminal investigations has been a topic of interest and debate within the field of forensic psychology and law enforcement. While psychoanalysis, as developed by Sigmund Freud, has made significant contributions to the understanding of human behaviour and the unconscious mind, its application in modern criminal justice settings is limited.
However, there are individuals like 2014 batch IPS officer Arpit Jain, SP Jhajjar, Haryana, who are using their knowledge in the field to not only analyze the behaviour of criminals but also to catch them and bring justice to their victims.
In an exclusive interview to Indian Masterminds, Dr. Jain shares insights into his work and the role of psychoanalysis in criminal investigation.
WORKING ON CRIMINOGENIC FACTORS
Dr. Jain begins his work by delving into the criminogenic factors that leads a person to commit crimes. With a deep interest in the psychology of the human mind, he analyzes the psychological aspects of a criminal’s brain to understand more about its functions and the reasons behind their criminal activities.
“Once we psychoanalyze a person, we can easily observe so many issues that could be actionable on the ground and help us work on them,” Dr. Jain shared with Indian Masterminds.
PROTECTING THE YOUNG
In recent times, Dr. Jain has focused on psychoanalyzing social media frauds that can have a profound impact on young minds, especially those between the ages of 15-25. He believes that these youngsters are highly vulnerable to falling prey to social media hazards due to the psychological and mindset changes that occur during this period of life.
Criminals deliberately post content on social media platforms to attract these vulnerable youths. Once trust is gained, they manipulate these youngsters into committing crimes in exchange for false promises of name and fame.
The officer emphasizes the importance of counselling and creating awareness to protect these innocent youngsters from such frauds. He has personally counselled numerous young individuals and their families who have been subjected to social media scams and actively involves influential figures such as village sarpanches to spread awareness.
INVOLVING SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS
To enhance his efforts, Dr. Jain has engaged local social media influencers with significant followings on social media platforms. These influencers play a crucial role in raising awareness and spreading positive messages among the youth.
“Since these influencers are a daily part of every youngster’s life and are followed and known by the young generation, this proved to be a successful step,” he told Indian Masterminds.
THE PROCESS OF PSYCHOANALYSIS
For a proper psychoanalysis of a criminal, Dr. Jain employs various questioning techniques that explore aspects of the suspect’s childhood, interests, triggering factors, and their perception of crime. He shared an instance where he asked a criminal to draw what they thought of themselves, which provided valuable insights into their psychology and how they perceived their life. This information guides him in taking appropriate actions against the offender.
Additionally, Dr. Jain maintains close communication with therapists and psychologists in the district, seeking their expertise in different cases. This collaborative approach enables him to provide necessary mental health assistance to individuals when needed.
ADDRESSING BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES
Dr. Jain emphasizes that criminals often have underlying behavioural issues, and some may commit serious crimes like murder over trivial matters such as road rage. He believes that counselling can bring positive changes in their behaviour.
While the law must take its course and criminals must be held accountable for their actions, psychoanalysis helps identify cases where severe psychological issues contribute to heinous crimes. In such cases, Dr. Jain and his team offer counselling to address the underlying mental health problems.
The officer’s work exemplifies the potential of psychoanalysis in criminal investigations, shedding light on the underlying psychological factors that drive criminal behaviour.
Through counselling and awareness initiatives, he not only strives to bring criminals to justice but also to protect and rehabilitate vulnerable individuals, especially the youth, from falling into the clutches of crime. His efforts highlight the importance of a holistic approach that combines psychology and law enforcement to create safer communities.
