The New Aspect of Criminal Psychology

In a rare foray into Criminal Psychology, Jung describes here how an individual's responses to critical stimuli, particularly those related to the crime in question, can reveal underlying emotional complexes or knowledge about the crime. These responses, termed 'complex traits', include reaction times, emotional reactions and verbal responses, all of which can provide valuable clues to a person's involvement in a crime. The article acknowledges that while these results do not provide definitive proof of guilt, they do provide valuable insights for further investigation. It highlights the need for careful selection of stimulus words, the potential for both innocent and guilty individuals to show emotional responses, and the importance of psychoanalysis in interpreting the results. It also suggests that the cumulative work of many researchers may lead to more reliable diagnoses in individual cases in the future. Jung introduced the method of “Diagnosi della conoscenza del fatto” (“diagnosis of factual knowledge”), which aimed to determine whether a suspect possessed knowledge of a crime through involuntary physiological and associative responses. Using the word association test, he demonstrated how specific stimulus words related to the crime could provoke delayed reactions, errors, or other disturbances in individuals who had unconscious involvement or guilt. These reactions, Jung argued, were indicative of emotionally charged complexes that revealed the psychological reality of the crime, even if the subject denied involvement.

The article’s loss in its original German form but survival in Italian translation highlights its historical and cross-cultural significance, bridging Jung’s European work with his influence in American psychology through the Clark University lectures. Jung’s application of experimental psychology to criminal investigations was groundbreaking, as it emphasized the role of unconscious processes in behavior and provided forensic psychiatry with tools to explore psychological dimensions of criminality.

In addition to the modern and easy-to-read translation, this updated edition includes an illuminating Afterword by the Translator, offering critical reflections on the context, philosophical underpinnings, and enduring significance of Jung’s ideas. The Afterword not only provides clarity for contemporary readers of this work specifically but also situates the work within the broader arc of Jung’s philosophy, explaining this early clinical work in context. Accompanied by a timeline of Jung’s life and works and other complementary material, this edition contextualizes the theories within his personal, cultural, and historical milieu, offering an indispensable guide for both newcomers and seasoned scholars of Jungian psychology. This new translation aims to make these early scientific works by Jung (which were designed to be read by academics) to be easily read by today's modern reader, with the academic references removed and clear, simple diction and syntax.