Although at a popular level the concept “psychology” is closely associated with psychotherapeutic processes, the work of psychologists is by no means reduced to caring for patients.
For example, one of the branches of psychology is based on carrying out expert psychological reports that provide relevant information in the context of judicial processes of all types whether in the criminal, labor, civil or family context.
This discipline uses a large number of tests and evaluation tools to explore situations such as the possible emotional consequences generated by a work accident, the appearance of psychopathologies triggered by mobbing, bullying or domestic violence, the imputability of a person taking into account their mental health and the degree to which you are able to correctly perceive reality, etc.
Sometimes this information helps prove the presence or absence of a crime in a particular case, and other times it simply serves to make a judicial decision that harms people as little as possible (for example, in a custody dispute of a son). In the end, although what we say is not a faithful reflection of our internal mental states, they do provide clues that, if traced and put together to have a general vision of what happened, help to understand what is happening both in a individual person as well as in a relationship. These expert reports can be conversations, audios, emails, calls, voice messages… In this article we will talk precisely about How you can collect and analyze valuable information from a judicial point of view from conversation analysis
Characteristics of the psychological expert report on conversations
The psychological expert report on conversations is a detailed study of the communicative exchanges carried out between two or more people, with the aim of clarify any relevant aspect to resolve the case that has been brought to trial : whether or not a crime of harassment or any other nature has been committed, whether a person was aware of his or her actions when violating the law, whether an event linked to work or a violent attack has caused psychological damage to a person, etc. .
Expert psychology professionals carry out work that is nourished by various ways of obtaining information, which help to understand relational dynamics between people, emotional management skills on the part of individuals or possible cases of psychotic disorder that generate delusions and hallucinations. , psychological consequences produced by the action of third parties…
In this sense, the tools used to prepare an expert report on conversations help shed light on this type of situations, and are one of the pillars of the activity of the psychologist expert. This work of information analysis is carried out without psychologists taking a position on someone’s side, and without moral evaluations ; We simply contribute our experience and knowledge so that the judicial process can be developed with all the richness of nuances that must be taken into account.
The psychological expert report in itself should not be seen as proof of something or as an artifact created to strengthen the defense or accusation, although its content may favor one of the parties; Ultimately, it is only part of the material used to render a ruling.
The Methodology of Semantic Analysis, Forensic Psychological
Semantic, forensic psychological analysis is an exhaustive study of all verbal evidence that helps clarify what is being judged and is based on the analysis of textual information issued in spoken or written form (decomposing its parts and interpreting the subtext) to, from there, provide extra information from a synthesis process of what was evaluated.
This forensic psychological semantic analysis methodology uses all types of conversations on any digital platform to, based on various protocols and criteria, carry out a detailed analysis of the type of language used in the messages, and the cognitive and emotional states that remain. expressed through words, phrases and the whole of what was said. Aspects such as the frequency of appearance of keywords, the dates on which the conversations have taken place, the context in which the messages are sent, the intentions that are expressed throughout the conversations, the degree of awareness of the situation that is reflected in what is said, and more.
It is one of the most useful tools available to forensic psychologists and psychological experts in general, and based on a combination of technical knowledge and new technologies, It helps to better understand what happened in the commission of crimes, divorce proceedings, workplace harassment, parenting models, etc
It should be noted in this regard that the conversations most analyzed by the Forensic Psychological Semantic Analysis Methodology are WhatsApp messages, information to which psychological interviews and psychometric tests are added.
Uses of Forensic Psychological Semantic Analysis
Forensic psychological semantic analysis and all the technical methodologies included in it can be used to demonstrate the existence of events, or qualify the information contained in previous expert reports. Let’s see what its main functions are.
1. Cases of bullying
Bullying is one of the most common problems in school contexts a phenomenon capable of leaving consequences in boys and girls at very early ages.
To identify, verify and quantify the damage caused by a case of bullying, we can use the Forensic Psychological Semantic Analysis Methodology, using WhatsApp messages, recordings, messages published on social networks and forums, etc.
2. Workplace harassment
Because workplace bullying occurs between adults, it is usually more difficult to demonstrate and identify it, but it is still possible to understand what happened by analyzing verbal exchanges, especially taking into account that These types of violent situations tend to generate rumors and strain the work environment
3. Cases of sexual abuse
With the support of specialized professionals and the technology enabled for this purpose, these types of abuses against sexual freedom can be identified and proven in a judicial process and before a judge. However, the main function of forensic psychological semantic analysis is not so much to prove the existence of physical attacks, but rather to provide information that helps to better understand the dynamics of domination and submission, psychological manipulation, and the consequences left by abuse
4. Gender violence and domestic violence
Gender violence is based on beliefs based on sexism and motivations based on misogyny, so understanding the psychological processes of the aggressor is essential, and for this it is useful to analyze the way in which it is expressed.
In the same way, as we have seen, the analysis of the conversations helps to detect both the consequences of the dynamics of violence and the dynamics of maintenance of that violence
5. Personality analysis
The personality analyzes necessary to grant disabilities, custody, guardianship or public aid can also be carried out through the application of forensic psychological semantic analysis.
6. Confirmation of a specific communication
Although it is a little-known facet, forensic psychological semantic analysis can also be used to demonstrate that a communication has taken place, that is, that one or more people have been informed of something relevant, even if indirectly.
7. Parenting skills
Divorces are one of the most common disputes in the field of forensic psychology, and one of the areas in which more issues must be resolved that must be proven.
That is why, through the use of forensic psychological semantic analysis, it is possible to provide relevant information about the parenting skills of each of the parties something key when a decision has to be made about child custody.
MORE-PF: a fundamental resource in conversation analysis
MáS-PF is a methodology developed by Azor & Associates which provides several functions of high added value in any judicial process in which there is analyzable textual material.
In addition to incorporating tools to extract valuable information from chat and WhatsApp messages, emails, audios and videos, it makes it possible to evaluate all of this while having a digital certificate that guarantees that the conversations have not been altered. If you want to know more about this methodology, contact us.