Pathology of Lying, Accusation, and Swindling: A Study in Forensic PsychologyHealy, William
Science
Pathology of Lying, Accusation, and Swindling: A Study in Forensic Psychology
Healy, William
Criminal psychology; Swindlers and swindling
William was in fairly good physical condition. No sensory
defect. Weight 125 lbs.; height 5 ft. 3 in. Although well
enough developed in other ways he was a marked case of delayed
puberty; as yet no pubescence. Strength only fair; for his age,
muscles decidedly flabby. A high, broad forehead. Large nose.
Peculiar curl of the upper lip. Small, weak chin. These
features give him a peculiar appearance--readily interpretable as
showing weakness of character. Cranium notably large. With
small amount of hair measurements were: circumference 57.8;
length 19.6; breadth 15.5 cm. (Head same size as father's.)
Expression downcast. Voice high pitched. ``Under dog''
attitude. Slouchy. No analgesia or other signs of hysteria.
The performance on tests was peculiarly irregular. In this
monograph we have omitted discussion of the results of separate
tests, but the citation of the summary as dictated when the case
was first studied will prove instructive: The work done on our
tests was very irregular, peculiarly so. Perceptions good and
most phases of the memory processes fair, but in reasoning
ability and especially in tests which require the application of
some foresight the results are poor indeed. The failure is
remarkable in proportion to what he could do in school work and
to his abilities in some other ways. He reads fluently, writes a
very good hand, and in arithmetic is able to do long division,
but showed no grasp of good method. When at his best he sticks
at a job well enough, but does it with no intelligence and does
not save himself in the least by thoughtful procedures. We were
interested to note that in a game which he said he had played a
great deal, namely checkers, he made the most foolish and
shortsighted moves. It is only fair to say that this boy varied
in his performance from time to time; his emotional condition
largely controlled his performance.
On the ``Aussage'' or Testimony Test he gave a functional account
upon free recital, with 15 details. On questioning he gave 13
more items. Out of the entire number only 3 minor errors. Of 5
suggestions proffered none was accepted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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