Literature‌‌Review:‌‌The‌‌Study‌‌of‌‌Sin‌  ‌

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Skyler‌‌Hong‌‌
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Writing‌‌2:‌‌Academic‌‌Writing‌  ‌

June‌‌13,‌‌2021‌  ‌

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 Mystery‌‌and‌‌detective‌‌novels‌‌have‌‌been‌‌in‌‌an‌‌awkward‌‌situation‌‌as‌‌a‌‌popular‌‌type‌‌of‌‌
 

novel‌‌for‌‌a‌‌long‌‌time.‌‌They‌‌have‌‌to‌‌face‌‌the‌‌readers’‌‌infatuation‌‌and‌‌the‌‌critics’‌‌raised‌‌eyebrows.‌‌
 

The‌‌readers‌‌are‌‌reluctant‌‌to‌‌read‌‌a‌‌second‌‌time‌‌after‌‌they‌‌get‌‌the‌‌pleasure‌‌of‌‌solving‌‌puzzles,‌‌ 

while‌‌critics‌‌think‌‌those‌‌detective‌‌novels‌‌are‌‌not‌‌in‌‌the‌‌elegant‌‌palace‌‌of‌‌serious‌‌literature.‌‌ 

However,‌‌mystery‌‌and‌‌detective‌‌novels‌‌are‌‌still‌‌an‌‌important‌‌branch‌‌of‌‌the‌‌literary‌‌genres.‌‌They‌‌ 

have‌‌their‌‌own‌‌literary‌‌motif,‌‌basic‌‌model,‌‌reader‌‌group,‌‌and‌‌evolution‌‌process.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌worthy‌‌of‌‌ 

serious‌‌consideration‌‌and‌‌active‌‌thinking‌‌by‌‌critics.‌‌I‌‌use‌‌“The‌‌Study‌‌of‌‌Sin”‌‌as‌‌the‌‌title‌‌of‌‌this‌‌ 

literature‌‌review‌‌because‌‌most‌‌detective‌‌novels‌‌are‌‌based‌‌on‌‌the‌‌topic‌‌of‌‌crime‌‌and‌‌punishment,‌‌ 

one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌motifs‌‌of‌‌literature.‌‌As‌‌a‌‌psychology‌‌major,‌‌I‌‌focus‌‌more‌‌on‌‌the‌‌cause‌‌of‌‌the‌‌crime/sin‌‌ 

which‌‌is‌‌mental‌‌health‌‌issues‌‌that‌‌are‌‌tightly‌‌related‌‌to‌‌psychopathology‌‌and‌‌forensic‌‌
 

psychology.‌‌Just‌‌like‌‌detective‌‌novels‌‌are‌‌considered‌‌unpopular‌‌and‌‌misunderstood‌‌in‌‌the‌‌ 

mainstream,‌‌forensic‌‌psychology‌‌is‌‌also‌‌demonized‌‌or‌‌deified‌‌by‌‌those‌‌who‌‌think‌‌forensic‌‌
 

psychology‌‌is‌‌just‌‌like‌‌CSI.‌‌   ‌

The‌‌sources‌‌gathered‌‌below‌‌contains‌‌peer-reviewed‌‌articles‌‌talking‌‌about‌‌the‌‌relationship‌‌ 

between‌‌Allan‌‌Poe’s‌‌short‌‌stories‌‌and‌‌forensic‌‌psychology,‌‌an‌‌adapted‌‌film‌‌based‌‌on‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌ 

Cat”,‌‌the‌‌UIUC‌‌case‌‌report‌‌that‌‌happened‌‌in‌‌the‌‌reality,‌‌and‌‌an‌‌article‌‌that‌‌analyzes‌w
‌ orks‌‌of‌‌
 

Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe‌‌and‌‌Sir‌‌Arthur‌‌Conan‌‌Doyle,‌‌etc;‌‌which‌‌will‌‌give‌‌the‌‌audience‌‌a‌‌better‌‌view‌‌
 

that‌‌forensic‌‌psychology‌‌is‌‌tightly‌‌related‌‌to‌‌their‌‌lives,‌‌thus‌‌eliminating‌‌the‌‌dual‌‌stigmatization‌‌
 

of‌‌forensic‌‌psychology‌‌and‌‌detective‌‌novels.‌‌This‌‌literature‌‌review‌‌brings‌‌together‌‌academic‌‌and‌‌ 

non-academic‌‌sources‌‌to‌‌provide‌‌a‌‌more‌‌understandable‌‌way‌‌for‌‌more‌‌people‌‌to‌‌understand‌‌how‌‌ 

forensic‌‌psychology‌‌is‌‌related‌‌to‌‌our‌‌lives,‌‌especially‌‌through‌‌literary‌‌works‌‌such‌‌as‌‌detective‌‌ 

novels,‌‌while‌‌recognizing‌‌the‌‌limitations‌‌of‌‌each‌‌source‌‌and‌‌reducing‌‌the‌‌gap‌‌between‌‌them.‌  ‌
 The‌‌peer-reviewed‌‌article‌‌called‌‌"Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe:‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat,”‌‌and‌‌Current‌‌ 

Forensic‌‌Psychology”‌1‌‌ ‌written‌‌by‌‌Vicki‌‌Hester‌‌and‌‌Emily‌‌Segir,‌‌is‌‌a‌‌typical‌‌literature‌‌based‌‌
 

psychological‌‌research‌‌paper‌‌explaining‌‌the‌‌psychopathic‌‌symptom‌‌that‌‌is‌‌shown‌‌in‌‌the‌‌classic‌‌
 

short‌‌story‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat”.‌‌‌Poe‌‌created‌‌a‌‌"Black‌‌Cat"‌‌whose‌‌narrator‌‌lacks‌‌remorse,‌‌
 

compassion,‌‌and‌‌conscience,‌‌deceives‌‌and‌‌manipulates‌‌people‌‌around‌‌him‌‌because‌‌of‌‌his‌‌
 

impulsive,‌‌self-centered‌‌character‌‌(called‌‌mental‌‌illness).‌‌The‌‌narrator‌‌killed‌‌the‌‌cat‌‌he‌‌used‌‌to‌‌ 

have‌‌and‌‌his‌‌wife‌‌as‌‌well‌‌because‌‌of‌‌his‌‌uncontrollable‌‌rage‌‌while‌‌pretending‌‌himself‌‌like‌‌an‌‌ 

innocent‌‌person.‌‌When‌‌readers‌‌juxtapose‌‌the‌‌words‌‌and‌‌deeds‌‌of‌‌the‌‌narrator‌‌through‌‌the‌‌latest‌‌
 

forensic‌‌research‌‌on‌‌mental‌‌illness,‌‌especially‌‌in‌‌the‌‌study‌‌of‌‌Robert‌‌D.‌‌Hare,‌‌the‌‌audience‌‌and‌‌ 

purpose‌‌become‌‌clear.‌‌Because‌‌Dr.‌‌Hare‌‌is‌‌a‌‌credible‌‌researcher‌‌in‌‌the‌‌forensic‌‌psychology‌‌field‌‌ 

which‌‌will‌‌increase‌‌the‌‌ethos‌‌of‌‌the‌‌research,‌‌letting‌‌people‌‌who‌‌also‌‌in‌‌this‌‌field‌‌believe.‌‌
 

Generally,‌‌Poe‌‌created‌‌a‌‌textbook‌‌on‌‌psychosis.‌‌The‌‌argument‌‌of‌‌this‌‌research‌‌paper‌‌is‌‌that‌‌the‌‌ 

detective‌‌novels‌‌like‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat”‌‌contains‌‌the‌‌professional‌‌forensic‌‌and‌‌crimininological‌‌ 

knowledge‌‌with‌‌different‌‌historical‌‌background‌‌that‌‌offers‌‌the‌‌forensic‌‌psychologist‌‌and‌‌other‌‌ 

researchers‌‌a‌‌lot‌‌of‌‌detailed‌‌and‌‌precise‌‌information‌‌to‌‌study,‌‌so‌‌a‌‌more‌‌insightful‌‌perspective‌‌ 

should‌‌be‌‌put‌‌on‌‌detective‌‌novel‌‌and‌‌forensic‌‌psychology.‌‌However,‌‌the‌‌academic‌‌articles’‌‌target‌‌ 

audiences‌‌are‌‌basically‌‌those‌‌who‌‌are‌‌dedicated‌‌to‌‌this‌‌field,‌‌thus‌‌causing‌‌the‌‌limitation‌‌of‌‌ 

lacking‌‌perspective.‌‌
   ‌

Miranda,‌‌M’s‌R
‌ easoning‌‌through‌‌madness:‌‌the‌‌detective‌‌in‌‌Gothic‌‌crime‌‌fiction‌‌‌shed‌‌ 

light‌‌on‌‌two‌‌different‌‌detective‌‌novel‌‌writers‌‌with‌‌two‌‌different‌‌historical‌‌backgrounds,‌‌in‌‌which‌‌ 

both‌‌of‌‌them‌‌reveal‌‌the‌‌contemporary‌‌crimes‌‌at‌‌that‌‌time‌.‌‌Poe‌‌and‌‌Conan‌‌Doyle‌‌are‌‌two‌‌
 

excellent‌‌authors‌‌who‌‌are‌‌especially‌‌good‌‌at‌‌describing‌‌the‌‌mental‌‌state‌‌of‌‌people‌‌in‌‌their‌‌novel‌‌ 
1
‌ ester,‌‌Vicki,‌‌and‌‌Emily‌‌Segir.‌‌"Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe:‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat,”‌‌and‌‌Current‌‌Forensic‌‌Psychology."‌T
H ‌ he‌‌Edgar‌‌ 
Allan‌‌Poe‌‌Review‌‌‌15,‌‌no.‌‌2‌‌(2014):‌‌175-93.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌27,‌‌2021.‌‌doi:10.5325/edgallpoerev.15.2.0175.‌  ‌
 ‌
by‌‌indicating‌‌from‌‌their‌‌action‌‌while‌‌without‌‌directly‌‌telling‌‌the‌‌readers.‌‌The‌‌various‌‌works‌‌of‌‌
 

Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe‌‌and‌‌Sir‌‌Arthur‌‌Conan‌‌Doyle‌‌show‌‌Gothic‌‌horror,‌‌scientific‌‌reasoning,‌‌and‌‌ 

crime.‌‌This‌‌article‌‌introduces‌‌readers‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Gothic‌‌era‌‌and‌‌the‌‌background‌‌of‌‌Gothic‌‌novels.‌‌ 

Through‌‌the‌‌works‌‌of‌‌Poe‌‌and‌‌Doyle‌‌to‌‌show‌‌readers‌‌the‌‌mainstream‌‌reasoning‌‌model‌‌at‌‌the‌‌ 

time,‌‌and‌‌evaluate‌‌Poe‌‌and‌‌Doyle's‌‌ideas‌‌about‌‌police,‌‌solving‌‌crime,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌intersection‌‌of‌‌ 

science‌‌and‌‌crime‌‌expressed‌‌through‌‌their‌‌stories.‌‌So‌‌to‌‌better‌‌connect‌‌with‌‌modern‌‌forensic‌‌
 

psychology.‌‌By‌‌telling‌‌the‌‌historical‌‌background‌‌and‌‌the‌‌analysis‌‌of‌‌the‌‌authors’‌‌short‌‌stories,‌‌the‌‌
 

readers‌‌will‌‌understand‌‌more‌‌about‌‌the‌‌relationship‌‌between‌‌the‌‌narrators‌‌in‌‌the‌‌stories‌‌and‌‌ 

psychology.‌‌While‌‌as‌‌a‌‌peer-reviewed‌‌article,‌‌its‌‌limitation‌‌is‌‌the‌‌same‌‌as‌‌the‌‌one‌‌I‌‌mentioned‌‌
 

above,‌‌which‌‌is‌‌the‌‌target‌‌audience‌‌due‌‌to‌‌obscure‌‌writing.‌‌
   ‌

The‌‌third‌‌source‌‌is‌‌an‌‌early‌‌horror‌‌movie‌‌produced‌‌in‌‌1934‌‌also‌‌called‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat”‌2‌.‌‌ 

The‌‌director‌‌Edgar‌‌G.‌‌Ulmer,‌‌producer‌‌Carl‌‌Laemmle‌‌Jr.,‌‌and‌‌writer‌‌Peter‌‌Ruric,‌‌together‌‌with‌‌ 

the‌‌horror‌‌stars‌‌Boris‌‌Karloff‌‌(Frankenstein)‌‌and‌‌Bela‌‌Lugosi‌‌(Dracula)‌‌star‌‌in‌‌the‌‌shocking‌‌
 

classic‌‌The‌‌Black‌‌Cat‌‌based‌‌on‌‌the‌‌works‌‌of‌‌Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe.‌‌The‌‌story‌‌written‌‌by‌‌Allan‌‌Poe‌‌ 

has‌‌been‌‌changed‌‌into‌‌another‌‌setting‌‌with‌‌more‌‌mysterious‌‌twists‌‌in‌‌this‌‌film.‌‌The‌‌director‌‌ 

foreshadows‌‌a‌‌horrific‌‌atmosphere‌‌and‌‌tells‌‌the‌‌story‌‌of‌‌a‌‌couple‌‌who‌‌experienced‌‌the‌‌Black‌‌ 

Mass‌‌and‌‌Devil's‌‌wedding.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌a‌‌classic‌‌horror‌‌film‌‌which‌‌is‌‌suitable‌‌for‌‌people‌‌who‌‌like‌‌Allan‌‌
 

Poe‌‌and‌‌are‌‌interested‌‌in‌‌old‌‌horror‌‌films.‌‌Admittedly,‌‌the‌‌old‌‌films‌‌lack‌‌special‌‌effects‌‌when‌‌the‌‌ 

audience‌‌watches‌‌them‌‌especially‌‌in‌‌the‌‌21st‌‌century,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌plot‌‌in‌‌the‌‌film‌‌is‌‌a‌‌little‌‌bit‌‌cliche.‌‌ 

However,‌‌this‌‌film‌‌magnifies‌‌the‌‌relationship‌‌between‌‌the‌‌victims‌‌and‌‌perpetrators‌‌especially‌‌by‌‌ 

demonizing‌‌the‌‌perpetrator,‌‌thus‌‌also‌‌magnifying‌‌the‌‌mental‌‌problems‌‌of‌‌those‌‌devils‌‌that‌‌lead‌‌to‌‌ 

2
‌Laemmle,‌‌Carl,‌‌and‌‌Peter‌‌Ruric.‌T
‌ he‌‌Black‌‌Cat‌.‌Y
‌ ouTube‌.‌‌YouTube,‌‌1934.‌‌   ‌
 ‌
the‌‌crime.‌‌This‌‌source‌‌compared‌‌to‌‌others‌‌are‌‌full‌‌of‌‌images‌‌and‌‌motion,‌‌which‌‌shows‌‌my‌‌
 

readers‌‌a‌‌better‌‌view‌‌of‌‌psychopathic‌‌behaviors‌‌in‌‌an‌‌exaggerated‌‌way.‌  ‌

Tanya‌‌Koonce‌‌reported‌‌the‌‌UIUC‌‌murder‌‌case‌3‌‌ ‌on‌‌June‌‌25th,‌‌2019,‌‌which‌‌is‌‌widely‌‌
 

noticed‌‌by‌‌people‌‌of‌‌all‌‌circles.‌‌The‌‌murder‌‌case‌‌that‌‌took‌‌place‌‌in‌‌UIUC‌‌was‌‌terrifying,‌‌from‌‌
 

which‌‌I‌‌can‌‌see‌‌some‌‌obvious‌‌similarities‌‌between‌‌the‌‌UIUC‌‌case‌‌and‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat”,‌‌for‌‌ 

example‌‌the‌‌hypocrisy‌‌of‌‌the‌‌murderers.‌‌The‌‌murder‌‌case‌‌which‌‌is‌‌taken‌‌place‌‌in‌‌the‌‌reality,‌‌ 

combining‌‌with‌‌the‌‌classic‌‌murders‌‌in‌‌the‌‌literature‌‌will‌‌show‌‌the‌‌audience‌‌more‌‌things‌‌of‌‌the‌‌ 

murders‌‌that‌‌are‌‌in‌‌common‌‌like‌‌the‌‌behaviors‌‌and‌‌the‌‌mental‌‌states.‌‌Therefore‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌will‌‌
 

put‌‌the‌‌detective‌‌novels‌‌to‌‌a‌‌higher‌‌position,‌‌and‌‌start‌‌to‌‌think‌‌forensic‌‌psychology‌‌is‌‌not‌‌
 

pseudoscience.‌‌Yingying‌‌Zhang‌‌was‌‌studying‌‌at‌‌the‌‌University‌‌of‌‌Illinois‌‌at‌‌Urbana-Champaign,‌‌ 

she‌‌was‌‌kidnapped‌‌and‌‌killed‌‌by‌‌Brent‌‌Christensen‌‌after‌‌she‌‌was‌‌tricked‌‌into‌‌getting‌‌in‌‌
 

Christensen’s‌‌car‌‌because‌‌she‌‌missed‌‌the‌‌bus.‌‌Brent‌‌Christensen‌‌was‌‌born‌‌into‌‌a‌‌middle-class‌‌ 

American‌‌family.‌‌He‌‌was‌‌originally‌‌a‌‌graduate‌‌student‌‌at‌‌the‌‌University‌‌of‌‌Illinois‌‌at‌‌
 

Urbana-Champaign.‌‌He‌‌was‌‌a‌‌full-A‌‌student,‌‌but‌‌he‌‌eventually‌‌degenerated‌‌into‌‌a‌‌murderous‌‌ 

kidnapper.‌‌Christensen‌‌was‌‌diagnosed‌‌with‌‌depression‌‌when‌‌he‌‌was‌‌a‌‌teenager,‌‌and‌‌he‌‌also‌‌went‌‌ 

to‌‌marital‌‌counseling‌‌because‌‌his‌‌wife‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌divorce‌‌him‌‌due‌‌to‌‌his‌‌decadence‌‌of‌‌alcohol‌‌ 

and‌‌drug‌‌abuse.‌‌Also‌‌Christensen‌‌was‌‌found‌‌out‌‌that‌‌he‌‌was‌‌a‌‌member‌‌of‌‌the‌‌fetish‌‌community‌4‌.‌‌ 

Christensen’s‌‌early‌‌behaviors‌‌and‌‌his‌‌description‌‌on‌‌social‌‌media‌‌describing‌‌him‌‌as‌‌a‌‌nice‌‌person‌‌
 

(which‌‌is‌‌just‌‌like‌‌in‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat”‌5‌‌ ‌how‌‌the‌‌narrator‌‌describe‌‌himself)‌‌have‌‌already‌‌ 

foreshadowed‌‌that‌‌he‌‌has‌‌serious‌‌mental‌‌problems,‌‌just‌‌like‌‌what‌‌Dr.‌‌Hare‌‌said‌‌that‌‌“p‌ sychopaths‌‌
 

often‌‌come‌‌across‌‌as‌‌arrogant,‌‌shameless‌‌braggarts—‌‌self-assured,‌‌opinionated,‌‌domineering,‌‌ 

3
‌ oonce,‌‌Tanya.‌‌“Christensen‌‌Found‌‌Guilty‌‌Of‌‌The‌‌Murder,‌‌Kidnapping‌‌Of‌‌Yingying‌‌Zhang.”‌‌Illinois‌‌Public‌‌ 
K
Media,‌‌June‌‌25,‌‌2019.‌‌   ‌
4
‌ he‌‌members‌‌of‌‌the‌‌community‌‌all‌‌have‌‌unusual‌‌preference‌‌when‌‌facing‌‌sex.‌ 
T
5
‌ llan‌‌Poe,‌‌Edgar.‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat.”‌S‌ elected‌‌Tales‌,‌‌2008.‌‌https://doi.org/10.1093/owc/9780199535774.003.0017.‌‌   ‌
A
 ‌
and‌‌cocky”‌6‌.‌‌Before‌‌Christensen‌‌kidnapped‌‌Zhang,‌‌he‌‌downloaded‌‌two‌‌articles,‌‌“B
‌ eyond‌‌the‌‌ 

Grave‌‌—Understanding‌‌Human‌‌Decomposition‌”‌‌and‌‌“T
‌ he‌‌Criminal‌‌Mind‌‌of‌‌Serial‌‌Killers‌”,‌‌and‌‌
 

he‌‌hero‌‌worships‌‌Ted‌‌Bundy‌‌and‌‌other‌‌famous‌‌killers.‌‌The‌‌similarity‌‌of‌‌behaviors‌‌between‌‌
 

Christensen‌‌and‌‌the‌‌narrator‌‌of‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat”‌‌made‌‌me‌‌choose‌‌this‌‌report‌‌as‌‌a‌‌source,‌‌and‌ 

from‌‌which‌‌we‌‌can‌‌generate‌‌that‌‌the‌‌murderers‌‌both‌‌in‌‌the‌‌reality‌‌and‌‌literature‌‌have‌‌things‌‌in‌‌ 

‌ aksic‌7‌‌ ‌that‌‌all‌‌murderers‌‌have‌‌similar‌‌ 
common‌‌which‌‌is‌‌one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌results‌‌from‌‌the‌‌study‌‌by‌Y

personalities‌‌or‌‌growing‌‌environment.‌‌This‌‌source‌‌does‌‌have‌‌limitations‌‌because‌‌the‌‌newspaper‌‌ 

reports‌‌cannot‌‌be‌‌totally‌‌unbiased,‌‌especially‌‌when‌‌reporting‌‌such‌‌an‌‌inhuman‌‌murder‌‌case.‌‌ 

However,‌‌the‌‌mental‌‌issue‌‌and‌‌the‌‌behaviors‌‌of‌‌Christensen‌‌is‌‌accurate‌‌and‌‌can‌‌be‌‌used‌‌for‌‌ 

further‌‌forensic‌‌psychological‌‌studies.‌  ‌

The‌‌last‌‌source‌‌is‌‌also‌‌a‌‌report‌‌written‌‌by‌‌the‌‌journalist‌‌Xinyao‌‌Li,‌‌“The‌‌Symposium‌‌on‌‌
 

‘Study‌‌on‌‌‘Crimes’‌‌in‌‌Chinese‌‌and‌‌Foreign‌‌Literature’‌‌Funded‌‌by‌‌the‌‌National‌‌Social‌‌Science‌‌
 

Fund‌‌Was‌‌Held”‌8‌.‌‌This‌‌report‌‌focuses‌‌on‌‌the‌‌reality‌‌that‌‌more‌‌Chinese‌‌people‌‌are‌‌interested‌‌in‌‌
 

detective‌‌novels‌‌including‌‌some‌‌of‌‌the‌‌famous‌‌writers‌‌and‌‌psychologists,‌‌and‌‌they‌‌believe‌‌that‌‌ 

the‌‌study‌‌of‌‌crimes‌‌in‌‌literature‌‌can‌‌help‌‌either‌‌analyse‌‌criminals‌‌or‌‌prevent‌‌future‌‌cases.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌a ‌‌

newspaper‌‌article‌‌published‌‌by‌‌Gansu‌‌Daily,‌‌which‌‌is‌‌about‌‌people‌‌from‌‌all‌‌fields‌‌in‌‌China‌‌who‌‌
 

attended‌‌the‌‌symposium‌‌talking‌‌about‌‌the‌‌crimes‌‌in‌‌both‌‌Eastern‌‌and‌‌Western‌‌literature.‌‌In‌‌the‌‌
 

symposium,‌‌the‌‌scholars‌‌analyze‌‌crimes‌‌from‌‌different‌‌perspectives,‌‌including‌‌forensic‌‌
 

6
‌ ester,‌‌Vicki,‌‌and‌‌Emily‌‌Segir.‌‌"Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe:‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat,”‌‌and‌‌Current‌‌Forensic‌‌Psychology."‌T
H ‌ he‌‌Edgar‌‌ 
Allan‌‌Poe‌‌Review‌‌‌15,‌‌no.‌‌2‌‌(2014):‌‌175-93.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌27,‌‌2021.‌‌doi:10.5325/edgallpoerev.15.2.0175‌  ‌
 ‌
7
‌ aksic,‌‌Enzo,‌‌Daniel‌‌Konikoff,‌‌Dan‌‌Gordon,‌‌Robyn‌‌Mooney,‌‌Clare‌‌Allely,‌‌Raneesha‌‌DeSilva,‌‌Brenna‌‌ 
Y
Matykiewicz,‌‌et‌‌al.‌‌“Exploring‌‌the‌‌Similarities‌‌and‌‌Differences‌‌in‌‌Offender‌‌Characteristics‌‌Across‌‌Aspiring,‌‌ 
Probable,‌‌and‌‌Successful‌‌Serial‌‌Homicide‌‌Offenders:‌‌The‌‌Importance‌‌of‌‌an‌‌Inclusive‌‌Approach‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Study‌‌of‌‌ 
Homicide,”‌‌2019.‌‌   ‌
 ‌
8
L
‌ i,‌‌Xinyao.‌‌“The‌‌Symposium‌‌on‌‌‘Study‌‌on‌‌‘Crimes’‌‌in‌‌Chinese‌‌and‌‌Foreign‌‌Literature’‌‌Funded‌‌by‌‌the‌‌National‌‌ 
Social‌‌Science‌‌Fund‌‌Was‌‌Held.”‌‌Gansu‌‌Daily,‌‌December‌‌23,‌‌2020.‌  ‌
 ‌
psychologists’‌‌perspectives,‌‌which‌‌shows‌‌the‌‌increasing‌‌attention‌‌to‌‌forensic‌‌psychology.‌‌Also,‌‌ 

this‌‌source‌‌supports‌‌the‌‌idea‌‌in‌‌the‌‌first‌‌source‌‌I‌‌cited‌‌which‌‌crimes‌‌in‌‌literature‌‌deserve‌‌further‌‌
 

studies‌‌by‌‌saying‌‌that‌‌the‌‌government‌‌also‌‌attaches‌‌great‌‌importance‌‌to‌‌this‌‌symposium,‌‌which‌‌
 

can‌‌possibly‌‌solve‌‌problems‌‌in‌‌reality‌‌in‌‌the‌‌future.‌  ‌

Generally,‌‌the‌‌sources‌‌I‌‌cited‌‌vary‌‌from‌‌academic‌‌articles‌‌to‌‌real-life‌‌cases/reports.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌
 

obvious‌‌that‌‌each‌‌source‌‌has‌‌its‌‌own‌‌constraints,‌‌for‌‌example,‌‌the‌‌peer-reviewed‌‌articles‌‌lack‌‌ 

audiences,‌‌films‌‌lack‌‌seriousness‌‌and‌‌are‌‌a‌‌little‌‌vague,‌‌etc.‌‌The‌‌combination‌‌of‌‌these‌‌sources‌‌ 

makes‌‌up‌‌each‌‌other’s‌‌flaws,‌‌thus‌‌offering‌‌the‌‌audience‌‌a‌‌better‌‌view‌‌of‌‌forensic‌‌psychology‌‌ 

from‌‌the‌‌literature‌‌to‌‌reality.‌‌There‌‌has‌‌not‌‌been‌‌too‌‌much‌‌mainstream‌‌news‌‌or‌‌debate‌‌about‌‌ 

detective‌‌novels‌‌and‌‌forensic‌‌psychology,‌‌thus‌‌people‌‌easily‌‌forget‌‌the‌‌importance‌‌of‌‌these‌‌two‌‌
 

fields.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌sad‌‌to‌‌see‌‌people‌‌so‌‌corrupted‌‌by‌‌the‌‌mental‌‌issues‌‌caused‌‌by‌‌their‌‌nature‌‌or‌‌growing‌‌ 

environments,‌‌while‌‌these‌‌are‌‌something‌‌that‌‌can‌‌be‌‌prevented‌‌if‌‌more‌‌people‌‌are‌‌sophisticated‌‌
 

with‌‌psychological‌‌knowledge,‌‌and‌‌know‌‌that‌‌they‌‌should‌‌go‌‌to‌‌the‌‌doctors‌‌when‌‌they‌‌do‌‌not‌‌ 

feel‌‌right.‌‌Then‌‌problems‌‌that‌‌can‌‌be‌‌solved‌‌by‌‌psychiatrists‌‌will‌‌not‌‌turn‌‌into‌‌the‌‌forensic‌‌
 

psychology‌‌field.‌‌Hopefully,‌‌my‌‌article‌‌will‌‌attract‌‌more‌‌people‌‌to‌‌eliminate‌‌the‌‌stereotype‌‌of‌‌ 

detective‌‌novels‌‌and‌‌forensic‌‌science,‌‌and‌‌gain‌‌more‌‌interest‌‌and‌‌knowledge‌‌in‌‌this‌‌field.‌‌Lastly,‌‌ 

I‌‌would‌‌like‌‌to‌‌shout‌‌out‌‌to‌‌all‌‌writers‌‌and‌‌researchers‌‌for‌‌their‌‌efforts‌‌and‌‌persistence.‌  ‌

 ‌

 ‌

 ‌

 ‌

 ‌
 Bibliography‌  ‌

Allan‌‌Poe,‌‌Edgar.‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat.”‌‌Selected‌‌Tales‌,‌‌2008.‌‌
   ‌

https://doi.org/10.1093/owc/9780199535774.003.0017.‌‌
   ‌

Carroll,‌‌Laura‌‌Bolin.‌‌“Backpacks‌‌vs.‌‌Briefcases:‌‌Steps‌‌toward‌‌Rhetorical‌‌Analysis,”‌  ‌

In‌‌Writing‌‌Spaces:‌‌Readings‌‌on‌‌Writing,‌‌Vol.‌‌1.‌Online:‌‌Parlor‌‌Press,‌‌2010.‌  ‌

 ‌

Dirk,‌‌Kerry,‌‌“Navigating‌‌Genres,”‌‌in‌  ‌

Writing‌‌Spaces:‌‌Readings‌‌on‌‌Writing,‌‌Volume‌‌1,‌edited‌‌by‌‌Charles‌‌Lowe‌‌and‌‌Pavel‌‌
 

Zemliansky,‌‌249-262.‌‌Parlor‌‌Press,‌‌2010.‌  ‌

Hester,‌‌Vicki,‌‌and‌‌Emily‌‌Segir.‌‌"Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe:‌‌“The‌‌Black‌‌Cat,”‌‌and‌‌Current‌‌Forensic‌   ‌ ‌

Psychology."‌T
‌ he‌‌Edgar‌‌Allan‌‌Poe‌‌Review‌‌‌15,‌‌no.‌‌2‌‌(2014):‌‌175-93.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌27,‌‌   ‌

2021.‌‌doi:10.5325/edgallpoerev.15.2.0175.‌  ‌

Koonce,‌‌Tanya.‌‌“Christensen‌‌Found‌‌Guilty‌‌Of‌‌The‌‌Murder,‌‌Kidnapping‌‌Of‌‌Yingying‌‌Zhang.”‌‌
   ‌

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