Meet the woman who bonds with hardened criminals

For someone who has studied and understood the psyche of several crime accused, Dr SL Vaya, director of Institute of Behavourial Science, Gujarat Forensic Science University, expresses only one emotion for them - empathy. That could perhaps explain why she has managed to extract secrets from some of the most hardened criminals. In a talk with DNA, the CS Kang Oration Award winner for 2011, talks about her work, the criminal mind and new developments in the field of forensic psychology.

A suspect undergoes various tests as part of forensic psychology? How difficult is it to cheat in these tests?
You will be surprised but it is actually very easy to cheat. But for that to happen a suspect needs to first learn to cheat himself or herself. The problem is that people can't cheat themselves and that is precisely the reason why they get caught when they undergo such tests.

How difficult is it to remain expressionless when a suspect is talking to you about the crimes he committed?
Who says we remain expressionless? It is just that we take care not show any negative expressions. We also empathise with the subject we interview, irrespective of whether he/she is a suspect or a patient.

Has any of the convictions which you have helped achieve given you a sense of elation?
No none. On the contrary there are cases where we have felt bad when someone was convicted. Convictions don't give us any pleasure whatsoever. You have to understand that irrespective of what a subject has done, we empathise with him. To judge someone is not our job. We leave it to the courts. As a psychologist we journey with the suspect as he narrates his tale. There are times when we have felt that had we been in a similar circumstance, in which the subject found himself to be, we too would have done the same thing.

How can psychological training help a cop in better interrogating a suspect?
The techniques used by a psychologist can be used by cops while interrogating a suspect. But then it calls for patience, patience and more patience. I know of cops who use these techniques in interrogation. But they usually don't have the patience to make use of the techniques because they are under several kinds of pressure, including fast resolution of a case. Moreover, one should remember that the entire team handling a case needs to make use of these techniques if the results are to be visible. Just one cop making use of it will not help matters.

How do you unwind? What are your hobbies?
I take care of my home and my officer. I am more of a homely person. At times I like to go out and watch a movie with my family

Any mantra that you stand by?
Commitment to whatever I do.