Crime is prevalent worldwide, with criminal rates on the rise in recent years. Understanding criminal psychology can aid in detecting cases by providing additional clues. This study utilized eye-tracking technology to investigate the psychological behaviors of both perpetrators and innocents. Since gaze patterns can reflect individuals’ inner cognitive processes, the research simulated a criminal case, dividing subjects into two groups: perpetrators and innocents. Each group was immersed in the case based on their respective identities. Following the identification and background briefing, participants viewed both crime-related and irrelevant stimuli on a screen. Their eye movements were recorded throughout the process. Eye tracking parameters, such as fixation duration, fixation count, first fixation duration, time to first fixation, as well as average amplitude of saccade were analyzed to assess attention bias and psychological activities. The results revealed that individuals in the criminal group exhibited longer first fixation duration and shorter time to first fixation for crime-related stimuli, suggesting higher alertness to relevant cues. Additionally, they displayed shorter total fixation duration and fewer fixation counts for these stimuli, indicating intentional avoidance of further gaze. Moreover, the perpetrator group exhibited shorter saccadic amplitudes, indicative of a higher state of psychological tension. This study offers a novel approach to understanding the attentional characteristics of criminal suspects and provides a theoretical foundation for future applications in real-world cases.

Xu Mingyue. An Eye Tracking Study Assessing Attention Biases of Suspects in Simulated Crime Scenarios. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2024) Vol. 7, Issue 6: 189-194. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2024.070630.

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