Abstract

PEREZ-MARTINEZ, Armenio  and  RODRIGUEZ-FERNANDEZ, Aimara. Methodological considerations on psychological autopsy. Ajayu [online]. 2023, vol.21, n.1, pp.57-73.  Epub Mar 31, 2023. ISSN 2077-2161.  https://doi.org/10.35319/ajayu.211196.

The psychological autopsy is a psychobiographical, retrospective and indirect procedure that contributes to clarifying the cause and mechanism of death in doubtful cases. Research on psychological autopsy has recognized that instrumental and methodological studies are insufficient, which contributes to the lack of valid and recognized investigative positions, especially in forensic and clinical psychology. The objective of this article is to analyze the methodological options that allow the professional of forensic psychology to apply the psychological autopsy, in conditions of suicides and ambiguous deaths, taking into account several previous methodological alternatives with acceptance within the scientific community. The use of qualitative methodology, phenomenology, case studies and triangulation is proposed to obtain greater rigor and precision in the study of the psychological conditions surrounding undetermined deaths. The scope of this proposal for psychology transcends what is stipulated in the forensic framework, to understand the psychic functioning of people before death and generate an impact on the family mourning process.

Keywords : Psychological autopsy; Qualitative methodology; Phenomenology; Case studies; Triangulation.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )