Cumulative physiological affect: Thematic analysis of forensic psychological examination data from a homicide case.

2026

Full text Open access: Gold Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.17505/jpor.2026.29459
Data confidence 70 medium
How this score is calculated

It is built from checkable properties of the record itself: whether the article has a DOI, how many independent sources confirmed its data, whether the required fields are filled in, and how recent the latest confirmation is. Disagreement between sources and a missing identifier lower it. A value of 80 or above means the record was published without further checking; 60 to 79 means it is published at reduced confidence, with a manual check advisable. A record verified by an editor by hand is never pushed below 90 by a recalculation. This scores our data about the article, not the article itself.

Abstract

This study examines a forensic case of homicide within a hierarchical work relationship to determine whether the perpetrator acted in a state of physiological affect. The analysis is based on forensic medical examination materials and employs a qualitative approach grounded in thematic analysis. The findings revealed four themes: (1) a hierarchical environment characterized by humiliation and coercion; (2) gradually intensifying motivational pressure closely linked to dependency, presumed blackmail, and fear of punishment; (3) cumulative emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged internal stress; and (4) cognitive narrowing. A forensic psychological examination identified manifestations of cumulative physiological affect, suggesting that a significant emotional disturbance influenced the offender's actions. This case serves as a practical illustration of such psycho-emotional states, which is pertinent for criminologists, forensic scientists, and representatives of related fields.