Page 36 - Aug Sept 2016

Elite Investigative Journal
Crypto-Criminology: The Gothic Nature of Crime, pg 36-41
©2014-2016 SYT Global, Inc.

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Crypto-Criminology: The Gothic Nature of Crime

by Randy Gonzalez
Crypto-criminology refers to the dark, devious and dangerous side of human nature.

That strain of humanistic proclivity that crosses the boundaries of civility into
brutality. This is a realm of “practical criminology”, applicability to the real world,

where human behavior defies profiling, prediction and precise definition. Such an
investigation descends to the depths of human depravity, to damp gloomy dungeons
of mental mayhem. For which, modern science has no useful, effective and efficient

means to explain all the possibilities. Of course, myth, magic and metaphor are
allusions constantly present within this region of discussion. In one sense, it’s the

exploration of human evil and all its inherent manifestations. And, in another sense,
crypto-criminology seeks to delve into the mystery of why people commit crimes.
This is an assessment of criminal behavior to walk the eerie landscape of human

deviance that foments criminality. The search for modern explanations includes
consideration of the influence of “gothic metaphors” in literature, movies and other

mass media. As such, “crypto” refers to the hidden, the secret and the unrevealed.
Like the word “gothic”, reference is made to the primitive and primeval notions
of human nature. A world of howling psychic werewolves, dreams of death and

demonic influence. That subterranean mindset of monstrous meanings, vampiric
violence and cunning cruelty.

In similarly related aspects of study, there is the term cryptozoology. This often

refers to the investigation of unknown or missing “animal” life forms. From this
point, we could extrapolate that “crypto” suggests the hidden, secret and mysterious
nature of living things. By connection, there are also the elements of knowing,

studying and understanding unexplained phenomena. Such a notion aptly concerns
the field of criminology.

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