Forensic Linguistic Profiling of Suicide Notes: A LIWC-Based Analysis of Emotional and Cognitive Markers

Abstract

This study investigates the linguistic construction of psychological states in suicide notes through forensic linguistic profiling, using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tool. The research identifies how language reflects emotional distress and cognitive processes during writing by analyzing publicly available suicide notes. The study aims to examine what types of emotional and cognitive linguistic markers are most prevalent, to what extent these markers vary across individual notes, and how such variations can help interpret the underlying psychological condition of the writers. The analysis shows significant use of self-referential language, emotional tone shifts, and cognitive process words, highlighting patterns of self-focus, inner conflict, and reflective thinking. These findings demonstrate the potential of LIWC in quantifying psychological signals embedded in naturally occurring texts. The study offers implications for forensic profiling, psychological assessment, and suicide prevention, contributing a methodologically grounded approach to understanding the language of distress.