Spirit
How does a forensic scientist deal with the emotional aspects of the job?
I intend to pursue forensic science, and I'm leaning toward lab work primarily instead of investigating crime scenes. Given that I will be assisting with solving cases involving people who have been assaulted or murdered, I'd like to know how the emotional response to other humans being hurt or killed affect a forensic scientist on a regular basis. #forensic
1 answer
Jordan Graves
Jordan’s Answer
Good--and important--question. Obviously, when dealing with forensics as it applies to law enforcement, the odds of running into "unsavory" sights, smells, or even data are pretty high. Further, that material affects everyone differently. Sometimes things hit home on some folks and don't get a second glance from others. Sometimes, people even change in how they respond to the same sort of material. I'm no psychologist, but I'm convinced that sensitization is just as real as desensitization. It all depends on many different factors, like life experiences, mood, environment, phobias, wellness, etc.
No matter what the material is, and no matter how it affects you, it's essential to remember that people process things differently, and it's ok to talk to someone about it (especially when taking advantage of a good resource in folks that are put in place for this sort of situation, like HR, religious figures, counselors...).
I hope this helps, and wish you luck with your career!