Behavioral science and Forensics in Catch Me If You Can

Emily Cho '27

Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 biographical crime film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr. and Tom Hanks as FBI agent Carl Hanratty. The film is based on the real-life exploits of Abagnale, a teenage fraudster who impersonates a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer while forging millions of dollars in checks - all prior to his twenty-first birthday. As the FBI relentlessly pursues him throughout the entire narrative, it illustrates not only Abagnale’s technical ingenuity but also his ability to exploit institutional human trust. The film, beyond its well-attributed success with box-office earnings of about $350 million worldwide and nominations for two academy awards, serves as a compelling case study in both behavioral and forensic science.

The Milgram Paradigm: Obedience to Authority

One part that I noticed about this film is that it is fundamentally grounded on cognitive theories, in resonance with the different professions Abagnale impersonates, especially professions in close association with authority or reputation. For instance, the initial scenes unravel with the instance of Abagnale posing as a substitute teacher and conducting classes for a week. This is a vivid demonstration of Authority Bias, a psychological theory that individuals are cognitively inclined to obey instructions when they perceive the individual as an authority figure. Stanley Milgram’s 1961 experiments have infamously illustrated that when humans are exposed to “symbols of authority”, such as uniforms or titles, they have a biological propensity to temporarily suspend critical thinking and comply with orders. Often they even administer potentially lethal actions under the influence and pressure of authority, showing deferred judgement. 

Despite the lack of legitimate credentials, Abagnale successfully deceives his classmates and directs a class under their compliance. His authority is conveyed through institutional symbols- his formal introduction, the presence of classroom materials, and the structured composure he maintains. One student, initially confrontational as he views Abagnale as a classmate, challenges him openly, but upon the perception of a “substitute teacher”, his behavior immediately shifts to compliance. This instant shift exemplifies authority bias, as the student defers judgement and simply complies due to the presence of social cues signaling authority, without critical evaluation of Abagnale’s actual expertise. 

The Halo Effect 

Subsequently in the film, Abagnale assumes the identity of a Pan Am pilot, gaining respect from and deference from airline staff and passengers. People presume that he is honest and competent, despite the fact that he did not even own a formal pilot’s license. This exemplifies the Halo Effect, a type of cognitive bias where a single positive trait- in this case a pilot uniform - spills over to influence perceptions of unassociated attributes, such as honesty and professional competence. Authority bias is also evident as even when doubtful cues are present- like his youthful appearance -observers reinterpret these inconsistencies in favor of his perceived authority. Together, the Halo Effect and Authority Bias enable Frank to navigate high stakes professional environments successfully, without formal training or official credentials.

Forensic Analytical Chemistry

The chemistry of MICR

In the 1960s, the banking system utilized MICR(Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) technology to process checks. The fundamental component of this technology lies in the ink’s chemical composition. Unlike the standard ink, MICR ink contains higher concentrations of Iron Oxide(Fe3O4) particles, which are magnetized by a check reader to produce a specific frequency waveform. If Abagnale’s checks had achieved mere visual accuracy, they would have failed the machine scan. He understood the chemical properties of iron oxide ink and sourced precision tools, such as the Heidelberg printing press, to fully replicate the Magnetic Signature. 

Solvent extraction

In the film, Abagnale uses specific solvents to erase dates or amounts imprinted on checks, which utilizes the inverse principles of Chromatography. Ink is produced via combining pigments and solvents. To extract the text while minimizing damage to the paper fibers, Abagnale uses strong organic solvents such as chlorine-based bleaches and acetone to break the chemical bonds of the ink. However, in modern forensics, this technique is detected using a VSC(Video Spectral Comparator). As different inks exhibit varying degrees of absorption rates under specific infrared wavelengths, erased words remain clearly visible under an infrared camera. 

Catch Me If You Can integrates scientific elements such as behavioral psychology and forensic chemistry throughout its narrative, embedding these concepts naturally into Frank Abagnale Jr.’s schemes. His impersonations demonstrate how easily cognitive science such as Authority Bias and the Halo Effect can take precedence over rational judgement, allowing institutional trust to be exploited. Simultaneously, his check fraud techniques are grounded in real forensic principles such as MICR and solvent interactions. Together, Abagnale’s methods are a perfect case study on the fragility of humans’ cognitive system and utilization of chemical properties.