The real - life basis for 'Jigsaw' might be the study of abnormal psychology. Some criminals in real life have shown a desire to manipulate and control others through complex and often cruel means. This is somewhat reflected in the Jigsaw character's actions in the movies. He believes that by putting his victims through these extreme 'tests', he is teaching them to value their lives more. In the real world, there are cases of criminals with a warped sense of justice, which could be a loose inspiration for the Jigsaw concept.
The 'Jigsaw' movies are often inspired by real - life forensic knowledge and the concept of elaborate, pre - planned 'games' in criminal minds. However, it's important to note that the extreme and gory aspects are highly fictionalized. For example, the idea of creating complex traps and challenges for victims can be related to some real - life cases where criminals have a sense of grandiosity and a need to test their victims in a twisted way. But in reality, it's not as elaborately cruel as shown in the movies.