scholarly journals The psychology of the corrupt: some preliminary findings

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 488-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Nee ◽  
Mark Button ◽  
David Shepherd ◽  
Dean Blackbourn ◽  
Sharon Leal
Keyword(s):  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Psychological Techniques ◽  
Occupational Fraud ◽  
Risk Appetite ◽  
White Collar Offenders

Purpose This paper aims to present findings based on the psychological profile of 17 offenders who have been convicted of occupational fraud, bribery or related offences. It provides findings on their specific psychological profiles using well-established psychological techniques to gauge personality. The study is also aimed to provide the foundations for further research on such profiles, which could eventually provide a screening tool to identify individuals who might be a higher risk of engaging in corrupt behaviours for organisations. Design/methodology/approach The research is based upon 17 interviews with white-collar offenders who were also asked to complete an Eysenck Personality Questionnaire to identify their profile. Findings This study postulates that sensation seeking, risk appetite, impulsivity and lower non-aggressive self-regulation dominate the E scale traits of white-collar offenders. Originality/value This paper is very much original in its design with few studies having been performed in this area.

Revisiting employee fraud: gender, investigation outcomes and offender motivation

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bonny ◽  
Sigi Goode ◽  
David Lacey
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
White Collar Crime ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Male Offenders ◽  
Occupational Fraud ◽  
Background Population ◽  
White Collar Offenders ◽  
Workplace Setting ◽  
Employee Fraud

Purpose – This paper aims to present the findings of a study examining fraud in the workplace setting, principally in the Australasian context. Although prior research into occupational fraud is conceptually rich, there is a lack of empirical evidence of this important but elusive problem. Design/methodology/approach – Based on investigative data from 14 participating firms, the paper provides insights into the gender breakdowns and stated motivations of offenders. The paper also provides evidence of the number of investigations, interviews and reports to law enforcement in these firms. Findings – The study finds that genders are evenly balanced for most firms, with females significantly outnumbering males in banking firms. Self-imposed financial hardship was the most popular motivator. Of the number of admissions to wrongdoing, only half were subsequently reported to law enforcement. Research limitations/implications – Particularly complex or advanced types of occupational fraud may go unreported or undetected: as a result, the figures presented in this study may be incomplete. Reported figures are based largely on historical data provided by respondents, and the authors are unable to report accurate details of the respondent firms. This makes it difficult to determine the frequency of offending against the background population. Practical implications – Investigators should continue to look for changes in the life circumstances of their staff. Such changes will give an indication of instances of staff living beyond their means and the sudden financial pressures that can compel occupational fraud. Instead of trying to supervise staff to an impractical degree, managers and proprietors would be well advised to be alert to the kind of pressures that their staff might experience. Social implications – Social control and detection measures are likely to be easier to implement and less invasive than technical controls. The study provides additional pressure to update traditional conceptualisations of the male white collar offender. While male offenders were responsible for larger losses per case, females were more numerous in the summary offence data. Originality/value – Gaining insights into the problem of employee fraud and white collar crime is difficult. The authors’ contribution in this paper is to provide empirical insights into the makeup of white collar offenders, including insights on gender.

Stealing from the boss: who is looking?

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-623
Author(s):  
Peter John Lenz ◽  
Adam Graycar
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
White Collar Crime ◽  
Listed Company ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Corporate Fraud ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Occupational Fraud ◽  
And Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discover organisational governance lessons that emerge from the unique facts and characteristics of one significant corporate fraud in Australia. Design/methodology/approach Data were triangulated between a primary loss adjustment file with multiple commercial and legal secondary sources. The data were analysed and conclusions were inductively drawn as part of a master’s degree research project. Findings White-collar crime takes many forms but it is rare for a medium-sized ASX listed company to be defrauded of Aus$22 m without anybody noticing. Narrative findings reveal the dynamics of the fraud and the weaknesses in corporate governance. This paper outlines the processes of detection and control. It provides several lessons for organisational governance that could prevent similar occupational frauds in the future. Research limitation/implications This unique fraud case has facts which are not necessarily typical of fraud in general. Anonymity in the case seeks to preserve the identities of the parties, but may in fact limit the potential for transparent discussion. Social implications While detecting and investigating occupational fraud has benefits for practitioners and commentators, there are extensive direct and indirect social costs associated with this case. Originality/value The value of this case lies in revealing details of how a significant fraud was perpetrated so that fraud investigators, accountancy professionals, academics and students can benefit from lessons learned.

Do white-collar offenders find prison more punitive than property offenders

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 230-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. May ◽  
Brian K. Payne
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Rate Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Property Crimes ◽  
White Collar Offenders ◽  
Alternative Sanctions ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use exchange rate theory to compare how white-collar offenders and property offenders rank the severity of various correctional sanctions. Design/methodology/approach The authors use survey data from 160 inmates incarcerated for white-collar and property crimes in a Midwestern state to compare how white-collar inmates differed from property inmates in ranking the goals of prison and the punitiveness of prison as compared to other alternatives. Findings White-collar offenders were no different than property offenders in terms of their assessment of the punitiveness of prison compared to the punitiveness of the four sanctions under consideration here. White-collar offenders were significantly more likely than property offenders to believe that the goal of prison is to rehabilitate rather than deter individuals from further crime. Research limitations/implications Because the authors defined white-collar offenders by their crime of incarceration, they may have captured offenders who are not truly white-collar offenders. Focusing on offenders who were in prison did not allow them to fully examine whether similarities between white-collar and property offenders can be attributed to adjustment to prison or some other variable. Practical implications Alternative sanctions may be useful in punishing white-collar offenders in a less expensive manner than prison. Results suggest white-collar offenders may be more amenable to rehabilitation than property offenders and may not experience prison much differently than other types of offenders. Originality value This research is important because it is the first of its kind to compare white-collar offenders’ views about the punitiveness of prison and the goals of incarceration with those of property offenders.

scholarly journals The media, personal digital criminal legacies and the experience of offenders convicted of occupational fraud and corruption

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16
Author(s):  
David Shepherd ◽  
Emma Beatty ◽  
Mark Button ◽  
Dean Blackbourn
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Privacy Rights ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Occupational Fraud ◽  
The Media ◽  
White Collar Offenders ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of media coverage on offenders convicted of occupational fraud and corruption in the UK. It examines the extent of media coverage and provides insights into the experiences of offenders. Design/methodology/approach The study is based upon interviews with 17 convicted offenders, and on a content analysis of one national and two regional newspapers in the UK. Findings The findings suggest that offenders convicted of occupational crime and corruption are more likely to experience media coverage than previously assumed and that personal digital criminal legacies create long-term labels which lead to economic strains and social fractures that hinder productive reintegration into society. Research limitations/implications The research is limited by a small sample frame in the UK. Nevertheless, the findings suggest further research is required as they have important implications for privacy and rehabilitation. Practical implications In particular, offenders and their families need support in dealing with their personal digital criminal legacies, accessing their privacy rights and coping with the strains created by online stigmatisation. From a policy perspective, the existing regulatory framework that supports rehabilitation in the UK, especially the increasingly archaic Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, requires close examination and debate to ensure it is fit for the digital era. The findings also suggest that policies, practices and responsibilities of the public sector in employing offenders need to be examined. Originality/value It is a rare study of white-collar offenders after their release from prison. The findings are of relevance to criminal justice policy makers, rehabilitation services and academics.

Community service and white-collar offenders

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Supernor
Keyword(s):  
Community Service ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Court System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Legal Sanction ◽  
Legal Sanctions ◽  
White Collar Offenders

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find out who in the white-collar offender field, specifically health-care professionals, is getting community service as a punishment and to lead the way for further research on community service as a legal sanction. Design/methodology/approach This study collected its sample using Medicaid Fraud Reports from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units for 2009-2014. In total, 200 reports were used; 100 with community service given as a legal sanction, and 100 without. All the information was then coded by a set of criteria and put into an SPSS Statistics file for analysis. Findings The findings showed that there was no significant relationship between gender and any of the main legal sanctions looked for in the Medicaid Fraud Reports, except for community service. Community service also had a significant relationship with those offenders who committed physical crimes rather than financial crimes. Last, women were given less severe sanctions on average for all of the major sanctions given. Research limitations/implications One of the implications found was that a lot more women were given community service than men. This could be because women are considered homemakers for families, and the court systems do not want to punish a woman in a way that would take her away from her family. It could also be because the court system does not see a reason to punish women as harshly as it may be felt that a woman will learn her lesson with any punishment. Originality/value There is very little research done on community service as a sanction. This research helps bring that to light.

Storytelling of bureaucratic white-collar crimes in Indonesia: is it a matter of reciprocal norm?

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ach Maulidi
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Fraud Triangle ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Psychological Constructs ◽  
Occupational Fraud ◽  
Triangle Theory

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the existing fraud studies and theory (fraud triangle) from bureaucratic crime perspectives. Importantly, this paper answers calls on research, exploring the routines of interaction both micro- and social psychological constructs in studying fraudulent behaviours. These aspects are relatively new, which have a little attention from auditing and fraud literature. Design/methodology/approach Experienced fraud perpetrators were used for this study. A semi-structured interview technique was used, allowing to uncover rich descriptive data on the personal experiences of participants. It allowed them to tell and illustrate why and how they get involved in fraudulent activities. Findings Many explanations, from a wide variety of perspectives, have been advanced to explain why people commit fraud in bureaucracy. Using reciprocity and exchange theory as a basis, it was found strong evidence for expanding fraud triangle theory (Cressey, 1953) as a predictor of individual’s intention to commit white-collar crimes. Evidence of these results provides a new challenge to other accounts of why systemic fraud would or would not occur. In this point, it highlights the concepts of social exchange and the norm of reciprocity serve as a useful beginning for explaining the factors that cause someone to commit occupational fraud. Generally, a number of distinct empirical and theoretical contributions arise from the current study. Originality/value This paper contributes to the enrichment of fraud theory and literature, from psychological perspectives. With regard to the reciprocity between peers within and outside organisation, it offers theoretical frameworks about the reasons for the decisions to commit white-collar crimes. As such, it advances fraud and auditing studies.

How modern psychology can help us understand white-collar criminals

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Dearden
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
White Collar Crime ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sociological Factors ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
White Collar Offenders ◽  
Current Psychological

PurposeThis paper aims to add to the theoretical discussion of white-collar crime by introducing modern psychological decision-making literature and the potential effect on white-collar offending.Design/methodology/approachUsing a theoretical approach, literature on heuristics, innovation and stress, insight into why white-collar offenders decide to commit crime is posited.FindingsThe heuristics and strategies that people use to assist in decision-making process may inadvertently promote white-collar crime. For example, stress may inhibit white-collar offenders’ thinking, causing them to discount the risk of committing said offense; individuals may not challenge the success of carrying out a white-collar offense once it is considered; and generally, people will be more optimistic in considering their success of not getting caught.Originality/valueCurrently, the study of white-collar crime is discussed largely in the context of sociological factors. Current psychological theories have considerable explanatory power in understanding why white-collar offenders commit their crimes.

Are parents eating their greens? Fruit and vegetable consumption during a school intervention

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Aschemann-Witzel ◽  
Tino Bech-Larsen ◽  
Alice Grønhøj
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
School Intervention ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Positive Interaction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
School Based

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to study the extent of change in parents' fruit and vegetable consumption during a period when their children participate in a school-based healthy eating intervention. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 256 12-year-old Danish schoolchildren took part in a text-message feedback intervention promoting fruit and vegetable consumption. One parent of each child filled out self-administered questionnaires at three points during the 40-week study period. In the questionnaire, stated consumption, perceived influence factors on their consumption and self-efficacy and self-regulation were measured. Findings – Only half of the parents stated that they met the “five a day” target. These parents reported good availability of fruit and vegetables in their household, high consumption among their friends and frequent exercise and they were characterised by high self-efficacy levels. Stated consumption increased during the period of the intervention targeted at their children. Parents that reported an increase had, at the start of the intervention, reported low levels of consumption, lack of encouragement to eat healthy at their workplace and lower autonomous self-regulation. Research limitations/implications – The consumption data is limited to self-report. Practical implications – The results indicate that parents can be influenced indirectly by school-based interventions targeted at their children. Future interventions should include the family with the intent to support positive interaction that might further promote and sustain healthy eating habits. Originality/value – The study considers the possible effects school interventions targeting children may have on the immediate family, an aspect generally overlooked in school-based health initiatives.

On the Property Management Services Ordinance of Hong Kong: concerns and implications

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Wong ◽  
Joseph Lai
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Property Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Freedom Of Contract ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Management Services

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the concerns and implications of the recently enacted Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) (PMSO) of Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachA review was undertaken to identify the characteristics of the property management-related legislation of common law jurisdictions similar to Hong Kong, which include Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Then, the development of the property management-related ordinances in Hong Kong and the key features of the PMSO were examined. Finally, a case study was conducted to demonstrate the potential problems of the PMSO.FindingsThere are various kinds of legislative controls on property management services in the above common law jurisdictions. The PMSO, which is the first to regulate property management services providers through a licencing system and introduce control on training and professional development, imposes limits on freedom of contract and self-regulation of professionals. Potential problems with the implementation of the PMSO are also revealed.Research limitations/implicationsThis research analyses four common law jurisdictions. Property management services contracts in these jurisdictions are subject to governance by their case laws and market operations.Practical implicationsBy virtue of the new licencing system of the PMSO, property management services contracts in Hong Kong become a new kind of specific contracts.Originality/valueThis paper illustrates the relationship between freedom of contract and public benefit. It contributes knowledge to the area of government policy formulation in property management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document