Psychology Articles
SCARS Articles about Scam/Fraud/Cybercrime Psychology, Victimology, Criminology, and Sociology
Articles relation to the psychology of scams, the exploitation by criminals, and their function and impact in scam victims.

Featured Articles
Expectancy Violation Theory and the Psychology of Scams – 2025
Expectancy Violation Theory and the Psychology of Scams Principal Category: Persuasion Manipulation and Control Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Read More ...
Internal Family Systems – Cognition Model – 2025
Internal Family Systems - Cognition Model A Clear Guide to Parts, Self, and the Brain Principal Category: Psychology Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract This article explains Read More ...
Fundamental Attribution Error Bias – Overestimate Character and Underestimate Context – Cognitive Bias – 2025
Fundamental Attribution Error Bias Overestimate Character and Underestimate Context Principal Category: Cognitive Biases & Psychological Heuristics Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The fundamental Read More ...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adult Scam Victims – 2025
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adult Scam Victims Principal Category: Disorders / Behavior Patterns Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Oppositional defiant disorder in adulthood involves persistent anger, frequent arguments, and Read More ...
Derealization in Scam Victims – Dissociative Response – 2025
Derealization in Scam Victims - Dissociative Response When Reality Breaks: Understanding Derealization in Scam Victims Principal Category: Psychological Trauma Author: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Read More ...
Confirmation Bias – Letting Your Desires Control What You See! – Cognitive Bias – 2025
Confirmation Bias Letting Your Desires Control What You See! Principal Category: Cognitive Biases & Psychological Heuristics Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Scam victims Read More ...
The Freeze Response – 2025
The Freeze Response: What Happens in the Mind and Body Principal Category: Psychological Trauma Responses Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Read More ...
Social Desirability Bias – Cognitive Bias – 2025
Social Desirability Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Social desirability bias is a common psychological pattern where individuals alter their words, behaviors, or self-reports Read More ...
Psychology Articles
Expectancy Violation Theory and the Psychology of Scams – 2025
Expectancy Violation Theory and the Psychology of Scams Principal Category: Persuasion Manipulation and Control Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Read More ...
Internal Family Systems – Cognition Model – 2025
Internal Family Systems - Cognition Model A Clear Guide to Parts, Self, and the Brain Principal Category: Psychology Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract This article explains Read More ...
Fundamental Attribution Error Bias – Overestimate Character and Underestimate Context – Cognitive Bias – 2025
Fundamental Attribution Error Bias Overestimate Character and Underestimate Context Principal Category: Cognitive Biases & Psychological Heuristics Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The fundamental Read More ...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adult Scam Victims – 2025
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adult Scam Victims Principal Category: Disorders / Behavior Patterns Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Oppositional defiant disorder in adulthood involves persistent anger, frequent arguments, and Read More ...
Derealization in Scam Victims – Dissociative Response – 2025
Derealization in Scam Victims - Dissociative Response When Reality Breaks: Understanding Derealization in Scam Victims Principal Category: Psychological Trauma Author: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Read More ...
Confirmation Bias – Letting Your Desires Control What You See! – Cognitive Bias – 2025
Confirmation Bias Letting Your Desires Control What You See! Principal Category: Cognitive Biases & Psychological Heuristics Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Scam victims Read More ...
The Freeze Response – 2025
The Freeze Response: What Happens in the Mind and Body Principal Category: Psychological Trauma Responses Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Read More ...
Social Desirability Bias – Cognitive Bias – 2025
Social Desirability Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Social desirability bias is a common psychological pattern where individuals alter their words, behaviors, or self-reports Read More ...