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Psychology Articles – Scam Psychology, Victimology, Criminology, and Sociology – 20242024-04-20T04:32:18-04:00

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.

Psychology & Related Articles on SCARS ScamPsychology.org

Featured Articles

Illusory Truth Effect – Cognitive Bias – 2025

Illusory Truth Effect Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.     Abstract Online scammers exploit the illusory truth effect to enhance the credibility of their Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PERSUASION MANIPULATION & CONTROL, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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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 ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2025|
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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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM NEUROLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ NEUROLOGY, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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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 ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2025|
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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • SOMATIC/PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, • VICTIM NEUROLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ NEUROLOGY, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Psychology Articles

Illusory Truth Effect – Cognitive Bias – 2025

Illusory Truth Effect Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.     Abstract Online scammers exploit the illusory truth effect to enhance the credibility of their Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PERSUASION MANIPULATION & CONTROL, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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 ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2025|
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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM NEUROLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ NEUROLOGY, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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 ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2025|
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 ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • SOMATIC/PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, • VICTIM NEUROLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ NEUROLOGY, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

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