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
Gestalt Therapy Overview and Potential Applicability to Scam Victims – 2026
Gestalt Therapy Overview and Potential Applicability to Scam Victims Gestalt Therapy: Understanding the Whole Person Through Awareness, Experience, and the Present Moment Principal Category: Psychology / Therapy / Recoverology Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Read More ...
Assumed Continuity Bias – A Cognitive Bias – 2026
Assumed Continuity Bias - A Cognitive Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Assumed Continuity Bias describes the tendency to believe that a relationship, resource, opportunity, service, or Read More ...
REBT – Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Scam Victim Recovery – 2026
REBT - Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Scam Victim Recovery A SCARS Institute Scam Victim/Survivor Self-Help Guide Principal Category: Psychology / Therapy / Recovery / Recoverology Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Read More ...
Status Quo Bias – Cognitive Bias – 2026
Status Quo Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Status Quo Bias is the tendency to prefer an existing condition, habit, belief, relationship, or arrangement because it is Read More ...
Belief Perseverance Cognitive Bias – 2026
Belief Perseverance Cognitive Bias - 2026 Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Belief Perseverance is the tendency to maintain an established belief after credible evidence has weakened or Read More ...
The SCARS Recovery Effect Cognitive Bias – 2026
The SCARS Recovery Effect Cognitive Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The SCARS Recovery Effect describes a cognitive bias in which some recent scam victims overestimate how Read More ...
Can You Be Scammed Self-Assessment Test
[raw] Can You Be Scammed? A Susceptibility Self-Assessment · Based on the SCARS Relationship Scams Formula · 32 questions Your Privacy Is Protected We never see your answersYour responses are processed entirely within your browser. The SCARS Institute has no access to what you enter. Nothing is stored or transmittedNo Read More ...
Paranoia Self-Assessment Test
[raw] Paranoia Self-Assessment for Scam Victims Suspicion and Mistrust · 20 Questions across 5 Areas Your Privacy Is Protected We never see your answersYour responses are processed entirely within your browser. The SCARS Institute has no access to what you enter during this assessment. Nothing is stored or transmittedNo data Read More ...
Psychology Articles
Gestalt Therapy Overview and Potential Applicability to Scam Victims – 2026
Gestalt Therapy Overview and Potential Applicability to Scam Victims Gestalt Therapy: Understanding the Whole Person Through Awareness, Experience, and the Present Moment Principal Category: Psychology / Therapy / Recoverology Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Read More ...
Assumed Continuity Bias – A Cognitive Bias – 2026
Assumed Continuity Bias - A Cognitive Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Assumed Continuity Bias describes the tendency to believe that a relationship, resource, opportunity, service, or Read More ...
REBT – Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Scam Victim Recovery – 2026
REBT - Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Scam Victim Recovery A SCARS Institute Scam Victim/Survivor Self-Help Guide Principal Category: Psychology / Therapy / Recovery / Recoverology Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Read More ...
Status Quo Bias – Cognitive Bias – 2026
Status Quo Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Status Quo Bias is the tendency to prefer an existing condition, habit, belief, relationship, or arrangement because it is Read More ...
Belief Perseverance Cognitive Bias – 2026
Belief Perseverance Cognitive Bias - 2026 Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract Belief Perseverance is the tendency to maintain an established belief after credible evidence has weakened or Read More ...
The SCARS Recovery Effect Cognitive Bias – 2026
The SCARS Recovery Effect Cognitive Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The SCARS Recovery Effect describes a cognitive bias in which some recent scam victims overestimate how Read More ...
Are You a Believer or a Truth Seeker Self-Assessment Test – 2026
[raw] The Two Roads A Self-Assessment of How You Meet an Open Question · 50 statements Your Privacy Is Protected We never see your answersYour responses are processed entirely within your browser. The SCARS Institute has no access to what you enter. Nothing is stored or transmittedNo data from this Read More ...
The Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders – UP – 2026
The Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders A Psychological Treatment Approach That Traumatized Scam Victims Can Discuss With Their Therapists Principal Category: Psychological Therapy / Manual of Scam Psychology Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Read More ...
