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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

Traumatic Event Centrality and Scam Victims – 2025

Trauma Event Centrality and Scam Victims Principal Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology 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, Ph.D. - Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

The Big 5 Personality Traits and Scam Victims – 2025

The Big 5 Personality Traits and Scam Victims Principal Category: Psychology of Scams 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, Ph.D. Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Victimization Paradigm: Scam Victim Vulnerability – A White Paper – 2025

Victimization Paradigm: Scam Victim Vulnerability - A White Paper Principal Category: Victimology Authors: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract: This white paper introduces a comprehensive paradigm for understanding scam victim vulnerability, proposing a Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIMOLOGY, • WHITE PAPER / CONFERENCE PAPER, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Psychological Inoculation: A Study to Help Scam Victims and All Resist Misinformation – 2025

Psychological Inoculation: A Study to Help Scam Victims and All Resist Misinformation Principal Category: Author: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Based On: Maertens, R., Roozenbeek, J., Simons, J.S. et al. - Psychological booster shots targeting memory Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT PSYCHOLOGY, • ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT PSYCHOLOGY, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM SUPPORT, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

Phobias: Pistanthrophobia and Philophobia and their Impact on Scam Victims – 2025

Phobias: Pistanthrophobia and Philophobia - the Aftermath of Online Scams - When Trust Becomes the Greatest Casualty Principal Category: Phobias & Fears Authors:  •  Lic. Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • PHOBIAS & FEARS, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Avoidance Psychology: Scam Victim Passivity During Recovery – 2025

Scam Victim Passivity During Recovery Principal Category: Avoidance Psychology 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, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • AVOIDANCE PSYCHOLOGY, • COPING MECHANISMS, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Anomia – A Typically Temporary Neurological Disorder in Severely Traumatized Scam Victims – 2025

Anomia - A Typically Temporary Neurological Disorder in Severely Traumatized Scam Victims Principal Category: Scam Victim Neurology Author: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract This article explores the concept of trauma-related Anomia, Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • VICTIM NEUROLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ NEUROLOGY, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Psychological Displacement and Scam Victims – 2025

Psychological Displacement and Scam Victims Psychological Displacement and Scam Victim Recovery: Understanding the Hidden Struggles Principal Category: Psychological Defense Mechanisms Authors: •  Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist with Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • COPING MECHANISMS, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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Psychology Articles

Forer Effect – Cognitive Bias – 2025

Forer Effect Principal Category: Cognitive Bias Author: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The Forer Effect highlights how easily individuals mistake vague generalizations for deeply personal insights. Named after psychologist Bertram Read More ...

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

Traumatic Event Centrality and Scam Victims – 2025

Trauma Event Centrality and Scam Victims Principal Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology 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, Ph.D. - Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

The Big 5 Personality Traits and Scam Victims – 2025

The Big 5 Personality Traits and Scam Victims Principal Category: Psychology of Scams 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, Ph.D. Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

Victimization Paradigm: Scam Victim Vulnerability – A White Paper – 2025

Victimization Paradigm: Scam Victim Vulnerability - A White Paper Principal Category: Victimology Authors: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract: This white paper introduces a comprehensive paradigm for understanding scam victim vulnerability, proposing a Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIMOLOGY, • WHITE PAPER / CONFERENCE PAPER, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

Psychological Inoculation: A Study to Help Scam Victims and All Resist Misinformation – 2025

Psychological Inoculation: A Study to Help Scam Victims and All Resist Misinformation Principal Category: Author: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Based On: Maertens, R., Roozenbeek, J., Simons, J.S. et al. - Psychological booster shots targeting memory Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT PSYCHOLOGY, • ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT PSYCHOLOGY, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM SUPPORT, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

Phobias: Pistanthrophobia and Philophobia and their Impact on Scam Victims – 2025

Phobias: Pistanthrophobia and Philophobia - the Aftermath of Online Scams - When Trust Becomes the Greatest Casualty Principal Category: Phobias & Fears Authors:  •  Lic. Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • PHOBIAS & FEARS, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

Avoidance Psychology: Scam Victim Passivity During Recovery – 2025

Scam Victim Passivity During Recovery Principal Category: Avoidance Psychology 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, Ph.D. - Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • AVOIDANCE PSYCHOLOGY, • COPING MECHANISMS, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ FOR ADVOCATES, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
Read More

Above-Average Effect – A Cognitive Bias – 2025

Above-Average Effect Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The Above-Average Effect, also known as Illusory Superiority, is a cognitive bias where individuals overestimate their abilities compared to others, Read More ...

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

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