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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

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|
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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|
Read More

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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Tonic Immobility – A Response to Trauma or Stress and Crime Victims – 2025

Tonic Immobility - A Response to Trauma or Stress and Crime Victims Understanding the Involuntary Freeze Response Principal Category: Trauma Response 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 Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, • SOMATIC/PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, • VICTIM NEUROLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♦ NEUROLOGY, ♦ PSYCHOLOGY, 2025|
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The Spotlight Effect – Cognitive Bias – 2025

The Spotlight Effect - Cognitive Bias Principal Category: Cognitive Biases Authors: •  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The spotlight effect is a cognitive bias that causes individuals to overestimate the extent to which others notice, Read More ...

• ARTICLE, • COGNITIVE BIASES, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY, ♦ COGNITIVE BIAS, ♦ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2025|
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Psychology Articles

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

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|
Read More

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|
Read More

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