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
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Psychology Articles
Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) – Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC) – Middle Cingulate Cortex (MCC) – Emotional Regulation Overview – 2025
Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) - Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC) - Middle Cingulate Cortex (MCC) - Emotional Regulation Overview Principal Category: Neurology 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 Read More ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...

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