Violent Economic Crime and Crimes of Intimidation

Crimes that are either violent or have the potential to cause great harm Immense psychological impact on victim, regardless of whether or not violence occurs

Robbery Direct contact between offender and the victim Threat or use of force Firearms most common weapon Strong-arm robbery » no weapon Most feared, yet least studied crime by psychologists

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2008

Robbery Bank robbery Risk of resistance low Male, single individual Commercial robbery Fast food, convenience stores Street robbery Highest proportion Cognitive scripts

Amateur and Professional Bank Robbers Robbery Amateur and Professional Bank Robbers AmateurProfessionals Lone2 or more High customer trafficLow customer traffic Stand in lineControl the situation Not armedDisplay weapons SpontaneousPlanned Get away on foot/bikeGet away by motor vehicle

Cybercrime Relatively new term Any legal act that involves a computer system Computer crime Prevalence is growing rapidly

Cybercrime Examples Virus generation Copyright violations of computer software Transmission of pornographic material Cyberstalking Cyperbullying Illegal gambling on internet

Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1984 Computer Abuse Amendments Act of 1994 Cybercrime

Stalking Willful, malicious and repeated following and harassing of another person Legal definitions vary from state to state Lying in wait Surveillance Nonconsensual communication Telephone harassment Vandalism

Stalking Four Categories Simple obsession Love obsession Erotomania Vengeance

Stalking Simple Obsession About 60% of stalking cases Stalker seeks power and control Often an extension of domestic abuse “If I can’t have you, nobody will”

Stalking Love Obsession Casual acquaintances or strangers Perpetrators have low self-esteem Seek love relationship

Stalking Erotomania Public figures are often targets Perpetrator often mentally ill, delusional Violence rare

Stalking Vengeance Perpetrator does not seek personal relationship Elicit response or change of behavior in victim, usually for perceived injustice or rights violation

Cyberstalking Use of computer to threaten or engage in unwanted advances toward another Motives often control and power, similar to stalking Deindividuation Internet provides anonymity

Cyberbullying Intentional and repetitive harm inflicted through the medium of electronic forms of contact Girls often victims Short duration Anonymity

Hostage Taking Instrumental Material gain Expressive Psychological motives Achieve control over own life

FBI Four Categories Hostage-taking FBI Four Categories Terrorists Prisoners Criminals Mentally disordered

Barricade Situation Hostage Taking Barricade Situation Strategies for Negotiation Most dangerous time is first 15 to 45 minutes Remain calm and contain situation Allow offender to feel some control Recognize that time is hostage ally

Stockholm Syndrome Hostage-taking Stockholm Syndrome Hostage is attracted to captor Conditions under which it may occur Hostage taker and victim have been together for length of time Hostage taker and victim have had direct social contact Hostage is treated kindly Rare occurrence

Strentz Hostage Types London Syndrome » Hostage argues, detrimental to hostage TypePsychological Reaction SurvivorsAble to return to healthy, meaningful life after incident SuccumbersDo not survive incident Considerable difficulty coping

Arson UCR guidelines, fire determined to be willfully or maliciously set Young males commit majority Many incidents go undetected, underreported or unsolved

Arson Willful or malicious attempt to burn Firesetting An abnormal fascination with fire accompanied by attempts to start fires, used in child psychopathy literature

Developmental Stages of Firesetting PhaseDescription Fire interestAges 5-7 Normal fascination Fire playAges 5-9 Experimentation FiresettingAfter age 10, continue to use fire to destroy, communicate Significant problems throughout life

Six Motives of Arsonists Revenge, spite or jealousy Vandalism or malicious mischief Crime concealment Profit or insurance fraud Intimidation, extortion, terrorism, sabotage Pyromania or other psychological motives

Behavioral Typology Arson Behavioral Typology Expressive-person »Most common, mental disorders cry for help Expressive-object »Serial firesetters Fascination with fire Instrumental-person »Failed relationships Anger motivation Instrumental-object »Antisocial history Covering other crimes

Pyromania Multiple episodes of deliberate and purposeful firesetting High level of tension or arousal released after fire Little evidence of sexual arousal

Bombings and Explosive Incidents Mischief or vandalism is most frequent motive Research limited Requires skill Compulsive bombers-childhood fascination with bombs

Key Concepts Chapter 15 Key Concepts Arson Barricade situation Robbery Cognitive script Cyberbullying Cybercrime Cyberstalking Erotomania stalking Expressive-object pattern Expressive-person pattern Expressive hostage taking Firesetting Instrumental hostage taking

Key Concepts Chapter 15 Key Concepts Instrumental-object pattern Instrumental-person pattern London syndrome Love obsession stalking Pyromania Simple obsession stalking Stalking Stockholm syndrome Street culture Strong-arm robbery Succumbers Survivors Vengeance stalking