Social competencies and the sociomoral reflectiveness of imprisoned fraudsters
| Published date | 12 November 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-05-2018-0017 |
| Date | 12 November 2018 |
| Pages | 279-288 |
| Author | Lars Krokoszinski,Adrian Westenberger,Daniela Hosser |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Social competencies and the sociomoral
reflectiveness of imprisoned fraudsters
Lars Krokoszinski, Adrian Westenberger and Daniela Hosser
Abstract
Purpose –Although fraud is widespread, little remains known about the specific psychological
characteristics of fraudsters that can be used in prevention or treatment. The purpose of this paper is
therefore to examine the socio-emotional competencies and moral judgement abilities of convicted
fraudsters in comparison with other groups of offenders.
Design/methodology/approach –The investigation included imprisoned face-to-face fraudsters (n ¼11),
imprisoned violent offenders (n ¼10) and non-offenders who had completed the Emotional Competence
Questionnaire and the Sociomoral Reflection Measure.
Findings –Fraudsters displayed a significantly higher capacity to recognise emotions in others compared
with the other two groups. In addition, there were no differences in socio-emotional skills between the
groups. In terms of moral judgement ability, fraudsters and non-offenders demonstrated a level of a mature
moral judgement. The moral judgement abilities of the violent offenders were significantly lower.
Practical implications –Therapeutic work with fraudsters should focus on the awareness and sense of
responsibility for fellow human beings having regard to their specific self-image and justification schemes. For
prevention, an adoption of a structural orientation of work processes, that is, geared more towards teamwork
is recommended. Moreover, a positive impact of unethical management on the risk of fraud offenses is
pointed out.
Originality/value –This paper follows an innovative methodological approach by examining the
socio-emotional competencies and moral judgement abilities of convicted fraudsters and has implications for
risk management both therapeutically and organisationally.
Keywords Deception, Violent offenders, Social competence, Face-to-face fraud, Fraudsters,
Sociomoral reflectiveness
Paper type Research paper
Fraud is the conscious and deliberate deception of a person and is accompanied by financial
damages to the victim and illegal financial gain by the fraudster (Albrecht et al., 2011).
Face-to-face fraud even misleads the victim into more-or-less voluntarily responding to the
fraudster’s intentions via deception (Ross, 2010). Apart from the immense material damage that
can result from fraud, intentional deception often results in long-term mental damage and a
general loss of interpersonal trust for its victims. In addition to the risk of damage to their
reputation, companies also need to look out for the potential damage to their employees’
work ethic. In this respect, the prevention of fraud –instances of which are increasing
internationally –is of great importance. Apart from leading to an intensification of precautionary
measures and increased attentiveness, thoroughly comprehensive knowledge about the
motives and special personal characteristics of fraudsters is helpful in fraud prevention. However,
there are few scientific findings on this group of offenders, although fraudsters do seem to be
different from other groups of offenders in some respects.
Convincingly deceiving someone requires ass uming another person’s perspective and
emotional world, mentally generating and remembering complex sequences of action,
avoiding logical contradictions in one’s own statements, and controlling one’s own emotions,
gestures and facial expressions during a direct interaction with a counterpart. Unlike most other
groups of offenders, fraudsters who deceive their victims face-to-face appear to have particularly
good cognitive and socio-emotional abilities, especially a high level of self-control. At the same
Received 26 May 2018
Revised 8 August 2018
Accepted 8 August 2018
Lars Krokoszinski, Adrian
Westenberger, both based at
the Technical University of
Braunschweig, Braunschweig,
Germany.
Daniela Hosser is Professor at
the Technical University of
Braunschweig, Braunschweig,
Germany.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-05-2018-0017 VOL. 20 NO. 4 2018, pp. 279-288, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
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JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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PAG E 2 7 9
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