White Collar Criminal Stereotypes

When dealing with social characteristics and demographics we find that there are several stereotypes we must overcome to truly understand individuals who participate in anti-social behaviors and acts. Sutherland described the white-collar offender as a person of respectability and high social status who commits an offense during the course of his or her occupation. (Benson et al., 2015,22) Is this a true reflection of the white-collar criminal? Is this a stereotypical view that as a citizen is reflective of the true white-collar criminal or one that a social media or theory tells us what we should be looking for within enterprises. If this is the view, then what is our view of the common street criminal within our stereotypical views? The

The common criminal is believed to be from a lower economic level facing poverty issues from childhood through adult levels. In regard to, the white-collar criminal these individuals are understood to be from a better economic status, thus being middle to upper class families not dealing with the same issues as the common criminals. The family structure is also a key difference between the two groups within the common criminal structure, important items are higher likelihood of childhood abuse and neglect within the home and social surroundings as well as cyclical family involvement within the criminal justice system. Both of these items send messages to these individuals not only of what is acceptable forms of behaviors as well as support structures and ideation of social norms. Consequently, when dealing with white-collar criminals we have the ideation that they are exempt from these issues within the family structures. However, we do find according to research that most white-collar criminals are not as highly educated as Sutherland would have expected to find. According to

According to Benson et. al, the higher the complexity of the crime the higher levels of education are demonstrated for example antitrust crimes and securities fraud both have level over 40% of college education. (Benson et.al, 2015, 36) Thus, looking at these antisocial individuals and how they compare in other aspects of psychology, motivation of antisocial acts, and age of criminal involvement. White-collar criminals have psychological characteristics that are described as being morally flexible, ambitious, shrewd according to Edward Gross. However, Ezra Stotland discusses that theses white-collar criminals also states that they are arrogant and like a challenge. They also like to assert their egos to prove superior in situations. Accordingly, the core characteristics are good intelligence, unreliability, untruthfulness, lack of remorse, lack of empathy for others and impulsivity. The factor of motivation cannot be an understated point for white-collar criminals whether they have a financial problem they can’t share