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Psychological observations of bank robbery
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Bank robbery is often viewed as a strong-willed act for financial gain. However, psychiatric observations reveal it as a symptomatic behavior with underlying psychological meanings and unconscious motives.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Limited exploration of bank robbery within psychiatric literature.
- Common public perception of bank robbers as individuals with strong willpower seeking financial gain.
Observation:
- Direct observations of bank robbers within a federal penitentiary setting.
- Analysis of bank robbery as a behavior with psychological significance.
Findings:
- Bank robbery frequently functions as a symptomatic act rather than a purely instrumental one.
- Identification of unconscious motives driving bank robbery behavior.
- Examination of defense mechanisms employed by individuals committing bank robbery.
Implications:
- Challenging the simplistic, demythologized view of bank robbers.
- Providing a deeper psychological understanding of criminal behavior.
- Informing therapeutic interventions for individuals involved in financial crimes.