Creativity and Crime
A Psychological Analysis

Creative criminals commit highly effective, novel crimes. From consumer fraud to terrorism, how can these creative criminals be stopped?

David H. Cropley (Author), Arthur J. Cropley (Author)

9781107562516, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 October 2015

260 pages, 3 b/w illus. 14 tables
23 x 15 x 1.4 cm, 0.39 kg

'… this book is highly recommended. The authors take a very complicated and often counter-intuitive intersection of two distinct topics and guide the reader along a thought-provoking, informative, and fun discourse. Many readers will find that they are re-thinking their fundamental assumptions about crime and law enforcement.' James C. Kaufman and Cuiping Tu, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books (www.clcjbooks.rutgers.edu)

Creativity is typically perceived to be a positive, constructive attribute and yet, highly effective, novel crimes are committed which illustrate that creativity can also be utilised to serve a darker and more destructive end. But how can these 'creative criminals' be stopped? Adopting a psychological approach, renowned subject experts Cropley and Cropley draw upon concepts such as 'Person,' 'Process', 'Press' and 'Product' to explain how existing psychological theories of creativity can be applied to a more subtle subset of ingenuity; that is to say criminal behaviour and its consequences. Creativity and Crime does not look at felony involving impulsive, reflexive or merely deviant behaviour, but rather the novel and resourceful measures employed by criminals to more effectively achieve their lawbreaking goals. The book transcends the link between crime and creativity, and proposes a range of preventative measures for law enforcers. Scholars and graduates alike will find this an invaluable and illuminating read.

1. Creativity and crime: basic principles
2. The social science approach to crime
3. Basic creativity concepts
4. Creativity: a bundle of paradoxes
5. General enchantment with creativity
6. The dark side of creativity
7. Creativity and crime
8. Consumer and corporate fraud: scams, hustles and swindles
9. Terrorism: a case study
10. Practical implications and countermeasures.

Subject Areas: Psychology [JM], Crime & criminology [JKV]