University Of Karachi

PSYCHOLOGY OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS IN

“KARACHI”

ADNAN UL HAQ

COURSE
RESEARCH REPORT

COURSE INSTRUCTOR
DR. SHABIB UL HASSAN

MARCH 25, 2010

Abstract
It is often said that “Don’t hate criminals but hate the crimes” – it may
sound simple but it has a very deeper importance in reducing crime from
the society. For this it needs to have some clear idea regarding crime and
related matters.
From the very starting of human progress the concept of crime and it’s
after effects have been effecting both positively and negatively. For
example in IT sector much more progress has been occurred to prevent
various cyber crimes. So crime is a reality, we can’t ignore it but we need a
better understanding of crimes, its causes, effects in order to reduce and
control it for the sake of prosperity and harmony in society.
Crime has been defined as an anti social, immoral or sinful behaviour,
which means unethical act effecting society negatively.
Crime seems to be an out come of numerous sociological, economical,
genetically or hereditary influences on human behaviour. Behind every
crime there is a reason and the psychology of criminal play a vital role in
it.
The concept “Crime” needs a very wide and vast area to be discussed
properly. In a very short form I just tried to emphasize to make some brief
analysis of the key factors regarding crime.

What is crime?

Crime is a behaviour which breaks the legal code or more appropriately,

which offends the social code of a particular community. Within each
culture, the line between normal and criminal, or merely deviant behaviour
is drawn differently by varying codes or bodies of criminal law. We can say
that crime is an unethical act which disturbs the peace and harmony of
society but a question is that what is the psychology of such mind which
intents to break the law.

Crimes identified in different groups by their nature include acts of

property offences, professional thefts, habitual criminal offences, cheating,
white-collar offences (crimes like break of promise, lying, cheating etc
committed by persons established in the society economically or socially),
smuggling and cruelty to women and children. Many other activities like
child sexual abuse, drug and women trafficking, domestic violence on
women; threats of violence or force, actual physical violence, injuries and
rape are also criminal acts. In many countries, drunkenness itself is not an
offence, but many kinds of conduct closely related to it, such as disorderly
conduct or disturbing the peace, are crimes. Drug addicts often commit
certain types of crime mainly because they need money to support a habit
made impossibly expensive.

Psychology of Criminals
The psychology of criminals is not limited to any point. It expands with the
incidents and keeps on getting more and more threatening not only for the
society but for his oneself. Their mind only functions in a one direction that
is to view the matter as they want to view it.
Background
Crime is not a new phenomenon to the world; it has being existing from
hundreds of decades and on the basis of reasoning and questioning I
would like to carry out a research on the psychology of white collar
criminals as these individuals have a unique techniques and tactics to
commit a crime. The rate of corruption has immensely increased in
Pakistan in recent years and there have been a number of cases in which
socially or economically prominent figures of society are involved. For
instance DSP Imran Baber is being impeached for his corruption and the
other scenario is of PCB’s establish players and panel members involved in
the corruption. In this regard I would like to start with library research then
moving towards internet updates, meeting and conducting interviews with
sociologists, psychologists and law enforcing authorities.
It may or will take (1320) thirteen hundred and twenty odd minutes for
library research and (240-300) minutes for interviews and official visits to
gather the data for my research. Approximately 27 hours during four
weeks will be use.

Objective
The main objective of this research study is to investigate the white collar
crimes from psychological dimension and examine the views of experts in
uncovering the real reasons behind the criminal’s behavior in this regard.
Specific objectives are as follows:
1. To explore the real cause of white collar crime.
2. To investigate the criminal’s behavior.
3. To identify the psychological areas where authorities have to work on
in order to bring positive change in white collar criminals.
The study will have significance in following ways:
1. The finding of the study will be found beneficial in identifying the
human behavior to certain extent.
2. The Finding of the study will be useful in unearthing the grounded
psychology of white collar criminals.
3. The finding of the study will be suggested as recommendation to
concern authorities.

Scope
I will visit the library of Criminology department in the University of
Karachi, Mehmud Hasan Library, Seminar Library at the department of
Public Administration, Defence library at DHA phase IV. These mention
visits to library will be two hours daily in the morning starting from the
April 02, 2010 to April 14, 2010 (excluding Sundays). I will also meet Mr.
Saddique Ahmed of the Jung Group of Newspaper and Mr. Hasan Abdullah
of Dawn Newspaper for the facts and figures.
The official visit to psychiatrist Ms Farah Shams (NMC Hospital), sociologist
Mr. Barfat (Department of Sociology, University of Karachi) and
psychologists Mr. Muneer Ahmed (Civil Hospital) and Ms. Farah Iqbal
(Department of Sociology, University of Karachi). These interviews will be
commenced on the 15th, 17th and 19th of April. Each interview will last from
15 to 20 minutes.
An official visit will be made to Central jail of Karachi, Newtown Police
Station, Baloch Colony Police Station, and Gulshan-e-iqbal Police Station to
meet officials and investigate in depth. My primary focus will be on their
views and reasoning in meetings.
This means that I will be having approximately 7 interviews will be
conducted.

Theoretical framework
I will be conducting research on situational approach. The interpretive
perspective focus on how the issues are negotiated. The situational
approach directs me to choose one or a few specific interactions to explore
in depth. Thus, an appropriate means of investigating the topic from this
perspective is observation of conversation, plus interviewing the experts to
understand the psychology of white collar criminals.

Method

1. Conduct a literature review on the psychology of white collar criminals.

2. Observe the experts for weeks, focusing mostly on conversations about
the behaviors of such criminals, especially those conversations in which
the psychological strain, changes and reasons behind illegal offences are
identified.
3. Interview professionals to clarify and provide insight into conversations.
While the interviews will not be formal or structured, the kinds of
questions I will ask include the following. The general strategy for the
interviews is to start off with broad questions and follow up on the
interviewee’s responses, to capture her or his meanings and to avoid
imposing my meanings on the interviewee.
a. Tell me about the psychology of white collar criminals.
b. What could be the driving forces behind their actions?
c. What do you think she/he was thinking while commiting such act?
d. What do you think she/he was trying to prove by doing this?
 e. Why still committing a crime when a person is economically and
socially renowned person?
f. Do you think they knew before committing a crime that the outcome
of the act could also be not in their favor?
4. Undertake a situational analysis of the field and interview notes.
5. Write a research report that combines my understanding of the relevant
theory and previous research with the results of my observed research.

Timetable
Prepare proposal by March 25, 2010
Complete literature review by April 14, 2010
Gather data by April 17, 2010
Complete interviews by April 23, 2010
Complete analysis by April 27, 2010
Complete final report by April 30, 2010

Expected Finding
This study will be complete approximately in approximately forty-five days
and the cost structure will be in terms of time and money. 27-30 hours for
interviews and data gathering. The analysis, sorting and report writing will
take almost 33-35 hours.
The budget for fuel, print outs, photocopies, and transcripts, stationary and
other contingencies will be approximately 3500.

Limitations

Time constraints of the semester require less time than may be ideal for
research. By being able only to visit some of the experts from all over the
city bounds to certain extent. Being not an expert I in psychology may
also limit what is revealed to me. The authorities may be guarded in their
conversations around me, especially in my initial observations.