THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SWINDLER
Walter Bromberg M. D.1, and
Sylvan Keiser M. D.1
1 New York City
A study of swindlers convicted in the Court of General Sessions, New York, was made to ascertain the psychologic meaning of this offense. We have found that in the swindler himself the offense often means an unconscious gratification of a neurotic conflict. Neurotic conflicts of a psychosexual nature form an important aspect of the swindler's personality.
In addition, there is a psychology of the total situation to be considered in this as in all offenses involving society. In this group of offenses we have described and termed this as the "swindle-situation." Here there are found psychologic mechanisms, perhaps unconscious, common to all men which operate in the victim.
