Can institutional anomie theory predict victimization? An experimental survey examining institutional anomie and affinity fraud

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine whether victims of financial crimes are also affected by anomie. Fraud from supposed financial advisors leaves many victims feeling uncertain of their financial future and betrayed by people they trusted. This is felt even more when victims are betrayed by people in their own community. Previous research (see Hövermann et al. 2015a, 2015b, 2016, 2018) has found that individuals susceptible to the capitalistic values of the USA and other Western nations are more likely to cheat (Muftic, 2006), engage in rule-breaking (Zito, 2018) and believe in egoistic individuality (Hövermann et al. 2015a). This belief in these values could also increase the chance of victimization. Design/methodology/approach The authors used an experimental survey to assess whether institutional anomie theory (IAT) can also affect victimization at the individual level. Findings The authors find support for Messner and Rosenfeld’s (2001) IAT. An interaction was present, which revealed that IAT is more predictive when individuals are high in financial need. When individuals are desperate, they will find whatever means possible to meet the expectations of the American Dream, even if it involves investing their life savings with a potential fraudster. Originality/value This paper examines IAT as it relates to victim behavior. Further, this paper links the techniques of offenders using shared social status (i.e. affinity) with criminological theory.