Research in psychology indicates that when people commit a crime (especially for the first time), they are initially overwhelmed by ________ and __________?
A) Guilt and fear.
B) Stress and insomnia.
C) Confidence and rationalization.
D) Defensiveness and guilt.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A: Correct - These feelings result in stress and lead to behavior changes as a coping mechanism.
B: Incorrect - Stress is a result of guilt and fear, which may lead to insomnia as a behavior change - but these are not the classic emotions first felt by fraudsters.
C: Incorrect - A perpetrator may be confident, but it is not a common overwhelming emotion; rationalization is a motivator for fraud (part of the fraud triangle).
D: Incorrect - Guilt is correct; defensiveness is a behavior change.

Research in Psychology Indicates That When People Commit a Crime