Big Think Inside the mind of a white-collar criminal | Kelly Richmond Pope
Oct 8, 2025
In this conversation, Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accounting expert and professor at DePaul University, dives into the complexities of white-collar crime. She introduces the Fraud Triangle—opportunity, rationalization, and pressure—to explain how ordinary people become perpetrators. Kelly discusses varying types of fraudsters, from intentional to accidental, and explores society's fascination with fraud stories. She emphasizes the dangers of corporate culture and how it can lead to unethical behavior, shedding light on the often-overlooked motivations behind these crimes.
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Fraud Is Widespread And Behavioral
- Fraud is a universal, growing problem worth trillions and can affect any industry or person.
- The Fraud Triangle (opportunity, rationalization, pressure) explains why people commit fraud and highlights rationalization as key.
Rationalization Drives Many Frauds
- The Fraud Triangle's rationalization piece often drives fraud more than simple lack of morality.
- Studying rationalizations helps organizations design protections and predict risk.
Victimless Illusion From Psychological Distance
- People perceive fraud as 'victimless' when psychological distance hides real harm.
- Bookkeeping entries feel impersonal, but they affect jobs, families, and real people downstream.
