Instant Genius The key role psychologists can play in the fight against ecological crime
Oct 5, 2025
Dr. Julia Shaw, a criminal psychologist and bestselling author, explores the urgent topic of ecological crime in her latest book, Green Crime. She highlights how understanding the motivations behind these crimes—like poverty exploitation and social norms—can help combat them. Julia discusses the role of various players, from scientists to law enforcement, in fighting environmental offenses. She also addresses the psychological effects of eco-grief and offers insights into how awareness can pave the way for solutions to protect our planet.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Environmental Crime As Crime At Scale
- Green crime means environmental crimes against forests, oceans, emissions and more.
- Julia Shaw argues these are "crime at scale" and need social science to understand perpetrators.
Enforcement Vacuums Invite Crime
- Enforcement vacuums and perceived negative freedom make remote spaces ripe for environmental crime.
- Lack of monitoring changes behaviour because people think "nobody's watching" and act accordingly.
110-Day Chase On The High Seas
- Captain Hammerstedt chased a notorious illegal fishing ship for 110 days aboard the Bob Barker.
- The pursuit exposed how crews are recruited poor and instructed to fish illegally once at sea.
