Abstract- The psychological impact of cybercrime victimization

 

Since cybercrimes are prevalent in the total crime rates, a large portion of crime victims are cybercrime victims. However, most theories and empirical studies on victimization and its impact focus on traditional crime. Although recent studies have shown that the impact of cybercrime can be severe, a comprehensive, theory based understanding of cybercrime victimization is lacking. Therefore, insight into the victimization impact of cybercrime and its underlying explanations is needed.

In this contribution, a secondary analysis on a representative dataset of Dutch citizens is presented. The results show a higher negative impact on emotional well-being for victims of person-centered cybercrime, victims for whom the offender was an acquaintance and victims whose financial loss was not compensated, and a lower negative impact on emotional well-being for victims with a higher
income. The shattered assumptions theory is used to explain the results. This theory entails that victimization impairs some basic, positive assumptions people have about themselves and the world. The applicability of this theory in the field of cybercrime victimization is discussed in this contribution. Furthermore, insights that may help improve the social and judicial responses to victims by government agencies are presented.