Critiques and further directions for fraud studies

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to reconstruct the use of disposition variables as determinants of fraudulent behaviours. It is hoped, it stimulates our critical understanding of psychological aetiology on individual’s intention to perpetrate partial fraud or to co-offend.Design/methodology/approachThis study was developed as a reflection of empirical work conducted in Indonesia public sectors.FindingsBy suggesting the important process of individual’s cognitive reasoning, this study identifies that there is an overlooked process made by prior studies in terms of personality traits as a strong predictive power for individual’s intention to commit fraudulent behaviours or white-collar crimes. This study argues that they should not be independently predictive of fraud behaviours. This study acknowledges that in the prediction of social behaviours, whether fraudulent behaviours or not, there are no absolute answers to or analyses of it. However, it is instructive to consider social cognitive theory in elucidating the psychological pathways associated with fraudulent behaviours. This is because it can bridge an appropriate lens in positioning personalised behaviours as a predictor of perpetrating fraudulent behaviours. Then, this study does not have any serious concerns about how many antecedents influence behaviours of intention to perform wrongdoings. However, the functioning of individual cognitive reasoning should not be ignored. Both theoretical and managerial implications from this study are discussed to suggest alternative theories on causes of fraudulent behaviours.Practical implicationsThis study uses social cognitive theory as a basis of analysis. Through a simple analysis, a different perspective of treating the antecedents of fraud has been proposed, so that it can be used to develop more effective intervention that can deter fraudulent behaviours within an organisation.Originality/valueThis study theoretically explores psychological mechanisms or pathways related to the functioning of individual’s reasoning. Then, this study proposes the critiques, in which it is intended to stimulate another research on deepening and broadening a theory of fraud. In short, this study importantly also offers recommendations and opportunities for future research and organisations to develop effective prevention that can deter fraudulent behaviours.