“In today’s  hyper-competitive and hyper-connected world, crime is no longer the business of back alleys and dimly lit street corners. It is carried out in conference rooms, corner offices and digital spaces by those dressed in crisp suits and operating from positions of power.

These are not criminals with a record of violence or histories of petty theft. Rather, they are educated, respected and well-positioned individuals who use their expertise, professional status and social capital to engage in activities that are unethical, exploitative and illegal.

Sociological aspects

The term, popularized by sociologist Edwin Sutherland, refers to non-violent crimes committed by individuals in high-status occupations, typically for financial gain.

Such crime is slow, methodical and concealed under layers of paperwork, jargon and institutional complexity. Its perpetrators are usually those entrusted with responsibility — corporate executives, bureaucrats, financial officers — who exploit that very trust to orchestrate fraud, embezzlement and corruption. These offences may appear ‘clean’ on the surface, but their social consequences are anything but.

But what makes someone in a seemingly respectable position choose the path of deceit? What allows them to rationalize their actions? [Other] psychological and sociological theories shed light on this behavior.

Rational Choice Theory, for instance, presents a striking insight. White-collar criminals are often strategic thinkers, engaging in a cost-benefit analysis before committing an offence. They calculate the potential reward against the risk of being caught, and when the latter seems minimal, particularly in a weak regulatory setting, the temptation grows.

This behavior is often accompanied by a psychological sense of invincibility. Many such individuals do not view themselves as criminals at all. Instead, they see their actions as clever manoeuvres or necessary evils in a competitive world.

White-colar crime

[Other] sociological theories also offer compelling explanations. Edwin Sutherland, who coined the term white-collar crime, proposed the ‘differential association theory’, which emphasises that criminal behavior is learned through interaction.

Within corporate or institutional cultures where unethical behavior is common, where fudging numbers is normalized, or bribes are seen as part of doing business, newcomers quickly adapt.

In such environments, misconduct becomes less of a transgression and more of a survival strategy.Robert Merton’s ‘strain theory’ adds another dimension. It argues that when individuals are exposed to societal goals — wealth, status, power — but lack legitimate means to achieve them, they may turn to illegitimate alternatives. This theory is particularly relevant in contexts marked by inequality and limited upward mobility.

What makes [white-collar crime] particularly difficult to confront is the normalization of such behavior. When dishonest practices are not only widespread but also quietly rewarded, when the corrupt thrive and the honest are punished, then white-collar crime becomes a logical choice for those seeking success. Strain theory explains this drift: individuals feel compelled to meet societal expectations of success but are constrained by limited lawful avenues. In such cases, the decision to commit fraud or siphon off public funds is no longer viewed as deviant, but as necessary.

Psychological aspects

Beyond rational thinking, deeper psychological traits often underpin white-collar criminal behavior. There is a well-documented link between white-collar crime and what psychologists refer to as the ‘dark triad’ of personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy.

Narcissistic individuals tend to overestimate their importance and are often driven by a desire for prestige and success. This inflated self-image allows them to disregard ethical boundaries with ease.

Psychopathy, characterized by impulsivity, lack of empathy and fearlessness, makes one more likely to act without regard for consequences. These traits, when found in leaders or executives, become particularly dangerous: a manipulative, status-driven individual with power and resources can inflict far more damage than a common thief.

Cognitive justification also plays a critical role. When corruption becomes endemic, offenders stop seeing themselves as criminals. Instead, they view their actions as part of a larger, broken system, one where everyone is doing the same.

This collective rationalization allows white-collar criminals to operate with impunity. They may even see themselves as pragmatic survivors rather than dishonest actors. In a society that glorifies wealth and status, how one achieves these becomes secondary to the fact that they are achieved.

The challenge of white-collar crime.

Ultimately, white-collar crime is not only a legal problem but a cultural and psychological one. It is a mirror reflecting the broader values and pressures of society. [When] economic aspiration often outpaces ethical scrutiny, the conditions are ripe for white-collar crime to flourish. These crimes do not just erode financial systems, they corrode public trust, deepen inequality and perpetuate a culture of impunity.

Tackling this issue, therefore, requires more [rather than fewer] regulations or harsher penalties. It demands a cultural shift: one that challenges the glorification of wealth at any cost, that builds ethical standards into professional environments and that holds individuals in power accountable, not just in law, but in public perception.”