Value orientations of corrupt criminals

Abstract

The paper presents partial results of a psychological constitution research in state officials convicted for corruption-related crimes (mostly under the article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, 'Bribe-taking'). The control group is comprised of law-abiding state officials. The study is based on the value-norm theory of criminal identity, developed by A.R. Ratinov, and so prioritizes the analysis of bribetakers' sphere of values and its intrinsic hierarchy, observed at both reportable and non-reportable levels. The study investigates and compares value orientation systems of bribetakers and law-abiding citizens to identify the most and least significant values for both groups. The results of the research are a long way from popular stereotypical impressions of bribetakers as mercantile, avaricious people that give preference to material values. The study establishes that core values among bribetakers are such things as liberty, family, love, children, health, education, gain of knowledge and widening of mental horizons, while law-abiding citizens display similar preferences. The least relevant values among bribetakers are material security, entertainment, public recognition, aesthetic experience, high aspirations, law and authority. Lower priority of law and authority is also notable in law-abiding citizens, which is indicative of legal nihilism and estrangement from authority that are rampant in modern society. The results of the study are important for the implementation of effective counter-corruption measures in state service.