Moral and psychological factors in the determinative system of crime in tourism sector

Abstract

The article examines the moral and psychological determinants of criminal behavior within the tourism sector in the context of contemporary criminological theory. Based on classical and modern criminological concepts, as well as interdisciplinary research in moral psychology, the study analyzes the interaction between socio-economic, legal, and ethical factors in the formation of criminal motivation. Particular attention is paid to the role of moral emotions (shame, guilt, empathy), value orientations, and individual psychological characteristics that influence a person’s readiness to engage in unlawful conduct.

The research emphasizes the specific nature of tourism as a social sphere characterized by increased victim vulnerability due to psychological states associated with leisure, reduced critical perception, and heightened trust. Simultaneously, the moral deformation of offenders, including the erosion of social responsibility and the prioritization of material gain, creates favorable conditions for economically motivated and violent crimes within tourism.

Drawing on contemporary international studies on morality and crime, as well as criminological theories of situational action and victimology, the article substantiates the systemic role of moral and psychological factors in the mechanism of crime determination. It argues that effective crime prevention in the tourism sector requires not only legal and organizational measures but also the development of moral culture, ethical standards in business practices, and victimological awareness among tourists.

The paper concludes by highlighting the need for an integrative criminological model that incorporates moral-psychological, socio-economic, and victimological components in order to enhance preventive strategies at both national and international levels, particularly in the context of globalization and transnational security challenges in tourism.