Anhand mehrerer Studien zeigen die Autoren, warum viele Kunden ihre Versicherer betrugen. Zahlreiche Geschichten und Falle aus dem wahren Leben veranschaulichen die Ergebnisse. Versicherungspraktiker erhalten dann wertvolle Handlungsempfehlungen und Praventionsstrategien, um Betrug kunftig vorzubeugen. Sie werden nach Lekture dieses Buches wissen, wie sie die Betrugsquote senken koennen - und das bei vertretbarem Aufwand.

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Psychology - Social Psychology, grade: 1,0, University of Cologne, course: Wirtschafts- und Sozialpsychologie, language: English, abstract: Those who are interested in soccer certainly know it: the Wembley goal from 1966 and the debate about whether it was a goal or it was not. While the English fans (for whom the goal would have gained the lead) certainly perceived it as a goal, the Germans believed the ball had not crossed their goal line. And both groups were sure they are right - a perfect example for motivated reasoning The term motivated-reasoning refers to a kind of self-regulation that enables people to believe in favorable things, although there is some severe evidence to disprove those beliefs. Motivated-reasoning is closely linked to terms like "wishful thinking" and "denial" and might lead to "unrealistic optimism" or "self-deception." It especially occurs in situations that threaten ones self-concept or previously held expectation of ones future. Imagine for example, somebody is fired from a job, although that person believes him or herself to be an intelligent and capable employee. Or a man who believes he is happily married, but then his wife comes home smelling of someone else's after-shave. Both persons are potential victims for motivated-reasoning because motivated-reasoning enables them to keep their positive beliefs. The fired person - imagine she is a woman - might, for example, consider she was fired because the boss was sexist. And the cheated husband might convince himself that the smell of cologne is the result of his wife standing very close to another man on the tram. Motivated-reasoning is a widespread phenomenon. People have the ability - and often also the opportunity - to see a glass as being half full or half empty. But how exactly does motivated-reasoning function? How can one betray oneself? Are people aware of deceiving themselves and how far can they go in doing so? What kin

Diploma Thesis from the year 2010 in the subject Psychology - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, LMU Munich (Institut fur Wirtschafts- und Sozialpsychologie), language: English, abstract: One of the essences of human being is that we are aware of ourselves in time. We do not only look ahead either with fear or pleasant anticipation, but also like to talk about the "good old days." Nostalgia - which can be regarded as a sentimental longing for the past - has especially recently become an ubiquitous topic in society and media (see TV-Shows like Die 80er Show" and Happy Days"). However it is unclear whether nostalgia is finally rather adaptive or maladaptive. Since its first scientific mentioning in the 17th century nostalgia has been regarded to be a burden or even a clinical disease as it might make people ruminate about better times forlorn or get lost in the past without being able to deal with the present anymore. However recently some psychologists have started suggesting that nostalgia might rather give joy to life. Yet the issue whether nostalgia is rather a problem or a pleasure has rarely been studied empirically so far. Therefore this book tries to shed some more light on the issue by reporting the results of an empirical study with a representative sample consisting of 160 German citizens. In line with the historical negative conception of nostalgia and in contrast to its current positive connotation the data show that nostalgia is negatively correlated with life satisfaction. Theoretical implications for possible mediators between nostalgia and life satisfaction are drawn. Furthermore character-traits of highly nostalgic people are observed.

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2010 im Fachbereich Medien / Kommunikation - Medien und Politik, Pol. Kommunikation, Note: 1,0, Universitat zu Koln, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: Ein Blick in die derzeitige Politikberichterstattung der Medien bringt einige Skurrilitaten zu Tage: Da wetteifern Kanzlerkandidaten in Fernsehduellen um das besser Image bei den Burgern. Da entblossen gewahlte Reprasentanten - oder solche die es werden wollen - die privatesten Dinge oder treten in Seifenopern auf, um den Wahler mit unterhaltenden Merkmalen auf sich aufmerksam zu machen. Ebenso bizarr mag es erscheinen, wenn heute-Journal und Tagesthemen auf einmal nicht nur harte Fakten bringen, sondern auch boulevardeske Stucke einfliessen lassen. Statt Fakten, Fakten, Fakten" zahlt im Journalismus vermehrt Unterhaltung. So bemerken langjahrige Zeitungsleser, wie sich selbst recht konservativ gestaltete Zeitungen wie die Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung oder die Neue Zurcher Zeitung immer mehr mit Bildern schmucken. Investigative Recherche, wie sie Gunther Wallraff einst personifizierte, ist heute weniger zu entdecken denn je. Stattdessen bauen etliche Journalisten vermehrt auf Agentur- und Pressemitteilungen oder auf die Arbeit anderer Medien; sprich sie drehen" Stories standig weiter statt ein neues Thema zu recherchieren. Statt kritischen Journalismus zu betreiben und als Huter des Gemeinwohls" und Wachhunde," die den Politikern auf die Finger schauen, aufzutreten, scheinen Journalisten immer mehr zum Schosshund" der poltischen Offentlichkeitsarbeit zu werden. Dem normativen Bild von Journalismus und Politik als Akteure im Sinne des Gemeinwohls wird dies kaum noch gerecht. Was ist da faul im Staate Deutschland?," mag sich daher so manch einer fragen. Warum agieren Journalisten und Politiker haufig entgegen den Anspruchen, welche die Gesellschaft an sie stellt? Die Antwort konnte der Rational Choice Ansatz liefern und die vorliegende Arbeit will versuchen, eine solche Antwort darzust