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European economists have determined that the psychological model described in the popular Breaking Bad series also exists in real life.
“Elchi” reports that, according to scientists’ research, the probability of committing a crime in people diagnosed with cancer increases by approximately 14 percent in Denmark alone.
The study was based on data from more than 368,000 people diagnosed between 1980 and 2018, and their behavior was compared with a control group that was not diagnosed.
Observations have shown that crime rates are minimal in the first year after diagnosis. However, over time, the number of violations exceeds the main indicator. The study authors believe that the news of the disease becomes a psychological turning point for many people and increases the acceptance of risky decisions.
Criminal behavior was especially more common in patients with a low chance of survival. It was determined that non-economic crimes — cases of aggression and violence — increased by 38 percent.
Experts say that the reason is not only financial difficulties. The fear of death, the change in the meaning of life, and the thought that “there is nothing left to lose” weaken the attitude towards social rules in some people and encourage them to take risky steps.