Talk to Dr. Chafetz now : 469-233-5566
Paul K. Chafetz, PhD Clinical Psychology
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  • Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Contact
    • Send Dr. Chafetz a Message
    • Contact Information >
      • Office Location
    • Upcoming Events
    • New patient registration forms
    • Site Map
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Articles
    • Quizzes
    • Other Media
  • Services
    • Adult Psychology >
      • Midlife Crisis Depression
      • Dealing With Empty Nest Syndrome
      • Adjustment To Retirement
      • Caregiver Support
      • Dealing with Adult Children
      • Dealing with Elderly Parents
      • Dealing With Difficult Relatives
      • Authority and Responsibility in Families
      • Boomerang adult children
      • BOOM: Becoming one's own man
    • Health Psychology >
      • Depression Psychotherapy
      • Anxiety Therapy
      • Insomnia Therapy
      • Chronic Illness Therapy
      • Pain Management Therapy
    • Psychology of Life >
      • Self-Esteem Therapy
      • Stages of Life Psychology
      • Assertiveness Therapy
      • Psychology of Forgiveness
      • Family Psychotherapy
      • Birth Order Psychology
    • Clinical Gero-Psychology >
      • Grief Therapy
      • Dementia Therapy
      • Coping with Senility
    • Forensic Gero-Psychology >
      • Competence to sign a will
      • Contesting a will
      • Guardianship
      • Vulnerability to exploitation
    • Need a speaker?
  • Past Events

Vulnerability to financial exploitation

When an older person who is both (a) vunerable and (b) in possession of something of value encounters a greedy person, the likely result is financial exploitation.   There are several types of financial exploitation, including direct theft, conversion of public entitlement benefits, coerced transfer of property, consumer fraud, confidence games, and others.

The essence of "vulnerability" to exploitation is poor EXECUTIVE FUNCTION.  This refers to the ability to apply judgment, weigh competing considerations, evaluate novel situations, and choose solutions never before utilized.  It requires long- and short-term memory, abstraction, calculation, social savvy, insight, and mental flexibility. 

When these are impaired, the person is vulnerable to exploitation.  Such a person will believe far fetched statements by a fraudster, and place trust in people whose lies would be obvious to a nonimpaired individual.  Such impaired people will not effectively resist coercion or undue influence.
Phone : 469.233.5566
Email :
PKChafetz@gmail.com
Paul K. Chafetz, PhD: Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist
Office Location: 8340 Meadow Rd., #134, Dallas, TX  75231