The act of committing a crime is always associated with an emotional state.
Most criminals experience some level of shame, guilt or loss of self-esteem.
Others primarily experience a fear of being caught. Because shame, anxiety and fear are all undesirable emotional states, the mind will attempt to reduce these negative feelings by using defense mechanisms. A defense mechanism is a habitually employed adjustive reaction designed to reduce unwanted feelings by distorting or denying the truth. We all use defense mechanisms to cope with everyday guilt and anxiety. If I am late in writing the monthly Web Tip, and consequently experienced guilt or shame, it would not sooth those feelings by acknowledging that I procrastinated and was poorly organized.