Question: what is the difference between an expressive crime and an instrumental?
Answer: Instrumental crimes are those conducted for explicit, future goals (such as to acquire money or improve one's social position), whereas expressive offenses are often unplanned acts of anger, rage, or frustration (see Block 1976; Block and Christakos 1995; Block and Zimring 1973; Decker 1993; 1996; Siegel 1998).