Avoidant Responses Research Articles

Examining interactions of illness perceptions, avoidance behavior and patient status in predicting quality of life among people with irritable bowel syndrome

ABSTRACT Background: Illness perceptions (IPs) and avoidance behavior both predict quality of life (QoL) in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study examined whether the effects of IPs on QoL are mediated by avoidance behaviors, and whether this mediation is moderated by participant treatment-seeking status. Methods: People with self-reported IBS (n = 253) answered a survey assessing QoL, IPs, avoidance behaviors, and treatment-seeking status. Moderated-mediation analyses investigated the paths from IPs through avoidance behaviors to QoL, with treatment-seeking status entered as a moderator. Results: The final moderated mediation model included the IPs consequences, timeline and emotional representations as independent variables and avoidance behavior and depressive reactions as mediators. This model explained 68.6% of the variance in QoL. Among treatment-seeking participants five significant mediation effects were found, whereas only one significant mediation effect was found among participants who did not report seeking treatment. Conclusions: IPs seem to drive avoidant behavioral responses to IBS symptoms, which in turn predict reductions in QoL. These relationships seem more pronounced among people who seek treatment for their symptoms. In practice, health care practitioners might help improve the QoL of people with IBS by preventing or remedying the development of negative IPs and avoidance behaviors.

Partner responses to low desire among couples coping with male hypoactive sexual desire disorder and associations with sexual well-being.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is characterized by persistently low desire and associated distress. Low desire is one of the most common sexual complaints among men and is associated with poor well-being. Interpersonal factors are key to understanding low desire, yet there are few dyadic studies of HSDD in men. Previous work on genito-pelvic pain and low desire in women has established that greater facilitative (eg, affectionate) partner responses are associated with greater sexual satisfaction and function and that more negative (eg, critical) or solicitous (eg, sympathetic, avoidant) partner responses are associated with lower sexual satisfaction and function. Examining how partner responses are associated with adjustment to HSDD may shed light on the interpersonal dynamics of this understudied sexual dysfunction. In a cross-sectional study, we examined whether partner responses to low desire in men were associated with sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and sexual distress for both members of the couple. Men with HSDD and their partners (N = 67 couples) completed measures of facilitative, negative, and avoidant partner responses to men's low sexual desire-as perceived by the man with HSDD and self-reported by their partner-and sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and sexual distress. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling guided by the actor-partner interdependence model. Outcomes included the partner-focused subscale of the Sexual Desire Inventory-2, Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Distress Scale-Revised. When men with HSDD perceived more facilitative partner responses to their low desire, they and their partners reported greater sexual satisfaction. When men with HSDD perceived and their partners self-reported more negative partner responses, they each reported lower sexual satisfaction. In addition, when men with HSDD perceived more avoidant partner responses, their partners reported greater sexual distress. Partner responses were not associated with sexual desire for either member of the couple. Findings support the importance of the interpersonal context for HSDD in men and suggest potential future targets of treatment when working with affected couples. This study is one of the only dyadic studies of HSDD in men, as assessed via clinical interview or self-report symptoms reviewed by the clinical team. Despite our best efforts to recruit this sample over 6 years, the small size limited power to detect all predicted effects. More facilitative and fewer negative or avoidant partner responses to low desire are associated with greater sexual well-being in couples coping with HSDD.

Perceptions of plain packaging and health warnings among university students in Turkey: a survey-based experiment

BackgroundCigarette pack design plays a crucial role in attracting customers, especially when other marketing methods are limited by policy. University students who engage in casual smoking take the risk of developing an addiction. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of plain packaging (PP) and graphic health warnings (GHWs) on cigarette packages on three outcome variables (negative affect, avoidant responses, and intentions to quit) among ever-smoker university students in Ankara, Turkey, where youth smoking prevalence is high.MethodsAn online survey-based experiment was used to collect data. The respondents were randomly assigned to one of the five conditions that contained images of cigarette packs with specific design elements. Regression analyses (n = 623) were used to compare across conditions and to estimate the effects of combined warnings (versus text-only warnings), stronger GHWs (versus old GHWs), and PP (versus branded packages) on the outcome variables, accounting for potential confounders.ResultsStronger GHWs generated more negative affect (0.31 points out of 5, p = 0.010) and avoidant responses (0.42 points out of 5, p = 0.002) than old warnings (when brand logos were visible). Plain packages generated more negative affect (0.48 points out of 5, p < 0.001) and avoidant responses (0.46 points out of 5, p = 0.001) than branded packages (with old warnings). Disentangling the effects of PP and new GHWs revealed that neither had individual differential effect on intentions to quit within 6 months.ConclusionsAlthough no differential effect of PP or harsher GHWs was found on intentions to quit when respondents were exposed to images on screen, both design elements were found to be effective in generating negative affect and avoidant responses. More work is needed to design effective tobacco control measures among youth during critical years of tertiary education.

Older and Wiser? Age-related Change in State and Trait Boredom During Adolescence and Associations with Neural Correlates of Self-regulation.

The purpose of the current study was to examine age-related change in state and trait boredom in 12- to 17-year-old adolescents and test whether neurophysiological correlates of self-regulation relate to boredom during adolescence in the same way that has been found in adults. Eighty-nine 12- to 17-year-old adolescents participated. Three types of trait boredom were measured: boredom proneness, leisure boredom, and boredom susceptibility. State boredom was also measured after completing a boredom induction task while EEG was recorded. Slopes in frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) were extracted from the EEG as a measure of approach (leftward shifts) or avoidance (rightward shifts). A curvilinear relationship between age and boredom proneness and age and boredom susceptibility was observed, indicating trait boredom rises and falls across adolescence. State boredom, by contrast, increased linearly with age. Slopes in FAA inversely related only to boredom proneness, indicating higher levels of this type of trait boredom related to an avoidant response as a state of boredom ensues. We suggest the rise and fall of trait boredom across adolescence may be due to changes in person-environment fit during middle adolescence, whereas state boredom may increase with age due to improvements in attentional processes that mundane lab tasks do not satisfactorily engage. The link between FAA and only one type of trait boredom indicates self-regulatory processes and boredom are not yet strongly coupled in adolescence. Implications for prevention of negative behavioral health outcomes associated with high levels of trait boredom are discussed.

Attitudes towards dementia among Chinese adults aged 50 years and older: a comparative study of immigrants living in Melbourne and nonimmigrants living in Beijing.

This study investigated attitudes towards dementia among Chinese immigrants aged 50 years and over living in Australia and compares these attitudes with those of individuals living in mainland China. It aimed to better understand what older Chinese adults think about dementia and to inform the development of tailored dementia-related services for this group of people. A qualitative design involving individual interviews was employed in this study. Forty-six participants were recruited: 21 in Melbourne and 25 in Beijing. All interviewees were born in mainland China, were community-dwelling, and did not have a dementia diagnosis. The tripartite model of attitudes was used to guide the semi-structured interview design and report the results. Thematic qualitative analysis was employed. In both groups, most participants held negative feelings, stigmatized views and negative stereotypes of dementia. However, most participants expressed a willingness to help individuals living with dementia. Regarding dementia care, nearly all participants preferred home care but thought formal care would become the mainstream form of care in the future. Fewer Melbourne participants expressed concerns regarding developing dementia, were interested in dementia, or perceived a need for dementia-related educational activities. Melbourne participants also reported more avoidant responses to dementia or individuals living with dementia. This study carefully compares attitudes towards dementia between older Chinese immigrants in Melbourne and older Chinese adults in Beijing. Similarities and differences were observed between these two groups. Dementia-related service providers should consider the sociocultural changes and migration-related barriers experienced by Chinese immigrants.

Obesity and acute stress modulate appetite and neural responses in food word reactivity task.

Obesity can result from excess intake in response to environmental food cues, and stress can drive greater intake and body weight. We used a novel fMRI task to explore how obesity and stress influenced appetitive responses to relatively minimal food cues (words representing food items, presented similarly to a chalkboard menu). Twenty-nine adults (16F, 13M), 17 of whom had obesity and 12 of whom were lean, completed two fMRI scans, one following a combined social and physiological stressor and the other following a control task. A food word reactivity task assessed subjective food approach (wanting) as well as food avoidant (restraint) responses, along with neural responses, to words denoting high energy-density (ED) foods, low-ED foods, and non-foods. A multi-item ad-libitum meal followed each scan. The obese and lean groups demonstrated differences as well as similarities in activation of appetitive and attention/self-regulation systems in response to food vs. non-food, and to high-ED vs. low-ED food words. Patterns of activation were largely similar across stress and non-stress conditions, with some evidence for differences between conditions within both obese and lean groups. The obese group ate more than the lean group in both conditions. Our results suggest that neural responses to minimal food cues in stressed and non-stressed states may contribute to excess consumption and adiposity.

Black-White Racial Context and U.S. American Youths’ Moral Judgments of and Responses to Social Exclusion Bullying

Bullied adolescents experience myriad poor outcomes, yet certain responses can have significant mitigatory effects. However, research has yet to examine how the racial context of these interactions affects adolescents’ evaluations of and beliefs about responding to social-exclusionary bullying (SEB). The sample comprised 219 ninth-grade Black (N = 84; females = 46) and White (N = 135; females = 81) students (Mage = 14.84, SD = 0.68; Nfemales= 92) recruited from 5 schools in a large, racially diverse, middle-class Mid-Atlantic metropolitan area of the United States. Participants judged the wrongfulness of 4 scenarios of same- and cross-race SEB and selected how the victims should respond to the victimization. Responses were coded as aggressive, assertive, adult assistance-seeking, or avoidant. Gender, scenario, and response strategy main and interaction effects emerged. The Black-excluder and White-victim scenario was rated least wrong. Assertive responses were selected more often in scenarios with White-excluders; avoidant responses were selected more often in scenarios with Black-excluders. Results suggest that racial context relates significantly to adolescents’ evaluations of and responses to SEB scenarios.

Effects of maternal experience on pup-induced activation of maternal neural circuits in virgin mice

Maternal experience can promote a long-lasting increase in maternal motivation. This maintenance of caregiving behaviors, rather than avoidant or agnostic responses towards young, is advantageous for the survival of subsequent offspring. We have previously reported that maternal motivation is associated with differential immediate early gene expression in central motivation circuits and aversion circuits. Here we ask how these circuits come to differentially respond to infant cues. We used Targeted Recombination in Active Populations (TRAP) to identify cells that respond to pups in maternally hesitant TRAP2;Ai14 virgin female mice. Following an initial 60 min exposure to foster pups, virgin TRAP2;Ai14 mice were injected with 4-hydroxytamoxifen to induce recombination in c-Fos expressing cells and subsequent permanent expression of a red fluorescent reporter. We then examined whether the same cells that encode pup cues are reactivated during maternal memory retrieval two weeks later using c-Fos immunohistochemistry. Whereas initial pup exposure induced c-Fos activation exclusively in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), following repeated experience, c-Fos expression was significantly higher than baseline in multiple regions of maternal and central aversion circuits (e.g., ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala, prefrontal cortex, medial amygdala, and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus). Further, cells in many of these sites were significantly reactivated during maternal memory retrieval. These data suggest that cells across both maternal motivation and central aversion circuits are stably responsive to pups and thus may form the cellular representation of maternal memory.

Free Papers Compiled

BACKGROUND:Anxiety disorders characterized by aversive, avoidant reactions to emotional experiences poses potential risk for suicide. Suicidal thoughts and behaviours have similarly been conceptualized as avoidant or escape-based responses to experience of strong emotions. The relation between anxiety disorders and suicidal behaviour has been examined in limited numbers of studies with differing results. In this study, the relation between Generalized anxiety disorder and suicidal behaviour will be discussed.AIM:To assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder coming to OPD, Department of Psychiatry, IMHMETHODS:Chart review using convenience sampling was conducted from Jan 2021 to September 2021 after IRB approval. Assessment of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was conducted during the life event history section of the interview based on the following questions: “Have you ever seriously thought about committing suicide?” and “Have you ever attempted suicide?” We examined respondents endorsing presence of suicidal ideation or attempts. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software 28.0RESULTS:According to our study done, it is found to have significant association between suicidal ideation and GAD. But, there was no significant association between suicidal attempt and GAD.CONCLUSION:We have used cross-sectional, retrospective data. Prospective longitudinal evaluation whether anxiety disorders are risk factors for new-onset suicidal behaviour is required.

Temperament is Linked to Avoidant Responses to Stuttering Anticipation

PurposeThe purpose of the present study was to examine the degree to which certain temperament constructs predict individual differences in three types of behavioral responses to anticipation among children and adults who stutter (CWS and AWS, respectively): avoidance, physical change, and approach. MethodsParticipants included 64 CWS (9- to 17-years-old) and 54 AWS (18- to 50-years-old) who completed an online survey package including a temperament questionnaire (Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire–Revised for the CWS; Adult Temperament Questionnaire for the AWS) and the Stuttering Anticipation Scale. The data were analyzed separately for CWS and AWS using multivariate multiple regressions to assess how each temperament construct predicted avoidance, physical change, and approach responses to anticipation. ResultsCWS who reported higher levels of shyness were more likely to engage in avoidant behavioral responses when they anticipate an upcoming moment of stuttering. AWS who reported higher levels of orienting sensitivity were more likely to engage in avoidant behavioral responses when they anticipate an upcoming moment of stuttering. No temperament constructs predicted physical change or approach responses to anticipation among either age group. ConclusionSpecific aspects of temperament appear to be linked to the degree that CWS and AWS engage in avoidant behavioral responses to stuttering anticipation. These findings support the continued study of how individual differences impact the internal experience and outward manifestation of stuttering behaviors.

Identity Distress, Parental Response, and Problem Behaviors in Juvenile Justice-Involved Boys

Youth involved with the juvenile justice system are not exempt from experiencing identity-related turmoil that is common during adolescence. Parents’ responses may exacerbate or mitigate this turmoil and, in turn, youth problem behaviors. Thus, this study investigated identity distress as a mediator of the relationship between parental response to adolescents’ distress and their problem behaviors among 113 detained males aged 12 to 18 ( Mage = 15.3, SD = 1.44) in Connecticut, USA. Participants completed measures of identity distress, parental response to their developmental distress, and multiple problem behaviors. A latent mediation model indicated that a supportive parental response was directly associated with decreased problem behaviors, whereas an avoidant parental response was indirectly associated with increased problem behaviors through increased identity distress. Developmentally salient identity-related distress of juveniles and the corresponding response of their parents are important to consider in understanding youth externalizing problem behaviors within the juvenile justice system.

Investigating the relationship between olfactory acuity, disgust, and mating strategies

Abstract Although humans' sense of smell is relatively diminished compared to other species, olfaction is still a central sensory modality through which people evaluate both potential threats and prospective romantic partners. Despite olfaction's role in interpersonal relationships and disease avoidant responses, however, it remains unknown whether variation in olfactory acuity is associated with disease- and mating-relevant psychological constructs and behaviors. In the current exploratory study, we examined the relationships between olfactory acuity, disgust sensitivity, and mating strategies in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 162) at a university in the Southern United States using an extended assessment of olfactory acuity (measuring olfactory threshold, discrimination, and identification). Results revealed that people with greater discrimination acuity were higher in dispositional sexual disgust, but not pathogen or moral disgust. People with greater discrimination acuity were also less inclined towards short-term mating. Further, sexual disgust mediated the relationship between discrimination acuity and short-term mating orientation. These results provide further evidence for the importance of olfaction and olfaction-related disgust in close relationships.

Evidence for inhibited temperament as a transdiagnostic factor across mood and psychotic disorders

BackgroundThe conceptualization of risk for psychiatric illness is moving from risk factors for specific psychiatric disorders to factors that confer risk for multiple disorders. One potential transdiagnostic risk factor is inhibited temperament, a trait characterized by a fearful or avoidant response to novelty. Inhibited temperament is an established risk factor for anxiety disorders, and evidence suggests inhibited temperament is elevated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. MethodsIn the current study, we tested the hypothesis that inhibited temperament is a transdiagnostic factor in 490 participants including individuals with schizophrenia (n=184), psychotic bipolar disorder (n=61), major depression disorder (n=53), or no disorders (n=192). Participants completed assessments of temperament, personality, clinical symptoms, cognition, and functioning. An ANOVA was used to test for group differences in inhibited temperament scores. Regressions were used to test whether inhibited temperament scores were associated with the current measures and whether the associations were similar across disorders. ResultsInhibited temperament was similarly elevated in all patient groups compared to controls. Inhibited temperament was similarly associated with anxiety, depression, negative affect, and quality of life across patient groups. Inhibited temperament was not associated with cognition or functional impairment. LimitationAlthough the inhibited temperament measure is commonly used, it is a retrospective self-report which may be susceptible to biases. ConclusionsThe current study provides evidence that inhibited temperament is a transdiagnostic factor impacting affective systems across mood and psychotic disorders. Inhibited patients may especially benefit from treatments that specifically target anxiety and depression.

Cumulative Risk on Oxytocin-Pathway Genes Impairs Default Mode Network Connectivity in Trauma-Exposed Youth.

Background: Although the default mode network (DMN) is a core network essential for brain functioning, little is known about its developmental trajectory, particularly on factors associated with its coherence into a functional network. In light of adult studies indicating DMN's susceptibility to stress-related conditions, we examined links between variability on oxytocin-pathway genes and DMN connectivity in youth exposed to chronic war-related traumaMethods: Following a cohort of war-exposed children from early childhood, we imaged the brains of 74 preadolescents (age 11–13 years; 39 war-exposed) during rest using magnetoencephalography (MEG). A cumulative risk index on oxytocin-pathway genes was constructed by combining single nucleotide polymorphisms on five genes previously linked with social deficits and psychopathology; OXTR rs1042778, OXTR rs2254298, OXTRrs53576, CD38 rs3796863, and AVPR1A RS3. Avoidant response to trauma reminders in early childhood and anxiety disorders in late childhood were assessed as predictors of disruptions to DMN theta connectivity.Results: Higher vulnerability on oxytocin-pathway genes predicted greater disruptions to DMN theta connectivity. Avoidant symptoms in early childhood and generalized anxiety disorder in later childhood were related to impaired DMN connectivity. In combination, stress exposure, oxytocin-pathway genes, and stress-related symptoms explained 24.6% of the variance in DMN connectivity, highlighting the significant effect of stress on the maturing brain.Conclusions: Findings are the first to link the oxytocin system and maturation of the DMN, a core system sustaining autobiographical memories, alteration of intrinsic and extrinsic attention, mentalization, and sense of self. Results suggest that oxytocin may buffer the effects of chronic early stress on the DMN, particularly theta rhythms that typify the developing brain.

Accepting the unacceptable? Exploring how acceptance relates to quality of life and death anxiety in a cancer population

Background: Quality of life is a core concern for cancer patients, which can be negatively affected by illness-related death anxiety; yet understanding of how to appropriately target psycho-oncological interventions remains lacking. We aimed to explore experiential acceptance in cancer patients, and whether acceptance – as an alternative to avoidant coping – was related to and predictive of better quality of life and death anxiety outcomes. Methods: We used a longitudinal, quantitative design with a follow-up after three months. Seventy-two participants completed a questionnaire-battery measuring illness appraisals, acceptance and non-acceptance coping-styles, quality of life, and death anxiety; 31 participants repeated the battery after three months. Results: Acceptance was an independent explanatory and predictive variable for quality of life and death anxiety, in the direction of psychological health. Acceptance had greater explanatory power for outcomes than either cancer appraisals or avoidant response styles. Avoidant response styles were associated with greater death anxiety and poorer quality of life. Conclusions: The findings support the role of an accepting response-style in favourable psychological outcomes, identifying a possible target for future psychological intervention. Response styles that might be encouraged in other therapies, such as active coping, planning, and positive reframing, were not associated with beneficial outcomes.

Accepting the unacceptable? Exploring how acceptance relates to quality of life and death anxiety in a cancer population

Background: Quality of life is a core concern for cancer patients, which can be negatively affected by illness-related death anxiety; yet understanding of how to appropriately target psycho-oncological interventions remains lacking. We aimed to explore experiential acceptance in cancer patients, and whether acceptance – as an alternative to avoidant coping – was related to and predictive of better quality of life and death anxiety outcomes. Methods: We used a longitudinal, quantitative design with a follow-up after three months. Seventy-two participants completed a questionnaire-battery measuring illness appraisals, acceptance and non-acceptance coping-styles, quality of life, and death anxiety; 31 participants repeated the battery after three months. Results: Acceptance was an independent explanatory and predictive variable for quality of life and death anxiety, in the direction of psychological health. Acceptance had greater explanatory power for outcomes than either cancer appraisals or avoidant response styles. Avoidant response styles were associated with greater death anxiety and poorer quality of life. Conclusions: The findings support the role of an accepting response-style in favourable psychological outcomes, identifying a possible target for future psychological intervention. Response styles that might be encouraged in other therapies, such as active coping, planning, and positive reframing, were not associated with beneficial outcomes.

Avoidant Coping Style to High Imminence Threat Is Linked to Higher Anxiety-Like Behavior.

Human studies with self-reported measures have suggested a link between an avoidant coping style and high anxiety. Here, using the common marmoset as a model, we characterize the latent factors underlying behavioral responses of these monkeys towards low and high imminence threat and investigate if a predominantly avoidant behavioral response to high imminence threat is associated with greater anxiety-like behavior in a context of low imminence threat. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the human intruder test of low imminence threat revealed a single factor in which a combination of active vigilance and avoidance responses underpinned anxiety-like behavior. In contrast, two negatively-associated factors were revealed in the model snake test reflecting active and avoidant coping to high imminence threat. Subsequent analysis showed that animals with a predominantly avoidant coping style on the model snake test displayed higher anxiety-like behavior on the human intruder test, findings consistent with those described in humans. Together they illustrate the richness of the behavioral repertoire displayed by marmosets in low and high imminence threatening contexts and the additional insight that factor analysis can provide by identifying the latent factors underlying these complex behavioral datasets. They also highlight the translational value of this approach when studying the neural circuits underlying complex anxiety-like states in this primate model.

Resident multipotent vascular stem cells exhibit amplitude dependent strain avoidance similar to that of vascular smooth muscle cells

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and presents as a narrowing or occlusion of the arterial lumen. Interventions to re-open the arterial lumen can result in re-occlusion through intimal hyperplasia. Historically only de-differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells were thought to contribute to intimal hyperplasia. However recent significant evidence suggests that resident medial multipotent vascular stem cells (MVSC) may also play a role. We therefore investigated the strain response of MVSC since these resident cells are also subjected to strain within their native environment. Accordingly, we applied uniaxial 1 Hz cyclic uniaxial tensile strain at three amplitudes around a mean strain of 5%, (4–6%, 2–8% and 0–10%) to either rat MVSC or rat VSMC before their strain response was evaluated. While both cell types strain avoid, the strain avoidant response was greater for MVSC after 24 h, while VSMC strain avoid to a greater degree after 72 h. Additionally, both cell types increase strain avoidance as strain amplitude is increased. Moreover, MVSC and VSMC both demonstrate a strain-induced decrease in cell number, an effect more pronounced for MVSC. These experiments demonstrate for the first time the mechano-sensitivity of MVSC that may influence intimal thickening, and emphasizes the importance of strain amplitude in controlling the response of vascular cells in tissue engineering applications.

Noticing negativity: Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance and mood-relevant thinking

ObjectiveExperiential avoidance (EA) represents an individual's avoidant responses towards their own internal experiences (e.g., thoughts and feelings). Recent research has raised concerns about EA's incremental validity over other individual difference variables. We argue that EA may be related to a greater focus on negative (relative to neutral) information, and that EA may have a unique predictive role when careful thought is encouraged. MethodIn a series of three experiments, we examined EA's association with the endorsement of negative statements, relative to control statements, in the context of a negative mood induction. We subsequently measured participant's mood. In Experiment 3 we manipulated participant's motivation and ability to engage in careful thinking. ResultsAcross three studies, EA was related to greater endorsement of negative, but not neutral mood statements, which predicted lower mood. Further, this effect was most prominent under conditions of high-elaboration (i.e., when careful thinking was encouraged). ConclusionsWe argue that EA may be related to a negativity bias (selectively endorsing negative but not neutral information), and that conditions that allow for careful thought may facilitate EA's relation to emotional reactions.

Les dynamiques du trauma à l’acte chez les auteurs de violence

ObjectivesThis article explores the filiation from trauma to act. It attempts to determine how, among perpetrators of violence, the re-actualization of a mental trace of traumatic origin can lead to acts that appear “insane”, while their meaning is inaccessible to the subjects themselves. MethodAfter reassessing the notion of the traumatic trace (and “non-trace”), the dynamics from trauma to action among perpetrators of violence will be specifically addressed. Our reflection will be focused on the after-effects of trauma via the constraint of repetition. ResultsThis will lead us to consider violent acting-out as a sensorimotor reviviscence of trauma, and as a potential “staging” of a split traumatic experience that cannot be symbolized. DiscussionThese reflections lead us to consider some types of violent acts as an avoidant response by an individual faced with the risk of psychotic collapse. ConclusionThe study of violent acting-out through the prism of trauma can help the clinician to give meaning to his work with perpetrators of violence that he or she is called on to manage. It contributes to a global understanding of violent acts within a humanistic approach.