Intentional Harm Research Articles

(Mal)adaptive Mentalizing in the Cognitive Hierarchy, and Its Link to Paranoia.

Interacting competitively requires vigilance to avoid deception. However, excessive caution can have adverse effects, stemming from false beliefs of intentional harm. So far there is no formal cognitive account of what may cause this suspiciousness. Here we present an examination of this phenomenon through the lens of Theory of Mind - the cognitive ability to consider the beliefs, intentions, and desires of others. By simulating interacting computer agents we illustrate how well-aligned agents can give rise to successful deception and justified skepticism. Crucially, we also reveal that overly cautious agents develop false beliefs that an ingenuous partner is attempting malicious trickery, leading to tangible losses. As well as formally defining a plausible mechanism for suspiciousness, paranoia, and conspiratorial thinking, our theory indicates that rather than a deficit in Theory of Mind, paranoia may involve an over-application of strategy to genuine behaviour.

Towards comprehensive cyberbullying detection: A dataset incorporating aggressive texts, repetition, peerness, and intent to harm

The increasing usage of social media networks has raised concerns about the growing frequency of cyberbullying incidents. The definition of cyberbullying lacks universal consensus, yet according to several authors, cyberbullying is characterized by aggressive, repetitive, and intentional communication among peers. However, existing cyberbullying detection datasets often focus solely on classifying texts as aggressive or non-aggressive, neglecting the other cyberbullying aspects, thus hindering research progress. This paper proposes a framework for designing a new dataset incorporating all four aspects of cyberbullying to address this gap. The text messages are sourced from a real dataset, while the users’ data is generated synthetically. The resulting dataset contains messages exchanged randomly among different pairs of users, thus inculcating repetition. Additionally, the degree of peerness, defined and calculated to measure the likelihood of two users being peers, is used. The intent of harm is quantified as a numeric value using the ratios of aggression and repetition. As a result, the proposed dataset encompasses all four aspects of cyberbullying by providing repeated aggressive messages among users along with quantitative values of the degree of peerness and intent to harm. The proposed dataset is adaptable, with adjustable threshold values for peerness, repetition, and intent to harm, offering flexibility for various applications. The paper concludes by presenting the results of some baseline machine-learning methods on the proposed dataset.

Family favouring effects across intent and outcome-based moral judgements and decisions.

Doing harm is a moral violation, but helping a family member is morally obligatory. In this study, participants encountered this ethical dilemma through stories featuring their sibling (i.e., brother) as either the perpetrator or victim in various moral scenarios. Subsequently, they provided their moral judgements (i.e., moral acceptability and perceived transgression) and made decisions (i.e., willingness and difficulty to disclose what the agent did to the police) regarding the perpetrator. The manipulation of family membership was integrated into the moral scenarios, which were crafted based on whether the perpetrator had malicious intent and whether those intentions resulted in a harmful outcome (i.e., intentional harm, failed attempts to harm, accidental harm, and a harmless/baseline). While we initially expected that individuals would exhibit favouritism towards their brother when harmful intent or outcomes were absent, our findings revealed that both agent/victim identities (brother/stranger) and intent-outcome-based moral scenarios had an additive effect on both measures of moral judgement. This suggests that the family favouring effect was observed across all intent-outcome scenarios, with a slightly more pronounced effect when the brother accidentally harmed a stranger compared to a stranger accidentally harming the brother. Regarding moral decisions, participants demonstrated a willingness to disclose what they witnessed regardless of their familial relationship with the agent or victim, but it was universally perceived as a difficult decision to make. Together, our results underscore the context-specific nature of moral judgements and decisions, emphasising the significant impact of family members when they are involved as moral characters.

Commentary] Exposing the Woke Lie Called Microaggressions for What It Is

In the commentary “Exposing the Woke Lie Called Microaggressions for What It Is,” the author argues against the validity of the concept of microaggressions. The author contends that the notion places an impossible demand on people to attend to a vast number of perceptual details in social interactions due to inherent cognitive limitations. The commentary critiques the idea that subtle behaviors should be labeled as aggressions given typical lack of harmful intent. The author further states that taking offense at microaggressions allows claiming undeserved victimhood and making unreasonable demands of others. Overall, the commentary makes the case that the microaggression concept divides people and should be ended.

THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN MODERN SOCIETY: IMPLICATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL RESPONSES

This article explores the various facets of violence, identifying key commonalities among definitions, including repetitive occurrences, intentional harm, imbalanced power dynamics, and the desire to inflict psychological and physical suffering on victims. The categorization of violence into physical, verbal, and sexual forms is a longstanding practice. Violence is defined as the deliberate, unjustifiable infliction of harm on others, encompassing a wide range of negative consequences endured by victims. However, the mere act of harm is insufficient to classify an action as violent; it must be accompanied by intent. Harmful behaviors encompass verbal and non-verbal actions, spanning physical harm, material damage, and psychological distress, such as intimidation, humiliation, and social isolation. This article underscores the urgency of addressing violence in our society, emphasizing the pivotal role of educational institutions in creating safe and harmonious environments for children and students.

Lifetime Experience of Childhood Abuse and Neglect Among High School Students at Debre Tabor Town, South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Childhood abuse and neglect is defined as any intentional harm or mistreatment of a child that results in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival and development. It has been linked to an increased risk of a wide range of serious short- and long-term medical and mental health problems. Although it is a complex societal issue, it receives limited research attention in the area. To assess lifetime prevalence of childhood abuse and neglect among high school students in Debre Tabor town, south Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess 423 high school students, chosen through a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured and self-administered international child abuse screening tool, child version (ICAST-C). The effect of independent variables on the outcome variable was explored using logistic regression analyses. The level of significances were determined using an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Of the 423 study participants, 84.4% had lifetime experience of childhood abuse and neglect. Being female (AOR=4.5, 95% CI: 2.38, 8.60), parental marital status (AOR=5.4, 95% CI: 1.07, 27.3), illiteracy of father (AOR=1.65, 95% CI: 4.5, 6.03), birth order (AOR=4.5, 95% CI: 1.57, 13.0), open family discussion of sexual matters (AOR=0.37, 95% CI:1.74, 7.86), and watching pornography (AOR=0.08, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.40) were significantly associated with lifetime experience of childhood abuse and neglect. Lifetime experience of childhood abuse and neglect was high as compared with previous studies. Being female, parental marital status, illiterate fathers, watching pornography, and open family discussion of sexual matters were predictors of childhood abuse and neglect. Dealing with this issue should be considered an integral component of high school students' care, including parental education and respite care.

I don't understand how I feel: mediating role of impaired self-mentalizing in the relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis spectrum experiences.

Childhood adversity is associated with the severity of multiple dimensions of psychosis, but the mechanisms underpinning the close link between the two constructs is unclear. Mentalization may underlie this relationship, as impaired mentalizing is found in various stages of the psychosis continuum. Nonetheless, the differential roles of self- and other-mentalizing in psychosis are not well understood. Parallel multiple mediation was conducted for the relationship between a diverse range of childhood adversity types, including intentional and nonintentional harm, and schizotypy (positive, negative, disorganized), psychotic-like experiences (PLE) and paranoia via self-mentalizing (attention to emotions and emotional clarity) and other-mentalizing in n = 1,156 nonclinically ascertained young adults. Significant parallel multiple mediation models were found for all psychotic outcomes except negative schizotypy. The associations between intentionally harmful childhood adversity and psychotic outcomes were significantly mediated by increased attention to emotions for most models and decreased emotional clarity for some models. No significant mediation was found for parental loss. Paternal abuse was only mediated by attention to emotions whereas the effects of maternal abuse were mediated by attention to emotions and emotional clarity. Other-mentalizing only showed mediating effects on one of thirty models tested. Results highlight the mediating role of impaired self-mentalizing in the association between childhood adversity and psychosis. This is consistent with disturbances of self-concept and self-boundary characterizing, in particular, the positive dimension of psychosis. Maternal versus paternal figures may contribute differentially to the development of mentalizing. These results could inform future preventative interventions, focusing on the development and maintenance of self-mentalizing.

Firearm-related suicides, homicides, and homicide-suicides involving security officers in two East African Countries: a press media review

BackgroundFirearm violence is a growing public health problem causing death globally. With easy accessibility to firearms, suicides, homicides, and homicide-suicides have increased among security officers, especially in developing countries affected by long-standing civil wars/political insurgencies. No study has explored firearm violence in East African countries. This study describes the press media reporting of suicides, homicides, and homicide-suicides among security officers in two East African countries (Uganda and Kenya).MethodsDue to the absence of suicide databases among East African countries, the present study reviewed press media reports. We utilized content analysis of suicides, homicides, and homicide-suicides reports among security forces. Relevant media reports between January-2020 and May-2023 were searched. Using ANOVA and chi-square tests, we tested for statistical differences in characteristics between victims and perpetrators.ResultsAmong the 56 perpetrated reports, most of them were homicides 44.64% (n = 25/56), 30.36% (n = 17/56) were homicide-suicides, and 25% (n = 14/56) were suicides. Perpetrators’ age ranged from 21 to 47 years, majority being males [53/56 (94.64%)]. Victims were 58, mostly Ugandans [41/58 (73.21%)] with a mean age of 33.5 ± 8.81 years. Among the three main outcomes, statistically significant difference existed by country (χ2 = 23.88, p < 0.001), and perpetrators’ age (F = 8.59, p = 0.005). There was a significant difference between perpetrators and the number of victims lost by age of victims (F = 10.37, p = 0.002). Among victims, type of security of perpetrator and citizenship of victims (χ2 = 24.18, p < 0.001) showed statistical difference with Ugandans having more victims to army officers while Kenyans to police officers. Brief incident descriptions pointed towards relationship dysfunctions, alcohol/substance abuse, intentional harm, and financial disagreements, as the potential causes. Only two perpetrators were reported to have mental health-related conditions.ConclusionThis study shows that media reported firearms-related suicides, homicides, and homicide-suicides among security forces commonly involve males. Perpetrators in Uganda are mainly army officers while in Kenya the perpetrators are mostly police officers. Mental health conditions were not frequently reported among perpetrators. We recommend strengthening and enforcing gun regulation policies among security officers to curb this growing problem in these countries. Routine screening of mental health problems to enable early interventions is recommended among security officers.

The medium of intersubjectivity

The aim of this article is to contribute to anthropological understandings of intersubjectivity by foregrounding the role of the environment. I begin by reviewing three key approaches that have emerged out of broader debates in the humanities and social sciences. The first mobilizes intersubjectivity as a way of explaining how a coherent social order is (re-)produced, given that the rational choice, for individuals, is to act in their own self-interest. Intersubjectivity in this view is the shared understanding that is achieved when actors adhere to normative constraints on interaction in order to fulfill an unconscious desire to be loved and accepted by others. The second approach to intersubjectivity challenges this idea, arguing that the motivations and expectations that individuals bring to interaction vary across ethnographic contexts, and for some, shared understanding is a false promise that masks the harmful intentions others are likely to have. Intersubjectivity, in this view, is organized by a desire to minimize exposure to others. The third approach treats intersubjectivity not as a possible outcome of interaction but as an existential condition that makes meaningful interaction possible. In this article, I put these debates in dialogue with “protactile theory,” which has grown out of a social movement in DeafBlind communities in the United States. Reading protactile theory through the lens of biosemiotics, ecological psychology, and existential phenomenology, I argue that the medium or “the thing we're in when we’re together” is the basis of intelligibility for all intersubjective behaviors and capacities; it can define a way of being, is ethnographically graspable, and is central to how humans interact.

Trait Emotional Intelligence, Social Desirability and Non-Suicidal Self-harm Behavior among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional and acute harm done to one's body without the intention of committing suicide. Suicidal behavior (SB) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are the two primary health issues affecting teenagers. Despite increasing attention to such issues, very little work is done regarding these issues in Pakistan. The objective of this research was to determine the incidence of non-suicidal self-harm in adolescents and to find an association between non-suicidal self-injury and traits of emotional intelligence and social desirability in Pakistani adolescents who made up a typical sample of the general community. For this purpose, 195 participants were selected from different hospitals and areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The non-suicidal self-injury student questionnaire, the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire (TEIQue-SF), and the social desirability scale (SDS-17) were used to collect data. According to the findings, people who were more socially desirable and have lower emotional intelligence traits were more likely to engage in NSSI. The results of this research provide insight into the intricate interactions among these factors and how they affect NSSI. Mental health practitioners can improve their capacity to recognize and assist people who are experiencing NSSI, thereby, supporting their well-being and recovery, by developing a deeper understanding of these aspects.

Using young peoples’ lived experiences to explore definitional characteristics for cyberbullying

ABSTRACT Applying established definitions of bullying to the more recent phenomenon of cyberbullying often results in an ill-fitting definition which is contested by academics. There are particular difficulties when applying the well-documented facets of intentional harm, repetition and power imbalance to the context of online bullying. A contested definition presents challenges when comparing studies and for building theory. This qualitative study investigates defining characteristics of cyberbullying, drawing on the lived experiences of young people (aged 11–17 years) situated in the north west of England. Young people’s experiences point to a more nuanced experience with different characteristics incorporating: the intention to harm or humiliate; that the victim cannot escape from the activities perpetrated against them; an attempt to transfer power from the victim; and the perpetrator hides behind the screen.

If negligence is intentionality’s cousin, recklessness is it’s sibling: Differentiating negligence and recklessness from accidents and intentional harm

Previous research has examined lay conceptualizations of intentionality and negligence. This work has shown that intentionality is attributed when several key mental states are perceived as simultaneously present (i.e., knowledge, desire, awareness, and intent), suggesting an actor was trying to bring about an outcome by acting in a particular way. Following this, research has shown that attributions of negligence—a judgment that is applied when a person’s actions unintentionally lead to material or physical harm—rely on beliefs that similar mental states are present (e.g., knowledge and awareness), but when intent to harm is absent. Yet, no in-depth investigations into recklessness and its relation to negligence and intentionality have been reported, despite recklessness being theorized as occupying a conceptual space between negligent and intentional harm. Across four studies (N = 2,092), the current research begins filling this gap. Results show that folk conceptualizations of recklessness are associated with similar (e.g., knowledge) but distinct (e.g., uncaring desire, disregard of risk) mental states from those of intentionality and negligence. In addition, the current studies also demonstrate how negativity in evaluations respectively track a full continuum of harm judgments running from accidents through negligence to recklessness and intentional harm. Moreover, the current work shows how evaluations of recklessness are situated between negligent and intentional harm, with negligence situated between accidents (i.e., where harm was not caused by an actor’s actions) and recklessness, with each concept sharing some features (but not others) with both adjacent concepts. Implications for social and legal psychology are discussed.

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) in dental curricula: Ethics and responsible integration.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is deeply embedded in all aspects of our daily lives, promoting efficiency and safety in routine tasks at home and work. Likewise, dentistry is rapidly exploring new uses of AI for image analysis, electronic health records, and clinical decision-making. The accelerating advancement of AI and its application in dentistry demands dental education conscientiously integrate AI into curricula and equip graduates to use it ethically and responsibly in practice. The approach must be threefold: instill knowledge of the basic algorithms and appropriate application of AI, discuss its limitations/biases, and examine current and potential ethical challenges in practice.Furthermore, dental education must protect the public from intentional and unintentional harm introduced by AI. Therefore, the purpose of this perspective paper is to discuss various considerations for integrating AI into the dental curriculum, prioritizing patient safety by ensuring knowledgeable, safe, and ethical application by future providers.

Teachers’ Awareness and Sensitivity to a Bullying Incident: A Qualitative Study

This qualitative study explores how teachers assess a bullying scenario and what considerations guide their assessment. Thirty-eight secondary school teachers from across Austria participated in an online survey with open-ended questions based on two vignette: one depicting an incident of verbal and social bullying and the other a non-bullying incident of physical violence. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Although participating teachers did not know that bullying was the study focus, they still showed sensitivity toward bullying, in terms of recognizing and labelling the incident. However, the teachers’ answers also showed that their assessment only partly coincides with those criteria that are central in the scientific discussion of bullying. While the aspects of doing (intentional) harm and imbalance of power were relevant to teachers’ assessments, the criterion of repetition was not. The results further suggest that participants’ awareness and interventions are closely related to situational aspects, personal and professional experiences, beliefs, and attitudes and only to a small extent to knowledge or training. Implications for teachers’ education and research are discussed.

Adolescent peer support for mental health problems: evaluation of the validity and reliability of the Mental Health Support Scale for Adolescents

BackgroundThe Mental Health Support Scale for Adolescents (MHSSA) is a criterion-referenced measure of adolescents’ supportive intentions towards peers with mental health problems, which was developed for use in evaluations of adolescent mental health interventions, such as the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) program. The present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the MHSSA.MethodsA sample of 3092 school students (Mean ± SD: 15.9 ± 0.4 years old) and 65 tMHFA Instructors (the adult group with known expertise in tMHFA) completed the 12 items of the MHSSA. A sub-sample of 1201 students repeated the scale after a 3-4-week interval. Item concordance rates with the tMHFA Action Plan across helpful and harmful intentions scales were calculated. Scale reliabilities were assessed using agreement coefficients from a single test administration and test-retest reliability measured by intraclass correlation coefficients. The mean differences of MHSSA scores of students and Instructors were compared using independent samples t-tests, while convergent validity was tested via correlations of the scale with validated measures of confidence in providing help, social distance and personal stigma.ResultsThe average score of Instructors was significantly higher than that of students. The scale was positively associated with confidence in providing help, whilst negatively associated with social distance and dimensions of personal stigma. All scales of MHSSA had high agreement coefficients (all > 0.80) and fair to good test-retest reliability over 3–4 weeks.ConclusionsThe MHSSA shows evidence of validity and reliability for use among adolescents for evaluating the quality of intentions to help peers with mental health problems.

Development of beliefs about censorship

Across four studies (total N = 431), we examined 5- to 10-year-old children's choices to censor depictions of harm. In all studies, children learned about (fictional) movies that depicted harmful behaviors and decided whether specific audiences should be allowed to watch those movies. In Study 1, children often censored depictions of harms and did so similarly when considering both themselves and another hypothetical child as the viewer. At the same time, children did not censor indiscriminately: Children censored depictions of intentional harms more than accidental harms and, in Study 2, children (and adults; N = 101) censored harms (especially intentional ones) more from younger versus older audiences. In Studies 3 and 4, we more directly tested children's motivations for censoring harms, examining dual potential motivations of 1) preventing viewers from feeling sad; and 2) preventing viewers from being inspired to engage in harmful behaviors. We found that children who were motivated to avoid inspiring harmful behaviors were especially likely to censor depictions of harmful intentions. Together, our results indicate that children make sophisticated decisions regarding censorship and underscore an early emerging motivation to disrupt cascades of harmful behavior. These findings hold implications for children's thinking about the psychological and behavioral consequences of harm and for children's thinking about the potential effects of media on themselves and others.

The role of empathy in trolley problems and variants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The role of empathy in morality is a subject of ongoing scientific debate due to the lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic. To address this gap, we conducted a PRISMA-based systematic quantitative review to investigate the role of empathy in moral judgements, decision-making, and inclinations using trolley problems and variants, which are popular types of moral dilemmas that explore utilitarianism and deontology. We searched for articles in four databases (PsycINFO, Pubmed, WorldWideScience, and Scopus) and performed citation searches. Out of 661 records, we selected 34 that studied the associations between empathy and moral judgements, moral decision-making, and/or moral inclinations. Six meta-analyses and systematic reviews of these records consistently showed small to moderate associations between affective empathy and these moral parameters, particularly in personal moral dilemmas involving intentional harm (although some approaches highlighted more complex associations between these parameters). Regarding other empathy domains, most studies found limited or insignificant links between cognitive empathy domains and moral judgements, decision-making, and inclinations. We discuss the nuances and implications of these results.

P4: Successful VA-Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation course in a patient with intentional Calcium Channel Blocker overdose without the need for mechanical ventilation

Background: Cardiovascular medication overdose constitutes about 3.5% of all drug overdoses, and carries a mortality of 16%. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and beta blockers account for more than 65% of these deaths. Overdose of cardiovascular medications cause impaired cardiac contractility, vasoplegia, and/or rhythm disturbances. We review the current literature and case reports of VA ECMO being utilized to support patients with cardiovascular medication overdose. Methods: We present a case of a 20-year-old female with no medical history presenting with bradycardia and hypotension after ingesting ninety ezetimibe 10mg, seventy-five nebivolol 10mg, and one hundred and eighty amlodipine 5mg, from her mother’s medication, with the intent of self harm. Patient received glucagon, calcium, lipid emulsion, and was being supported on vasopressin, norepinephrine, epienephrine, phenylephrine and dopamine. The patients HR 78 and SBP 68mmHg. Laboratory significant for leukocytosis and elevated lactic acid. On exam, patient was lethargic, without respiratory distress. Echocardiogram revealed EF 55-65% and a large right ventricular mass suspicious for atrial myxoma. Patient was initiated on peripheral Veno-Arterial ECMO using Femoral-Femoral configuration to provide circulatory support as a bridge to allow drug metabolism and clearance. Results: Following 72 hours of VA-ECMO, vasopressors were weaned, with ECMO successfully being discontinued. Throughout the ECMO course, the patient had no respiratory compromise and did not require intubation or mechanical ventilation. Following decannulation, the patient was discharged to follow for an elective resection of the atrial myxoma. Conclusion: ECMO has been reported as a rescue therapy in CCB and Beta blocker overdose when refractory to medical therapy. Conventional medical therapy includes limiting absorption, increasing elimination and hemodynamic support using vasopressor agents, intravenous (IV) calcium infusion, hyperinsulinemia therapy, glucagon infusion, and IV lipid emulsion. This unique case demonstrates the successful utilization of VA ECMO to support patients with cardiovascular medication overdose and illustrates the potential for hemodynamic support without the need for ventilator support. This is the only known report of VA ECMO being utilized for calcium channel overdose while the patient is awake and unventilated throughout their ECMO course.

CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The issues of intentional bodily harm, which is life-threatening at the time of being committed to his wife (husband) to his ex-wife (ex-husband), to a person living together on the basis of a fief, or to a person who has a common child, were explained.

Intravascular hemolysis in phenol poisoning: An unforeseen and rare complication

The black phenyl is a powerful germ killer used for homes, hospitals, which is easily accessible and can be consumed with the intention of self harm. Cases of intravascular hemolysis through inhalation or spillage has been reported, but intravascular hemolysis following ingestion is rarely reported. A 25 year old previously healthy male presented after alleged ingestion of black phenyl and was asymptomatic at presentation. By day 4, he developed fever, icterus, tachycardia, fatigue and dark brown urine. Labs were Hgb 3.6g/dl, platelet count 2.75 lakhs/ul, creatinine 1.1mg/ dI, AST 244U/L, ALT 69U/L, Total Bilirubin 4.65g/dl (Indirect 3.35) PT 14.6, INR 1.23. By Day 6, urine color darkened, suggestive of ongoing hemolysis with LDH level of 3614 U/L. Over the full hospital stay, urine output was maintained, and he didn't develop acute kidney injury. By Day 9, patient's symptoms improved &amp; he was discharged on day 12. These compounds interfere with oxidative phosphorylation in cells, making red blood cells losing osmotic equilibrium. This metabolic handicap may lead to premature red blood cell lysis. Though asymptomatic at presentation, patient developed serious intravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuria by day 4. This suggests the need for admission of asymptomatic patients, constant monitoring and to anticipate toxic potentials of the compound. The dearth of enough literature on this rare complication made us report this first case from North East India.