Natalija

We are living in an era of constantly being bombared with "thousands" of daily information by our devices. My questions are: 1. Do you find it difficult to focus and fully commit on everything you do? 2. What are some of the techniques you practice in order to stay fully focused and present in each moment?

What are the causes of Capgras Delusion Syndrome?

In the town I live in there were a few cases where guys who were deliquents ( committed several fights, broke the rules many times and even they believed that they can't change) became police officers out of the blue and changed completely. One of them grew up in my neighborhood and I knew him really well. That's why I was so positively surprised by the change in his personality I noticed (he became so responsible and caring). It made me wonder what can be the reason for this huge change. Could the reason be that this person let go of the "label" he was carrying for so many years and the belief that he was just that- "a deliquent". Or maybe the single opportunity he got to serve the country and do good for others. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Is there a correlation between gambling addiction and crime?

What is a secret service agent and what does a secret service agent do?

What are some of the best self-defense strategies/ tools every person should know in case of danger?

Can practicing martial arts lower aggressive tendencies? What are some of the pros and cons of practicing martial arts?

Is there any cure/ treatment for psychopathy if spotted in an early age?

I came across a really intersting meta-analysis which suggests that psychopathy may be an adaptation, rather than a mental disorder. The meta-analysis includes 16 studies that investigated the association between psychopathy and handedness in various populations. Although psychopathy is already widespread as a mental disorder among the scientific community, “an alternative, evolution-minded perspective has been proposed: that psychopathy is instead a life history strategy of social exploitation maintained by negative frequency-dependent selection,” write Lesleigh E. Pullman and colleagues. According to the evolutionary view, the risk taking, opportunistic, and callous behavior exhibited by psychopaths would have increased reproductive success in ancestral environments under certain conditions (such as a high ratio of cooperators to psychopaths). Consequently, these traits would have been favored by selection over successive generations. This study concerns a meta-analysis of one testable hypothesis related to the debate concerning psychopathy as a mental disorder versus an alternative life history strategy: the extent to which psychopathic individuals are more or less likely to exhibit signs of neurodevelopmental perturbations compared to nonpsychopathic individuals. Neurodevelopmental perturbations are difficult to assess directly, but can be measured indirectly. Nonright-handedness (left-handedness, mixed-handedness) is a sign of neurodevelopmental problems (Brandler & Paracchini, 2014; Carlsson et al., 1992; Oh et al., 2009; Orsini & Satz, 1986; for a review, see Schmitz et al., 2017; c.f. Bishop, 1990). Therefore, this meta-analysis focuses on an accessible proxy for neurodevelopmental perturbations: the extent to which psychopaths are more likely to display nonright-handedness compared to nonpsychopathic individuals. The results indicate that Pullman and colleagues did not find support for the mental disorder model of psychopathy, with the meta-analysis providing partial support for the adaptive life history model of psychopathy. -There were no differences in the rate of non right-handedness between community participants scoring high (vs. low) in psychopathy. -And while there was no difference in rates of non right-handedness between psychopathic (vs. non psychopathic) offenders, there was a tendency for those with higher scores on the interpersonal/affective dimension of psychopathy to have lower rates of non right-handedness, while those scoring higher on the behavioural dimension had higher rates of non right-handedness. -The behavioural dimension of psychopathy may be “conceptually more similar to [antisocial personality disorder] and life-course-persistent offending.” -Lastly, there were no differences in rates of non right-handedness between psychopathic (vs. non psychopathic) mental health patients. Resources: Meta-analysis suggests psychopathy may be an adaptation, rather than a mental disorder, byMane Kara-Yakoubian https://www.psypost.org/2022/03/meta-analysis-suggests-psychopathy-may-be-an-adaptation-rather-than-a-mental-disorder-62723 The study, “Is Psychopathy a Mental Disorder or an Adaptation? Evidence From a Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Psychopathy and Handedness”, was authored by Lesleigh E. Pullman, Nabhan Refaie, Martin L. Lalumière, and DB Krupp. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14747049211040447

I see so many people playing mind games in relationships nowadays and the frequency of it concerns me. What might be the reason why so many people are playing mind games even in their closest relationships nowadays? Could it be because of the influence of social media and all of the "fake love advices" about how should a person behave in a relationship or is more likely tо be a personality trait or disorder? Feel free to share your thouhts on this, I'd love to hear different perspectives!

In his book Analyzing Criminal Minds: Forensic Investigative Science for the 21st Century the author Don Jacobs shares some great insights about some of the main characteristics and behavioural differences between male and female serial killers. Although female rates may be lower than those of males, it is beginning to emerge from the research that males and females may vary in the manners in which they exhibit psychopathic criteria ( Weizmann-Henelius, Viemero, & Eronen, 2004 ). Here's a short and interesting comparison I made after reading the book: - Male killer tends to gravitate toward traditionally masculine occupations ( Jacobs, 2003 ), most likely in an effort to restore and assert the masculinity that has been taken from them in their personal lives and that they aim to recapture via serial murder. The female serial killer tends to gravitate to traditionally female occupations ( Schurman-Kaufl in, 2000 ), sometimes referred to as “pink-collar” jobs (Keeney & Heide, 2006), such as nursing and caregiving roles ( Freiet al., 2006 ; Keeney & Heide, 2006). These women generally come from homes in which traditional male-female roles are perpetuated and caregiving is what they know how and have been socialized to do ( Schurman-Kaufl in, 2000 ). - Males generally are mobile in their hunt for victims and seek out strangers to kill rather than people they know ( Jacobs, 2003 ). Women generally kill victims with whom they are either acquainted or with whom they have a personal relationship, such as husbands, children, and patients ( Frei et al., 2006 ). In fact, those in the custodial care of female serial killers are most often their victims, nearly 43 percent, with family members coming in second at 37 percent, and strangers, acquaintances, and lovers to whom they are not married constituting the fi nal 20 percent ( Frei et al., 2006 ). - Male killers exhibit clear stalking behaviors, such as trolling for victims and actively pursuing the ones they desire, showing clear preference for a specifi c type of victim above all others ( Jacobs, 2003 ; Keeney & Heide, 2006). Generally, the type of victim selected is believed to correspond to the individual in the killer ’s own life whom he would like to eliminate but cannot because of the power that person exerts over him ( Jacobs, 2003 ). Female psychopathic serial killers tend to further divert from the path of the males by engaging in covert killing methods ( Perri & Lichtenwald, 2010 ). Poison often emerges as the weapon of choice ( Frei et al., 2006 ; Keeney & Heide, 2006; Perri & Lichtenwald, 2010 ; Schurman-Kaufl in, 2000 ) with suffocation and asphyxiation also being popular methods for murder ( Perri & Lichtenwald, 2010 ; Schurman-Kaufl in, 2000 ) " Like the spider on her web, female killers generally lure rather than stalk their victims in ways such as posting ads for boarders, ensnaring husbands and lovers, and engaging in prostitution (Keeney & Heide, 2006). " -Motivations for committing their crimes. Males, who tend to score higher on aggression, social dominance, and agency Psychopathy Checklist– Revised (PCL-R) scales than women ( Hicks et al., 2010 ; Keeney & Heide, 2006), seek to gain power. Females in addition to killing children, both her own biological children as well as those in her care, female psychopaths are highly more likely than males to abandon or neglect their biological children ( Warren & South, 2006 ; Weizmann-Henelius et al., 2004 ). It is speculated that this happens in part because, during pregnancy, the woman commands the attention others, which feeds her narcissism, but this attention shifts to the child once it is born. Getting rid of the child may be a way of reconciling this injury to her grandiose self-image ( Perri & Lichtenwald, 2010 ). - Psychological disorders: Male psychopathic serial killers are unique in some of the psychological disorders that frequently present comorbidly with their psychopathy. APD is a frequent additional diagnosis, especially when the criteria are met in childhood ( Forouzan & Cooke, 2005 ). Additionally, the deviant sexual aspects of the crimes frequently are explained by the presence of sadism in the personality of the offender ( Forouzan & Cooke, 2005 ). In terms of diagnoses comorbid with psychopathy, females exhibit some of the same psychological disorders seen in males and others that are unique to the female gender. Female psychopathy is frequently comorbid with APD, especially adult criteria ( Forouzan & Cooke, 2005 ; Weizmann-Henelius et al., 2004 ), which stands in contrast to the male version in which childhood criteria is the factor of greater significance. Additionally, attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a signifi cant correlate to female psychopathy, especially the characteristics of callousness, a lack of empathy, and impulsivity and irresponsibility ( Sevecke, Lehmkuhl, & Krischer 2009 ). Also commonly diagnosed are histrionic, borderline, and paranoid personality disorders ( Strand & Belfrage, 2005 ; Weizmann-Henelius et al., 2004 ). Females also score higher on stress reaction, social closeness, and behavioral constraint PCL-R scales than men ( Hicks et al., 2010 ) and are more likely to have a psychiatric history than males (Sevekce, Lehmkuhl, & Krischer, 2009). Furthermore, they display significantly higher levels of anxious, depressive, self-harming, and suicidal behaviors than males ( Sevecke, Kosson, & Krischer 2009 ). . . . Don Jacobs, (2011) Analyzing Criminal Minds: Forensic Investigative Science for the 21st century

I found this fascinating article by Jed Diamond, PhD, is the author of 16 books on Gender Medicine and Men’s Health. He talks about male irritability, anger, and violence as huge problems in today’s world, but he believes that the root is in this "feeling of loneliness and emptyness" men often feel. He explains that like most boys growing up, he was taught to suppress his feelings, to be tough, never to show weakness. Also, like most children, he needed love, care, nurturing, and support which were not always available in his family. Here are some interesting reads of the article I singled out: Vivek H. Murthy, M.D. is the 19th Surgeon General of the United States. In his book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, he says, “During my years caring for patients, the most common condition I saw was not heart disease or diabetes; it was loneliness.” The problem definitely isn’t about hearts and flowers and diamonds in the sky. He says, “Loneliness is the root cause and contributor to many of the epidemics sweeping the world today—from alcohol and drug addiction to violence to depression and anxiety.” He also recognizes the unique impact on men and the way it is connected to male anger. “For years, researchers have observed a connection between loneliness and violence,” says Dr. Murthy. “As evolutionary research has taught us, the main reason for this behavior is fear, sometimes amounting to terror, that becomes embedded in the trauma of loneliness.” World-renowned psychiatrist Frieda Fromm-Reichman recognized that men who suffered from loneliness were often unwilling to admit to being lonely. “I think that this may be in part determined by the fact that loneliness is a most unpopular phenomenon in this group-conscious culture,” she wrote. She went on to observe: “Lonely men often end up alienating those closest to them with their antisocial behavior. They would rage or withdraw, hurl insults or feign indifference. Though craving human company, they pushed people away.” According to studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health, “Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.” According to a study by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, “Lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and its greater than the risk associated with excess alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity.” He also mentions what he learned throuh the years and underlines the importance of understanding how loneliness can undermine our health and well-being. https://www.willitsnews.com/2020/12/14/loneliness-the-hidden-problem-at-the-root-of-male-irritability-anger-and-violence/

-What are some of the main Forensic Implications of Dissociative Identity Disorder? -Can you share some informative/interesting research articles on this topic?

Do you believe drug legalization could have positive impact on decreasing crime rate? What are the pros and cons of drug legalization?

What happens when a child commits a serious crime such as killing someone?

I was doing some research on the main factors that lead to suicide in young people and came across this really informative article which gives a short overview of the most important risk factors for late school-age children and adolescents, as established by scientific research in this domain. Key risk factors found were: mental disorders, previous suicide attempts, specific personality characteristics, genetic loading and family processes in combination with triggering psychosocial stressors, exposure to inspiring models and availability of means of committing suicide. Further unraveling and knowledge of the complex interplay of these factors is highly relevant with regard to the development of effective prevention strategy plans for youth suicide. Here are some of the insights that really took my attention: -About 90% of people who commit suicide have suffered from at least one mental disorder. Mental disorders are found to contribute between 47 and 74% of suicide risk. - Criteria for depression were found in 50–65% of suicide cases, more often among females than males. Substance abuse, and more specifically alcohol misuse, is also strongly associated with suicide risk, especially in older adolescents and males. -Many studies find a strong link between previous suicide attempts, or a history of self-harm, and suicide. About 25–33% of all cases of suicide were preceded by an earlier suicide attempt, a phenomenon that was more prevalent among boys than girls. -Suicide is associated with impulsivity . Although we know that a suicidal process can take weeks, months or even years, the fatal transition from suicidal ideation and suicide attempts to an actual completed suicide often occurs suddenly, unexpectedly and impulsively, especially among adolescents. -It is estimated that in 50% of youth suicide cases, family factors are involved. One important factor is a history of mental disorders among direct family members themselves, especially depression and substance abuse. -Interpersonal losses such as relationship break-ups, the death of friends and peer rejection may have a great impact in youth, and are found in one fifth of youth suicide cases. For further information check out the following article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6218408/#B15

Is Battered Woman Syndrome recognized by the law as a legal defense?

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. In the last few centuries depression has become so common (especially among young people) and the numbers of people dealing with depression are constantly on the rise. My question is: Why is the number of depressed people constantly on the rise? I'm also interested in your personal opinions so feel free to share your thoughts.

I found an interesting article that presents a list of tips collected by the experience of mental health experts who've extensively interviewed serial killers. One of them is the Psychologist James Garbarino, who’s interviewed killers for over two decades, attempts to find their human side so he can explain their crimes in court. He believes that one’s past pain can influence one’s later infliction of pain on others. In-depth analysis of an array of facts from multiple domains of an offender’s life becomes crucial in this process. “What does it take to really listen to killers?” he asks. “I believe it all starts with a fundamental refusal to dissociate and disconnect from their humanity.” ” Empathy with others generally comes naturally; with killers, it requires a mindful effort. Yet this effort must be made, he says, because “understanding them is the key to begin making a safer, less violent society.” Check out the following article for more insight on this topic: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shadow-boxing/202201/how-experts-extract-information-serial-killers

Do Forensic Investigators use Graphology to determine the personality traits of an individual?