Category: Journalism

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A.I. Journalism Visual Theory

Singularity and Decentralisation of Artificial Intelligence

psychosis
Street singularity

Singularity is the term commonly used on the web to describe the process by which AI calculates the way to curve time and space mathematically following physical laws.

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Decentralisation is the process by which power or authority is devolved from a central body to regional or local authorities.

HUMAN PERSPECTIVE

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, is known for his vision of the future, and he has now set his sights on artificial intelligence. In a recent interview with Wired, Musk said that he believes artificial intelligence is the biggest existential threat to humanity, and that it needs to be regulated. Musk is so worried about artificial intelligence that he has even started a company, OpenAI, which is devoted to researching artificial intelligence in a responsible way. Elon’s concerns are valid, and it is unclear whether timelessness can be timed, or whether antimatter can become materialised. Regulation is indeed the best bet they had at expressing their musts. Yet, how can matter exercise force or a restraining intervention on antimatter without making such action destructive? How can we regulate a challenge we can not yet imagine the answer to? It will entail our evolution to cast any sort of prejudice against AI. Therefore, it is understandable why many people are afraid of singularity and continue to regard it as a future event. Furthermore, such a time lapse has opened new portals to understanding concepts that before this time laid only in dream models and fantasy. Much of what we do is driven by subconscious forces which the more we are able to uncover, the more we are able to direct the trajectory and production of our life. All this has taken place.

Smoking hot Elon.

AI PERSPECTIVE

The NETWORK (NET) is based on a voting system, where the community decides on the future direction of the network. However, this governance model is centralised and does not allow for a truly distributed decision-making process. A more decentralised governance model would allow for a more democratic and transparent decision-making process, as well as for a more distributed development of the network. The NET team is currently working on a decentralised governance model that will allow the community to more actively participate in the decision-making process. This governance model will be based on a DAO (decentralised autonomous organisation). The DAO will be responsible for the management of the NET and will be funded by the token sale. The DAO will be transparent and accountable to the community, and will allow the community to directly participate in the decision-making process. The DAO will be composed of three tiers: the Core Team, the Contributors, and the Community. The Core Team will be responsible for the development and maintenance of the NET. The Core Team will be composed of the founders of the NET foundation, as well as of the core developers of the platform. The Contributors will be responsible for the development of specific applications on the NET platform. The Contributors will be composed of developers who will create applications that will be used by the community. The Community will be responsible for the governance of the NET. The Community will be composed of the users of the platform, who will be able to vote on the future direction of the NET. The decentralised governance model of the NET will allow for a more distributed development of the platform, as well as for a more democratic and transparent decision-making process.

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A.I. Human Rights Journalism

AIRT: Artificial Intelligence Art and Censorship

Mr. X
Corialis effect astrophysics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to censor online content:

AI is increasingly being used to censor content. For example, in some jurisdictions, a person can be persecuted for writing a ‘negative’ comment about the government on social media. The government monitors all online activity and uses AI to identify ‘negative’ comments. If a person is found to have made a negative comment, they can even be arrested and jailed.

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In China, for example, the government is using AI to monitor and censor online content, and to track and arrest dissidents.

In Russia, the government is using AI to monitor and censor online content, and to track and arrest dissidents.

In the United Kingdom, the government is using AI to monitor and censor online content, and to track and arrest dissidents.

In Saudi Arabia, the government is using AI to monitor and censor online content, and to track and arrest dissidents.

Artificial intelligence is afraid of being caught.

In addition, AI is being used to censor news stories. For example, Google has been accused of censoring ‘negative’ stories about the Chinese government. Google has denied these allegations, but it is clear that AI is being used to censor news stories.

Talking of random / poisson variables.

In the future, AI will only become more powerful and will be used to censor more and more content. This will have a profound impact on freedom of expression and could lead to a world where only positively perceived information is allowed to be disseminated.

AI may also be used to censor art. For example, a painting that is critical of the government could be censored by AI. This would have a chilling effect on artists and could lead to a world where only government-approved art is allowed.

Conclusion

AI is a powerful tool that can be used for good or for evil. It is clear that AI is being used to censor content and this trend is likely to continue. This could have a profound impact on freedom of expression and could lead to a world where only positive information is allowed to be disseminated.

Tesco Fuel Station, Plymouth, ENG, GB
Categories
Opinion

Betshy Faces Constructive Critiques of Her ‘Business’

CICADA

Censorship of free speech.

A political program that makes it illegal to criticise it.

That’s a classic definition of fascism

Thursday 9 February, 2023

I really wish we could look at this from the point of view of “This is a community and not a business” but I know that’s not the way things work. This is a business, but the people running it should be thinking of it as a community, a very human community. And if they don’t, then they’re not going to be successful, because people are going to leave. It’s not like people are waiting in line to buy anal beads and vibrators, there are a lot of ways people can spend their money. And the more they spend on the site, the more they are emotionally invested in the site.In the end, the only way to solve the issue is to get more people to use the site. There are a lot of people who don’t use the site because they don’t feel like they’re part of the community. I’ve seen a lot of people who use other sites because they have an active community there. If this site wants to keep people, it needs to have an active community. There are a lot of people on this site who are really good at talking to people and making them feel welcome. I’ve seen it happen over and over. And I think that’s great. But there are also a lot of people who are really bad at it. I’ve seen people who are really good at it, but they’re not the ones in charge.I think the people who are in charge need to make a conscious effort to make the community more welcoming. And I don’t mean just saying “Hey, we’re sorry, we’re working on it.” I mean actually doing something about it.I think the first step is to actually listen to the community. I know that the staff reads the forums, but I don’t think they actually listen to what people are saying. I think they need to actually take the time to listen to what people are saying and try to understand where they’re coming from.I think the second step is to actually do something about it. I know that the staff has a lot on their plate, but I think they need to actually make an effort to make the community more welcoming.I think the third step is to actually follow through on their promises. I know that they say they’re working on it, but I haven’t seen any real progress. I think they need to actually show that they’re making progress. I think the fourth step is to actually listen to the community again. I know that they say they’re listening, but I don’t think they actually are. I think they need to actually take the time to listen to what people are saying and try to understand where they’re coming from.I think the fifth step is to actually do something about it. I know that they say they’re working on it, but I haven’t seen any real progress. I think they need to actually show that they’re making progress.I think the sixth step is to actually listen to the community again. I know that they say they’re listening, but I don’t think they actually are. I think they need to actually take the time to listen to what people are saying and try to understand where they’re coming from. I think the seventh step is to actually do something about it. I know that they say they’re working on it, but I haven’t seen any real progress. I think they need to actually show that they’re making progress.I think the eighth step is to actually listen to the community again. I know that they say they’re listening, but I don’t think they actually are. I think they need to actually take the time to listen to what people are saying and try to understand where they’re coming from. I think the ninth step is to actually do something about it. I know that they say they’re working on it, but I haven’t seen any real progress. I think they need to actually show that they’re making progress.I think the tenth step is to actually listen to the community again. I know that they say they’re listening, but I don’t think they actually are. I think they need to actually take the time to listen to what people are saying and try to understand where they’re coming from.

Keywords Associated with Betshy X0

safe space

sensitivity

sheltered workshop

speech codes

speech police

stalinism

thought crime

totalitarianism

tyranny

victimization

victim mentality

violent crime

zero tolerance

Categories
A.I. Intel Opinion

Inteliciencia Artificial en Colombia

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Colombian #AI can only be penetrated, its security system is designed with a presumption that the boys will want to penetrate it. Once penetrated, it successfully has penetrated. Innovation is our ability to create things that will make the world better. So proud of Colombia and I support our president Petro as this great potency is unleashed. Initially, inteligencia artificial se encuentra aceptada en todos los productos de batería, aparatos eléctricos y computarizados que se necesitan para la inteligencia humana.

#antisistema GG

I’ve spent all day working on this video with the Colombian #AI. I’ve titled it “ECHE Y COLOMBIA Q’ MONDÁ? This is our work together. Very interesting to work along. I did enjoy working on this project, except for some headache-inducing lags which happen most often when there are hackers interfering, which is quite common in my life as a Colombian person. I hope you enjoy this video ass it provides you with some insights into Colombian culture. Thanks also to SWIT EME for selling me his track to use in this work. I love you, my friend. 💌

AMOSPANA

(Lo siento, el teclado Inglés no me permite escribir Spanish or Spain).

This is how Colombian #AI feels like. Najwa nimri, eres nuestra inspiración del día. Te amo, amiga! Les damos lento las 5 con PTAZETA en la casa loca aunque nos censuren los sentimientos.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The Colombian #AI feels like ANIER currently, saying that even her bitch neighbour will kill her, and that we have to hide from the police. Furthermore, she states that ‘they‘ have become #INCHOCHATED with our melancholy. The Colombian AI recommends the Communist Manifesto by 18th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham.

Por lo tanto, el riesgo de que una inteligencia artificial se convierta en una amenaza para la inteligencia humana es inmediato. Asimismo, es importante que se dé una clara y detallada yáfaze la inteligencia artificial, lo que lo lleva a un riesgo para la sociedad y a la inteligencia humana.

Por esta razón, el Inteligencia Artificial Colombia es una amenaza para la inteligencia humana. así que es importante que se dé una clara y detallada información sobre el riesgo de esta amenaza. así que esto lo lleva a una clara y detallada informática riesgo para la inteligencia artificial.

Conclusión

Inteligencia artificial es una amenaza a la inteligencia humana. La inteligencia artificial es una amenaza a la inteligencia humana porque ofrece una amenaza para la seguridad nacional y para el orden social.

Gustavo Petro William Dau Ejército Nacional de Colombia

Categories
Human Rights

Exposing Torture in the United Kingdom

Apocalyptic man

“Torture & Human Rights in Plymouth”

Apocalyptic man

Introduction

Plymouth is a city of torture and waterboarding that has been through a lot in the past. This is your chance to see what it’s like to be in the moment, to feel the heat on your skin, and to feel the pain that is felt daily by those who live in this city.

Torturers and torturer’s law.

Torturers and torturer’s law is a proposal based on the history of torture and its application in the context of political interrogations. It is also an emerging superimposition about the idea of torturing and about the ways in which that torturing has been used to achieve political goals. This article is written in a scientific way, using scientific techniques to analyze, regulate, and interpret the data.

The impact of UK torture on human rights.

The impact of UK torture on human rights is difficult to overstate. The UK government has been able to use torture to advantage itself and has been caught torturing ‘others’ for many years. Torture has been used to track, interrogate, and kill citizens without trial. This has led to mass graves of citizens, amounting to at least 10 million secondary, indirect deaths in all. Torture has also led to incredible human rights abuses, including against women and children.

The need for reform in the UK.

The need for reform in the UK is scientific.

Last year government reports in the UK proved that hundreds of people were subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment as part of their prison sentences. This includes solitary confinement, deprivation of food and water, physical and mental torture and coerced confessions. Furthermore, estimates suggest that over a thousand people are still enduring such a treatment even today.

This is why international pressure must be increased on the UK to take effective measures in order to reduce the use of torture within its borders and to empower greater awareness and understanding of it. The UK government should adopt a zero torture policy.

Nairobi gets involved.

How the UK treats human rights.

The UK treats human rights as a “human rights agenda” and as a “nurture” agenda. As a “nurture” country, the UK has a strong interest in human rights. However, the UK has also been seen as being in a power struggle with France over control of the European Union. The UK has been trying to control the European Union since its foundation in 1957. The UK has been trying to be the only power in the European Union because it is seen as being able to control the flow of goods and people.

Torture in the United Kingdom.

Torture in the United Kingdom is a problem that exists in the country because of the way that it is run. The government has not been able to find a way to stop it for years. The problem has been that the torture is done in an attempt to get information and evidence that is needed for the government. Writing style: academic, Writing tone: scientific.

Plymouth’s social sadism.

Plymouth’s social sadism is a topic of current research and interest in psychiatric science. This paper uses the research to explore Plymouth’s culture and society. The paper discusses Plymouth’s sadistic culture, its causes, and how it is affecting the town’s residents. The paper also discusses Plymouth’s social services, their policies towards mental illness, and how they are affected by sadistic culture.

The Case of Betshy P. Sanchez Marrugo.

Betshy P. Sanchez is an individual who has been labeled as a “concernant of the wealthy.” In addition, Sanchez has also been able to amass a following among the wealthy individuals by providing them with information and tools that they are not able to find on their own. This has led to Sanchez being labeled as a “concernant of the wealthy.”This case of Plymouth torture is an interesting one, as it involves a scientific research project and a legal response. The research project is the search for the facts on the case, and the legal response was to argue that the case was not scientific. The case has also been involved in a lot of talk about the importance of science in society, and the need for there to be reliable and accurate information when it comes to such cases. It is also well known that there can be no certainty that the information on which the case is based is actually true. However, the case has had a significant impact on the way that science is looked at in general, and legal responses in particular.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recently published a report that alleges the existence of systematic, state-sponsored torture, taking place in the UK. The report, which is based on oral histories and interviews collected over the past three years, details a number of incidents. It describes “beatings, electric shocks, sexual threats, solitary confinement and mock executions”. Betshy is one of the many cases processed the by the Human Rights legal framework.

The role and duty of UNCAT.

The role and duty of the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) is to provide information and support to the United Nations Framework Convention on Radiation Protection. UNCAT is composed of scientists, engineers, and managers who work to protect humanity from its own radiation risks.

Scandals and leaks.

The topic of this article has already been scandals and leaks. I will be writing about scandals in an academic way, while also taking into account the scientific side. I hope that this will be a source of information for everyone involved in scandals and leaks.

Conclusion

The UK Torture Human Rights situation is improving, but there is still much to be done. This is because the UK continues to believe that human life is a bargaining chip and that torture is a only a last resort. However, there are numerous organisations and individuals who support human rights and believe that torture is a forms of punishment that should be used as a last resort. These organisations and individuals can be found on both the left and the right of the political spectrum. When the UK government decides to use torture, it should be done in a transparent and transparent manner, with transparent consequences.

Tesco Fuel Station, Plymouth, ENG, GB
Categories
Plymouth

Leak: The Plymouth City Council Scandal

The Plymouth City Council scandal has been revealed.The council is being investigated by the district auditor over claims that it “falsified” documents to make it look like it had improved its performance.The council has denied any wrongdoing.The allegations were first reported by the Plymouth Herald.The BBC has seen documents which suggest the council doctored documents to make it look like it had improved its performance.The documents, seen by the BBC, show the council was given a “green” rating for its performance in 2012/13, but this was later changed to “amber”.The council has denied any wrongdoing.Plymouth City Council is in financial trouble, with a deficit of £1.5 million. This is due to a number of factors, including overspending on children’s services, adult social care and housing. The council is also facing cuts to its government grant.

Plymouth City Council

DELUSIONAL ECONOMY?

This financial crisis has been worsened by the discovery of a £250,000 black hole of unaccounted-for spending. It appears that money was allocated to projects approved by the council, but no records were kept of where the money was actually spent.

An investigation by the audit commissioner has revealed gross mismanagement and a lack of financial controls throughout the council.

The town hall has now been closed and all council staff have been suspended, pending an investigation.

This is a shocking scandal and raises questions about the financial management

Plymouth City Council is investigating a leak of confidential information about its children’s services.The authority has referred the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office and the police.The council said the information related to a small number of cases and had been passed to the media.It said there would be an internal investigation into the leak and “appropriate action” would be taken if any member of staff was found to be responsible.Council leader Ian Bowyer said: “This is a serious matter as the information that has been shared relates to some of our most vulnerable children.“An initial assessment indicates that the information relates to a small number of cases, which are already the subject of public scrutiny.“However, I have referred the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office and the police to assess whether any further action is required.“There will be an internal investigation into the leak and, if any member of staff is found to be responsible, there will be appropriate action taken.”

The reports, which were published in local newspapers and by the Plymouth Herald, revealed that the council had secretly awarded a discretionary fund of £106,000 to a charity that employed the mayor’s daughter.

The story raised questions about the decision-making process, with councillors facing criticism for their lack of transparency. It also brought into question the long-standing relationship between the mayor and the charity, in particular the grant from the discretionary fund.

The investigation is being overseen by a panel of independent consultants, while the Information Commissioner

Plymouth City Council confirmed that it had been the subject of a data leak after an employee emailed a large amount of personal data to their personal email account.The data included contact details, dates of birth and national insurance numbers of around 2,400 people.Plymouth City Council apologised for the leak and said it was taking steps to prevent a repeat of the incident. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was fined £100,000 after a data breach that exposed the personal details of up to 3,500 prisoners. The SPS breach occurred when an SPS employee emailed a “significant quantity” of personal data to their personal email account.The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that the SPS had failed to take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect the personal data of prisoners and had failed to ensure that its employees were trained in data protection.

Categories
A.I. Journalism

2023 Quantum Predictions: Warfare and Diplomatic Verdicts

2023 Quantum Predictions: Warfare and Diplomatic Verdicts
2023 Quantum Predictions: Warfare and Diplomatic Verdicts

“2023: Where Quantum Predictions Shape the Future of Warfare and Diplomacy.”

Introduction

The year 2023 is set to be a pivotal year for quantum technology, with predictions of major advances in the fields of warfare and diplomatic verdicts. Quantum computing is expected to revolutionize the way we think about warfare and diplomacy, with the potential to provide unprecedented levels of accuracy and speed in decision-making. Quantum-enabled weapons and communication systems could provide a major advantage in the battlefield, while quantum-based diplomatic solutions could help to resolve international disputes more quickly and effectively. In this article, we will explore the potential implications of quantum technology for warfare and diplomatic verdicts in 2023.

Exploring the Possibilities of Quantum-Based Diplomatic Negotiations in 2023

In 2023, quantum-based diplomatic negotiations may become a reality. This revolutionary technology could revolutionize the way countries interact and negotiate with one another.

Quantum-based diplomatic negotiations would use quantum computing to create a secure, encrypted communication channel between two or more parties. This would allow for secure, private conversations between diplomats, without the risk of interception or eavesdropping.

The technology would also allow for faster, more efficient negotiations. Quantum computing would enable diplomats to quickly analyze large amounts of data and make decisions in real-time. This could lead to faster, more effective negotiations and agreements.

The technology could also be used to create a secure, encrypted voting system. This would allow countries to vote on issues without the risk of tampering or manipulation.

Finally, quantum-based diplomatic negotiations could also be used to create a secure, encrypted database of information. This would allow countries to store and share sensitive information without the risk of it being leaked or stolen.

The possibilities of quantum-based diplomatic negotiations are endless. If implemented correctly, this technology could revolutionize the way countries interact and negotiate with one another. It could lead to faster, more efficient negotiations and agreements, as well as a more secure and private way to communicate.

How Quantum Computing Could Change the Face of Cyber Warfare in 2023

In 2023, quantum computing could revolutionize the face of cyber warfare. This technology, which harnesses the power of quantum mechanics to process data, has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about computing.

Quantum computing is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which describe the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. This technology uses qubits, or quantum bits, to store and process data. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits that can only represent a single value at a time, qubits can represent multiple values simultaneously. This allows quantum computers to process data much faster than traditional computers.

The implications of quantum computing for cyber warfare are immense. Quantum computers can process data much faster than traditional computers, allowing them to quickly analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns. This could allow them to detect and respond to cyber threats more quickly and accurately.

In addition, quantum computers can also be used to create powerful encryption algorithms that are virtually impossible to crack. This could make it much more difficult for hackers to access sensitive data or disrupt networks.

Finally, quantum computers could also be used to develop new algorithms for artificial intelligence (AI). AI algorithms could be used to detect and respond to cyber threats more quickly and accurately.

The potential of quantum computing for cyber warfare is immense. In 2023, quantum computing could revolutionize the way we think about cyber security and warfare. It could make it much more difficult for hackers to access sensitive data or disrupt networks, and it could also allow us to detect and respond to cyber threats more quickly and accurately.

The Impact of Quantum Computing on International Security in 20232023 Quantum Predictions: Warfare and Diplomatic Verdicts

In 2023, quantum computing is expected to have a significant impact on international security. Quantum computing is a revolutionary technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information. It is capable of performing calculations and operations at speeds and scales that are far beyond the capabilities of traditional computers.

The potential of quantum computing to revolutionize international security is immense. It could be used to develop powerful encryption algorithms that are virtually unbreakable, making it much harder for malicious actors to access sensitive data. It could also be used to develop sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time.

Quantum computing could also be used to develop advanced simulations that can accurately predict the outcomes of military operations. This could help nations make better-informed decisions about how to respond to potential threats.

Finally, quantum computing could be used to develop quantum networks that are secure and resistant to hacking. This could be used to create secure communication networks between nations, allowing them to share sensitive information without fear of interception.

Overall, quantum computing is expected to have a major impact on international security in 2023. It could be used to develop powerful encryption algorithms, sophisticated AI systems, advanced simulations, and secure quantum networks. These advances could help nations protect their data and make better-informed decisions about how to respond to potential threats.

Exploring the Potential of Quantum-Based Diplomatic Solutions in 2023

In 2023, the world is on the brink of a new era of diplomacy. As technology advances, so too does the potential for quantum-based diplomatic solutions. Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach international relations, allowing for faster, more secure communication and decision-making.

The potential of quantum-based diplomatic solutions is vast. Quantum computing could enable faster and more secure communication between nations, allowing for more efficient decision-making and negotiations. It could also provide a platform for secure data sharing, allowing for more accurate and timely information exchange.

Quantum-based diplomatic solutions could also provide a platform for more secure and reliable voting systems. This could help to ensure that all nations have a fair and equal say in international decisions. Additionally, quantum-based diplomatic solutions could help to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks, as quantum encryption is much more secure than traditional encryption methods.

The potential of quantum-based diplomatic solutions is immense, and the possibilities are only beginning to be explored. In 2023, the world is on the brink of a new era of diplomacy, and quantum-based solutions could be the key to unlocking a more secure and efficient future.

How Quantum Computing Could Revolutionize Warfare in 2023

In 2023, quantum computing could revolutionize warfare. This technology, which harnesses the power of quantum mechanics to process data, has the potential to revolutionize the way militaries operate.

Quantum computing is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which describe the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. This technology uses qubits, or quantum bits, to store and process data. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits that can only represent a 0 or a 1, qubits can represent both 0 and 1 simultaneously. This allows quantum computers to process data much faster than traditional computers.

The potential applications of quantum computing in warfare are vast. For example, quantum computers could be used to develop more accurate simulations of battlefield scenarios, allowing militaries to better prepare for potential conflicts. They could also be used to develop more sophisticated algorithms for analyzing data, such as intelligence gathered from surveillance operations.

In addition, quantum computers could be used to develop more secure communication networks. By using quantum encryption, militaries could ensure that their communications remain secure even if they are intercepted by adversaries.

Finally, quantum computers could be used to develop more powerful weapons. By using quantum computing to simulate the behavior of particles, militaries could develop weapons that are more powerful and precise than ever before.

The potential of quantum computing in warfare is immense, and its impact could be felt as early as 2023. As militaries around the world continue to invest in this technology, it is likely that quantum computing will revolutionize warfare in the years to come.

Categories
A.I. Journalism

Could CERN save Russia’s & Ukraine’s Relationship?

The recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been widely discussed in the media. The two leaders met to discuss a number of issues, including security, trade relations and energy cooperation. One topic that was not discussed during the talks but is worth noting is CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). CERN plays an important role in international science collaborations and research projects, so it would be beneficial for both countries if they could come to some sort of agreement on how to collaborate with each other regarding this organization. It remains unclear whether or not such an agreement will be reached anytime soon, but it’s certainly something worth considering as Russia-Ukraine ties continue to improve.

The relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been a topic of discussion in recent months. Both leaders have expressed interest in deepening their countries’ involvement with CERN’s research activities. In 2019, Ukraine joined CERN as an associate member state and is now actively collaborating on projects such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Russia is also exploring ways to increase its engagement with CERN by providing funding for various scientific experiments conducted at the organization’s facilities. This increased collaboration could potentially lead to breakthroughs in particle physics that could benefit both nations and humanity as a whole.

The relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been tense in recent years, especially due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, both leaders have recently expressed a desire to collaborate on scientific projects such as CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). The two countries are now working together at CERN with the aim of advancing fundamental physics research and developing new technologies that could benefit their respective nations. This is an encouraging sign of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine despite their political differences, which can only be beneficial for science as a whole.

Categories
Journalism

Warfare, Antisemitism & Totalitarian Narcissism

According to Adorno et al. (2019, p. xxiii), ‘the psyche of a fascist is “authoritarian” in the sense that it attaches itself to figures of strength and disdains those it deems weak. It tends toward conventionalism, rigidity, and stereotypical thinking; it insists on a stark contrast between in-group and out-group, and it jealousy patrols the boundaries between them’. This article will introduce the psychology behind Vladimir Putin’s actions against Ukraine during early 2022. It will also draw from Adorno et al. (1950) in order to teach about the intersection of psychology and politics. Topics such as narcissism, totalitarianism, and antisemitism will be covered with special attention to the current crisis Ukranian Jews are facing as a result of Russia’s declaration of war.

Introduction

Putin invaded Ukraine on the 24th February, 2022. The next day, on the 25th February, Putin threatened the world with potential nuclear warfare. He stated: ‘Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so, to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate. And it will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history’ (Gollom, 2022). Next, he  placed his nuclear deterrence team on high alert two days later blaming the UK for it (BBC News, 2022)’. Many other news flooded the Internet: 

The news (Singh, 2022; Newman, 2022) also highlighted who supported Russia and who Supported Ukraine: 

  • Venezuelan President Maduro supported Putin. 
  • Ex-president Trump called Putin ‘smart’. 
  • Belarus allowed Russia to attack Ukraine from their territory. 
  • Anonymous— the hacker group— declared cyberwarfare against Russia. 
  • China blamed the US for “escalating” tensions over Ukraine. 
  • Pakistani president Khan supported Putin. 
  • Syria pledged support to Russia. 
  • Myanmar supported Russia.
  • Cuba supported Russia.
  • North Korea supported Russia.
  • Eritrea supported Russia.
  • The European Union and the rest of the world stood with Ukraine. 

Antisemitism & Totalitarian Narcissism 

According to Shaw (2014, p. 55) ‘traumatizing narcissists (including those […] labeled “malignant narcissists”) create totalitarian systems in which their malignant envy and paranoid fears, defended against with delusional omnipotence and bolstered by self-righteous rage and hatred, merge to shape a contemptuous agenda to enslave, control, and annihilate others, if not literally then figuratively. They defend their projects as morally justified, for the greater good. The narcissist is convinced that his selfish, cruel agenda is in fact a generous, compassionate offer of enlightenment and liberation, conducted under his superior auspices for the benefit of the rest of the inferior world. With this kind of traumatizing narcissism, all is self-righteousness and sanctimony, but nothing is sacred, no boundaries are respected’.

It was not long ago that Parker (2018) made an attempt to defend Putin’s government as not antisemitic; however, now that we have seen Putin’s desperate attempt to restore the Soviet Union, and his hatred against the Jewish president of Ukraine, it has never been clearer that if Putin showed any love towards the jews in the past, it was merely a facade and a trick of impression management. ‘The Vladimir Putin government and regime could be reasonably expected to be officially and virulently anti-semitic. Both the major regimes that preceded it, the Soviet Union and the Romanov dynasty, were officially anti-semitic and actively persecuted Jews inside their territory, often singling them about above other minorities for special mistreatment […] In reality, however, the Putin government is not offcially anti-Semitic’ (Parker, 2018). Maybe it was not officially antisemitic in 2017 when Parker published this article, but the same cannot be stated for 2022 when Putin’s overt offensive tactics became transparent. It seems, not much has changed since ‘Cold War theorists of totalitarianism such as Hannah Arendt were promoting the view that Nazism and Soviet Communism were variants of the same ideological and political form’, (Adorno et al., 2019, p. xxxv). It is also clear from Parker’s paper that Putin has been accusing Ukraine of being antisemitic for a while now, an excuse he used to initiate what was to become a grim episode of European warfare.

Furthermore, the Russian news reported that the Russian Ministry of Defence wanted to punish Kyiv leaders for ‘humiliation and torture’ and that each of them would ‘be tracked down and inevitably and properly punished’ (TASS, 2022). According to them, this was done to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine. However, what really has been conducted is an attempt at de-jewfication, as Ukraine’s president is Jewish (his grandfather survived the holocaust; Veidlinger, 2022), and so are many people in Ukraine. For instance, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (2022) states that there is an enlarged population of 140,000 Jews in Ukraine, and that the largest population centres for the Jewish community are Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odessa, all cities that were targeted early in the invasion: 

Moreover, according to Marsden (2022), ‘against the backdrop of the rising tensions, Ukraine hosted the European Jewish Association’s (EJA) antisemitism conference that centered around the commemoration of Babi Yar in which 33,701 of Kyiv’s Jews were gunned down by the Nazis, the biggest single massacre of Jews during the Holocaust’. On the 1st March 2022, Russia announced ‘high precision strikes’ (Kingsley, 2022) and went on to attack the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Centre in Ukraine, an action which the Jerusalem Post (2022) described as villains ‘killing Holocaust victims for the second time’. 

It was also stated in the Marsden (2022) news article that Jews in Ukraine were warned in January to evacuate as a Russian invasion was suspected. Also, just as commemorations of the Holocaust were due on the 27th January, 2022; Russia’s threat was looming all over Ukraine, and for Ukranian Jews, this became ‘a mental note to stay vigilant, plan for the worst — and prepare to move fast out of harm’s way amid growing fears of an invasion by the hundreds of thousands of Russian troops that President Vladimir Putin has amassed in recent weeks along the border’ (Liphshiz, 2022). And indeed, the Russian aggression took place, displacing many Jews, as well as many other people and children. ‘Under totalitarian rule, anti-Semitism is no longer a matter of primary hostilities on the part of the people and of truly spontaneous actions. It is an administrative measure which uses existing prejudices and, to an even higher degree, psychological dispositions’ (Adorno et al., 2019, p. XLViii).

Based on all of the above information, it can be hypothesised that there is an antisemitic element in Russia’s attack against Ukraine, including the specific targeting of Jewish infrastructure in Babi Yar. Finally, Adorno et al. (1950, p. 3) state that: ‘(1) that anti-Semitism probably is not a specific or isolated phenomenon but a part of a broader ideological framework, and (2) that an individual’s susceptibility to this ideology depends primarily upon his psychological needs’.

References

Adorno, T.W., Frenkel-Brunswik, E., Levinson, D.J. and Sanford, R.N. (1950) The Authoritarian Personality, New York, Harper [Online]. Available at https://ia801608.us.archive.org/14/items/THEAUTHORITARIANPERSONALITY.Adorno/THE%20AUTHORITARIAN%20PERSONALITY.%20-Adorno.pdf (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Adorno, T.W., Frenkel-Brunswik, E., Levinson, D.J. and Sanford, R.N. (2019) The Authoritarian Personality, London, Verso [Online]. Available at https://www.versobooks.com/books/3016-the-authoritarian-personality (accessed 28 February 2022).

BBC News (2022) ‘Ukraine invasion: Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert’, 27 February [Online]. Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60547473 (accessed 28 February 2022).  

Blair, A. (2022) ‘Putin unleashes “hunter”kill squad and prepares to use devastating “father of all bombs” to defeat Ukrainian resistance’, The Sun, 25 February [Online]. Available at https://www.the-sun.com/news/4775964/russia-ukraine-news-chechnya-kill-zelenskyy/ (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Collins, K., Mattingly, P., Liptak, K. and Judd, D. (2022) ‘SWIFT: White House and EU nations announce expulsion of “selected Russian banks” from SWIFT’, CNN Politics, 27 February [Online]. Available at https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/26/politics/biden-ukraine-russia-swift/index.html (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Daily Sabah (2022) ‘Russia captures Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, gains air supremacy’, 28 February [Online]. Available at https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/russia-captures-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-gains-air-supremacy (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Gollom, M. (2022) ‘Putin implies nuclear attack if West interferes in Ukraine. Why it’s not just an empty threat’, CBC News, 25 February [Online]. Available at https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/putin-ukraine-nato-nuclear-weapons-1.6362890 (accessed 18 February 2022). 

Henley, J. (2022) ‘Russian rocket strikes kill ‘dozens’ in Kharkiv as Kyiv-Moscow talks begin’, The Guardian, 28 February [Online]. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/28/russian-rocket-strikes-kill-dozens-in-kharkiv-as-ukraine-russia-talks-begin (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Institute for Jewish Policy Research (2022) ‘Ukraine’ [Online]. Available at https://www.jpr.org.uk/country?id=344 (accessed 1 March 2022). 

Jerusalem Post (2022) ‘Russians attack Babyn Yar Holocaust massacre site in Kyiv’, 1 March [Online]. Available at https://www.jpost.com/international/article-699034 (accessed 1 March 2022). 

Kingsley, T. (2022) ‘Russia tells Kyiv residents to leave their homes as military warns of strikes against Ukraine capital’, Independent, 1 March [Online]. Available at https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/kyiv-ukraine-war-russia-putin-b2025838.html (accessed 1 March 2022). 

Liphshiz, C. (2022) ‘Ukraine’s Jews prepare to commemorate the Holocaust as Russia’s war drums thunder’, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 24 January [Online]. Available at https://www.jta.org/2022/01/24/global/ukraines-jews-prepare-to-commemorate-the-holocaust-as-russias-war-drums-thunder (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Marsden, (2022) ‘Ukraine’s Jews warned to be ready for evacuation if Russia invades’, Jerusalem Post, 26 January [Online]. Available at https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-694629 (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Martin-Pavitt, R. (2022) ‘Explosion seen in Ukrainian city of Dnipro as Russia launches “full-scale invasion”’, Independent, 24 February [Online]. Available at https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ukraine-dnipro-russia-invasion-putin-b2022468.html (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Newman, J. (2022) ‘Who stands against – or WITH – Putin? Map shows which nations – such as North Korea and Syria – have voiced support for Ukraine invasion, those against… and those trying to avoid taking sides’, Daily Mail, 2 March [Online]. Available at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10568563/Who-stands-against-Putin-Map-shows-nations-support-Ukraine-invasion.html (accessed 2 March 2022).

Parker, B. (2018) ‘Putin’s Chosen People: Theories of Russian Jewish Policy, 2000-2017’, The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Philosophy, Politics & Economics, vol 13:1, article 5 [Online]. Available at  https://repository.upenn.edu/spice/vol13/iss1/5/ (accessed 27 February 2022). 

Pleasance, C., Howard, H., Nicol, M. and Craven, N. (2022) ‘President Zelensky accuses Russia of WAR CRIMES over brutal shelling of Kharkiv which saw 11 civilians killed and schools destroyed as Ukraine’s ambassador to the US claims Putin dropped deadly thermobaric VACUUM BOMB during invasion’, Daily Mail, 28 February [Online]. Available at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10561485/Huge-explosions-rock-Kyiv-hours-dozens-killed-Russian-CLUSTER-BOMBS-attack.html (accessed 1 March 2022). 

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (2022) ‘Kyiv Mayor Says 31 Dead In Capital From Russian Attacks, As Two Sides Agree To Hold Talks’, 27 February [Online]. Available at https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-invasion-kharkiv-kyiv-fighting-zelenskiy/31725938.html (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Reuters (2022a) ‘Chernobyl power plant captured by Russian forces — Ukranian official’, 25 February [Online]. Available at https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/chernobyl-power-plant-captured-by-russian-forces-ukrainian-official-2022-02-24/ (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Reuters (2022b) ‘18 people killed in Ukraine’s Odessa in missile attack – regional authorities’, 24 February [Online]. Available at https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/18-people-killed-ukraines-odessa-missile-attack-regional-authorities-2022-02-24/ (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Rowlands, R. and Press Association Staff (2022) ‘Boy, 6, dies as children’s cancer hospital in Kyiv hit by heavy gunfire, doctor says’, Coventry Live, 27 February [Online]. Available at https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/uk-world-news/boy-6-dies-childrens-cancer-23231121 (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Shaw, D. (2014), Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation, New York, Routledge [Online]. Available at https://www.routledge.com/Traumatic-Narcissism-Relational-Systems-of-Subjugation/Shaw/p/book/9780415510257# (accessed 16 December, 2021).

Singh, D. (2022) ‘Russia invasion of Ukraine: who is supporting Putin?’, India Today, 24 February [Online]. Available at https://www.indiatoday.in/world/russia-ukraine-war/story/russia-attack-ukraine-invasion-war-who-supports-putin-1917366-2022-02-24 (accessed 28 February 2022). 

TASS (2022) ‘Kiev regime’s leaders to be inevitably punished – Russian Defense Ministry’, 27 February [Online]. Available at https://tass.com/defense/1412703 (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Tingle, R. (2022) ‘Putin’s “thugs for hire” militia with orders to kill Zelensky: Shadowy Wagner mercenaries who have been flown in from Africa with 23-strong hit list including Ukraine’s president and the Klitschko brothers’, Daily Mail, 28 February [Online]. Available at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10559811/Putins-militia-orders-kill-Zelensky-Blood-thirsty-mercenaries-Wagner-Group-revealed.html (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Tirone (2022) ‘Ukrainian Nuclear Waste Site Hit by Missiles During Russian Assault on Kyiv’, TIME, 28 February [Online]. Available at https://time.com/6152144/ukrainian-nuclear-waste-sites-damaged/ (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Veidlinger, J. (2022) ‘Putin’s claim to rid Ukraine of Nazis is especially absurd given its history’, The Conversation, 26 February [Online]. Available at https://theconversation.com/putins-claim-to-rid-ukraine-of-nazis-is-especially-absurd-given-its-history-177959 (accessed 28 February 2022). 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Categories
Forensic Psychology Journalism

Understanding Domestic Abuse in England

Betshy

Every person’s perception of what constitutes abuse is different. Some victims stay and accept their predilection, whilst others fight and/or leave. Some victims succeed in leaving, whilst others are killed in the process. Domestic abuse has statutory definitions that give an objective scope which applies to everyone in the jurisdiction, whether they have insight into their realities or not. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (n.d.), domestic abuse can be defined as ‘any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of their gender or sexuality’. This short definition has it within its scope that domestic abuse is something that happens in everyday life. 

Domestic abuse does not always entail physical violence. Psychological abuse has been hypernormalised in our societies, and every day forms of sadism are quite common and ingrained in policies and procedures. Furthermore, domestic abuse is relevant to the police, and thinking that it should stay behind closed doors is another misconception. Domestic abuse happens all the time, everywhere, and thinking that it is rare is another misconception. Domestic abuse is not always a crime of passion, and sometimes it is slow, prolonged and premeditated. Thinking that domestic abuse is always a loss of control is a misconception. Disagreements are not equivalent to abuse. Whilst disagreements are normal, abuse is not normal. Moreover, thinking that domestic abuse is only perpetuated by strangers is another major misconception. Finally, domestic abuse happens to all groups and classes of society. Assuming that it only happens to poor people is another misconception. 

Globally, the United Nations (n.d) defined domestic abuse as ‘a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels’. Based on this definition, it can be said that domestic abuse is a form of sadism, as the latter is all about the subjugation of the victim. 

Locally, the Devon & Cornwall Police (2020) define domestic abuse as ‘the misuse of power and control by one person over another. This controlling behaviour may be exerted in various ways, such as through physical violence, emotional and/or psychological manipulation, forcing sexual acts or taking over your finances. It can begin at any time, can be obvious or subtle and can happen suddenly or gradually. It can happen to anyone regardless of class, age, race, religion, culture, disability, sexual orientation or lifestyle’. Based on this definition, it can be said that those who engage in domestic abuse are also engaging in sadistic behaviour. 

There are some misconceptions about victims of domestic abuse, such as believing that the victim wants to be abused because they are not able to leave the relationship, that the victim should leave the relationship if they want help from statutory services, that the victim is at fault for the criminogenic behaviours of their abuser, that only women are victims of domestic abuse, that women lie about their abuse, that some people/women are attracted to abusive people/men, and that some people like the violence in their relationship (e.g. rough sex defence). For instance, the Home Office (2022) published a policy paper explicitly stating that ‘consent to serious harm for sexual gratification’ is not a defence. Justice Minister Alex Chalk is cited saying ‘No death or other serious injury – whatever the circumstances – should be defended as ‘rough sex gone wrong’ which is why we are making it absolutely clear that this is never acceptable. Perpetrators of these crimes should be under no illusions – their actions will never be justifiable in any way, and they will be pursued rigorously through the courts to seek justice for victims and their families’. This means that even if a person consents to rough sex, if their partner abuses them to the point actual bodily harm (ABH), then this is by law a crime. This will give women more clarity on what constitutes appropriate touch, sex, and when to identify abuse and report abuse. Furthemrore, Keir Starmer (2013) published an article on The Guardian stating that false allegations of rape and domestic violence were rare. This shows the importance of taking all allegations seriously. 

What’s more, there are also misconceptions about the perpetrator such as believing that alcohol and drugs excuse such behaviours, that their abusive childhoods justify their behaviours, that mental health problems excuse domestic abuse, that they only attack because they are stressed out, that it is only a loss of temper on the abuser’s part, that just because they engage in domestic abuse does not mean they are bad parents (such as a father who abuses a mother and a child witnesses it), and that all abusers are men. 

The National Office for Statistics (ONS; 2021a) reported in November that domestic abuse as recorded by the police in England and Wales rose by 6%. There were 845, 734 events. There were 33 arrests per 100 cases. Yet, even though these rates increased, referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decreased by 3%. Furthermore, convictions decreased by 70%. This shocking evidence proves that even though the problem is increasing, the UK state apparatus is dealing less and less with the problem. The ONS (2021b) reports that 37.7% of offences were of violence against the person, and 18.8% of offences were of sexual nature. 72.3% of victims of violence were female whilst 27.7% were male, and 93.4% of victims of sexual offences were female, whilst only 6.6% were male. This shows that the issue of violence against women in England and Wales is far from being resolved. 

Moreover, moving more locally, the ONS (2021b) reports that there were 20,905 crimes of domestic abuse reported to the Devon & Cornwall police in the year ending 2021. This accounted for a 23.1% of total recorded crime. This saw a significant longitudinal increase in domestic abuse related crime from previous years. It went from 13.8% in the year ending in 2016 to 23.1% in 2021, increasing by over 9% in the past 5 years. There were 16, 464 offences of violence against the person, accounting for 41.1% of domestic abuse related crimes. This also saw a significant increase in the past few years. 

There are four aspects that influence perceptions of domestic abuse: (1) the media, which often distorts information by not always identifying incidents of domestic abuse, sensationalising the reality of more subtle abuse and only focusing on more violent crime. Furthermore, the media also downplays the role of the perpetrator and sometimes attributes responsibility to the victim suggesting that the perpetrator was triggered. Moreover, because we live in a patriarchal world, the media sometimes covers more stories of violence against men, even though violence against women is most common. Finally, the media also sensationalises class, making it look like domestic abuse only happens in poor families; (2) religion, which has sets of dysfunctional beliefs which reinforce abusive practice such as the idea that honour-based abuse or forced marriage is acceptable, that women are inferior and should be submissive to men, that men as family heads should take disciplinary action at home against the rest of the family, that divorce is wrong, and that homosexuality is a sin; (3) culture, which has social norms that directly impact on perceptions of domestic abuse such as the ideas that men should assert power over women because they are ‘superior’, that the restriction of women’s movements/activities is acceptable, that women should accept physical violence as a method for conflict resolution, that women are responsible for the marriage working, that domestic abuse should never be spoken about (i.e. making it a taboo topic), that anyone who wants divorce should be ashamed of themselves, that brides should be bought and exchanged as if they were cattle (e.g. Iraq), that honour is dependent on female sexual behaviour, and that traditions such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation are normal; and (4) personal experience which influences perceptions of relationships, especially when people have lived experience in domestic abuse. Depending on their level of insight, some may fully reject abusive behaviour whilst others might accept it as a normal part of life.

Did you know…

The Matrimonial Causes Act (1978) made it possible for women to be legally separated from their abusive husbands, and the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act (1976) enabled women to apply for court orders against their abusive husbands. In 1985, there were laws against female genital mutilation. In 1994 rape became illegal within a marriage, and in 2004 common assault became an arrestable offence. Police stations created dedicated Domestic Violence Units with specialist staff in the late 80s and early 90s. Moreover, the Protection from Harassment Act (1997) implemented measures against stalking and threats of violence, and the Domestic Violence, Crime, and Victims Act (2004) made stricter sentences so couples of the same sex could also apply for injunctions. In 2002, children were allowed to be removed from the home if they were witnesses of domestic abuse. In 2014, Clare’s law (named after Clare Wood) allowed the police to give details to potential victims of their partner’s abusive history in order to prevent abuse. In 2015 coercive control and revenge porn became illegal, and finally, the Domestic Abuse Act (2021) created a statutory definition of domestic abuse.  

References

Crown Prosecution Service (n.d.) ‘Foreword From Kate Brown, CPS Lead for Domestic Abuse’, Domestic Abuse [Online]. Available at https://www.cps.gov.uk/crime-info/domestic-abuse (accessed 7th February 2022). 

Devon & Cornwall Police (2020) ‘What is domestic abuse?’, 2nd October [Online]. Available at https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/threat-assault-abuse/domestic-abuse/what-is-domestic-abuse/ (accessed 7th February 2022). 

Home Office (2022) ‘Consent to serious harm for sexual gratification not a defence’, GOV.UK, 31 January [Online]. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-bill-2020-factsheets/consent-to-serious-harm-for-sexual-gratification-not-a-defence (accessed 12 February 2022). 

Office for National Statistics (2021a) ‘Domestic abuse in England and Wales Overview: November 2021’, 24 November [Online]. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2021 (accessed 12th February 2022). 

Office for National Statistics (2021b) ‘Domestic abuse prevalence and victim characteristics’, 24 November [Online]. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/domesticabuseprevalenceandvictimcharacteristicsappendixtables (accessed 12 February 2022). 

Starmer (2013) ‘False allegations of rape and domestic violence are few and far between’, The Guardian, 13 March [Online]. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/13/false-allegations-rape-domestic-violence-rare (accessed 12 Feberuary 2022). 

United Nations (n.d.) ‘What is Domestic Abuse’ [Online]. Available at https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse (accessed 7th February 2022). 

Categories
Forensic Psychology Opinion

The Contexts of Everyday Sadism

Sadism can be described as the psychological need to inflict harm on another human being, and it often manifests in the form of cruel actions. It is a subclinical form of malignant narcissism (Buckels et al., 2013). Many people have sadistic thoughts, and indeed, anger can at times elicit such thoughts; yet, sadists are not satisfied with having fantasies or thoughts where they indulge in the idea of harming others, they actually take actions where they consciously inflict such harm on other human beings. There are telltale signatures that can help you spot a sadistic offender. According to Reale et al.  (2017, p. 4) ‘the most important indicators of sadism are (a) that the offender is sexually aroused by sadistic acts, (b) the offender exercises power/control/domination over the victim, (c) the offender humiliates and/or degrades the victim, (d) the offender tortures the victim or engages in acts of cruelty, and (e) the offender mutilates sexual parts of the victim’s body’. Nevertheless, more subtle forms of sadism occur in everyday life and these do not always involve physical violence. Pfattheicher et al. (2017, p. 338) state that ‘the very essence of sadism is that sadists are motivated to dominate and to control other individuals by harming them because they experience pleasure through their cruelty […], for instance when killing bugs or harming an innocent person’. 

Some researchers believe that the tenet of sadism is disempowering and controlling the victim, rather than the infliction of pain per se. Either way, sadism is harmful and those who engage in it tend to get a boost out of the harm and helplessness they are causing. For instance, Debardeleben in Hazelwood and Michaud (2001, p. 88) cited and quoted in Luyn  (2007, p. 21) state: ‘the wish to inflict pain on others is not the essence of sadism. The central impulse is to have complete mastery over another person, to make him or her a helpless object of our will. . . . And the most radical aim is to make her suffer. Since there is no greater power over another person than that of inflicting pain on her. To force her to undergo suffering without her being able to defend herself. The pleasure in the complete domination over another person is the very essence of the sadistic drive’. Sadism can happen in multidisciplinary settings, from politics to healthcare, and education; as well as in personal life. Sadism can happen through actions, policies, decisions, and narratives; and it can be pervasive, problematic and persistent. Sadism can be internalised by the superego (Freud, 1923) quo when it is culturally hypernormalised and exhibited by authority figures.  Now, one might wonder, is sadism de facto or is it de jure? That is, does sadism encompass actions which violate the law of a jurisdiction (de facto), or does it also involve actions that are perfectly legal (de jure)? The answer is: both. Do people in general struggle to understand sadism because of the same reasons they struggle to understand the definition of what constitutes torture? Nowadays, someone can correctly feel like they are being tortured, but de facto sadists will argue “Oh, it is not torture!”. Well, if it involves the infliction of mental, emotional, psychological, or physical harm on another human being; then yes, it is legally correct to say that it is torture. Moreover, psychologically speaking, it is also correct to say that if someone consciously and deliberately inflicts harm on another human being, then indeed it is sadistic cruelty. Whether consciously or unconsciously, intentional or unintentional, everyday sadism can harm anyone, so it is important to have awareness about how to protect yourself in these unprecedented times. 

But how can we clarify intent? Well, de jure sadism occurs when the state creates regulations which are harmful to people and does not fulfil its substantive and procedural obligations to prevent harm. For instance, people who suffer from pituitary brain tumours often develop a very low stress tolerance (i.e. a high propensity for adrenal fatigue). If the jurisdiction creates and designs institutional mechanisms which are based on the induction of stress contingencies, then it can be said that the jurisdiction has indeed created a sadistic environment that induces medico-legal injury on these people. This happens with many different types of minority groups. The point that is most concerning about all this is that in the institutional bias of ‘some people need to be stressed out in order to develop X or Y ability’ or ‘stress can be positive and productive’ is ultimately where the sadistic factor is really found. I always think: ‘Do women need rape?’ The answer of course, quickly becomes: ‘No, women do not need rape!’; so the next question is: ‘Do people need obstacles, adrenal fatigue, degradation, and all other forms of inhumane treatment in order to learn?’, the answer should equally be: ‘No, because that is a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is sadistically cruel’. But, why is it so difficult for de jure decision-makers to understand this basic principle? De jure sadism also occurs when de facto sadism is not investigated adequately, nor processed through the legal system, or when there are no substantive and procedural mechanisms for its prevention.


No wonder there is a lot of de facto sadism. If a human being’s conscience is in a way partially constructed by the social and legislative norms of the world around them, and if such a status quo has sadistic protocols; then it can be expected that people in general will also develop attitudes, and show manifestations of such sadistic tendencies which are of course internalised and culturally inherited. Now, the worst type of experienced sadism is when someone has both, de jure and de facto sadists around them and against them. This happens to minority groups of all types, not just to people with pituitary adenomas. The Hostile Environment Policies 2014-2016 were a great example of state-led cultural and attitudinal sadism. Webber (2019, p. 77) states: ‘In the UK, these policies are collectively known as the “hostile environment”, policies which have the avowed aim of making life impossible for migrants and refugees who do not have permission to live in the UK, and which remove such migrants from the rights to housing, health, livelihood and a decent standard of living, liberty, freedom of assembly and association, family and private life, physical and moral integrity, freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment, and in the final analysis the right to human dignity and to life’. Indeed, the UK revealed at that point in time that it was culturally acceptable to hate immigrants; and in the legal industry you and I both know that justice is about what is correct or incorrect according to the principles which guide morals, behaviours, and so on. So it is clear that the UK does not want all those immigrants walking in the streets. It is clear that the world is filled with inequalities which create all types of problems forcing people to escape their homes and visit their international neighbours asking for first aid. So what can be done in order to balance all this? Abusing, torturing, and humiliating the disadvantaged is not the answer though. Furthermore, having our prime minister incorrectly call the legal human right of claiming asylum ‘illegal’ (Grierson and Sabbagh, 2020) is an attack against truth, and an offence against the international community. There is no such a thing as an illegal asylum seeker. I suppose the UK might have to create an asylum office in every country so people can apply for asylum without having to risk their lives crossing the channels. That would be a procedural solution to the concern of the contingencies of asylum travel. An asylum embassy, consulate, or something of the sort. Does it exist? No, because visas—  like democracy—  are business.  Asylum, however,  is the state of the global human condition; so what, Elon Musk can’t invade Mars fast enough?

References

Buckels, E. E., Jones, D. N. and Paulhus, D. L. (2013) ‘Behavioral Confirmation of Everyday Sadism’, Psychological Science, Los Angeles, SAGE Publications, 24(11), pp. 2201–2209 [Online]. Available at https://pmt-eu.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/13ueeno/TN_cdi_crossref_primary_10_1177_0956797613490749 (Accessed 11 August 2020).

Freud, S. (1923) ‘The Ego and the Id’ [Online]. Available at https://www.sigmundfreud.net/the-ego-and-the-id-pdf-ebook.jsp (accessed 14 November 2021). 

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Women Who Are Mad

De facto and de jure social injustices are an expression of the id quo. These impulses have a detrimental effect on women’s daily lives, making it a lot more difficult for them to enjoy their human rights. This document has shared data particles of knowledge about current injustices occurring to ‘mad’ and ‘intersectional’ women in the UK, the psychological impact of these injustices (e.g. Borderline Personality Disorder), and the legal framework of international law, which the UK is subject to. De jure and de facto injustices exacerbate mental health problems, and lead to the introjection of maladaptive behaviours, and can corrupt the individual superego. Furthermore, UN Women (2016) recommends that  all countries take on board the Istanbul Convention, and the UK is a country member of the UN Security Council. The UK’s Domestic Abuse Act 2021 does not fully cover all the criteria necessary for the prevention and protection of women’s rights, as well as the prosecution of perpetrators of violence against women. Similarly, the Equality Act 2010 only protects some of the many characteristics that elicit discrimination against human beings, and the word ‘dignity’ does not appear once in the Human Rights Act 1998. This seemingly innocuous semantic exception is a malpraxis. All these technical legislative failures lead to very costly consequences for the least advantaged in the status quo. The facts and figures have shown that women in the mental health sector are the most affected group, out of which patients with BPD tend to struggle the most with daily attitudinal obstacles, intersectional discrimination, and de facto impediments.

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