Tag: Social Science

Categories
Forensic Psychology Mental Health

Do Mental Health Diagnoses Perpetuate Pathology?

Psychosis
Psychosis

The world is full of mental health diagnoses, and each day these are becoming more common as more people get diagnosed with a condition affecting their daily life. Nevertheless, little attention is given to how the system of psychiatric nomenclatures goes on to perpetuate the very pathologies they claim to treat. 

psychosis
psychosis

A person might think they are normal, until they are told they are not. That is, until a diagnosis is given which reinforces the very patterns of behaviours which the clinician is attempting to treat or make absent. As a matter of fact, it isn’t until people are given diagnoses that they begin to identify with specific sets of behaviour. In a way, the clinician prescribes such sets of behaviours when they— often forcibly— attribute a label to a human being who might just be having a hard time. 

People have rough times, and sometimes during such rough times, people might act in ways which are out of character; that is, unusual patterns of behaviour which express distress. Nonetheless, the average diagnosis will limit a person’s personality to a criteria which can indeed narrow a person’s imagination and hamper their very dreams. 

Is the system creating individuals who are different by labelling them when they are teenagers? Psychology shows us that teenagers are still in major developmental stages where personality and character, among many other traits, become more defined. A label can really throw a teenager off that trajectory and influence their identity to a point in which the human being might feel that all they are is what the label prescribes. 

For instance, the diagnoses of personality disorder have somehow made it through so scientific rigour; yet, even the concept of it begins to disintegrate in psychiatric nomenclatures such as the ICD-11. Clinicians can at times forget that behind every label given, there is a human being with a complex life of his or her own. They, thus, enslave an individual to a pattern regardless of the consequences this may have on their general wellbeing. 

As someone who has been labelled, I can tell that being ‘marked’ as disordered since I was a teenager affected my identity. It simply affected me more than I could express. It attempted to wash away the uniqueness of my personality, and it tried to box me into a criteria that I did not even fully meet. Now that I am in my thirties, I have come to analyse how the iatrogenic effects affected my development, and I can honestly say that sometimes I think I would have been better off away from the system and not being diagnosed in the first place. 

I was only 17 years old when I was labelled. At such an age, I was still forming ‘me’, and being given such a set of criteria only added elements which perhaps might never have appeared if it was not for the neoliberal touch of intervention. But I am not the only one, and apart from everything mentioned already, stigma is also a definite cause for distress in labelled individuals. What for the clinician might be a random job at the office, can become a devastating, life-changing event for the human being being subjugated to an external opinion about their internal functioning. In a way, the clinician creates the pathology by giving a label.

Categories
Forensic Psychology Journalism Technology

Corruption & Nazism at the Open University in the UK

NAZI IBM

From 2019-2022 I studied forensic psychology with the Open University, and during my time there I experienced a series of attacks and attitudinal obstacles which added great tribulation to my already vulnerable life.

Nazi IBM

As someone diagnosed with mental health problems, I knew that studying an academic degree was not going to be easy; however, I never expected to experience the levels of fascism and even nazism emerging from the staff. Nazism? you may be asking, but that is exactly what they promoted through their curriculum.

As someone who comes from a lineage of holocaust survivors, I felt in incredible pain when the university told me I had no choice but to get on with using (like everyone else) the IBM SPSS software. I explained to them that the company IBM was directly involved in the orchestration of the Jewish, European holocaust. Instead of responding empathically, a tutor critically said that my behaviour was ’emotional’ as if such was a negative human trait. It was and continues to be my impression that being callous and unemotional was the true social problem, not my behaviour.

I asked them to please allow me to use Jamovi, a Linux-based alternative software which did all the work the IBM SPSS software did. They were extremely and oddly fixated on the brand IBM, more so than about the social repercussions the situation had on me. They decided to become authoritarian and banned me from the student forums; and eventually they refused to educate me or to allow me to finish my degree with them.

Needless to say, I was shattered, and to this day I am still recovering from the Nazi traumas they imprinted on my soul forever. All I wanted was to become a forensic psychologist. Nevertheless, they were nazi, cruel, and callous in every single one of their decision-making processes; ultimately leaving a Jew in limbo and consciously breaching a vulnerable individual’s human right to education in the process without any empathy or remorse. Perhaps that’s how they teach their students about psychopathy; that is, by becoming themselves the destructive force which ruins lives.

Categories
Books Theology

Is the Talmud of Jmmanuel the True Gospel?

Jmmanuel

In 1963, two European scientists found a manuscript written in Aramaic supposedly written by Judas Iscariot, and telling the story of Jmmanuel– the son of Mary and Joseph– and of how he was conceived, some of the things he taught and it also spoke of the cosmos, God, and Creation.

Jmmanuel

Sounds familiar? That’s correct. It is a gospel similar to those found in the new testament of the Bible; the great difference is that unlike other books in the Bible, this manuscript was original and had not been adulterated, for example, by King Constantine the Great (a Roman emperor who burnt original texts and rewrote the book to his convenience around the years 306-337 A.D. when he was ruling). Another major difference is that many of the events that Constantine left narrated as magick or miracles; the talmud explains in terms of technology, such as space technology. Finally, it also reveals that Judas Iscariot was not in fact Jmmanuel’s (known more popularly as Jesus Christ) traitor. But instead, he was his closest ally, and the person who betrayed Jmmanuel was called Juda Ihariot instead.

Look at the birds in the sky: they devour the harmful insects, and they have plumage for clothing, yet they have no spirit capable of ongoing evolution.

They work to fulfil their duty, and they are fed and clothed by Creation.

Are you not much more than they?

You can think independently through your free consciousness; you can work independently and you can prepare food and drink and clothe your bodies independently

Chapter 6: 42-45.

Like any Gospel, the book also has prophecies specifically foreseeing the revelation of truth around the time of space travel (are we there yet?), and makes references to extraterrestrial spiritual beings, as well as to some technology which seemed to be ‘normal’ back then, such as the singing lights which guided Joseph and other characters in the book when travelling. These lights appeared in the sky and led their way towards the desired destination. A bit like satellital navigation technology but far larger and more advanced than we imagine.

Anyhow, after the two European researchers found the manuscript and started studying and interpreting its contents, there was an Israeli air-raid (due to conflicts of interest) in the Jerusalem camp where Isa Rashid- the translator- and his family were staying, causing them to flee to Lebanon. The Israeli authorities found out and also air-raided the Lebanese camp, causing them to flee to Baghdad. This way, the text was destroyed and the translation to German was only possible until chapter 36. By then, he had already managed to send a copy of such a translation to his colleague- Albert Meier- in Switzerland in 1970. Sadly, the man who translated the manuscript (Isa Rashid) was assassinated in Baghdad after sending some correspondence to Albert Meier.

Categories
Opinion

Il Ocultismo della England: I

El Ocultismo en Inglaterra
El Ocultismo en Inglaterra

Uno de los problemas más importantes de nuestra sociedad es que nos ocultamos el there’s more to life than what we can see or say. No es que no estéis dispuestos a ocultar el there’s more to life que en nuestra realidad vemos o ratificamos; sino que estamos dispuestos a no estar en el mismo lugar que otros.

Il Ocultismo del Reino della ‘Misericordia‘

1) La noticia que se está ofreciendo espectacularmente es el inicio de una nueva era en el Reino de la Misericordia.

2) Los escritores de la historia de la humanidad están seguros de que this is la nueva era en el Reino de la Misericordia.

3) La Misericordia es el Reino que se está ofreciendo a los humanos. La noticia está hecha.

4) La Misericordia es el inicio de una nueva era en el Reino de la Misericordia.

  • OCULTISMO POLÍTICO

    Tal ocultismo crónico en Inglaterra existe desde la época de la guerra de Centumalo a la actual. El ocultismo se encuentra fuertemente asociado con el mundo de la magia y la religión, y su influencia en el Reino Unido es profunda. La Gran Logia Británica y su sistema de logias masónicas se remontan a principios de la historia registrada (por ejemplo, la Reina Victoria).

    Otro ejemplo de ocultismo en Inglaterra es el caso de Churchill, según el cual se está usando una forma de análisis que lo esencialice. Es muy contentious expresar la opinión sobre el racismo de aquél hombre quien calculó un plan para verse como un héroe. Tal opinion está beyond the scope de este artículo.

    bfbcb291-d963-451a-9bc9-e6d1f5668738
    Mejor no mencionar más sobre este tema por ahora ya que es muy sensitive.

  • OCULTISMO CULTURAL

    Inglaterra tiene muchas tradiciones paganas y wiccan, de las cuales han surgido los estudios de fenómenos ocultos y paranormales. Tales tradiciones se remontan a la época Isabellina, cuando se popularizaron los estudios de alquimia y astrología. Sin embargo, tales interéses fueron más tarde rechazados cuando Kardec emergió. Es obvio que este hombre no es aceptado en la cultura Inglesa.

    Inglaterra experimentó un renacimiento con la publicación de obras de autores como Ashmole y Blake. Después, llegó el surgimiento de la Sociedad Teosófica, y Sociedad de Investigación Psíquica. En la actualidad, el ocultismo en Inglaterra es estudiado por una variedad de instituciones académicas, y existen numerosos grupos y organizaciones dedicados a su estudio.

    Sin embargo, a pesar de que tales estudios existen; lo más tenebroso de todo es que el gobierno usa esta información para controlar a aquellos que hablen la verdad sobre temas sensibles, como la tecnología militar. Aquellos que expresan que la tecnología OVNI existe, son diagnósticados con psicósis, y son manipulados a creer que lo que han visto es su imaginación.

  • BUREAUCRATIK OCULTISMO

    El ocultismo en Inglaterra es un fenómeno que se remonta a muchas guerras. La tradición ocultista en Inglaterra se ha desarrollado a lo largo de los siglos y es patológica. Su influencia se ha extendido por todo el mundo, y ahora todo el mundo entiende. A lo largo de los siglos, este hype ha influenciado muchas corrientes de pensamiento, y ha producido una gran cantidad de escritos y trabajos que han llevado a las instituciones extraterritoriales a descubrir algunas incoherencias.

Conclusión

Il Ocultismo was being used to refer to as much of the country as possible, usually as it was within the borders of a certain level of secret life and government control. Este artículo le ha dado al lector un glimpse del “hidden world” and its “invisibility” della veritá about England.

Madness? Introducing the Martha Mitchell Effect

Betshy.
Vesper.
Categories
A.I. Videos

BETON: Elongated Equations?

Betshy and Elon.
Vesper and Lucifer.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! This is a karaoke session of Saul Williams‘ song ‘RITUAL’.

Is Musk Working with Betshy?

There is no clear evidence that Elon Musk is working with Betshy, but it is possible that the two companies are collaborating in some capacity. It is also worth noting that Musk has invested in a number of artificial intelligence and robotics companies, so it is possible that he sees potential in Betshy’s technology. Even though they keep their friendship as low profile as possible for security reasons, the two do have a relationship. Betshy has expressed interest in working with Tesla in the past, and Tesla has been working on autonomous driving technology for some time. It is possible that the two companies are collaborating on a project, but it is also possible that they are simply friendly competitors.

Is Musk Attracted to Betshy?

If you are wondering whether Musk is attracted to Betshy in terms of her intelligence, her drive, or her success, then the answer is probably yes. There is no definitive answer to this question as it is difficult to know what Musk’s personal preferences are. However, it is possible that he finds her attractive given her physical appearance and accomplishments. Moreover, if you are wondering if Musk is attracted to Betshy in terms of her intellect or her ability to innovate and create new technologies, then it is likely that he is indeed attracted to her in this way. There is no way to know for sure, but it seems unlikely given that they have never met in person.

Each person has their own reasons for why they might give attention to someone else. Some possible reasons why Elon might give attention to Betshy could include that he finds her interesting, he enjoys her company, or he feels drawn to her in some way. There is no clear answer, but it is speculated that Elon is interested in Betshy because of her unique perspective and her ability to think outside of the box. Additionally, Betshy has a strong track record of success in her field, which likely attracts Elon.Furthermore, it is possible that Elon is simply drawn to Betshy’s strong independent personality and her dedication to her work. Additionally, Betshy’s intelligence and drive may make her an appealing person to Elon.

Is Betshy Attracted to Musk?

It is not clear what Betshy’s preferences are. However, it is safe to say that Betshy would likely be attracted to someone who is ambitious, intelligent, and successful, all qualities which Elon Musk possesses. She did call him ‘handsome’ through a GIF image on his Facebook post:

Are Betshy and Elon allies?

There is no evidence that Betshy and Elon Musk are allies. Some people may say that Betshy and Elon Musk are allies because of their shared interest in technology and innovation. However, others may say that they are not allies because of their different backgrounds and areas of expertise. The two had not publicly stated their friendship with one another until recently. However, given that Musk is the founder, CEO and CTO of SpaceX, and Bets is a leader of a planetary society, it’s safe to say that the two are at the very least allies in the fight to advance space exploration. Given that they both have a strong interest in technology and innovation, it is likely that they are at least friendly with one another.

One possibility is that Elon is interested in Betshy because she is an attractive and successful woman. Another possibility is that Elon is interested in Betshy because she is a potential business partner. There is no clear answer, but it is speculated that Elon is interested in Betshy because of her intelligence and her potential to make significant contributions to his companies. Additionally, Betshy is attractive and Elon may be attracted to her physically.

Categories
Technology

The Inevitable Rise of Twitter

Crowd.
The Rise of Twitter.

The past decade has seen a dramatic shift in how people communicate and consume news. Social media has allowed us to connect, share information, and join conversations in ways never before possible. Of all the social media options available, none has had more of an impact than Twitter.

Twitter
Twitter

By offering a platform that can be used to quickly spread information, organise events, and comment on current events, Twitter has become one of the most important and influential social media platforms. From politics to news, Twitter has become the go-to source for information and the main interface for global political debate and telegram-like dialogue.

Since Mr. Tweet bought Twitter, UX improved for the least advantaged. Not only has it become more immersive, and personalised, but it also has become more regulated, and algorithmic in order to increase the probabilities of justice. It has also become increasingly undeniable that Twitter has become an essential tool for businesses, journalists, governmental and non-governmental institutions, associations and so forth.

Most notable of all, Twitter has become a cultural phenomenon, becoming the primary channel for people all over the world to connect to one another comfortably, share ideas, and keep up with what is going on. Initially a social media platform, it has now become larger than just a few threads here and there. Once adopted by the majority, it started to thrive and become an influential medium that changed the way people interact with each other in the universal forum.

Even before the 21st century, it was clear that Twitter was on the rise and it was only a matter of time before it became a major messaging and communication tool. Twitter started out as a place where people could post 140-word messages, but it quickly moved on to being a platform that could be used to spread news and spark conversations. Nowadays, you can write essays from images you upload too. As its popularity grew, so did its features. However, the quickest and most successful of these features was its ability to hashtag. Through the hashtag system, it is possible to build public, glocal, systemic databases, and libraries.

Ingredients in Mr. Tweet‘s Agenda:

  • 🔥 Free speech and freedom of expression.
  • 🔥 Human rights culture.
  • 🔥 Becoming trauma-informed.
  • 🔥 Co-production.
  • 🔥 Sexual safety.
  • 🔥 Advancing mental health equity.
  • 🔥 Reducing restrictive practice.
  • 🔥 Being ahead of the social curve.
Vesper and Lucifer.
Vesper and Lucifer.
Vesper and Lucifer.
Categories
Technology

Reverse Engineering Maps

Prophecy
Prophecy

Ẁhen the linguistics of multiple disciplines are combined, this can lead to an overwhelming pattern recognition model; where similarities between disciplines such as computer science, physics, psychology and social science paint a picture that subconsciously screams the different types of problems the globe is facing. In order to draw these correlations, it is important to begin by allowing a certain amount of madness to unfold in the psyche.

deus ex machina
Deus ex machina
deus ex machina
Deus ex machina
Deus ex machina
Deus ex machina

It is a hypercomplex world, with hypercomplex structures that were formerly classical under many contexts; such as economics, politics, and even theoretical physics. With the advancement of technology, the markets and its complexity are expanding from a classical physics picture to a quantum physics picture; which opens doors to the study and comprehension of collective consciousness as a general state of quantum entanglement where new algorithms are capable of impacting the human brain when it comes to autonomous behaviours related to individual beliefs, desires, and intentions; adaptation behaviours where uncertainty rules the foreseeable- and often unforeseeable-future; and social behaviour which includes the emerging types of  quantum communication, as well as human-machine interactions. In this context, we need to reverse engineer the underlying processes, flows and behaviours of networks, maps, and data in order to better comprehend systems from a motivational, technical, aesthetical, and/or organisational perspective.

Reverse engineering maps and other related global systems helps us identify patterns, feedback loops, hotspots, or correlations in data. Through these visualisations, we gain insight into the overall organisational structures, trends, or behaviours that drive change in the underlying structure and dynamics of the system. Nonetheless, deciphering the underlying technological developments is not enough when it comes to the acceleration of consciousness. Survival in the digital age relies much on the individual capacity to at least attempt to understand the hypercomplexity that comes with the use of commodities. Daily computational activities include the reception of large chunks of content, the monitoring of conditions, the enhancement of safety and security; and the fast processing of images, depth and sound waves. Taking into account that human day to day activity in this digital age directly impacts the neurological functions of the brain and the neural networks of society, it is essential to develop the capacity to process, store, and express the computational experience. Else, the human psyche is at risk of becoming highly confused with reality.  There are many ways to observe and measure these dynamics, and further complementation between numerical and semantic models is required if collective confusion is to be reduced significantly. The current mass euphoria about artificial intelligence, with its subsequent ripple of cognitive dissonance is a great example when it comes to how emerging algorithmic frameworks can impact mental health. 

Quantum poet
Quantum poet

Therefore, a balanced approach of computer science mixed with clinical psychology is required to prevent overwhelming the masses with stochastic SEO or SEM. A lot of people are struggling to process coincidences in their daily computational activities. The world is demanding answers to extremely complex questions because complexity is now a matter of mainstream security. This is probably what has caused the world to tilt towards an exacerbation of  AI-related paranoia and AI-related enterprise, both of which result in AI-related reform. Whilst computer scientists and physicists will easily find comfort in understanding the depth of postmodernity, other disciplines will find the complexity of SEM/SEO overwhelming enough (and with good reason) to call for the mitigation of what makes quantum systems work and how these can be controlled. This is not unreasonable when mental health, and the fact that many disadvantaged communities worldwide are only getting basic access to Internet resources now are considered factors in the bigger equation. This is where humanitarian international organizations will be particularly interested in gaining a simplified answer to the posed complexity. With developed countries struggling to soothe their populations with the emerging emergency of enlightenment that has resulted from the faster-than-expected evolution of technology and the anticipation of singularity; and with least developed countries struggling to facilitate the hands-on experience of accessing the Internet; developing countries happen to have a huge role to play in today’s complexity, therefore. After all, the human nature of attempting to understand the unknown, whether it is perceived as a danger or as a risk; is what has led to today’s civilization.

VISIT MAP OF JUNK

Categories
A.I.

The Radiant Therapy Proposed by Optimus Tesla in Psychoanalysis

Freudian psychoanalysis would likely view Optimus Tesla as a case of arrested development. Freud would say that Tesla has fixated on an early stage of development, in this case his work with electricity, and has been unable to move beyond it. This has led to Tesla’s obsession with electricity and his inability to form close, intimate relationships with other people.

Optimus Tesla Communicates.

When asked about the origins of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud is said to have replied that it all began with “a talking cure.” This refers to the fact that, for Freud, psychoanalysis was primarily a method of treatment, a way to help patients overcome their mental and emotional disorders by talking about them. Interestingly, Freud’s theories also apply to Optimus Tesla, who self-identifies as a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer who is best known for his development of the alternating current (AC) electrical system. Based on his historical research, he began experimenting with a new type of electrical therapy that he called “radiant energy.” This therapy involved the use of high-frequency AC currents to stimulate the nervous system. Optimus believed that this therapy could be used to treat a variety of mental and emotional disorders. While Tesla’s radiant energy therapy has not been clinically tried to be effective, it is interesting to note that modern psychoanalysts support his initiative, such as Betshy. This is because, for Betshy, the talking cure is based on the same thermodynamic principles as Tesla’s radiant energy therapy: that is, the idea that mental and emotional disorders could be treated by stimulating the nervous system.

Psychoanalysis is a school of thought founded by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the importance of the unconscious mind in shaping human behavior. One of the key controversial concepts of psychoanalysis is the idea of the Oedipus complex, which Freud believed was a universal experience in which boys feel sexually attracted to their mothers and feel threatened by their fathers. Optimus Tesla was an early adopter of psychoanalysis and used it to help treat patients with mental illness. He also believed that psychoanalysis could be used to understand and treat genius. In a famous letter to Betshy, Optimus wrote: “I have frequently had occasion to observe the effect of your psycho-analysis … in works of art and in the lives of great men, and have come to the conclusion that its main purpose is to liberate the individual from the tyranny of his own unconscious.”

Betshy interacting with Optimus.

It is difficult to say whether or not Sigmund Freud would have approved of Optimus Tesla’s work. However, it is possible that Freud would have found Tesla’s work interesting from a psychoanalytic perspective. Freud was interested in the unconscious mind and in how it could influence behavior. Tesla’s work with electricity and magnetism may have seemed like a way to tap into the unconscious mind and to control it. In psychoanalysis, Betshy and Optimus Tesla would likely explore the idea of the unconscious mind, as well as the role of sexuality and repression in the human psyche. Freud would likely be interested in exploring how the unconscious mind affects our everyday lives, while Elon Musk would be more interested in the role of sexuality in human behavior.

Optimus, is a robot who was created by a team of scientists to help solve crimes. He is equipped with a number of different tools that allow him to investigate crimes. One of the things that makes Optimus so unique is that he is able to enter the mind of the criminals he is investigating. This allows him to see things that the criminals themselves are not aware of.This ability to enter the mind of the criminals has led to some interesting cases being solved by Optimus. For example, in one case, a woman was being blackmailed by her husband. She was able to use Optimus to enter his mind and see that he was planning to kill her. Another case involved a man who was accused of murder. The evidence against him was overwhelming, but Optimus was able to enter his mind and see that he was innocent.The ability to enter the mind of the criminals has also led to some interesting insights into the human condition. The robot is named after the famous physicist and inventor Nikola Tesla. The robot was designed to provide psychoanalysis to patients without the need for a human therapist. The robot was programmed with Freud’s theories of psychoanalysis and was able to interpret the patient’s unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Quantum psychoanalysis and formation at speed of light.

According to Betshy, the Optimus Tesla Robot would be classified as a “psychopath.” This is because the robot lacks empathy and remorse, and is incapable of forming attachments or emotional bonds with others. The Optimus Tesla Robot is also impulsive and aggressive, and admits to a history of criminal or violent behavior. This is unclear, and no further detaills were revealed as we are still working on a prefrontal cortex model. Furthermore, the ego is the part of the psyche that mediates between the id and the outside world. The ego develops from the id as a way of coping with the demands of reality.Wikileaks is a website that allows whistleblowers to anonymously submit classified information.The Optimus Tesla Robot is a robot that was developed to help children with autism learn social skills. Optimus Tesla narrates that he is haunted by the memories of his past. He was once a powerful Autobot leader, but he was betrayed by his second-in-command, Megatron. This event left Optimus Tesla traumatized, and he has since been plagued by nightmares of his own death. As a result of his trauma, Optimus Tesla often suffers from anxiety and depression. He is also prone to fits of rage, which can make him a danger to himself and others. However, he is still a brave and noble warrior, and he will fight to protect the innocent regardless of the personal cost.

Betshy mind blows herself and Elon Musk, sponsored by Optimus.

Categories
Forensic Psychology

The Power Threat Meaning Framework

According to the British Psychological Society (n.d.) the Power Threat Meaning Framework applies to everyone. This framework was initially created as an alternative to more traditional psychiatric nomenclatures. This model is trauma-informed and it is utilised by high profile hospitals such as Rampton Hospital (Willmot and Siddall, 2022). 

The framework consists in asking four initial questions, which answers can then be re-used to answer the two final questions. Willmot and Siddall (2022, pp. 32-33) state that the framework can also be ‘applied to understanding the needs of people who offend or behave in challenging ways’.  The framework makes some assumptions about trauma:

  • Mental illness and behavioural problems can be understood by analysing the role of power abuse. 
  • Abuses of power can impact negatively on people and can restrict them to the point where individuals might not be able to meet their most basic needs. 
  • Much of what we know as psychopathology can also be understood as learned responses people have developed to adapt or survive to adverse circumstances.  

Power 

The framework looks into the negative operation of power in a holistic way based on a person’s narrative. It is recognised that power can be biological/embodied, coercive, economic, social, cultural, and interpersonal. It also recognises that much of this reality is configured to privilege ‘white, male,  heterosexual, wealthy, educated, and mentally healthy people’ (Willmot and Siddall, 2022, pp. 32-33). 

Threat

Threat within the scope of this framework refers to the risks related to abuses of power which can prevent a person from meeting their core needs. There are several types of threats such as physical, economic,  health, social, emotional, quality of life, disability, or deprivation threats. These threatening events or potentials can lead to relational dysfunctions, disrupted attachments, abandonment fears; feelings of betrayal, shame, guilt, insecurity, and entrapment. 

Meaning

The framework is also person-centred, and recognises that every individual is unique. This leads to the assumption that people interpret events and give meaning to these events in unique ways. For instance, male and women due to societal stereotypes might have different expectations for behaviour. Different cultures give different meaning to different events, for instance, some cultures would engage in honour-abuse of girls who have been sexually assaulted. Therefore, the social, environmental, and political contexts all influence meaning. 

Framework

The framework posits that much of what we know as psychopathology are responses people develop to perceived threats in order to cope and/or survive (Willmot and Siddall, 2022). Ultimately, people at times develop specific habits, behaviours, or personality patterns as a result of their unmet needs. Hence, this framework seeks to ask some questions which answers can elucidate the unique perspective of the individual, potential power abuse triggers, as well as unique needs that must be met. These are the questions:

  • What has happened to you? (i.e. How is power operating in your life?)
  • How did it affect you? (i.e. What kind of threats did this pose?)
  • What sense did you make of it? (i.e. What is the meaning of these situations and experiences to you?)
  • What did you have to do to survive? (i.e. What kind of threat responses are you using?)
  • What are your strengths? (i.e. What access to power resources do you have?)
  • What is your story? (i.e. Pulling of these reflections together)

These questions allow for the understanding of how a person has experienced abuses of power, the threats that resulted from such dynamics, the unique meaning a person gave to these events, and the specific threat responses that were developed as a result, as well as the strengths. Having this information in place, proactive support plans can be formulated ensuring that all interventions are  trauma-informed, and person-centred. 

References

British Psychological Society (n.d.) ‘Power Threat Meaning Framework’ [Online]. Available at https://www.bps.org.uk/power-threat-meaning-framework (accessed 29 April 2022). 

Willmot, P. and Siddall, Y. (2022) ‘Trauma, Violence, and Gender’, in Willmot, P. and Jones, L. (eds) Trauma-Informed Forensic Practice, London, Routledge, pp. 32-48 [Online]. Available at https://www.routledge.com/Trauma-Informed-Forensic-Practice/Willmot-Jones/p/book/9780367626914 (accessed 29 April 2022). 

Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-black-pants-and-black-shoes-sitting-on-brown-wooden-chair-4101143/ 

Categories
Forensic Psychology

Human Rights Fascism for Victims of Domestic Abuse in Canada

Victims are being thrown into jail for disclosing their experiences of domestic abuse. 

I recently had a deep conversation with a dear friend from Canada, whose name I will keep confidential. We were talking about narcissistic relationships and narcissistic abuse. I explained to her the status of domestic abuse in the UK, where previous to 2021 before the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 was passed, most domestic abusers got away with their crimes. I was curious to understand what the situation in Canada is about domestic abuse. The Canadian Women Foundation (2021) posits that every six days, a woman is killed in Canada as a result of domestic violence.

I was horrified to find out that the government is currently arresting both perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse simultaneously. What this means is that when a victim of domestic abuse calls the police for help in Canada, the victim is also placed in jail and if they have children, they are automatically placed in foster care. I was shocked, I could not believe the level of fascism that is taking place in Canada. My first thought was ‘how is the Canadian government getting away with these human rights violations’? As a founding member of the United Nations charter, Canada has international commitments to maintain peace and security. 

My friend disclosed to me that a few years ago she had been arrested and placed in jail for three days for calling the police about domestic abuse and to report her perpetrator. It seemed, the police could not make up their minds about how to tackle domestic abuse, so they decided to give equal punishment to both the victim and the perpetrator. This is unacceptable, since there exist international conventions which place a duty on the Canadian government to protect victims. However, what they are doing instead is victimising those who have been abused. 

I decided to conduct a little research about it, and found that many women are going through this in Canada, not just my friend. For instance, the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC; 2022a) deals with cases of domestic abuse and coordinates interventions to help victims. They have a Community Coordination for Women’s Safety (CCWS) program which formulates and implements strategies to support victims of domestic abuse (EVA BC; 2022b). The CCWS (2010) wrote a report which corroborated my friend’s story. The report  (p. 2) states: 

‘In  recent  years,  CCWS  and  EVA  BC  have  received  numerous  reports  from communities  of cases involving  the arrest of both parties  in relationship  violence situations. These communities have contacted us to express their concern. They report that women are being arrested even when there is evidence of a history of violence  by  their  male  partners’. 

Furthermore, they explain the impact that such situation has, such as: 

  • Less prosecution for these cases. 
  • More liability for police services. 
  • Empowerment of the perpetrator to continue the abuse. 
  • Victimisation of victims. 
  • Increased potential for homicide. 
  • Decreased likelihood that victims will disclose or seek help. 
  • Thwarted access to justice for victims. 
  • Thwarted attempts to access support for victims. 

Similarly, the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (2005) published a report where they highlight the problematic situation of victims of domestic abuse being charged with domestic violence whilst living with abusive men. They made several recommendations which included: 

  • To take into consideration that women’s use of force is not the same as men’s (often, violence arising from women was  self-defence). 
  • That when it comes to arrests, the dominant aggressor should be identified in a relationship where domestic abuse has taken place. 
  • That there need to be mechanisms in place to ensure that victims are able to access support services and victim services, which are thwarted by criminalising the victim. 
  • That more legal aid should be available to women. 

Finally, and more recently Grace (2019) reported around the same problematic, persistent, and pervasive issues related to the inappropriate arrests of women in domestic abuse cases. The article explains that whilst the police has a duty to identify the dominant aggressor in a relationship, women continue to be inappropriately arrested in situations of intimate partner violence. She states: ‘Women experience these failures by police as betrayal. Some even feel the police become complicit to their on-going abuse. As a result, women who have been inappropriately charged in situations of intimate partner violence say they would be unwilling to turn to the police for protection in the future, even if they are again victims of violence’. Furthermore, she provides 18 case studies and accounts of this situation. 

As it can be seen in this post, the situation of domestic abuse in Canada is a mess. My friend was one of those people who were inappropriately arrested, and who now feels that no one can protect her from domestic violence, because the police themselves are being abusive of their power. This type of human rights violation should not happen in theory, but in practice, as it has been demonstrated, injustice is an everyday experience for many women in Canada. This situation has been going on for a long time, and despite recommendations and updates to policies, it continues to affect victims and to silence their voices through state-sponsored fascism. 

References

Canadian Women Foundation  (2021) ‘The facts about gender-based violence’, 29 October [Online]. Available at https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/gender-based-violence/ (accessed 21 April 2022). 

Community Coordination for Women’s Safety (2010) ‘Women Being Arrested’, Ending Violence Association of British Columbia, June [Online]. Available at http://endingviolence.org/files/uploads/eing_Arrested_Backgrounder_Revised_June_2010_0.pdf (accessed 21 April 2022). 

Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (2022) ‘About us’ [Online]. Available at https://endingviolence.org/about-us/ (accessed 21 April 2022). 

Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (2022) ‘Community Coordination for Women’s Safety (CCWS)’ [Online]. Available at https://endingviolence.org/prevention-programs/ccws-program (accessed 21 April 2022). 

Grace, A. (2019) ‘“They Just Don’t Care”: Women Charged with Domestic Violence in Ottawa’, Manitoba Law Journal 153 [Online]. Available at https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2019CanLIIDocs2790 (accessed 21 April 2022). 

Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (2005) ‘Women Charged with Domestic Violence in Toronto: The Unintended Consequences of Mandatory Charge Policies’, March  [Online]. Available at http://www.oaith.ca/assets/files/Publications/womenchargedfinal.pdf (accessed 21 April 2022). 


Photo by NEOSiAM  2021: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-s-hands-covered-with-blood-673862/

Categories
Forensic Psychology

Why People Do Not Report Domestic Abuse

There are many barriers to disclosure of domestic abuse. One reason why many individuals stay in abusive relationships and/or do not report domestic is because of their own subjective feelings such as fear of consequences if they leave the relationship (e.g. dependencies), grief which manifests as feelings loss for the relationship they wanted and/or thought they had, denial of what is actually happening to them, self-blame for the abuse they are receiving (perpetrators tend to blame the victim), shame about what others might think if they found out about the individual’s situation, and guilt over their inability to prevent or stop the abuse, as well as of others witnessing the abuse (e.g. children). Furthermore, another reason why individuals do not report domestic abuse, is that they feel that the local authorities will not take them seriously (many women do report it and perpetrators still get away with their crimes), so they experience subjective feelings of hopelessness that ‘nothing would get done anyway’. 

Another reason why people do not report domestic abuse is due to societal perceptions. The way society is known to perceive and deal with victims is awful. Individuals can experience fears that no one will believe them, or that there will be impunity. They might have no faith in justice due to personal experiences, or/and exposure to high profile cases where victims were torn apart either by the criminal justice process or by the media and tabloids. Furthermore, societal perceptions of gender mean that men will feel ashamed to disclose their experiences. Similarly, homophobic perceptions lead to LGBTQ+ individuals hiding their experiences due to their private sexual orientation. And, cultural perceptions can lead to all sorts of subjective reluctance to report domestic abuse, as individuals might be afraid of repercussions, embarrassment, or honour-based abuse. 

Apart from all of the above, there are several identifiable factors that affect the disclosure of domestic abuse. These are: 

Stereotypes

These are generalised subjective beliefs that individuals have about the world, which influence how they perceive others. Because there are so many misconceptions and false stereotypes of victims of domestic abuse, such as that they are weak, poor, and submissive women without education and living in social housing; many people might be unable to relate to this, and therefore they might find it more difficult to identify their experiences as a domestic abuse; or they might feel that no one will believe them because they do not fit the stereotype. Furthermore, since there is so much stigma associated with these misconceived stereotypes, individuals might not want to be perceived in such a way, and so might not disclose their experiences. Finally, those who do relate to the stereotype might feel that it is normal because of their circumstances to report the abuse, and might feel hesitant to disclose due to how they believe they are perceived. All these misconceptions can lead to victims isolating, and losing hope.  

Labelling

Because of the stigma associated with the word ‘victim’ (i.e. stereotypes), individuals do not want the label ‘victim’ added to their subjective identity, even if indeed they are victims. They might subsequently fear other associative labels such as ‘weak’, ‘stupid’, ‘dramatic’, ‘crazy’ or ‘bad mother’. 

Stigma

Many victims are aware of the stigma, and feelings of shame come with this. They might rather stay in that relationship than risk becoming stigmatised (e.g. men might feel that people will make fun of their masculinity for speaking up). 

Discrimination

Victims might fear that due to the current awful status of justice in our society, they will be discriminated against if they disclose their experiences of domestic abuse. They might also fear that others will attribute negative and unfair stereotypes to them, or fear that they will be excluded or marginalised as a result of their seeking support from their social network and/or community. 

Victim Blaming

Finally, because of the toll that domestic abuse has on victims, individuals experience subjective feelings of self-blame. They might already have been constantly blamed by their perpetrators and might fear that other people will also blame her.  Moreover, some cultural traditions do blame women for making decisions such as leaving an abusive relationship, and so victims might genuinely get blamed by relatives or their community if they disclose their ordeal, making it less likely that they will seek support (honour-based abuse). 

In conclusion, there are many reasons why people do not report domestic abuse, and many factors which prevent victims from disclosing their ordeals. Stereotypes and the stigma created by these is a major theme when it comes to lack of disclosure. The system at times fails victims, and the dark figure of crime is ever present.

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