Emotion, Executive Dysfunction, and Agency

Faith and Virtue Formation ◽

10.1093/oso/9780192895349.003.0003 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 51-79

Author(s):

Kevin Timpe

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Moral Agency ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Virtue Theory ◽

Emotional Control ◽

Human Flourishing ◽

Emotional Disability ◽

Contemporary Research ◽

Human Emotions

Virtue theory has addressed the role of human emotions in moral agency since its earliest proponents. Timpe’s goal in this chapter is to see how far this connection can be pushed by looking at certain kinds of emotional disability (or impairments with regard to emotional control). More specifically, he explores what implications contemporary research in psychology about executive dysfunction and emotion has for thinking about virtues that take emotions as their objects (e.g., fortitude). Timpe argues that certain kinds of disabilities significantly impact an agent’s ability to develop the proper dispositions regarding emotions that are typically associated with virtue and human flourishing because of how those disabilities impact the agent’s emotions. Some disabilities will impair an agent’s ability to exercise the kind of executive function needed to regulate the emotions and develop virtue. Timpe ends by considering how the sort of disabilities considered relate to Christian flourishing and community.

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Executive Dysfunction and Language Deficits in a Pediatric Patient with OCD and MDD with Suicidality

Case Reports in Psychiatry ◽

10.1155/2019/6574304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Melissa Yuan

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Pediatric Patient ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Language Deficits ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Neuropsychological Measures ◽

Symptom Domains

The role of neuropsychiatric testing in psychiatric disorders is becoming more prominent. Neuropsychological measures that are similar across symptom domains and phenomena such as suicidality may help clinicians guide treatment and tailor therapies to the patient in the most effective way possible. We report the case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with bizarre, intrusive suicidal thoughts in the setting of OCD and MDD. This case is unusual in that we have accurate neuropsychological determination of our patient’s language and executive function deficits, and we propose a link between them and her expression of suicidality in the context of OCD and MDD.

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Inhibitory and Emotional Control Deficits as Predictors of Symptoms of Problem Behaviors among Juvenile Delinquents

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering - 2 ◽

10.35940/ijrte.b1003.0982s1019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2S10) ◽

pp. 16-20

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Problem Behaviors ◽

Juvenile Delinquents ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Attention Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Emotional Control ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Problem Behaviours

Executive dysfunction of inhibitory and emotional control deficits has not gained attention as a predictor in previous research on problem behaviors. Thus, this study examined inhibitory and emotional control deficits as predictors of symptoms of problem behaviors. There were 404 young offenders with various crimes such as stealing, substance use, rape, homicide, gang fights, and early sexual relation/pregnancy and out of control behavior participated in the study. Behavior Rating Instrument of Executive Function-Self Report (BRIEF-SR) and Achenbach System of Empirical Behavior Assessment (ASEBA-YSR) were employed, respectively. The results showed there was a significant relationships between inhibitory and emotional control deficits with both symptoms of problem behaviours; rule-breaking behavior and aggressive behavior. Moreover, based on regression weights, inhibitory control deficit was the best predictor of attention problems and aggressive behavior. On the contrary, an emotional control deficit was the best predictor of both symptoms of problem behaviors. In conclusion, the executive function plays a significant role in problem behaviors among juvenile delinquents. Thus early prevention based on both inhibitory and emotional controls component must be considered in three different settings such as family, school, and community. Thorough consideration in developing and inserting these two executive function components also are much needed in an educational setting as it is where adolescents spend much of the time.

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Severity of anabolic steroid dependence, executive function, and personality traits in substance use disorder patients in Norway

10.31234/osf.io/r76qj ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Morgan Scarth ◽

Ingrid Amalia Havnes ◽

Marie L. Jørstad ◽

Jim McVeigh ◽

Marie-Claire Van Hout ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Executive Function ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Latent Class ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Emotional Control ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Multinomial Regression ◽

Steroid Dependence

Background: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including testosterone and synthetic derivatives, are typically used to increase muscle mass. Many users develop a dependence on these substances, contributing to worsened physical and mental health outcomes. Aspects of personality and executive dysfunction may represent underlying vulnerabilities for developing dependence.Objective: To identify levels of AAS dependence within substance use disorder (SUD) treatment patients and assess the relationship between dependence severity and personality traits and executive function (EF).Methods: Data were collected from patients at 38 SUD treatment facilities in Norway. Questionnaires were completed for measures of personality and EF. Measures of symptoms of AAS dependence were used in latent class analysis to identify sub-groups of patients, which were evaluated for association with EF and personality traits, and compared with a group of non-AAS using SUD patients. Results: Three classes were identified; largely reflecting low, moderate, and high symptoms of dependence. Multinomial regression analyses indicated that moderate and high symptoms were associated with several measures of EF and personality traits, particularly antagonism, disinhibition, psychoticism, and relational capacities, while users with low symptoms exhibited higher capacities for emotional control and shift, and lower negative affectivity, relative to non-AAS using SUD patients. Backward stepwise regressions indicated antagonism, and decreased self-monitoring as key personality and cognitive characteristics of SUD patients with severe AAS dependence.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that specific executive dysfunctions and personality features, particularly those associated with poor emotional control, reduced empathy, and impulsivity are associated with more severe AAS dependence in the SUD population.

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Exploring the Relationship Between Disordered Eating and Executive Function in a Non-Clinical Sample

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/0031512520937569 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 127 (6) ◽

pp. 1033-1050

Author(s):

Stefanie Ciszewski ◽

Kathryn E. Flood ◽

Cecile J. Proctor ◽

Lisa A. Best

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Executive Function ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Self Report ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Emotional Control ◽

Eat 26 ◽

The Relationship

Previous research suggests that individuals diagnosed with eating disorders (ED) may experience executive functioning deficits that help maintain their ED. Although this relationship is reported consistently in clinical samples, it is important to consider whether it holds for individuals with sub-clinical ED symptoms. One hundred eighty-eight university students participated in the present study examining the relationship between executive function (EF) and disordered eating behaviors. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, self-report questionnaires measuring atypical eating behaviors (EAT-26; EDI-3), and a self-report measure of EF (BRIEF-A). Correlational analyses demonstrated significant positive associations between ED behaviors and problems with emotional control, shifting, inhibition, and self-monitoring. Six hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted, using EF scores to predict scores on EAT-26 subscales (Dieting, Bulimia, Total ED Risk) and EDI-3 scales (Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, Risk Composite). In all regression analyses, BRIEF-A Emotional Control emerged as a significant predictor. As would be expected, EDI-3 Bulimia scores were also predicted by problems with inhibition. These results provide preliminary evidence of an association between non-clinical patterns of disordered eating and executive dysfunction, specifically including the ability to control one’s emotions, suggesting that emotional control problems may help predict ED risk. Future research could examine how these factors predict the development of eating disorders.

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The Relationship between social skills and percived smartphone usage

10.31234/osf.io/cxug4 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Rageshawari Munderia ◽

Rajbala Singh

Keyword(s):

Social Skills ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Social Communication ◽

Regression Method ◽

Emotional Control ◽

Smartphone Addiction ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Multiple Regression Method ◽

The Relationship

Social skills play an instrumental role in individuals’ life. It helps individuals to communicate and maintain social relationships. Presently, the smartphone has completely changed the mode of social communication, and social skills may play a crucial role in this regard. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate the association between social skills and perceived smartphone usage (both positive and negative usage). The perceived negative usage of the smartphone has been assessed in terms of smartphone addiction. Sample of the present study comprised of (n=509) adult participants. Pearson’s product moment correlation (r) and multiple regression method was employed to assess the relationship between the proposed variables. Findings of the study demonstrated that social skills are significantly related with both perceived positive usage of smartphone and smartphone addiction. Social expressivity and emotional control emerged as significant predictors for both positive usage of smartphone and smartphone addiction. The findings of the study may have important implications for bringing awareness among the individuals regarding the role of social skills for effective usage of smartphone as well as for future researches in this direction. Keywords: social skill, perceived positive smartphone usage, smartphone addiction, emotion expressivity, emotional control

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Free will and neurosurgical resections of the supplementary motor area: a critical review

Acta Neurochirurgica ◽

10.1007/s00701-021-04748-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 163 (5) ◽

pp. 1229-1237 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rickard L Sjöberg

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Free Will ◽

Corticospinal Tract ◽

Supplementary Motor Area ◽

Personal Responsibility ◽

Motor Area ◽

Simple Motor ◽

Motor Actions ◽

Intense Debate

Abstract Background Research suggests that unconscious activity in the supplementary motor area (SMA) precedes not only certain simple motor actions but also the point at which we become aware of our intention to perform such actions. The extent to which these findings have implications for our understanding of the concepts of free will and personal responsibility has been subject of intense debate during the latest four decades. Methods This research is discussed in relation to effects of neurosurgical removal of the SMA in a narrative review. Results Removal of the SMA typically causes a transient inability to perform non-stimulus-driven, voluntary actions. This condition, known as the SMA syndrome, does not appear to be associated with a loss of sense of volition but with a profound disruption of executive function/cognitive control. Conclusions The role of the SMA may be to serve as a gateway between the corticospinal tract and systems for executive function. Such systems are typically seen as tools for conscious decisions. What is known about effects of SMA resections would thus seem to suggest a view that is compatible with concepts of personal responsibility. However, the philosophical question whether free will exists cannot be definitely resolved on the basis of these observations.

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