Predictors of self-harm in male inmates

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Jane Barton ◽  
Tanya Meade ◽  
Steven Cumming ◽  
Anthony Samuels
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
The Self ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Interpersonal Difficulties ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Male Inmates

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the predictors of self-harm in male inmates. Design/methodology/approach – Male inmates with and without a background of self-harm (i.e. suicidal and non-suicidal) were compared across two distal (static and trait) and two proximal (environmental and current/state psychological) domains. The factors from the four domains which may accurately classify self-harm history were also examined. Findings – The two groups were significantly different across the four domains, particularly on psychological characteristics. The self-harm group was associated with childhood trauma, violent offences, institutional misconducts and lower levels of social support significantly more than the non-self-harm group. Being single, childhood abuse, impulsivity, antisocial personality disorder and global psychopathology were the five key predictors that contributed to 87.4 per cent of all cases being correctly classified. Practical implications – The high levels of psychiatric morbidity and childhood trauma in the self-harm group indicated a need for interventions that address emotional and interpersonal difficulties and optimization of adaptive coping skills. Also, interventions may require a focus on the behavioural functions. Originality/value – A novel approach was taken to the grouping of the variables. A comprehensive range of variables, was assessed simultaneously, including some not previously considered indicators, and in an understudied population, Australian male inmates. The lower levels of agreeableness, conscientiousness and generalized anxiety disorder which distinguished the self-harm and non-self-harm group, were newly identified for self-harm.

Automated element grouping and self-stress identification of tensegrities

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1643-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kambiz Koohestani
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Feasible Solution ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The Self ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stress Mode ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Minimisation Problem ◽  
Feasible Solutions

Purpose – The determination of feasible self-stress modes and grouping of elements for tensegrities with predefined geometry and multiple self-stress modes is very important, though difficult, in the design of these structures. The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach to the automated element grouping and self-stress identification of tensegrities. Design/methodology/approach – A set of feasible solutions conforming to the unilateral behaviour of elements is obtained through an optimisation process, which is solved using a genetic algorithm. Each chromosome in the population having a negative fitness is a distinctive feasible solution with its own grouping characteristic, which is automatically determined throughout the evolution process. Findings – The self-stress identification is formulated through an unconstrained minimisation problem. The objective function of this minimisation problem is defined in such a way that takes into account both the feasibility of a solution and grouping of elements. The method generates a set of feasible self-stress modes rather than a single one and automatically and simultaneously suggests a grouping of elements for every feasible self-stress mode. A self-stress mode with a minimal/subminimal grouping of elements is also obtained. Originality/value – The method can efficiently generate sets of feasible solutions rather than a single one. The authors also address one of the challenging issues related to this identification, i.e., automated grouping of elements. These features makes the method very efficient since most of the state-of-the-art methods address the self-stress identification of tensegrities based on predefined groupings of elements whilst providing only a single corresponding solution.

The continuing search for the Holy Grail

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Robert M. Wiseman ◽  
Hadi Faqihi
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Ceo Pay ◽  
And Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enrich the finding by Aguinis et al. (2018) that there is little overlap between the extremes of firm performance and the extremes of CEO pay using a novel approach to characterize the distribution of pay and performance. The authors aim to shift the focus of compensation researchers from fruitlessly trying to link pay to performance to theory-rich accounts of pay that take into consideration the idiosyncratically motivated and socially embedded nature of CEO compensation. Design/methodology/approach The authors’ approach in this commentary is conceptual. They synthesize compensation literature from different fields such as economics, finance, sociology, strategic management and corporate law, as well as the empirical findings from the focal paper to support their characterization of the current state of the literature and future directions it should take. Findings The authors synthesize discussion of CEO pay down to three dimensions of CEO responsibilities and motivations. They argue that a realistic pay design should take into account that CEOs have limited control over performance, they are accountable to multiple stakeholders and they are motivated by financial as well as nonfinancial incentives. Originality/value The commentary presents researchers with high-order framing of CEO pay that goes beyond debating over methodology or narrowly focusing on limited behavioral drivers of pay setting. Instead, the authors encourage researchers to take advantage of their three-legged framework to theorize about CEO pay.

scholarly journals Coming of age, seeking legitimacy

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Amankwah-Amoah
Keyword(s):  
Coming Of Age ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Pathway Model ◽  
Convergence Hypothesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Theory Application ◽  
Historical Trajectory

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical trajectory of African management research and managerial thinking. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws from a review and synthesis of the literature from 1960 - 2012. Findings – The analysis led to the identification of three distinct phases which reflect the difficult and uncertain beginning of a promising future. The historical pathway model also accounts for the evolution of management philosophies and thoughts and the current state of knowledge. Originality/value – Although there is a burgeoning stream of African management research, a lack of comprehensive review and synthesis has obscured the enormous strides made. This paper advances a “novel” approach towards theory application and theory creation, building on the “convergence hypothesis” and “divergence hypothesis”. This analysis yielded a number of promising avenues for future research.

Starting from scratch: an exploration of the narratives of the first episode of self-wounding

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 62-76
Author(s):  
Anne-Laure Donskoy ◽  
Rosemarie Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
The Self ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
User Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unique Event ◽  
Suicidal Intention ◽  
Complex Landscape ◽  
Self Harm

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present some results of a qualitative study exploring people's memories of the pathways to the first episode of self-wounding. Specifically it will focus on the issue of “suicidality”. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 11 participants, aged between 19 and 50, were described. They were asked to describe their first episode of self-wounding. The interviews were conducted using a semi-structured topic guide. An initial thematic and a subsequent narrative analysis were used to explore the participants’ stories. Findings – The narratives of self-wounding show that the first episode occurs in a complex landscape of interactions between events and emotions. Even when participants were aware of suicidal feelings before self-wounding, the suicidal intention was abandoned as the self-wounding was shown to be an effective method for dealing with distress. For most of the participants the self-wounding was not associated with suicidality but with a strong need to gain or regain control of an emotionally charged and chaotic environment. Practical implications – Focusing on the first episode of self-harm holds the key to a better appreciation of the underlying meanings of self-wounding as a complex and dynamic experience. It can provide health care practitioners with a new direction to understanding people's individual motivations rather than focusing relying on behaviour generalised assumptions. Originality/value – This study provides a rare insight into the first episode of self-harm as a unique event. It is also a rare example of publicly funded service-user research with a focus on issues which are meaningful to them.

Psychopathic features in young incarcerated females

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Strand ◽  
Stefan Luebbers ◽  
Stephane M. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Psychopathic Traits ◽  
Female Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between psychopathic features as measured with the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) and behavioural and emotional functioning in young female offenders in custody. Design/methodology/approach – This is a quantitative interview study investigating the relationship with psychopathic traits, measured with the PCL:YV (Forth et al., 2003), and different psychological characteristics as well as AD/HD, self-harm, and childhood trauma in adolescent offenders across genders. Data were collected from a sample of 40 female and 40 male adolescents who were incarcerated in Victoria, Australia. Findings – Results indicated that the behavioural subscales of the PCL:YV were associated with externalising behaviours possibly underpinned by histories of abuse and substantiated child protection incidences. The presence of AD/HD was strongly associated with affective deficits suggesting that the PCL:YV may be identifying young females with AD/HD rather than core psychopathic traits. Findings also indicate that female-specific manifestations of manipulation are likely being misidentified as behavioural phenomena precluding clinical recognition as a core interpersonal trait. Significant dissimilarities with a young male comparison group were identified and are discussed within. Research limitations/implications – The sample size is very small and the results should be seen as an indication rather than generalising. Originality/value – Studies on female juvenile offenders is rare and this study adds to the literature on the construct of psychopathy and its relationship to psychosocial factors as well as associations with AD/HD, self-harm, and childhood trauma, among incarcerated adolescents.

CleanServs: clean services for a more sustainable world

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Wolfson ◽  
Dorith Tavor ◽  
Shlomo Mark
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
New Framework

Purpose – The paper aims to describe a novel framework for service design to achieve the overall goal of sustainability and to characterize it while exploring the benefit of doing so for both sustainability and service. This novel framework also proposes new opportunities for sustainability-oriented innovation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a novel approach to design and implement services that will lead to a reduction in the production of goods and will offer alternatives that will reduce whatever production process is involved in its creation, i.e. clean service – CleanServ. Findings – The authors’ findings suggest that a CleanServ is a service that is competitive with, if not superior to, its conventional tangible or intangible counterparts and one that reduces the use of natural resources and cuts or eliminates emissions and wastes. CleanServs can be categorized into five different groups based on their fundamental contribution to sustainability: prevention, reduction, replacement, efficiency and offset. While the service sector continuous to grow in size and importance, CleanServs will play a key role in improving the sustainability of our society and in preserving the environment. Practical implications – The CleanServ concept offers a new framework and novel opportunities for sustainability-oriented innovation in the service sector. Implementing CleanServs will enable services to be imbued with sustainability and will promote the exchange of the production of goods with the delivery of services that will supply the same solution more sustainably. Social implications – CleanServs are expected to change how we consume both products and services and will, therefore, promote a more rational use of natural resources and will reduce the discharge of pollution to the environment. Implementation of the CleanServ concept will, thus, advance the current state of the art in sustainable development and improve quality of life on a global scale. Originality/value – This paper presents a novel approach and a framework that conceptualizes clean services, which we term CleanServs, while exploring the benefit of doing so, both for sustainability and for service science.

GREEN OPEN ACCESS IN KENYA: A REVIEW OF THE CONTENT, POLICIES AND USAGE OF INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES

Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-54
Author(s):  
Wanyenda Leonard Chilimo
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Open Access ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Current State ◽  
Theses And Dissertations

 There is scant research-based evidence on the development and adoption of open access (OA) and institutional repositories (IRs) in Africa, and in Kenya in particular. This article reports on a study that attempted to fill that gap and provide feedback on the various OA projects and advocacy work currently underway in universities and research institutions in Kenya and in other developing countries. The article presents the findings of a descriptive study that set out to evaluate the current state of IRs in Kenya. Webometric approaches and interviews with IR managers were used to collect the data for the study. The findings showed that Kenya has made some progress in adopting OA with a total of 12 IRs currently listed in the Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR) and five mandatory self-archiving policies listed in the Registry of Open Access Repositories Mandatory Archiving Policies (ROARMAP). Most of the IRs are owned by universities where theses and dissertations constitute the majority of the content type followed by journal articles. The results on the usage and impact of materials deposited in Kenyan IRs indicated that the most viewed publications in the repositories also received citations in Google Scholar, thereby signifying their impact and importance. The results also showed that there was a considerable interest in Swahili language publications among users of the repositories in Kenya.

From many to one: Meditation and the plasticity of the predictive mind

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Laukkonen ◽  
Heleen A Slagter
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Enhancement ◽  
The Self ◽  
Predictive Processing ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Conceptual Processing ◽  
Current State ◽  
Contemplative Science ◽  
Open Monitoring ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
The Brain

How profoundly can humans change their own minds? In this paper we offer a unifying account of meditation under the predictive processing view of living organisms. We start from relatively simple axioms. First, the brain is an organ that serves to predict based on past experience, both phylogenetic and ontogenetic. Second, meditation serves to bring one closer to the here and now by disengaging from anticipatory processes. We propose that practicing meditation therefore gradually reduces predictive processing, in particular counterfactual cognition—the tendency to construct abstract and temporally deep representations—until all conceptual processing falls away. Our Many- to-One account also places three main styles of meditation (focused attention, open monitoring, and non-dual meditation) on a single continuum, where each technique progressively relinquishes increasingly engrained habits of prediction, including the self. This deconstruction can also make the above processes available to introspection, permitting certain insights into one’s mind. Our review suggests that our framework is consistent with the current state of empirical and (neuro)phenomenological evidence in contemplative science, and is ultimately illuminating about the plasticity of the predictive mind. It also serves to highlight that contemplative science can fruitfully go beyond cognitive enhancement, attention, and emotion regulation, to its more traditional goal of removing past conditioning and creating conditions for potentially profound insights. Experimental rigor, neurophenomenology, and no-report paradigms combined with neuroimaging are needed to further our understanding of how different styles of meditation affect predictive processing and the self, and the plasticity of the predictive mind more generally.

A cell-based smoothed point interpolation method (CS-PIM) for 2D thermoelastic problems

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijun Liu ◽  
Guiyong Zhang ◽  
Huan Lu ◽  
Zhi Zong
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stresses ◽  
Interpolation Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Convergence Results ◽  
Point Interpolation Method ◽  
Point Interpolation ◽  
Thermoelastic Problems ◽  
Gradient Smoothing ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Due to the strong reliance on element quality, there exist some inherent shortcomings of the traditional finite element method (FEM). The model of FEM behaves overly stiff, and the solutions of automated generated linear elements are generally of poor accuracy about especially gradient results. The proposed cell-based smoothed point interpolation method (CS-PIM) aims to improve the results accuracy of the thermoelastic problems via properly softening the overly-stiff stiffness. Design/methodology/approach This novel approach is based on the newly developed G space and weakened weak (w2) formulation, and of which shape functions are created using the point interpolation method and the cell-based gradient smoothing operation is conducted based on the linear triangular background cells. Findings Owing to the property of softened stiffness, the present method can generally achieve better accuracy and higher convergence results (especially for the temperature gradient and thermal stress solutions) than the FEM does by using the simplest linear triangular background cells, which has been examined by extensive numerical studies. Practical implications The CS-PIM is capable of producing more accurate results of temperature gradients as well as thermal stresses with the automated generated and unstructured background cells, which make it a better candidate for solving practical thermoelastic problems. Originality/value It is the first time that the novel CS-PIM was further developed for solving thermoelastic problems, which shows its tremendous potential for practical implications.

scholarly journals Receiving threatening or obscene messages from a partner and mental health, self-harm and suicidality: results from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally McManus ◽  
Paul E. Bebbington ◽  
Leonie Tanczer ◽  
Sara Scott ◽  
Louise M. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
A Current

Abstract Purpose Threatening or obscene messaging is repeated, unwanted texts, emails, letters or cards experienced by the recipient as threatening or obscene, and causing fear, alarm or distress. It is rarely examined as an aspect of intimate partner violence. We describe the prevalence of exposure to threatening/obscene messaging from a current or ex-partner; characteristics of victims; and associations with other forms of violence and abuse, mental disorder, self-harm, and suicidality. Methods Cross-sectional probability-sample survey of the general population in England aged 16 + . Multivariable regression modelling tested associations between receipt of threatening/obscene messaging and current common mental disorder, past-year self-harm and suicidality. Results Threatening/obscene messages were received from a current/ex-partner by 6.6% (95%CI: 5.9–7.3) of adults who had been in a relationship; 1.7% received these in the past year. Victims were more likely to be female, under 35, single or divorced, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and to have experienced other forms of sexual and partner violence and abuse. Those who received threatening/obscene messages in the past year were more likely to experience common mental disorder (adjusted odds ratio 1.89; 1.01–3.55), self-harm (2.31; 1.00–5.33), and suicidal thoughts (2.00; 1.06–3.78). Conclusion Threatening/obscene messaging commonly occurs in the context of intimate partner violence. While often occurring alongside sexual and physical violence, messaging has an additional association with mental disorder and suicidality. Routine enquiry in service settings concerning safety, including those working with people who have escaped domestic violence, should ask about ongoing contact from previous as well as current partners. This should include asking about messaging, as well as other forms of potentially technology-enabled abuse which may become increasingly common.

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