Virginia Alford plea-takers experience harsher outcomes than traditional plea-takers.

OBJECTIVE: Alford pleas allow defendants to profess innocence while simultaneously pleading guilty. In Study 1, we addressed two research questions: (1) Does the case processing length in Alford plea cases differ from traditional guilty plea cases? and (2) Do the sentencing outcomes (i.e., length of sentence, reduction in sentence, incarceration) in Alford plea cases differ from traditional guilty plea cases? In Study 2, we explored two research questions: (1) What is the process for offering, negotiating, and accepting Alford pleas? and (2) How does the strength of evidence compare in Alford plea cases versus traditional guilty plea cases? HYPOTHESES: In Study 1, we predicted that (a) Alford plea cases would take longer to dispose of than traditional guilty plea cases, and (b) Alford plea cases would receive more beneficial sentencing outcomes (e.g., shorter sentences, larger sentence reductions) than traditional guilty plea cases. The research questions in Study 2 were exploratory; thus, we did not have a priori hypotheses. METHOD: Study 1 is a quantitative analysis of 18 years of Virginia court administrative data, and Study 2 is a qualitative analysis of interviews with Virginia judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. RESULTS: In Study 1, we found that Alford plea cases take longer to process and generally receive harsher, less favorable outcomes compared with traditional guilty pleas. In Study 2, we found that legal actors do not perceive evidence to be a driving factor in the context of Alford pleas and largely do not consider Alford pleas differently from traditional guilty pleas. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research would be beneficial to ensure that defendants are not punished simply for insisting on their innocence. Given that almost all convictions are the result of guilty pleas, some entered without admissions of guilt, increased scholarship on traditional and Alford pleas is essential. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Recollections of parental psychological control: Associations with dysfunctional individuation, depressive symptoms, and shame and guilt.

Excessive parental psychological control may disrupt individuals' psychosocial development, thus influencing later psychological problems. The present study tests a retrospectively worded Parental Control and Disrespect Scale (PCDS) to examine factor structure and model fit as well as associations with individuation-related difficulties and negative affect. Study measures were completed by 482 adults at a single time-point. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested acceptable model fit of the retrospectively worded PCDS. PCDS scores were significantly associated with dysfunctional individuation, depressive symptoms, and generalized shame and guilt, remaining significant after controlling for age, gender, and neuroticism. Moderation analysis indicated certain associations as stronger among female participants, such that dysfunctional individuation was lower at decreased levels of parental control among women, while generalized guilt was higher at increased parental control among women. Findings support the retrospective use of the PCDS, indicating links between parental psychological control, individuation-related difficulties, and negative affect problems.

Guilt, shame, and/or both? Further validation of the White Racial Affect Scale.

In this study we assessed the construct validity of the recently published White Racial Affect Scale (Grzanka et al., 2020). Specifically, we assessed the convergent, criterion-related, and incremental evidence for construct validity of the White guilt, White shame, and White defensiveness (called "White negation" in the original article) factors. We used a video stimulus to trigger state guilt and shame in participants as part of the construct validity investigation. White adults in the United States signed up for the study online (N = 262) and watched a 5-min video stimulus and completed questionnaires before and after the video. Results of this study replicated many of the findings from the original White Racial Affect Scale validation study (Grzanka et al., 2020). We found strong evidence of construct validity for the White guilt and White defensiveness factors and mixed evidence for the White shame factor. We discuss directions for future research and implications for potential interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Caregiver burden and eating-related guilt during dysphagia rehabilitation: A descriptive cross-sectional time series study.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers of patients with chronic dysphasia experience stress and guilt regarding their eating behaviors. Dysphagia rehabilitation, including minimal oral intake with tube feeding, may be vital for caregivers. This study investigated the effects of dysphagia rehabilitation on caregiver well-being and attitudes toward eating assistance. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted at two dental university hospitals on caregivers of homebound patients with dysphagia undergoing rehabilitation. Caregivers' experiences, with an emphasis on guilt and psychological status, were assessed using the Apathy Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-5 Depression Scale. Patients were evaluated at the time of the survey and rehabilitation commencement using the Barthel Index and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). Changes in FOIS scores and caregiver guilt were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar test, respectively. The impact of oral intake changes on caregiving motivation was assessed using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Between August 2019 and January 2021, 55 of 100 targeted caregivers responded (median age=64.5 years). A significant difference in FOIS scores was found (median rehabilitation duration=9.7 months). Despite 25 pneumonia cases, 65% of the caregivers continued to encourage oral intake. Guilt decreased from 48% during peak dysphagia to 22% at survey time (odds ratio=0.2, 95% CI=0.04-0.70; P < 0.01). No association was found between caregiving motivation and improved oral intake. CONCLUSION: Severe dysphagia impacted caregiver well-being, indicating preferences for patients' oral intake. To support caregivers, healthcare professionals should explore and integrate new multidisciplinary approaches into dysphagia rehabilitation strategies.

Experiential Avoidance During Mealtimes Among Individuals With Eating Disorders.

The relationship between negative emotions and avoidance is widely theorized as a bidirectional cycle implicated in a range of psychopathology. Historically, research on this cycle has examined one type of negative emotion: anxiety. Yet, a broader range of internal experiences may be implicated in the maintenance of unhealthy avoidance cycles in psychopathology. This study examines prospective relationships among anxiety, guilt, physical discomfort, and experiential avoidance during mealtimes for individuals with eating disorders (EDs). Participants (N = 108) completed ecological momentary assessments four times a day for 25 days. We computed multilevel models to examine between- and within-person effects of negative emotions and physical discomfort on experiential avoidance. When including guilt and anxiety in one model, guilt, but not anxiety, explained the significant variance in experiential avoidance at the next meal. Mealtime physical discomfort and experiential avoidance evidenced reciprocal prospective relationships. Future research should test whether interventions targeting experiential avoidance and physical discomfort at mealtimes disrupt guilt.

[HORROR, SHAME AND GUILT IN THE BEDROOM: THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO TRAUMA ON SEXUAL FUNCTION].

INTRODUCTION: Since the brutal October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, the encroachment of the battlefield into the daily lives of all Israelis has impacted both civilians and combatants in various ways. The development of post-traumatic stress reactions has far-reaching effects across numerous aspects of life. One of the lesser-discussed consequences is the onset of sexual dysfunction. Reactions to such distressing events can adversely affect sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, the frequency of sexual activities, and satisfaction derived from them. These issues may present directly in clinical settings, or indirectly through other symptoms. The impact of trauma on sexual function can be attributed to disruptions in biological mechanisms, cognitive impairments, mood changes, and diminished motivation. This review explores how responses to post-traumatic stress relate to sexual function. We present case studies of patients recovering from such events, describe the underlying mechanisms that trigger these adverse reactions, and discuss interventions that can enhance sexual health, which can be implemented in primary care settings. It is advisable for assessments of sexual function to be included in routine evaluations by primary care physicians. Early identification of sexual dysfunction can help prevent the progression of more persistent issues and enhance overall quality of life for patients.

Problematic anger among military personnel after combat deployment: prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Problematic anger, characterized by excessive frequency, intensity, and duration of anger which causes substantial emotional distress and functional interference, poses a marked challenge in military populations. Despite its importance, research on this topic is limited. This study contributes to the literature by exploring problematic anger in a large sample of Norwegian military personnel who served in NATO missions in Afghanistan. METHODS: All Norwegian military personnel who deployed to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2020 were sent a link to a cross-sectional web-based survey by the Joint Medical Services of the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2020. A total of 6205 individuals (response rate: 67.7%) participated. The cross-sectional survey assessed problematic anger, mental and physical health, war zone stressor exposure, and quality of life. RESULTS: Overall, 8.4% of participants reported problematic anger. Mental health disorders, deployment-related shame and guilt, chronic pain, and challenges with the military-to-civilian transition were independently associated with problematic anger. Both staying in service and maintaining a part-time connection with the military as a reservist mitigated the risk of problematic anger after deployment, compared to complete separation from military service. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate a sizeable prevalence of problematic anger among veterans of combat deployments. Given the associations between problematic anger and mental health disorders, chronic pain, and transition challenges, interventions designed to mitigate problematic anger need to be multi-faceted, including the possibility of maintaining an ongoing connection to military service. By reducing the risk of problematic anger, occupational, interpersonal and health outcomes may be improved for service members. Future research should examine the impact of problematic anger on adjustment over time, prevention strategies, and problematic anger in other high-risk occupations.

Evaluation of the coping attitudes of Alzheimer patients' relatives from the perspectives of depression, anxiety and guilt.

This study aims to assess coping attitudes in primary caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease residing in an institution, and to evaluate the association between coping attitudes and levels of guilt, depression, and anxiety among caregivers. The sample of this study consists of 150 individuals with relatives diagnosed with Alzheimer. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Coping Attitudes Scale, the Guilt Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory were used in the present study. It was determined that the participants' coping levels were below the average score and that they frequently used problem focus coping attitudes. A positive relationship was found between the emotion focused, nonfunctional coping levels of the participants and their continuous guilt, anxiety and depression levels. Depression and guilt has a strong effect on coping attitudes, while anxiety was determined to be a moderate predictive variable. Findings show that caregivers with depression, anxiety and continuous guilt use non-functional and emotional coping more frequently.

The Centrality of Humiliation in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Victims of traumatic events that involve repeated interpersonal aggression and low or no chance of escape frequently report intense Self-Conscious Emotions (SCEs), such as Shame, Guilt, and Humiliation. Humiliation is the reaction to a forced loss of status and is hypothesized to have unique contributions to the development and maintenance of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). However, previous studies did not include humiliation or did not simultaneously probe the relative contribution of each SCE to posttraumatic symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics between specific SCEs and trauma-related symptomatology in the general population who suffered a form of complex trauma. Four hundred forty-nine people (77.11% women) exposed to domestic violence and sexual abuse answered an online survey. We investigated whether each emotion would accurately predict probable PTSD and CPTSD levels above the proposed cutoff. We estimated a network model to understand the dynamics of their interactions and whether the traumatic event type would moderate relationships between SCEs and posttraumatic stress symptoms, comparing networks of two types of complex trauma. No SCE predicted PTSD, but humiliation was a predictor of CPTSD while controlling for Shame and Guilt. Humiliation was also the most central SCE domain in the networks of both traumatic events. Our results stress the relevance of Humiliation to understanding posttraumatic stress symptoms and the necessity to consider humiliation when studying the emotional processing in complex trauma.

Mechanisms underlying the development of eating disorders and disordered eating in adolescent females with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) face an increased risk of eating disorders/disordered eating (ED/DE), with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Empirical knowledge on the mechanisms underlying development of ED/DE in T1D is crucial for evolving prevention strategies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fourteen semi-structured interviews with adolescent females with T1D and ED/DE between 14 and 18 years were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Analyses identified four main themes; 'Interconnected afflictions', 'Judgment', 'Feeling Different', and 'Chaos & Control', These themes explore the interconnectedness of T1D and ED/DE, with shame and guilt emerging as common underlying mechanism. The development of a biopsychosocial model was based on the integration of these data with existing models. CONCLUSIONS: The study extends previous developmental pathways of ED/DE in adolescents with T1D. We propose a biopsychosocial model that incorporates various factors: predisposing factors such as parental management of T1D and weight gain during adolescence; precipitating factors including comments on weight, frequency of weighing, perceptions of surveillance; the perpetuating bilateral influence of ED/DE and T1D and finally highlighting the protective mechanisms of disease acceptance encompassing parental handling of diagnosis and the contribution of healthcare professionals (HCP's) role in psychoeducation. The present study highlight the vulnerability of adolescence in the presence of T1D, particularly concerning issues related to eating, weight, and body. It offers clinically relevant insights, with the aim to improve communication and management strategies for this very specific group.

Oxytocin enhances group-based guilt in high moral disengagement individuals through increased moral responsibility.

Group-based guilt (collective guilt) refers to the negative emotions experienced when group members violate moral standards and can motivate prosocial behavior. Individuals exhibiting high levels of moral disengagement are prone to engaging in unethical conduct without experience of guilt, thereby prolonging or exacerbating conflicts and hindering conflict resolution. Oxytocin is believed to play key role in shaping social cognition and behaviors associated with morality and prosociality. So, this study (N = 79) explores oxytocin's potential to enhance group-based guilt and compensation for victims among individuals with high moral disengagement. Employing a randomized placebo-controlled design, participants received either oxytocin or placebo before undertaking a task designed to induce group-based guilt, during which they made decisions regarding the allocation of money to victims. Results revealed that participants with high moral disengagement who received oxytocin perceived higher levels of moral responsibility, experienced increased group-based guilt, and allocated significantly more money to victims compared to those who received the placebo. These findings suggested that oxytocin holds promise as an intervention to mitigate moral disengagement and foster moral behavior in individuals predisposed to avoiding responsibility and guilt feelings.

Different patterns of endorsement of intensive mothering beliefs: Associations with parenting guilt and parental burnout.

The unrealistic expectations rooted in intensive mothering beliefs can negatively impact maternal well-being. The present study investigates associations between intensive mothering beliefs, parenting guilt, and parental burnout using a person-centered approach. We first examined whether different profiles of mothers exist based on their endorsement of the five subbeliefs of the Intensive Parenting Attitudes Questionnaire. We then tested associations between these profiles and parenting guilt and parental burnout and whether mothers' demographic characteristics predicted profile membership. Using data from 291 mothers (61% White, 15% Black/African American) with at least one child under 6 years old, we identified four profiles of mothers. Two distinct patterns of intensive mothering endorsement emerged: mothers who exhibited consistent levels of endorsement across the five subbeliefs (i.e., high endorsement, moderate endorsement, and low endorsement) and mothers who were characterized by higher endorsement on fulfillment, stimulation, and child-centered but lower endorsement on essentialism and challenging (i.e., selective endorsement). Profile membership contributed to differences in parenting guilt and parental burnout. Parenting guilt was the highest in the profile characterized by the high levels of endorsement across all five subbeliefs (high endorsement) and was significantly higher than low endorsement. Parental burnout was the lowest in the selective endorsement and was significantly lower than in the high endorsement and moderate endorsement. These results highlight the heterogeneity of subscribing to intensive mothering beliefs and suggest that magnitude and patterns of endorsement of intensive mothering beliefs differentially contribute to parenting-related well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Posttraumatic survivor guilt is associated with white matter microstructure alterations.

BACKGROUND: Military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly experience posttraumatic guilt. Guilt over commission or omission evolves when responsibility is assumed for an unfortunate outcome (e.g., the death of a fellow combatant). Survivor guilt is a state of intense emotional distress experienced by the weight of knowing that one survived while others did not. METHODS: This study of the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) analyzed structural and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from 132 male Iraq/Afghanistan veterans with PTSD. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-IV) was employed to classify guilt. Thirty (22.7 %) veterans experienced guilt over acts of commission or omission, 34 (25.8 %) experienced survivor guilt, and 68 (51.5 %) had no posttraumatic guilt. White matter microstructure (fractional anisotropy, FA), cortical thickness, and cortical volume were compared between veterans with guilt over acts of commission or omission, veterans with survivor guilt, and veterans without guilt. RESULTS: Veterans with survivor guilt had significantly lower white matter FA compared to veterans who did not experience guilt (p < .001), affecting several regions of major white matter fiber bundles. There were no significant differences in white matter FA, cortical thickness, or volumes between veterans with guilt over acts of commission or omission and veterans without guilt (p > .050). LIMITATIONS: This cross-sectional study with exclusively male veterans precludes inferences of causality between the studied variables and generalizability to the larger veteran population that includes women. CONCLUSION: Survivor guilt may be a particularly impactful form of posttraumatic guilt that requires specific treatment efforts targeting brain health.

Person-specific dynamics between negative emotions and suicidal thoughts.

INTRODUCTION: Recent technology has enabled researchers to collect ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to examine within-person correlates of suicidal thoughts. Prior studies examined generalized temporal dynamics of emotions and suicidal thinking over brief periods, but it is not yet known how variable these processes are across people. METHOD: We use data EMA data delivered over two weeks with youth/young adults (N = 60) who reported past year self-injurious thoughts/behaviors. We used group iterative multiple model estimation (GIMME) to model group- and person-specific associations of negative emotions (i.e., fear, sadness, shame, guilt, and anger) and suicidal thoughts. RESULTS: 29 participants (48.33%) reported at least one instance of a suicidal thought and were included in GIMME models. In group level models, we consistently observed autoregressive effects for suicidal thoughts (e.g., earlier thoughts predicting later thoughts), although the magnitude and direction of this link varied from person-to-person. Among emotions, sadness was most frequently associated with contemporaneous suicidal thoughts, but this was evident for less than half of the sample, while other emotional correlates of suicidal thoughts broadly differed across people. No emotion variable was linked to future suicidal thoughts in >14% of the sample, CONCLUSIONS: Emotion-based correlates of suicidal thoughts are heterogeneous across people. Better understanding of the individual-level pathways maintaining suicidal thoughts/behaviors may lead to more effective, personalized interventions.

Motives matter: The psychological experience of ostracizing among sources.

Individuals ostracize others for myriad reasons, yet the influence of those reasons on the psychological experience of ostracizing is yet unknown. Two studies aimed to determine the emotional and behavioral sequelae of ostracizing for different motives, directly comparing punitive to defensive motives. We focused our examination on a suite of emotions expected to arise as a function of (1) the situations that give rise to ostracizing for punitive and defensive reasons (anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness) and (2) the act of ostracizing itself (i.e., pride and guilt). The research employed a novel paradigm to induce the experience of ostracizing for defensive or punitive motives. Study 1 (N = 372) investigated sources' experienced emotion as a function of motive. Study 2 (N = 743) expanded consideration to behavioral intentions, including intentions to continue ostracizing and to recruit others to join in ostracizing the target. Across both studies and supported by an internal meta-analysis, ostracizing for defensive reasons was associated with higher levels of guilt, fear, and anxiety, and lower levels of anger, compared to ostracizing for punitive reasons. Neither sadness nor positive emotion (pride or happiness) differed significantly according to motive in either study. Moreover, guilt and anger mediated the impact of motive on intentions to continue ostracizing and recruit others to join them in ostracizing. To the extent that punitive sources experienced anger relative to defensive sources, they expressed greater intentions to continue ostracizing the target and to recruit others to join in ostracizing the target. To the extent that defensive sources experienced guilt relative to punitive sources, they reported reduced intentions to continue ostracizing the target. Findings add to a growing literature on ostracism sources, and highlight the mediating role of sources' emotion in guiding future actions.

Vortex of regret: How positive and negative coping strategies correlate with feelings of guilt.

Bad coping behavior and guilt may reinforce each other as a negative feedback loop. Social contexts and expectations may also create cognitive dissonance in coping individuals and affect the effectiveness of coping styles. This study examines the associations between the feeling of guilt and specific coping styles belonging to both groups of positive and negative coping styles. We conducted Bayesian Multiple Regression analyses on secondary data from 3784 high school students in China. Positive coping is associated more with reduced feelings of guilt compared to negative coping. However, some positive coping styles were found to be positively associated with a sense of guilt, especially those involving confrontation against or conformity to social expectations. Most negative coping styles are positively associated with guilt, and substance use has the strongest influence among the examined negative coping styles. The findings suggest that the consideration of sociocultural contexts is very important in supporting those with guilt issues, especially adolescents in societies with dominant traditional East Asian values.

The perceived guilt and innocence of adults with developmental language disorder and adults with typical language during a mock interrogation.

PURPOSE: This study examined if there were differences in the guilty and not guilty judgments of adults with developmental language disorder (DLD) and those with typical language (TL) functioning. METHOD: Twenty-four adults (12 DLD, 12 TL) were assigned to either the guilty or not guilty conditions. Those in the guilty condition engaged in a mock crime while those in the not guilty condition were informed that a crime had been committed. Peer jurors were presented with video interrogations of the DLD (6 guilty, 6 not guilty) and TL (6 guilty, 6 not guilty) participants and were asked to make categorical judgments of guilty and not guilty and to indicate confidence in their judgments. RESULTS: In general, peer jurors were not accurate in their judgments of the accused, and were more likely to judge individuals with DLD as guilty relative to accused individuals with TL. Peer jurors were particularly poor at judging innocent adults with DLD as not guilty and guilty adults with TL as guilty. Despite this, peer jurors were more confident than not in their guilty and not guilty determinations. CONCLUSIONS: Peer jurors are confident in their judgments of the guilt of the accused when they should not be, particularly in the case of accused adults with DLD. Implications are discussed.

The nonverbal expression of guilt in healthy adults.

Guilt is a negative emotion elicited by realizing one has caused actual or perceived harm to another person. One of guilt's primary functions is to signal that one is aware of the harm that was caused and regrets it, an indication that the harm will not be repeated. Verbal expressions of guilt are often deemed insufficient by observers when not accompanied by nonverbal signals such as facial expression, gesture, posture, or gaze. Some research has investigated isolated nonverbal expressions in guilt, however none to date has explored multiple nonverbal channels simultaneously. This study explored facial expression, gesture, posture, and gaze during the real-time experience of guilt when response demands are minimal. Healthy adults completed a novel task involving watching videos designed to elicit guilt, as well as comparison emotions. During the video task, participants were continuously recorded to capture nonverbal behaviour, which was then analyzed via automated facial expression software. We found that while feeling guilt, individuals engaged less in several nonverbal behaviours than they did while experiencing the comparison emotions. This may reflect the highly social aspect of guilt, suggesting that an audience is required to prompt a guilt display, or may suggest that guilt does not have clear nonverbal correlates.