Does parental use of harsh discipline and punishment in response to ambiguous child situations vary by child physical abuse risk?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the extent to which fathers and mothers at high-risk and low-risk for child physical abuse (CPA) differed in their use of harsh discipline and punishment when presented ambiguous child situations (situations where differences in positive and negative valences are close to zero). PARTICIPANTS/METHODS: High-risk for CPA parents (N = 74: fathers, n = 41; mothers, n = 33) and low-risk parents (N = 178: fathers, n = 91; mothers, n = 87) were asked to indicate their likelihood of using harsh verbal discipline (HVD), harsh physical discipline (HPD), and punishment (i.e., retributive harm separate from HVD and HPD) after viewing each of eighteen ambiguous child situations. RESULTS: As expected, high-risk, compared to low-risk, for CPA parents were significantly (ps < 0.001) more likely to use HVD (d = 0.546), HPD (d = 0.595), and punishment (d = 0.564). Overall, fathers, relative to mothers, were significantly more likely to use HVD (d = 0.261) and HPD (d = 0.238). For punishment, however, there was no significant parental role (father, mother) difference (d = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: Since in everyday living situations many child behaviors are ambiguous, the findings that parents, especially high-risk for CPA parents, use harsh discipline and punishment when encountering ambiguous child situations suggest that non-contingent harsh child-related parental behaviors may be frequent in the lives of some children. The findings that parents may use non-contingent discipline and punishment suggest the need to explore whether, when these parenting behaviors occur, they increase the likelihood of negative child outcomes.

Adaptação da Escala de Crenças sobre Punições Físicas para o contexto brasileiro / Adaptation of the Physical Punishment Beliefs Scale to the Brazilian context / Adaptación de la Escala de Creencias sobre Castigos Físicos para el contexto brasileño

O estudo tem como objetivo apresentar o processo de adaptação da Escala de Crenças sobre Punições Físicas (ECPF) para o contexto brasileiro, bem como as evidências iniciais de dimensionalidade e precisão da escala para uma amostra de brasileiros. Além disso, investigou-se se gênero, faixa etária, parentalidade, histórico de maus-tratos na infância e histórico de violência por parceiro íntimo exercem influência sobre os níveis de crenças sobre punições físicas. Participaram 257 indivíduos, sendo 196 (76,3%) do gênero feminino. Os resultados indicaram que a versão brasileira da escala apresentou melhores índices de ajuste na estrutura unifatorial (TLI = 0,96; RMSEA [90% I.C.] = 0,08 (0,08 - 0,09). As cargas fatoriais variaram de 0,31 a 0,91. Identificou-se, também, que os níveis de crenças sobre punições físicas foram influenciados pelo gênero e idade dos participantes. Os resultados obtidos são favoráveis ao uso da ECPF em amostras brasileiras.(AU)

The study aimed to adapt the Physical Punishment Beliefs Scale to the Brazilian context, and presents the initial evidence of dimensionality and reliability of the scale for a Brazilian sample. It was also investigated whether gender, age group, parenting, history of child maltreatment, and history of intimate partner violence influenced the beliefs related to the levels of physical punishment. Participants were 257 individuals, 196 (76.3%) of whom were female. The results indicated that the Brazilian version of the scale presented better fit indices for the single factor structure (TLI = .96; RMSEA [90% I.C.] = .08 (.08 - .09). The factor loadings ranged from .31 to .91. It was also identified that the beliefs related to the levels of physical punishment were influenced by gender and age group. The results obtained are favorable for the use of the scale in Brazilian samples.(AU)

El estudio tiene como objetivo presentar el proceso de adaptación de la Escala de Creencias sobre Castigos Físicos (ECPF) para el contexto brasileño, así como las evidencias iniciales de dimensionalidad y precisión de la escala para una muestra de brasileños. Además, se investigó si el género, el grupo de edad, la parentalidad, los antecedentes del maltrato infantil y los antecedentes de violencia de pareja influyen en los niveles de creencias sobre el castigo físico. Participaron 257 indivíduos, de las cuales 196 (76,3%) eran mujeres. Los resultados indicaron que la versión brasileña de la escala presentó mejores índices de ajuste en la estructura unifactorial (TLI = 0,96; [90% I.C.]. = 0,08 (0,08 - 0,09). Las cargas factoriales oscilaron entre 0,21 y 0,91. También se identificó que los niveles de creencias sobre castigos físicos fueron influenciados por el género y la edad de los participantes. Los resultados obtenidos son favorables al uso de la ECPF en muestras brasileñas.(AU)

Castigo físico: argumentos y justificaciones de padres y madres para su utilización / Physical punishment: arguments and justifications of parents and mothers for their use

El castigo físico en la crianza conlleva consecuencias negativas sobre el desarrollo infantil. Sin embargo, muchos adultos lo consideran un método adecuado. El presente estudio analiza los argumentos y justificaciones que esgrimen los adultos para su utilización. La muestra constó de 14 madres y 13 padres de niños(as) entre 0 a 3 años. El diseño investigativo tuvo un carácter exploratorio, utilizando un enfoque metodológico cualitativo a través del método de estudio de caso y la aplicación de la técnica el grupo focal. Mediante análisis de contenido se arribó a los siguientes resultados: los argumentos se relacionan con el carácter educativo y la eficacia del castigo físico, la repetición generacional de experiencias disciplinarias, la naturalización del castigo físico, razones de orden cultural y, por último, cansancio y estrés. Estos resultados constituyen un aporte a las políticas públicas en la prevención del castigo físico, particularmente en Uruguay.

Physical punishment during child rearing produces negative consequences for child development. Nonetheless, many adults consider it to be an adequate method. This study analyses the arguments and justifications employed by adults to justify their use. Participants were 14 mothers y 13 fathers of children aged 0 to 3 years. Using a qualitative, exploratory research design, we used a case study methodology to gather data through focus groups. The content analysis yielded the following result: the arguments associated with the educational character of corporal punishment and its presumed efficacy, transgenerational repetition of disciplinary experiences, the naturalization of physical punishment, cultural arguments and, finally, stress and exhaustion. These results contribute to public policies aiming to prevent physical punishment, particularly in Uruguay.

Are Sensitivity to Punishment, Sensitivity to Reward and Effortful Control Transdiagnostic Mechanisms Underlying the Eating Disorder/Obesity Spectrum?

Although it has been postulated that eating disorders (EDs) and obesity form part of a broad spectrum of eating- and weight-related disorders, this has not yet been tested empirically. In the present study, we investigated interindividual differences in sensitivity to punishment, sensitivity to reward, and effortful control along the ED/obesity spectrum in women. We used data on 286 patients with eating disorders (44.6% AN-R, 24.12% AN-BP, and 31.82% BN), 126 healthy controls, and 640 Class II/III obese bariatric patients (32.81% Class II and 67.19% Class III) with and without binge eating. Participants completed the behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation scales, as well as the effortful control scale, to assess sensitivity to punishment and reward and effortful control. Results showed that patients with EDs scored significantly higher on punishment sensitivity (anxiety) compared to healthy controls and Class II/III obese patients; the different groups did not differ significantly on reward sensitivity. Patients with binge eating or compensatory behaviors scored significantly lower on effortful control than patients without binge eating. Differences in temperamental profiles along the ED/obesity spectrum appear continuous and gradual rather than categorical. This implies that it may be meaningful to include emotion regulation and impulse regulation training in the treatment of both EDs and obesity.

Neurocognitive mechanisms of reactions to second- and third-party justice violations.

The aim of the current study was threefold: (i) understand people's willingness to engage in either punishment of the perpetrator or compensation of the victim in order to counteract injustice; (ii) look into the differences between victims of and witnesses to injustice; (iii) investigate the different role played by social preference and affective experience in determining these choices. The sample tested here showed an equal preference for punishment and compensation; neuroimaging findings suggested that compensation, as opposed to punishment, was related to Theory of Mind. Partially supporting previous literature, choosing how to react to an injustice as victims, rather than witnesses, triggered a stronger affective response (striatal and prefrontal activation). Moreover, results supported the idea that deciding whether or not to react to an injustice and then how severely to react are two distinct decisional stages underpinned by different neurocognitive mechanisms, i.e., sensitivity to unfairness (anterior insula) and negative affectivity (amygdala). These findings provide a fine-grained description of the psychological mechanisms underlying important aspects of social norm compliance.

Sofrimento e Violência que a Lógica Proibicionista Gera na Vida de Usuários de Drogas Ilícitas / Suffering and Violence that Prohibitionist Logic Gets in the Lives of Illicit Drug Users / Sufrimiento y Violencia que la Lógica Prohibicionista Genera en la Vida de Usuarios de Drogas Ilícitas

A proibição do uso de drogas é um fenômeno essencialmente moderno, pautada numa postura intolerante e repressiva, um discurso de terror e punição que acaba por gerar violência e sofrimento para os usuários de substâncias ilícitas. Mostramos por meio de alguns teóricos o quanto os discursos e práticas ideologizados colocam as pessoas que utilizam drogas ilícitas como inimigos sociais sem considerar as contradições e riscos a que são submetidos cotidianamente, além de ir em direção oposta à tendência à atualização e ao potencial do indivíduo. O presente estudo se caracteriza por ser uma pesquisa bibliográfica, de cunho qualitativo. A literatura consultada sugere que o fenômeno das drogas é complexo e se configura como pertencente à condição humana, bem como o único meio de contribuir com a ampliação de sentidos existências é por meio da política de Redução de Danos.(AU)

The prohibition of drug use is an essentially modern phenomeno, based on an intolerant and repressive stance, a discourse of terror and punishment, which generates violence and suffering to users of illicit substances. We have shown through some theorists how ideological discourses and practices place people who use illicit drugs as social enemies without considering the contradictions and risks they are submitted daily, in addition to going in the opposite direction as to the tendency to update and the potential of the individual. The present study is characterized by a qualitative bibliographical research. With the elaboration of such a study it is able to perceive that the phenomenon of drugs is complex, and is configured as belonging to the condition, as well as the only way to contribute to the expansion of existent senses is through the Harm Reduction policy.(AU)

La prohibición del uso de drogas es un fenómeno esencialmente moderno, pautado en una postura intolerante y represiva, un discurso de terror y castigo que acaba por generar violencia y sufrimiento para los usuarios de sustancias ilícitas. Mostramos por medio de algunos teóricos cuánto los discursos y prácticas ideologizados colocan a las personas que utilizan drogas ilícitas como enemigos sociales sin considerar las contradicciones y riesgos a que son sometidos cotidianamente, además de ir en dirección opuesta a la tendencia a la actualización y al potencial del individuo. El presente estudio se caracteriza por ser una investigación bibliográfica, de cuño cualitativo. La literatura consultada sugiere que el fenómeno de las drogas es complejo, y se configura como perteneciente a la condición humana, así como el único medio de contribuir con la ampliación de sentidos existencias es por medio de la política de Reducción de Daños.(AU)

Individual differences in learning from probabilistic reward and punishment predicts smoking status.

INTRODUCTION: The ability to update reward and punishment contingencies is a fundamental aspect of effective decision-making, requiring the ability to successfully adapt to the changing demands of one's environment. In the case of nicotine addiction, research has predominantly focused on reward- and punishment-based learning processes among current smokers relative to non-smokers, whereas less is known about these processes in former smokers. METHODS: In a total sample of 105 students, we used the Probabilistic Selection Task to examine differences in reinforcement learning among 41 current smokers, 29 ex-smokers, and 35 non-smokers. The PST was comprised of a training and test phase that allowed for the comparison of learning from positive versus negative feedback. RESULTS: The test phase of the Probabilistic Selection Task significantly predicted smoking status. Current and non-smokers were classified with moderate accuracy, whereas ex-smokers were typically misclassified as smokers. Lower rates of learning from rewards were associated with an increased likelihood of being a smoker or an ex-smoker compared with being a non-smoker. Higher rates of learning from punishment were associated with an increased likelihood of being a smoker relative to non-smoker. However, learning from punishment did not predict ex-smoker status. CONCLUSIONS: Current smokers and ex-smokers were less likely to learn from rewards, supporting the hypothesis that deficient reward processing is a feature of chronic addiction. In addition, current smokers were more sensitive to punishment than ex-smokers, contradicting some recent findings.

Anterior Insular Cortex is Critical for the Propensity to Relapse Following Punishment-Imposed Abstinence of Alcohol Seeking.

Humans with alcohol use disorder typically abstain because of the negative consequences associated with excessive drinking, and exposure to contexts previously associated with alcohol use can trigger relapse. We used a rat model that captures a characteristic of this human condition: namely voluntary abstinence from alcohol use because of contingent punishment. There is substantial variability in the propensity to relapse following extended periods of abstinence, and this is a critical feature preventing the successful treatment of alcohol use disorder. Here we examined relapse following acute or prolonged abstinence. In male alcohol preferring P rats, we found an increased propensity to relapse in Context B, the punishment context after prolonged abstinence. Next, we found that neither alcohol intake history nor the motivational strength of alcohol predicted the propensity to relapse. We next examined the putative circuitry of context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking following prolonged abstinence using Fos as a marker of neuronal activation. The anterior insular cortex (AI) was the only brain region examined where Fos expression correlated with alcohol seeking behavior in Context B after prolonged abstinence. Finally, we used local infusion of GABAA and GABAB receptor agonists (muscimol + baclofen) to show a causal role of the AI in context-induced relapse in Context B, the punishment context after prolonged abstinence. Our results show that there is substantial individual variability in the propensity to relapse in the punishment-associated context after prolonged abstinence, and this is mediated by activity in the AI.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A key feature of alcohol use disorder is that sufferers show an enduring propensity to relapse throughout their lifetime. Relapse typically occurs despite the knowledge of adverse consequences including health complications or relationship breakdowns. Here we use a recently developed rodent model that recapitulates this behavior. After an extended period of abstinence, relapse propensity is markedly increased in the "adverse consequence" environment, akin to humans with alcohol use disorder relapsing in the face of adversity. From a circuitry perspective, we demonstrate a causal role of the anterior insular cortex in relapse to alcohol seeking after extended abstinence following punishment imposed voluntary cessation of alcohol use.

The importance of early life touch for psychosocial and moral development

One of the primary means of communicating with a baby is through touch. Nurturing physical touch promotes healthy physiological development in social mammals, including humans. Physiology influences wellbeing and psychosocial functioning. The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections among early life positive and negative touch and wellbeing and sociomoral development. In study 1, mothers of preschoolers (n = 156) reported their attitudes toward positive/negative touch and on their children's wellbeing and sociomoral outcomes, illustrating moderate to strong positive correlations between positive touch attitudes and children's sociomoral capacities and orientations and negative correlations with psychopathology. In study 2, we used an existing longitudinal dataset, with at-risk mothers (n = 682) and their children to test touch effects on moral capacities and social behaviors in early life. Results demonstrated moderate to strong relationships between positive/negative touch and concurrent child behavioral regulation and positive correlations between low corporal punishment and child sociomoral outcomes. In a third study with adults (n = 607), we found significant mediation processes connecting retrospective reports of childhood touch to adult moral orientation through attachment security, mental health, and moral capacities. In general across studies, more affectionate touch and less punishing touch were positively associated with wellbeing and development of moral capacities and engaged moral orientation. (AU)

Teorías subjetivas sobre disciplina parental en literatura para padres / Subjective theories about parental discipline in parenting literature

INTRODUCCIÓN: La disciplina parental es un tema de frecuente solicitud de orientación de quienes consultan a profesionales de la salud. Se relaciona con los estilos de crianza y ha sido estudiada cien tíficamente respecto a su efectividad y consecuencias para los hijos(as). OBJETIVO: Describir teorías subjetivas presentes en las recomendaciones que efectúan los médicos y psicólogos en libros para padres en español acerca de la disciplina parental. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Se analizaron trece libros con consejos para padres escritos por profesionales de la salud en idioma español publicados entre los años 2000 y 2017. El análisis de datos utilizó procedimientos de la Grounded Theory adaptados para el estudio de teorías subjetivas, mediante codificación abierta y axial. Además se hizo codificación temática para describir los casos, identificando lemas y teorías subjetivas para cada caso, las que a su vez se agruparon en teorías subjetivas supraordenadas. RESULTADOS: Los datos fueron agrupados en tres teorías subjetivas generales acerca de la disciplina familiar en los libros analizados. Estas teorías subjetivas difieren entre ellas en la importancia otorgada a la autoridad, al castigo y a lo necesario de la disciplina parental. CONCLUSIÓN: Hay discrepancias sobre disciplina familiar entre los libros. Se presenta poca evidencia científica en las teorías subjetivas de los libros. Los resultados difieren de los análisis históricos realizados sobre estas publicaciones en otros contextos culturales y temporales. Se destaca la importancia de desarrollar guías prácticas sobre disciplina parental basadas en la evidencia, para orientar a los padres por parte de los profesionales de la salud.

INTRODUCTION: Parental discipline is a topic frequently asked for advice by those who consult health professionals. It is related to parenting styles and has been scientifically studied regarding its effective ness and impact on children. OBJECTIVE: To describe the subjective theories about parental discipline present in recommendations made by doctors and psychologists in books for parents in Spanish. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirteen books with advice for parents, written in Spanish by healthcare professionals published between 2000 and 2017 were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using Groun ded Theory procedures adapted for the study of subjective theories, through open and axial coding. In addition, thematic codification was made to describe the cases, identifying subjective mottos and subjective theories for each case, which at the same time were grouped into superordinate subjective theories. RESULTS: The data were grouped into three general subjective theories about parental dis cipline in the books analyzed. These subjective theories differ from one another in the importance attributed to authority, punishment, and the necessity of parental discipline. CONCLUSION: There are differences in parental discipline among the books. There is little scientific evidence on the subjective theories of the books. Results differ from historical analyses of these publications in other cultural and temporal contexts. The importance of developing practical guidelines on parental discipline based on evidence to guide parents by health professionals is highlighted.

Nicotine improves probabilistic reward learning in wildtype but not alpha7 nAChR null mutants, yet alpha7 nAChR agonists do not improve probabilistic learning.

Cognitive impairments, e.g., reward learning, are present in various psychiatric disorders and warrant treatment. Improving reward-related learning could synergistically enhance psychosocial treatments and cognition generally. A critical first step is to understand the mechanisms underlying reward learning. The dopamine system has been implicated in such learning, but less known is how indirect activation of this system may affect reward learning. We determined the role of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on a probabilistic reversal learning task (PRLT) in mice that includes reward and punishment. Male alpha7 knockout (KO), heterozygous (HT), and wildtype (WT) littermate mice (n = 84) were treated with vehicle, 0.03, or 0.3 mg/kg nicotine. Two cohorts of C57BL/6NJ male mice were treated with various alpha7 nAChR ligands, including the full agonists PNU282877 and AR-R-17779, the positive allosteric modulator CCMI, the partial agonist SSR180711, and the antagonist methyllycaconitine. All mice were then tested in the PRLT. Nicotine (0.3 mg/kg) significantly improved initial reward learning in alpha7 WT and HT mice but did not improve learning in KO mice, suggesting an involvement of the alpha7 nAChR in the pro-learning effects of nicotine. Neither alpha7 nAChR treatments (PNU282987, AR-R-17779, CCMI, SSR180711, nor methyllycaconitine) affected mouse PRLT performance however. Nicotine improved reward learning via a mechanism that may include alpha7 nAChRs. This improvement unlikely relied solely on alpha7 nAChRs however, since no alpha7 nAChR ligand improved reward learning in normal mice. Future assessments of the effects of other nAChR subtypes on reward learning are needed.

Effects of reward and punishment on learning from errors in smokers.

BACKGROUND: Punishing errors facilitates adaptation in healthy individuals, while aberrant reward and punishment sensitivity in drug-dependent individuals may change this impact. Many societies have institutions that use the concept of punishing drug use behavior, making it important to understand how drug dependency mediates the effects of negative feedback for influencing adaptive behavior. METHODS: Using an associative learning task, we investigated differences in error correction rates of dependent smokers, compared with controls. Two versions of the task were administered to different participant samples: One assessed the effect of varying monetary contingencies to task performance, the other, the presence of reward as compared to avoidance of punishment for correct performance. RESULTS: While smokers recalled associations that were rewarded with a higher value 11% more often than lower rewarded locations, they did not correct higher punished locations more often. Controls exhibited the opposite pattern. The three-way interaction between magnitude, feedback type and group was significant, F(1,48) = 5.288, p =0.026, ɳ2p =0.099. Neither participant group corrected locations offering reward more often than those offering avoidances of punishment. The interaction between group and feedback condition was not significant, F(1,58) = 0.0, p =0.99, ɳ2p =0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that smokers have poorer learning from errors when receiving negative feedback. Moreover, larger rewards reinforce smokers' behavior stronger than smaller rewards, whereas controls made no distinction. These findings support the hypothesis that dependent smokers may respond to positively framed and rewarded anti-smoking programs when compared to those relying on negative feedback or punishment.

Decision-making, somatic markers and emotion processing in opiate users.

RATIONALE: Opiate use is associated with deficits in decision-making. A possible explanation for these deficits is provided by the somatic marker hypothesis, which suggests that substance users may experience abnormal emotional responses during decision-making involving reward and punishment. This in turn may interfere with the brief physiological arousal, i.e. somatic markers that normally occur in anticipation of risky decisions. To date, the applicability of the somatic marker hypothesis to explain decision-making deficits has not been investigated in opiate users. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed whether decision-making deficits in opiate users were related to abnormal emotional responses and reduced somatic markers. METHODS: Opiate users enrolled in an opiate substitute treatment program (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 32) completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) while their skin conductance responses (SCRs) were recorded. Participants' emotional responses to emotion-eliciting videos were also recorded using SCRs and subjective ratings. RESULTS: Opiate users displayed poorer decision-making on the IGT than did controls. However, there were no differences between the groups in SCRs; both groups displayed stronger SCRs following punishment than following reward, and both groups displayed stronger anticipatory SCRs prior to disadvantageous decisions than advantageous decisions. There were no group differences in objective or subjective measures of emotional responses to the videos. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that deficits in emotional responsiveness are not apparent in opiate users who are receiving pharmacological treatment. Thus, the somatic marker hypothesis does not provide a good explanation for the decision-making deficits in this group.

Physical punishment of children by US parents: moving beyond debate to promote children's health and well-being

Abstract Physical punishment remains a common practice in the USA despite significant empirical evidence of its potential harm and ineffectiveness, arguments that its use violates children's human rights, and professional recommendations against its use. The purpose of the current paper is to offer explanations as to why, in the face of a worldwide movement to protect children from violence, the USA continues to support physical punishment of children. The paper also summarizes the various debates engaged in by experts that stem from these explanations for physical punishment and argue that the time has come to move beyond these debates and eliminate the physical punishment of children. We offer suggestions for changing attitudes and practices related to physical punishment of children in order to promote their health and well-being. We conclude by suggesting that the burden of proof in debates about physical punishment, which has typically fallen upon those who argue children should never be physically punished, should shift to those who continue to promote its use despite evidence of its harm and ineffectiveness.

Leis em (com) nomes de vítimas: a ampliação do Estado polícia e a produção de subjetividades na contemporaneidade / Laws in (with) name of victims: the enlargement of the police state and the production of subjectivities in the contemporaneity / Las leyes en favor (con el nombre) de las víctimas: la expansión del estado de policía y la producción de subjetividades en la contemporánea

Nos últimos anos, um conjunto de acontecimentos veiculados pela mídia nacional vem conferindo certo destaque à figura das vítimas. Um dos resultados disso, no país, tem sido a elaboração e aprovação de leis federais em prol das vítimas e, ainda, outras designadas com o nome destas. Diante disso, objetivou-se investigar o nexo entre eventos com vítimas que tiveram extensa repercussão na mídia e a elaboração de leis que as homenageiam no Brasil. Para tanto, foram examinadas, a partir da abordagem teórico-metodológica de Michel Foucault, as justificativas de propostas de leis que tramitam na Câmara Federal dos Deputados e de outras já promulgadas que receberam o nome de vítimas. Constatou-se que a valorização e a projeção destas últimas no contexto nacional tornaram-se formas de ampliação dos alcances do Estado polícia, traduzidas por vezes no recrudescimento da legislação penal. Aliado a isso, contribuem para a produção de subjetividades que se percebem como vítimas, identificando-se com as que são homenageadas por leis e, assim, clamam pela proteção estatal. (AU)

In the last years, a series of events conveyed by the national media has given a certain prominence to the victims. One of the results of this in the country has been the elaboration and approval of federal laws in favor of the victims and others named after them. Taking this into consideration, the objective was to investigate the nexus between events with victims that had extensive repercussion in the media and the elaboration of laws that honor them in Brazil. In order to do so, Michel Foucault's theoretical-methodological approach was examined to justify proposals for laws in the Federal Chamber of Deputies and others already enacted that were named victims. It was noted that the valorization and projection of the latter in the national context have become forms of expansion of the scope of the police state, sometimes translated into the intensification of criminal law. Besides, they contribute to the production of subjectivities that perceive themselves as victims, identifying themselves with those who are honored by laws and, thus, cry for state protection. (AU)

En los últimos años, una serie de eventos difundidos por los medios de comunicación nacionales está dando un poco de protagonismo a la figura de las víctimas. Uno de los resultados, en el país, ha sido el desarrollo y la adopción de las leyes federales para las víctimas y otros designados con el nombre de éstos. Delante de eso, el objetivo fue investigar la relación entre los eventos con víctimas que tuvieron una amplia cobertura de los medios de comunicación y la elaboración de leyes que hacen honor en Brasil. Por lo tanto, se examinaron, desde el enfoque teórico y metodológico de Michel Foucault, las leyes de justificaciones propuestas presentadas en la Cámara de Representantes Federal y otros ya realizada que fueron nombrados víctimas. Se encontró que la recuperación y la proyección de este último en el contexto nacional se han convertido en la forma de ampliar los alcances de lo estado de policía, traducido a veces en el resurgimiento de la ley penal. Junto a esto, contribuir a la producción de subjetividades que se perciben como víctimas, identificándose con los homenajeados por leyes y por lo tanto pedir la protección del Estado. (AU)

Is being Punished at School an Indicator of Psychosocial Risk?

Research carried out in different cultural contexts shows that the use of exclusively coercive disciplinary measures does not improve the behavior of those punished, and may even increase the risks underpinning those behaviors. The aim of this research was to study whether there is a link between repeatedly suffering punishment at school and psychosocial risks in adolescence. A non-experimental design was implemented with selected groups. The participants were 507 adolescents from four groups with different risk levels: in social protection (n = 189); subject to court measures (n = 104); in treatment for drug abuse (n = 25); and comparison group (n = 189). A questionnaire was applied collectively. The variables measured were school punishments, violence, drug consumption and commission of crimes. The mild punishments variable predicted and increased the probability of consuming alcohol, tobacco and cannabis by 34% (95% CI [1.1, 1.5]), and increased the probability of using illegal drugs by 11% (95% CI [1.11, 1.30]). Te severe punishments variable increased the probability of using illegal drugs by 86% (95% CI [1.41, 2.49]) and increased the probability of committing crimes by 40% (95% CI [1.13, 1.73]). School punishments, particularly if severe, stand as a visible indicator of psychosocial risk. Behaviors subjected to punishment should alert us to the need to intervene with individuals who manifest them for which the use of exclusively coercive measures is ineffective. A wider educational intervention is required to help them find their place in school instead of excluding them from it.

Modelling the contribution of negative affect, outcome expectancies and metacognitions to cigarette use and nicotine dependence.

BACKGROUND: Both positive smoking outcome expectancies and metacognitions about smoking have been found to be positively associated with cigarette use and nicotine dependence. The goal of this study was to test a model including nicotine dependence and number of daily cigarettes as dependent variables, anxiety and depression as independent variables, and smoking outcome expectancies and metacognitions about smoking as mediators between the independents and dependents. METHODS: The sample consisted of 524 self-declared smokers who scored 3 or above on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND: Uysal et al., 2004). RESULTS: Anxiety was not associated with either cigarette use or nicotine dependence but was positively associated with all mediators with the exception of stimulation state enhancement and social facilitation. Depression, on the other hand, was found to be positively associated with nicotine dependence (and very weakly to cigarette use) but was not associated with either smoking outcome expectancies or metacognitions about smoking. Only one smoking outcome expectancy (negative affect reduction) was found to be positively associated with nicotine dependence but not cigarette use. Furthermore one smoking outcome expectancy (negative social impression) was found to be positively associated with cigarette use (but not to nicotine dependence). All metacognitions about smoking were found to be positively associated with nicotine dependence. Moreover, negative metacognitions about uncontrollability were found to be positively associated with cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS: Metacognitions about smoking appear to be a stronger mediator than smoking outcome expectancies in the relationship between negative affect and cigarette use/nicotine dependence. The implications of these findings are discussed.

A reinforcement sensitivity model of affective and behavioral dysregulation in marijuana use and associated problems.

This study tested a model linking sensitivity to punishment (SP) and reward (SR) to marijuana use and problems via affect lability and poor control. A 6-month prospective design was used in a sample of 2,270 young-adults (64% female). The hypothesized SP × SR interaction did not predict affect lability or poor control, but did predict use likelihood at baseline. At low levels of SR, SP was associated with an increased likelihood of abstaining, which was attenuated as SR increased. SP and SR displayed positive main effects on both affect lability and poor control. Affect lability and poor control, in turn, mediated effects on the marijuana outcomes. Poor control predicted both increased marijuana use and, controlling for use level, greater intensity of problems. Affect lability predicted greater intensity of problems, but was not associated with use level. There were few prospective effects. SR consistently predicted greater marijuana use and problems. SP however, exhibited both risk and protective pathways. Results indicate that SP is associated with a decreased likelihood of marijuana use. However, once use is initiated SP is associated with increased risk of problems, in part, due to its effects on both affect and behavioral dysregulation. (PsycINFO Database Record