Search Results (509)

Threat activation or deactivation in the brain–body is associated with learned nocebo or placebo somatic effects induced by fake invasive medical–surgical procedures. Some functional somatic disorders (FSDs) originate as acute nocebo somatic effects and can become 30–50% of chronic somatic presentations to primary care physicians. Patients with FSD overutilize medical–surgical services, despite the lack of identified pathophysiology, and are at risk for morbidity from unintentional iatrogenic injury. The Conditioned Response Model (CRM) of learning postulates three innate mechanisms, modulated by trait hypnotizability, which drive placebo and nocebo somatic effects and FSD. The High Risk Model of Threat Perception (HRMTP) postulates 10 psychosocial risk factors that modulate threat perception, driving placebo and nocebo somatic effectsandbiologically embedded FSD. Psychosocial factors and the trait of high and low hypnotizability modulate threat and are postulated to reduce heart rate variability(HRV), inducing autonomic nervous system(ANS)dysregulation. Reduced HRV was found in a large (N = 6,891) sample of patients with FSD. A total of 50% of patients with FSD with chronic pain (n = 224) without identified pathophysiology had a Paradoxical Increase in hand Temperature (PTI) during experimental threat induction. The HRMTP predicts that PTI associated with ANS dysregulation is associated with the risk factor Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This ACE prediction was independently confirmed. Learning predicts that threat activation by unconscious neutral stimuli (CS) can amplify nocebo and FSD and can negate placebo effects in clinician–patient relationships. Identifying psychosocial risk factors that modulate threat perception enables the diagnosis of FSD by inclusion and not simply by excluding pathophysiology. Full article

The scientific study of emotion remains fraught with conceptual ambiguity, methodological limitations, and epistemological blind spots. This theoretical paper argues that existing paradigms frequently capture synthetic rather than natural emotional states—those shaped by social expectations, cognitive scripting, and performance under observation. We propose a conceptual framework that distinguishes natural emotion—spontaneous, embodied, and interoceptively grounded—from synthetic forms that are adaptive, context-driven, and often unconsciously rehearsed. These reactions often involve emotional scripts rather than genuine, spontaneous affective experiences. Drawing on insights from affective neuroscience, psychological measurement, artificial intelligence, and neurodiversity, we examine how widely used tools such as EEG, polygraphy, and self-report instruments may capture emotional conformity rather than authenticity. We further explore how affective AI systems trained on socially filtered datasets risk replicating emotional performance rather than emotional truth. By recognizing neurodivergent expression as a potential site of emotional transparency, we challenge dominant models of emotional normalcy and propose a five-step agenda for reorienting emotion research toward authenticity, ecological validity, and inclusivity. This post-synthetic framework invites a redefinition of emotion that is conceptually rigorous, methodologically nuanced, and ethically inclusive of human affective diversity. Full article

Facial emotion recognition has become increasingly important in healthcare, where understanding delicate cues like pain, discomfort, or unconsciousness can support more timely and responsive care. Yet, recognizing facial expressions in real-world settings remains challenging due to varying lighting, facial occlusions, and hardware limitations in clinical environments. To address this, we propose TriViT-Lite, a lightweight yet powerful model that blends three complementary components: MobileNet, for capturing fine-grained local features efficiently; Vision Transformers (ViT), for modeling global facial patterns; and handcrafted texture descriptors, such as Local Binary Patterns (LBP) and Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG), for added robustness. These multi-scale features are brought together through a texture-aware cross-attention fusion mechanism that helps the model focus on the most relevant facial regions dynamically. TriViT-Lite is evaluated on both benchmark datasets (FER2013, AffectNet) and a custom healthcare-oriented dataset covering seven critical emotional states, including pain and unconsciousness. It achieves a competitive accuracy of 91.8% on FER2013 and of 87.5% on the custom dataset while maintaining real-time performance (~15 FPS) on resource-constrained edge devices. Our results show that TriViT-Lite offers a practical and accurate solution for real-time emotion recognition, particularly in healthcare settings. It strikes a balance between performance, interpretability, and efficiency, making it a strong candidate for machine-learning-driven pattern recognition in patient-monitoring applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The extension of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide to individuals with mental disorders presents a profound ethical, clinical, and legal challenge. While increasingly accepted in some jurisdictions, their application in psychiatric contexts—particularly in cases of depression—raises concerns about diagnostic precision, therapeutic adequacy, and the validity of informed consent. This study examines two controversial Belgian cases to explore the complexities of euthanasia for psychological suffering. Methods: A qualitative case analysis was conducted through a qualitative analysis of publicly available media sources. The cases were examined through clinical, psychoanalytic, and medico-legal lenses to assess diagnostic clarity, treatment history, and ethical considerations. No access to official medical records was available. Case Presentation: The first case involved a young woman whose depressive symptoms were reportedly linked to trauma from a terrorist attack. The second concerned a middle-aged woman convicted of infanticide and later diagnosed with Major Depression. Discussion: In both cases, euthanasia was granted on the grounds of “irreversible psychological suffering.” However, the absence of detailed clinical documentation, potential unresolved trauma, and lack of psychodynamic assessment raised doubts about the robustness of the evaluations and the validity of informed consent. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for a more rigorous, multidisciplinary, and ethically grounded approach to psychiatric euthanasia. This study underscores the importance of precise diagnostic criteria, comprehensive treatment histories, and deeper exploration of unconscious and existential motivations. Safeguarding clinical integrity and ethical standards is essential in end-of-life decisions involving mental illness. Full article

This paper identifies the various influences of Western aesthetic preferences of landscapes in answer to the question, why do humans find landscapes attractive? A four-level model of influences is proposed, based on the innate or evolutionary influences applicable to all humanity, through the cultural and the societal to the individual. At each level there are a number of contributory factors at play, and these are described. The paper is confined to Western perspectives of landscape aesthetics. At the innate level are four landscape theories that postulate the reasons why humans find landscapes attractive. Also at the innate level are the philosophical underpinnings of human delight in landscapes and the Gestalt influence on preferences. The cultural influence comprises the legend of Arcadia and the Golden Age; of classicism, teleology, and landscape painting; and the emergence of the sublime, the beautiful, the picturesque, and Romanticism. At the societal level are the artistic pursuits of landscape painting and the development of parks and gardens, which reflected the perfect Italianate landscape. Also at this level are Western society’s attitude to mountains, which changed radically in the seventeenth century. Individuals are influenced by psychoanalytical pressures on the subconscious, by unconscious experiences in infancy such as a human’s preference for water, and by the influence of neuroaesthetics, which describes how the areas of the brain respond to aesthetic objects. Finally, research of landscape preferences over 50 years provides insights on the influence of landscape components, reflecting the influence of the innate, cultural, and societal factors. The combined realms of influence of each of these factors are hypothesized to explain human responses to landscapes. Full article

Previous research has found significant associations among childhood trauma, dissociation, and shame. Furthermore, the clinical literature suggests that dissociation may foster feelings of shame in individuals who were exposed to childhood trauma. The current study aimed to test the potential mediating effect of dissociation on the association between childhood trauma and shame. The study sample consisted of 763 adults (479 females, 62.8%) from the general Italian population, aged between 18 and 65 years (M = 31.31, SD = 13.29). Self-report instruments assessing childhood trauma, dissociation, and shame were administered to participants via an anonymous online survey. Structural equation modeling showed that childhood trauma was associated with increased levels of both dissociation and shame. Moreover, dissociation partially mediated the predictive association between childhood trauma and shame. These findings suggest that dissociation might heighten the tendency to unconsciously reenact self-devaluation and self-blame in individuals exposed to childhood trauma, increasing feelings of shame. Full article

Background: The progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) deeply affects not only the diagnosed person but also their close relatives, who are often called to take on the role of informal caregivers. This transition is frequently unplanned and emotionally complex, yet poorly understood in its deeper processual dimensions. This study aims to explore and theorize the transition experienced by a family member becoming the primary informal caregiver for a person with advanced AD. Methods: A qualitative study based on the Constructivist Grounded Theory according to Charmaz’s approach (2006) was conducted. In-depth interviews were carried out with 10 participants who had become informal caregivers for a loved one with advanced AD. Data were analyzed using initial coding, focused coding, the constant comparative method, and theoretical coding. Results: Ten caregivers (mean age 39 years, range 35–54; nine females) of patients with advanced AD participated in the study. The analysis revealed a complex, emotionally intense caregiving experience marked by sacrifice, feelings of powerlessness, identity loss, and the necessity of sharing caregiving responsibilities. A core category emerged: A Silent and Certain Willingness to Care, representing the caregivers’ deep, often unconscious commitment to prioritize the care of their loved ones above their own needs. Four interconnected phases characterized the caregiving process: (1) The Changing Daily Life—involving significant sacrifices in personal and social life; (2) Feeling Powerless—confronting the inevitable decline without means to alter the course; (3) Losing Oneself—experiencing physical and psychological exhaustion and a sense of identity loss; and (4) Sharing with Others—seeking external support to sustain caregiving. These findings highlight the evolving nature of becoming a caregiver and the enduring dedication that sustains this role despite the challenges. Conclusions: The progression of AD deeply transforms the lives of caregivers, who become co-sufferers and active participants in the disease’s management. The results underscore the urgency of designing integrative care strategies—including psychological, social, and potentially technological support—that can enhance both patient outcomes and caregiver resilience. Grounded in real-world experiences, this study contributes to the broader neurodegeneration discourse by emphasizing caregiving as a critical factor in long-term disease management and therapeutic success. Full article

This study explores entertainment consumption patterns in Romania, a transitional digital culture characterized by high digital connectivity but underdeveloped physical infrastructure. Employing a dual qualitative coding methodology, this research combines inductive analysis of consumer focus groups with deductive analysis of expert interviews, enabling a multi-layered interpretation of both overt behaviors and latent emotional drivers. Seven key thematic dimensions, motivational depth, perceived barriers, emotional needs, clarity of preferences, future behavioral intentions, social connection, and identity construction, were analyzed and compared using a Likert-based scoring framework, supported by a radar chart and comparison matrix. Findings reveal both convergence and divergence between consumer and expert perspectives. While consumers emphasize immediate experiences and logistical constraints, experts uncover deeper emotional motivators such as validation, mentorship, and identity formation. This behavioral–emotional gap suggests that, although digital entertainment dominates due to accessibility, it often lacks the emotional richness associated with physical formats, which are preferred but less accessible. This study underscores the importance of triangulated qualitative inquiry in revealing not only stated preferences but also unconscious psychological needs. It offers actionable insights for designing emotionally intelligent and culturally responsive entertainment strategies in digitally saturated yet infrastructure-limited environments. Full article

Background and Objectives: Gender disparities in pain management persist, with women frequently receiving inadequate analgesia despite reporting similar or higher pain levels compared with men. This issue is particularly evident across various medical and gynecological procedures. Materials and Methods: This integrative literature review synthesizes recent empirical studies examining gender biases in pain perception and management, focusing specifically on procedural pain in women. It includes an analysis of clinical research, patient-reported outcomes, and healthcare provider behaviors. Results: The findings indicate that unconscious biases, a lack of gender-specific clinical protocols, and prevailing cultural stereotypes contribute to the undertreatment of pain in women during procedures such as intrauterine device insertion and diagnostic hysteroscopy. Additionally, communication gaps between patients and healthcare providers exacerbate these disparities. Conclusions: Addressing gender disparities in pain management necessitates systemic reforms, including the implementation of gender-sensitive clinical guidelines, enhanced provider education, and targeted policy changes. Personalized, gender-informed approaches are essential to improving equity and quality of care in pain treatment. Full article

The Western genre has traditionally been associated with American identity and male-dominated narratives. However, recent decades have seen increasing attention to female protagonists, particularly the European woman as a cultural mediator within the frontier context. This study aims to identify the archetypes of the European woman in the Western genre through a diachronic and comparative analysis of the visual language found in European painting from the late 17th to early 19th centuries and in 20th–21st century cinema. The research methodology combines narrative, visual, and semiotic analysis, with a focus on intermedial and intertextual parallels between visual art and film. The study identifies nine archetypal models corresponding to goddesses of the Greek pantheon and traces their transformation across different aesthetic systems. These archetypes, rooted in artistic traditions such as Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism, and others, reappear in Western films through compositional, symbolic, and iconographic strategies, demonstrating their persistence and ability to transcend temporal, medial, and geographical boundaries. The findings suggest that the woman in the Western genre is not merely a central character, but a visual sign that activates cultural memory and engages with deep archetypal structures embedded in the collective unconscious. Full article

Prejudices, particularly those related to social biases, are shaped by various cognitive and sensory mechanisms. This study investigates the interaction between olfactory perception and propensity and implicit or explicit prejudices through three experimental protocols in a metaverse condition. Experiment 1 examines the impact of five different odors on proxemic behavior when interacting with individuals from stigmatized social groups. Experiment 2 integrates electroencephalography (EEG) to analyze the neural correlates of prejudice-related responses to olfactory stimuli. Experiment 3 explores implicit biases through the Implicit Association Test (IAT) in relation to different fragrances, without employing virtual reality. The proposed protocol is expected to demonstrate a significant relationship between olfactory cues, linked to social relationships, and implicit or explicit prejudices, with variations based on individual differences. These insights will contribute to psychological, neuroscientific, and social interventions, offering new perspectives on the unconscious mechanisms of bias formation. Additionally, this study highlights the potential of virtual reality and olfactory stimuli as innovative tools for studying and addressing social biases in controlled environments. Full article

In novels, readers encounter a variety of characters with distinct personalities, and their satisfaction tends to increase when each character’s utterances consistently reflect their unique traits. Recent advances in large language model (LLM) technology have made it possible to perform complex tasks such as generating long-form narratives and adapting writing styles. However, research on generating character utterances that reflect individual personalities remains limited. In this paper, we identify a key challenge in this task, namely the unconscious influence of the author’s writing style, and propose a novel clustering-based method to mitigate this problem by tuning large language models. We manually annotated Big Five personality trait scores for characters appearing in selected novels and designed prompts to generate examples for instruction-tuning. Experimental results demonstrate that language models trained using our proposed method produce utterances that more consistently reflect character personalities compared to untuned models. Full article

Background/Objectives: Auditory capacity plays a fundamental role in human emotional development from prenatal stages and persists as the last sensory modality to fade during terminal phases. In palliative sedation, uncertainty about preserved hearing—despite potential unconsciousness—underscores the need to evaluate current care recommendations for this critical sensory dimension. This review examines European guidelines to (i) assess auditory care integration in palliative sedation protocols and (ii) propose humanization strategies for sensory-preserving end-of-life care. Methods: Narrative review of evidence from the European Palliative Sedation Repository and the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC). Results: Three key findings emerged: (i) lack of explicit protocols for auditory care despite acknowledging environmental sound management (e.g., music, family communication); (ii) limited consensus exists regarding hearing preservation during unconsciousness. Conclusions: Although auditory perception during palliative sedation remains scientifically uncertain, the precautionary principle warrants integrating auditory care into palliative sedation through (i) family education on potential hearing preservation; (ii) therapeutic sound protocols; and (iii) staff training in sensory-inclusive practices. This approach addresses current gaps in the guidelines while enhancing patient dignity and family support during end-of-life care. Further research should clarify auditory perception thresholds during sedation. Full article

In response to the problem of cooperative steering control between drivers and intelligent driving systems, a master–slave Game-Based human–machine cooperative steering control framework with adaptive weight fuzzy decision-making is constructed. Firstly, within this framework, a dynamic weight approach is established. This approach takes into account the driver’s state, traffic environment risks, and the vehicle’s global control deviation to adjust the driving weights between humans and machines. Secondly, the human–machine cooperative relationship with unconscious competition is characterized as a master–slave game interaction. The cooperative steering control under the master–slave game scenario is then transformed into an optimization problem of model predictive control. Through theoretical derivation, the optimal control strategies for both parties at equilibrium in the human–machine master–slave game are obtained. Coordination of the manipulation actions of the driver and the intelligent driving system is achieved by balancing the master–slave game. Finally, different types of drivers are simulated by varying the parameters of the driver models. The effectiveness of the proposed driving weight allocation scheme was validated on the constructed simulation test platform. The results indicate that the human–machine collaborative control strategy can effectively mitigate conflicts between humans and machines. By giving due consideration to the driver’s operational intentions, this strategy reduces the driver’s workload. Under high-risk scenarios, while ensuring driving safety and providing the driver with a satisfactory experience, this strategy significantly enhances the stability of vehicle motion. Full article

This study responds to the call by some scholars to establish a framework for ignorance. It challenges the myth that ignorance is all bad and an utterly undesirable state in organizations and proposes a new framework for the application of ignorance analytics in organizations. It includes a taxonomy of deliberate and unconscious ignorance in decision-making and judgment as well as the drivers of personal and corporate deliberate ignorance and their behavioral implications. Ignorance plays a substantial role in competency development, scientific progress, innovation, and organizational strategic advantage. The proposed framework can help developers of talent, including management trainers, educators, and HR practitioners, to recognize the drivers of willful ignorance and help managers design effective interventions to move employees from unconscious incompetence to mastery. This paper suggests an agenda and identifies opportunities for future research. Full article