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Tirkkonen SK, Vespermann D. Incels, autism, and hopelessness: affective incorporation of online interaction as a challenge for phenomenological psychopathology. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1235929. [PMID: 38125854 PMCID: PMC10732311 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1235929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research has drawn attention to the prevalence of self-reported autism within online communities of involuntary celibates (incels). These studies suggest that some individuals with autism may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of incel forums and the hopelessness they generate. However, a more precise description of the experiential connection between inceldom, self-reported autism, and hopelessness has remained unarticulated. Therefore, this article combines empirical studies on the incel community with phenomenological and embodiment approaches to autism, hopelessness, and online affectivity. We analyze three interrelated aspects of online interactions in incel communities - worldview, bodily self-relation, and mutual dismissals - and examine how these elements contribute to the consolidation of the loss of significant life possibilities. By investigating the potential negative influence of specific online environments on affective dispositions, our approach contributes to the debate on current challenges to "situate" phenomenological psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna K. Tirkkonen
- Practical Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daniel Vespermann
- Section of Phenomenological Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Mayor C, Schneider M. Confabulations in a teenager with a right frontal hemispherotomy: Possible underlying mechanisms. Clin Neuropsychol 2023; 37:1787-1808. [PMID: 36645821 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2022.2163921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Confabulations, i.e. false memories without intention to deceive, can be observed in adults with frontal brain damage. Confabulations are typically associated with episodic memory and/or executive disorders although the severity of these impairments is highly variable. Confabulations may also be associated with emotional/motivational particularities, as a positive bias seems to prevail in such situations. Several distinct cognitive and socio-affective processes may account for the various types of confabulations and these issues remain open. Method: We present the case of a teenager with an early acquired frontal damage, referred for "strange lies." Besides a standard neuropsychological assessment, we explored (1) source memory, using a reality-monitoring task, (2) episodic autobiographical memory, including both the recollection of the past memories and the ability to imagine future personal events, with an episodic future thinking task (EFT), (3) the sense of self, with questionnaires targeting self-representations, self-esteem and self-competence. Results: The results showed the expected source memory deficits and poor episodic future thinking, whereas episodic autobiographical memory was preserved, contrary to the episodic memory dysfunction usually evidenced in adult confabulators. The confabulations produced by this teenager displayed a clear positive bias, seemed to fit to personal/social goals and to wishful ideations, and were associated with an above average self-esteem and self-representation. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis of self-identity and emotional regulatory roles of the confabulations. Although the literature on confabulating children/teenagers is nearly non-existent, a more systematic screening of confabulations should be conducted in order to avoid false interpretation to strange discourse or behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mayor
- Child Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ilen L, Feller C, Schneider M. Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023:13623613231204829. [PMID: 37882494 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231204829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Previous research has shown that autistic individuals report high levels of perceived stress and have an increased likelihood of developing mental health difficulties. Increase in individuals' negative emotions in relation to perceived stress (i.e. affective reactivity to stress) is a known risk factor for mental health difficulties. In this study, we investigated perceived daily stress and affective reactivity to stress in autistic (n = 39, age = 18.4) and non-autistic (n = 55, age = 18.1) adolescents and young adults. We used the ecological momentary assessment, a technique that allows to assess individuals repeatedly in their daily life using their smartphone. Moreover, participants filled a questionnaire to evaluate the strategies they use to regulate emotions when faced with difficulties. Finally, a clinical interview and a parent-report questionnaire were used to assess mental health symptoms. Autistic youth reported higher levels of perceived daily stress compared with non-autistic peers. Moreover, they showed increased affective reactivity to stress related to their daily activities. Autistic participants reported more emotion regulation difficulties (e.g. more repetitive thinking of difficulties) compared with non-autistic participants. Difficulties in emotion regulation increased negative emotions in relation to stress and might contribute to the severity of mental health symptoms. We conclude that adolescents and young adults with autism report high perceived stress in their daily lives. To minimize the negative impact of stress and the development of mental health symptoms, people supporting autistic young people could focus on stress management skills and the strategies that the youth use to manage emotions.
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Ye JY, Qin XJ, Cui JF, Ren Q, Jia LX, Wang Y, Pantelis C, Chan RCK. A Meta-analysis of Mental Time Travel in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 53:1509-1528. [PMID: 34825295 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05375-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with cognitive dysfunctions, including mental time travel (MTT). However, findings on diminished MTT ability may be confounded by a number of factors, including the individuals' language ability, factors related to the MTT task and the demographic factors of participants. The present study provided a meta-analysis of MTT ability in people with ASD. The results showed significant overall reductions in MTT ability in people with ASD. Moderator analyses revealed that the variables examined did not explain the reduction in MTT ability. These findings suggest that MTT ability is diminished in people with ASD and that the degree of this diminishment may not depend on the characteristics of measures or demographic variables of people with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Yan Ye
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Qin
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Fang Cui
- Research Center for Information and Statistics, National Institute of Education Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Ren
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu-Xia Jia
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China. .,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Florey Institute for Neurosciences and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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