The effects of expected and unexpected stress on inappropriate aggression in simulated police interventions

Here we performed a before-after ABA-design study in police cadets (N = 82) to compare the effects of unexpected (event-triggered) and expected (anticipatory) stressors on aggression. On the first day of the study, participants filled in the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and were fitted with heart rate (HR) monitors, which remained attached till the end of the study. On day 2, they were instructed to perform a police intervention in a realistic training environment. The intervention was preceded either by a warning or by a reassuring audio recording that forecasted violent or routine interventions, respectively. Both groups encountered hostile suspects at the intervention site, the behavior of which, however, did not justify the use of force e.g., aggression. The warning resulted in a gradually developing anticipatory stress as shown by HRs. Cadets exposed to the reassuring audio recording showed minimal anticipatory stress but responded to the hostile suspects by an abrupt increase in HRs, which was missing in the warned group. The magnitude of HR responses was similar in the two groups, only their temporal evolution differed. Although aggression showed some associations with BPAQ and BIS scores, the main predictors of behavior were HR changes according to a Multiple Regression analysis. The gradually developing anticipatory stress was associated with low, whereas the abrupt increase in HRs was associated with high aggression. Our findings suggest that the anticipation of a stressful event improves behavioral control whereas an unexpected stress strongly promotes aggression.

Risk Matrix for Violent Radicalization: A Machine Learning Approach

Hypothesis-driven approaches identified important characteristics that differentiate violent from non-violent radicals. However, they produced a mosaic of explanations as they investigated a restricted number of preselected variables. Here we analyzed without a priory assumption all the variables of the “Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States” database by a machine learning approach. Out of the 79 variables considered, 19 proved critical, and predicted the emergence of violence with an accuracy of 86.3%. Typically, violent extremists came from criminal but not radical backgrounds and were radicalized in late stages of their life. They were followers in terrorist groups, sought training, and were radicalized by social media. They belonged to low social strata and had problematic social relations. By contrast, non-violent but still criminal extremists were characterized by a family tradition of radicalism without having criminal backgrounds, belonged to higher social strata, were leaders in terrorist organizations, and backed terrorism by supporting activities. Violence was also promoted by anti-gay, Sunni Islam and Far Right, and hindered by Far Left, Anti-abortion, Animal Rights and Environment ideologies. Critical characteristics were used to elaborate a risk-matrix, which may be used to predict violence risk at individual level.

The Four Faces of Competition: The Development of the Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory

To date, no short scale exists with established factor structure that can assess individual differences in competition. The aim of the present study was to uncover and operationalize the facets of competitive orientations with theoretical underpinning and strong psychometric properties. A total of 2676 respondents were recruited for four studies. The items were constructed based on qualitative research in different cultural contexts. A combined method of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed. ESEM resulted in a four-factor structure of the competitive orientations and this structure was supported by a series of CFAs on different comprehensive samples. The Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory (MCOI) included 12 items and four factors: hypercompetitive orientation, self-developmental competitive orientation, anxiety-driven competition avoidance, and lack of interest toward competition. Strong gender invariance was established. The four facets of competition have differentiated relationship patterns with adaptive and maladaptive personality and motivational constructs. The MCOI can assess the adaptive and maladaptive facets of competitive orientations with a short, reliable, valid and theoretically underlined multidimensional measure.

Narratives of effort among Chinese, Hungarian and Chinese immigrant students in Hungary

The present study aimed to reveal the effect of migration processes on the conceptualisation of effort involving two cultures with different approaches towards effort: China with an effort-promoting mindset and Hungary with an effort-repressing mindset. In the study, narrative approach was used in cross-sectional design involving Chinese, Hungarian and Chinese immigrant students living in Hungary. Altogether 139 students-49 Hungarian, 47 Chinese, 43 Chinese immigrants-aged 13-15 years provided narratives on past personal effort. Content analyses were done on 222 narratives. The results showed that the Chinese narratives of effort were characterised by learning and achievement orientation with elaborated effort process. In contrast, the Hungarian narratives were characterised by relationship orientation and emotional coping with a non-elaborated effort process. The narratives of the Chinese immigrants showed great similarity to those of the Chinese students reflecting academic effort, achievement goals and elaborated process. The findings suggest that the traditional Chinese approach towards effort persists in cultural transition, and academic effort tends to be a primary resource for educational success for the Chinese immigrant students in Hungary.

Malignant epithelioid ovarian schwannoma: a case report

There are only a few cases reported in the literature about schwannoma originating from the ovary. The patient was registered to the hospital due to a painless solid tumor in her left axillary region. Histologic examination of the excised tumor showed reticulum cell sarcoma. Two years later, oophorectomy was performed due to a unilateral ovarian tumor. The results of the histologic examination with different staining were particularly the same as those found in the axillary tumor, finally diagnosed as a malignant epithelioid schwannoma of the ovary. Our case report may be of interest for three reasons: 1) malignant schwannoma of the ovary is a very rare tumor, 2) the epithelioid type of the tumor may cause a differential diagnostic problem, and 3) clinical appearance of the metastasis was quite unusual, also resulting in difficulties in the appropriate diagnosis.

Malignant epithelioid ovarian schwannoma: a case report

There are only a few cases reported in the literature about schwannoma originating from the ovary. The patient was registered to the hospital due to a painless solid tumor in her left axillary region. Histologic examination of the excised tumor showed reticulum cell sarcoma. Two years later, oophorectomy was performed due to a unilateral ovarian tumor. The results of the histologic examination with different staining were particularly the same as those found in the axillary tumor, finally diagnosed as a malignant epithelioid schwannoma of the ovary. Our case report may be of interest for three reasons: 1) malignant schwannoma of the ovary is a very rare tumor, 2) the epithelioid type of the tumor may cause a differential diagnostic problem, and 3) clinical appearance of the metastasis was quite unusual, also resulting in difficulties in the appropriate diagnosis.