noción de daño y su rol en los juicios morales. Un debate abierto

Investigadores pertenecientes a la tradición de la psicología del desarrollo cognitivo han llevado a cabo estudios que sugieren que existe un vínculo entre la percepción de daño y el dominio moral. Frente a esta propuesta unificadora del dominio moral han surgido críticas desde la psicología cultural. Haidt publicó en 1993 uno de los estudios más influyentes en esta línea, afirmando haber encontrado evidencia que sugiere la existencia de dominios morales no vinculados a la noción de daño. En este artículo se hará una presentación general del debate en torno al contenido del dominio moral. Luego presentaremos y evaluaremos el estudio de Haidt et al. (1993). Por último, presentamos resultados experimentales que cuestionan las conclusiones de ese estudio y sugieren que el debate sigue abierto. Researchers belonging to the tradition of cognitive-developmental psychology have suggested studies that the perception of harm is central to the Moral Domain. This unifying proposal of the Moral Domain has provoked the criticisms of researchers working in Cultural Psychology. Haidt published in 1993 a very influential study, claiming to have found evidence for the existence of Moral Domains not linked to the notion of harm. In this paper, we briefly present the debate around the content of the moral domain. We then critically examine the study by Haidt et al. (1993). Finally, we present experimental results that question the conclusions of their study and suggest that the debate is still open.

Harm Perceptions of Tobacco/Nicotine Products and Child Exposure: Differences between Non-Users, Cigarette-Exclusive, and Electronic Cigarette-Exclusive Users

Objective: This study examined caregiver perception of harm and child secondhand exposure to nicotine in a sample of e-cigarette-exclusive, cigarette-exclusive, and non-tobacco/nicotine users (non-users). Methods: Cigarette-exclusive (n = 19), e-cigarette-exclusive (n = 12), and non-users (n = 20) and their children (N = 51, Mage = 10.47) completed self-report questionnaires about perceptions of harm, child secondhand exposure, and provided urine to assess child nicotine exposure (cotinine). ANOVAs examined differences between caregiver use status on tobacco harm perceptions and child cotinine levels. Independent samples t-test compared differences in caregiver-reported child secondhand exposure in the home and car. Results: All 3 caregiver groups rated cigarettes as highly harmful ( P = .14), but e-cigarette users rated all 3 types of e-cigarette products (Cartridge-based: P < .001; Tank: P < .001; Box Mod: P < .001) as less harmful than cigarette users and non-users. Caregivers from the e-cigarette user group reported greater child secondhand exposure than caregivers using cigarettes (past 7-day in-home exposure ( P = .03); past 7-day exposure in-home + in-car exposure ( P = .02); in-home exposure by caregivers and other people exposure ( P = .02)). Children from the cigarette user group had significantly higher levels of cotinine ( M = 16.6, SD = 21.7) compared to children from the Non-User group ( M = .43, SD = .95; P = .001), but no significant difference when compared to children from the E-Cigarette User group ( M = 6.5, SD = 13.5). Discussion: In this sample, caregivers who used e-cigarettes perceived them as less harmful, reported using them more frequently at home and in the car, even when their children were present, compared to cigarette users. As a result, children appear to be exposed to nicotine at levels similar to children living with cigarette users. Future caregiver prevention and intervention efforts should target education around the potential harms of secondhand e-cigarette aerosol to children.

Perceived harm, motivations for use and subjective experiences of recreational psychedelic ‘magic’ mushroom use

Background: Data on actual harm of magic mushrooms suggest that toxicity and abuse potential is low, however, their legal status suggests otherwise. We aimed to gauge perception of harm of magic mushrooms in both users and mushroom-naïve participants. We also aimed to observe differences in expectations of effects between users and mushroom-naïve participants, and whether motivations for use predicted their expected effects. Method: In total, 73 polydrug users with experience of using magic mushrooms and 78 mushroom-naïve participants completed an online survey. We asked participants to rank a list of 10 substances from most dangerous to least dangerous and questioned them about expectation of effect using a modified magic mushroom expectation questionnaire. Users were asked about their motivations for using magic mushrooms. Results: Both groups perceive mushrooms to be safer than heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ecstasy, tobacco and alcohol. However, the mushroom-naïve group ranked mushrooms as significantly more dangerous than the user group. Non-users reported greater expectancy for negative intoxication. Users reported greater expected entactogenic, prosocial, aesthetic and mood effects, and perceptual alterations. Finally, expectant effects of mushroom use were associated with different motivations for use, for example using for personal psychotherapy was associated with expectation of increased entactogenic effects and decreased negative effects. Conclusion: Our data suggest a general perception of harm that is in line with data on actual harm, but at odds with current legal classifications. Future clinical investigations may require management of negative intoxication expectation of participants with no prior experience of psilocybin.

Electronic Cigarette Use and Related Factors among Active Duty Service Members in the U.S. Military

Introduction Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly used in the U.S.A. by young people. As young adults serve as the primary recruiting pool for military, active duty service members in military may be susceptible to using e-cigarettes. However, factors related to e-cigarette use in military population have rarely been studied. We aimed to identify factors associated with e-cigarette use and factors related to duration of use among active duty service members. Materials and Methods Subjects (N = 2,467) from Fort Bragg Army Base, North Carolina and Lackland Air Force Base, Texas completed a self-administered questionnaire during July 2015 to May 2016 time frame. The questionnaire collected data on demographic and military characteristics, tobacco use (including e-cigarette use) and other information. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to identify significant factors associated with e-cigarette use. Stepwise linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with duration of use. Results A total of 356 (14.4%) study participants reported ever use of e-cigarettes. There was no significant difference in prevalence of use between the two military installations (15.6% at Fort Bragg vs. 13.2% at Lackland, P = 0.097). Increased use of e-cigarettes was associated with young age (20–24 years old) (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.22–3.22), enlisted military rank (E1–E4: OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.36–4.40; E5–E9: OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.10–3.21), low perception of harm (OR = 5.18, 95% CI = 3.65–7.34), former (OR = 9.12, 95% CI = 6.29–13.22) and current (OR = 13.24, 95% CI = 9.22–19.02) cigarette smoking, and former smokeless tobacco use (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.33–3.22), former (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.42–4.85) and current (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.82–4.37) cigar or pipe smoking. However, serving mainly in combat unit during deployment was associated with decreased odds of use (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34–0.97). Among e-cigarette users, the number of years using e-cigarettes was significantly longer among the participants with lower perception of harm than those with higher perception of harm (0.82 vs. 0.22, P &lt; 0.001), and the duration was longer among subjects who used e-cigarette with nicotine than those without nicotine (0.79 vs. 0.49, P = 0.003). Finally, reasons for use differed markedly by cigarette smoking status. Never smokers used e-cigarette for the taste or flavor, while cigarette smokers used e-cigarette to help quit tobacco or reduce tobacco use. Conclusion Young age, lower military ranks, other tobacco use, and low perception of harm were associated with increased odds of using e-cigarettes, while serving in combat unit was associated with decreased odds of use in active duty service members. Low harm perception and using nicotine-containing e-cigarettes were associated with long duration of use. The reasons for using e-cigarettes differed by cigarette smoking status. Our study provides clues for future hypothesis-driven studies.

PERCEPTION OF HARM AND BENEFITS OF ADOLESCENTS ABOUT THE USE OF MARIJUANA, PROVINCE OF CONCEPTION, CHILE

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the perception of harm and benefits of marijuana associated with the use of marijuana in high school students aged between 15 and 17 years. Method: quantitative, transversal, descriptive and correlational design. The sample consisted of 268 students from public educational institutions between the ages of 15 and 17 years from five communes in the Chilean province of Concepción. The independent variables were biodemographic (sex, age and course), age of onset, use of marijuana in friends, perception of harm and benefits, and intention to use marijuana). The dependent variables were use (smoking) of marijuana (prevalence of life, in the last 12 months and in the last 30 days). Data collection instrument consisted of a semi-structured questionnaire in base of the CICAD Uniform Inter-American Data System for high school students; Monitoring The Future; and Risk Perception. Self-applied instrument with prior consent of the parents and agreement of the students. Results: slightly more than half (54%) of the students reported never having smoked marijuana, but 46% have ever used some in their lives. There is a moderated-negative weak correlation between harm perception and marijuana use. It is also observed a moderated-negative weak correlation between benefit perception and marijuana use. Statistically significant correlations Conclusion: just under half of the students between 15 and 17 years old declare to consume marijuana, an alarming result due to the negative effects of marijuana. Furthermore, they perceive low levels of damage produced by the use of marijuana, and the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is seen in a favorable position. A comprehensive policy of effective drug prevention at community, family and personal level is imperative.