Prevalence of Stalking Among Justice Professionals in Portugal

Despite the growing interest from researchers’ in recent years, stalking is a phenomenon of difficult operationalization within the scientific community. Examining the phenomenon in criminal justice professionals has become relevant since the work context is considered a fertile environment for the presence of stalking, despite underreported. This study aims specifically to know the prevalence, nature, dynamics, impact, and help-seeking behaviors (and its perceived effectiveness) of stalking victimization by criminal justice professionals stalked in Portugal. We were also interested in the professionals’ perceptions of why they were stalked. The data were collected through a web-based survey, after the approval of the ethic committee. The sample was composed of 270 criminal justice professionals, mostly men (59.3%), with a mean age of 42.70 ( SD = 9.07) years. The results showed that 24.8% reported having been stalked at least once in their lifetime. Stalking prevalence was higher in women compared to men. Concerning the profession, the highest prevalence was verified in the group of professionals composed of lawyers, jurists, court officials, and auditors, followed by the group of magistrates, and finally the judges and the criminal police. More diversity of stalking behaviors experienced was associated with a higher frequency of those behaviors. Psychological health (70.7%) and lifestyle/behavioral changes (62.1%) were the most reported areas of impact. Being stalked in a private context (e.g., intimate relationships), for a longer period and feeling a higher level of fear as a result of the stalking campaign were associated with more impact. Most of the victims (74.6%) revealed having sought help to cope with the stalking experience, with women seeking more help than men (88.6% vs. 59.4%). For bringing evidence that criminal justice professionals are at risk of being stalked, these findings can contribute to the adoption of policies and strategies to prevent stalking victimization among this population.

Intelligent Personal Assistant in Business-Context: Key-feature Evaluation for User Acceptance

BackgroundThe usage of intelligent personal assistants (IPA), such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant is increasing significantly, and voice-interaction is relevant for workflows in a business context.ObjectivesThis research aims to determine IPA characteristics to evaluate the usefulness of specific functions in a simulated production system of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. A new function called explanation-mode is introduced to the scientific community and business world.Methods/ApproachAs part of a design science research, an artefact, i.e. an add-on for speech-interaction in business software, was developed and evaluated using a survey among ERP users and researchers.ResultsIn the area of IPA-features, the search-function and speech input for textual fields were recognised as most useful. The newly introduced feature, the explanation mode, was positively received too. There is no significant correlation between the usefulness of features and participant-characteristics, affinity to technology or previous experience with IPAs in a private context, which is in line with previous studies in the private environment leading to the conclusion that the task attraction is the most important element for usefulness.ConclusionsMost of the participants agreed that the speech-input is not able to fully substitute standard input devices, such as a keyboard or a mouse, so the IPA is recognised as an addition to traditional input methods. The usefulness is rated high especially for speech-input for long text fields, calling up masks and search-functions.

Descripción de las creencias y prácticas mágicas relacionadas con la medicina / Description of Releted Magical Beliefs and Practices with Medicine

ABSTRACTIn our midst the magic behaviors are more frequent than we think, particularly in the territory of medicine and this work is dedicated to their study. To achieve this, we talked with the patients who have come to consult the Association of Psychopathology and Psychoanalysis of Seville (APPS) and, in the intimate atmosphere of the consultation, could express with tranquility an issue that can not be spoken outside a private context. The result has been the description of six groups of magical beliefs, which violate the principles of logical thinking (spell, possession, loss of soul, etc.). At the same time, these initiate remedies that are carried out by healers and healers (exorcisms, amulets, spells, etc.). The doctor must know the existence of these behaviors to be able to act correctly in front of them and not to err in their diagnoses.RESUMENEn nuestro medio los comportamientos mágicos son más frecuentes de lo que pensamos, particularmente en el territorio de la medicina y este trabajo se dedica a su estudio. Para lograrlo, conversamos con los pacientes que acudieron a consultar a la Asociación de Psicopatología y Psicoanálisis de Sevilla (APPS) y, en el ambiente íntimo de la consulta, pudieron expresar con tranquilidad un asunto que no puede hablarse fuera de un contexto privado. El resultado ha sido la descripción de seis grupos de creencias mágicas, que vulneran los principios del pensar lógico (hechizo, posesión, pérdida del alma, etc). Al mismo tiempo, estas ponen en marcha remedios que llevan a cabo los curanderos y sanadores (exorcismos, amuletos, conjuros, etc). El médico debe conocer la existencia de estos comportamientos para poder actuar correctamente frente a ellos y no errar en sus diagnósticos.

Child Distributive Behavior and Inhibitory Control in a Private Context

Several studies have sought to assess the cognitive aspects underlying the sharing of goods. This work aimed to evaluate whether there is a relationship between inhibitory control and distributive behavior in a private context (total anonymity of the distributor). One hundred and thirty-six children aged between three and 12 years participated in a dictatorial game and a standard Stroop task. Age, inhibitory control and distributive behavior were positively correlated, but only age was predictive of sharing. It is suggested that the moral reasoning employed in the distributive context explains this tendency, in which older children, when reflecting on resource sharing, resort to respect for social rules. In contrast, younger children feel that their desire is sufficient to justify the self-centered behavior, even knowing the rules. The results contribute to the field of child development by providing information that allows a better understanding of the role executive functions play in distributive decisions.

Specific Aspects of Mithraism in Etruria and Umbria

Summary The Mithraic evidence in Etruria and Umbria – VII and VI Regiones – presents some particular features of great interest, not only because they contribute to enlarging our knowledge regarding the extent of the diffusion of Mithraism in these regions, but also as regards the general study of the cult itself and the comprehension of certain facets of the cultic implantation patterns within the religious communities. The epigraphic corpus of Mithraism in Umbria provides valuable information concerning some grades of initiation and Mithraic priesthood, highlighting the specificity of this religion. The importance of such information transcends what we know about the local level, by revealing details about the functioning of the cult in general, especially regarding the degree of Leo and some variants of the priesthood, which are poorly documented elsewhere in the Roman Empire. In addition, the discovery of Mithraea, Mithraic images and other archaeological evidence in Etruria and Umbria provides a picture that shows an important spread of the worship in the private context, i.e., both domus and villae, with examples as relevant as Vulci and Spoletium. Further ahead, the prevalence of astral components in the material evidence also suggests a strong preference among local devotees of Mithras of higher social status for the cosmological aspects of their religion.

Emblems of Cultural Identity in Early Andean Art

This chapter employs the traditional art historical methods of formal analysis and iconography to understand head motifs engraved on Cupisnique ceramics that were made between 1200 and 200 BCE. Rather than characterizing a small social group operating in isolation, these motifs and objects serve as indicators of cultural identity, affiliation, and transmission, expressing complex interactions between neighboring cultures. In other words, the head motifs on Cupisnique ceramics display the cultural networks inside of which the Cupisnique people saw themselves. Through conscious combination of various techniques and symbols appropriated from other cultures, Cupisnique artists created innovative objects unique to their own society. In particular, the Cupisnique people combined the post-firing engraving techniques of the Chorrera and Machalilla cultures of Ecuador with head motifs appropriated from the architectural friezes of Huaca de los Reyes, a public ritual space, to create small, personal items. These objects with imagery and techniques appropriated into a new, private context become a key distinction of the Cupisnique culture against its neighbors, antecedents, and trade partners.