searchfortruth.info > Blog > Page 79

Running Amok

by

Running amok, sometimes referred to as simply amok or gone amok,[1] also spelled amuk, from the Malay language,[2] is "an episode of sudden mass assault against people or 6 usually by a single individual following a period of brooding that has traditionally been regarded as

occurring especially in Malay culture but is now increasingly viewed as psychopathological behavior".[3] The syndrome of "Amok" is found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR).[4] The phrase is often used in a less serious manner when describing something that is wildly out of control or causing a frenzy (e.g., a dog tearing up the living room furniture might be termed as "running amok".)...

Read More!

Comparison Of Wound Patterns In Homicide By Sharp And Blunt Force.

by

Abstract

A comparison of patterns of injuries between sharp force and blunt force homicide was performed. Male predominance was seen in both types of homicides. Most of the victims of sharp force were between 21 and 40 years and those of blunt force between 31 and 40 years. There was no difference in the incidence of victims below 20 years age, but blunt force was almost five times more than sharp force in victims of age above 60 years. Thorax was the commonest site to be involved in sharp force in contrast to head in blunt force. Hand and forearm were the commonest sites of defence injuries in sharp and blunt force homicides, respectively. The majority of the blunt force victims had lesions in only one region in contrast to involvement of 2-4 regions in sharp force. The majority of the victims were killed by..

Read More!

Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma

by

Overview

Deaths resulting from blunt force trauma are some of the most common cases encountered by the practicing forensic pathologist. Whereas other forms of traumatic death (eg, gunshot wounds, sharp force injuries) occur under a relatively limited number of circumstances, deaths resulting from blunt force trauma occur in a variety of scenarios. For instance, almost all transportation fatalities — including those involving motor vehicle collisions, pedestrians being struck by vehicles, airplane crashes, and boating incidents — result from blunt force trauma. Other deaths resulting from blunt force trauma involve jumping or falling from heights, blast injuries, and being struck by a firm object, such as a fist, crowbar, bat, or ball. Bite wounds and chop injuries may be considered variants of blunt force trauma, sharp force trauma, or a class of injuries untothemselves.

Blunt force trauma is routinely involved in cases classified as accidents, as well as in...

Read More!

Wounding Patterns And Human Performance In Knife Attacks: Optimising The Protection Provided By Knife-resistant Body Armour.

by

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Stab attacks generate high loads, y to defeat them, armour needs to be of a certain thickness and stiffness. Slash attacks produce much lower loads and armour designed to defeat them can be far lighter and more flexible.

METHODS AND SUBJECTS:

Phase 1: Human performance in slash attacks: 87 randomly selected students at the Royal Military College of Science were asked to make one slash attack with an instrumented blade on a vertically mounted target. No instructions on how to slash the target were given. The direction, contact forces and velocity of each attack were recorded. Phase 2: Clinical experience with edged weapon attacks: The location and severity of all penetrating injuries in patients attending the Glasgow Royal Infirmary between 1993 and 1996 were charted on anatomical figures.

REQUEST:

Phase 1: Two types of human slash behaviour were evident: a 'chop and drag' blow and a 'sweep motion' type of attack. ...

Read More!

Infidelity and Incriminating E-mails

by

First, let me say that I think the job of a psychiatrist is to be helpful. I want my patients to do well, in a way not dissimilar, I think, from the way someone might feel towards a brother. I am anxious that my patients not get into trouble. I will not, of course, facilitate behavior that I think is frankly illegal or plainly likely to hurt other people; but I try not to sit in judgment. Sometimes, I find myself trying to rescue my patients from the consequences of behavior that I do not necessarily condone. Infidelity falls into this category.

Infidelity causes pain and trouble in a marriage, but to a varying degree. There is an effect, for example, on the unfaithful person, himself/herself, who is thrust into a pattern of lying and deceit which undermines self-respect. There are numerous other effects on other members of the family and, for...

Read More!

Hypnosis in Interrogation

by

HYPNOSIS IN INTERROGATION

Edward F. Deshere

The control over a person's behavior ostensibly achieved in hypnosis obviously nominates it for use in the difficult process of interrogation. It is therefore surprising that nobody, as the induction of "Mesmeric trance" has moved from halls of magic into clinics and laboratories, seems to have used it in this way. A search of the professional literature shows at least that no one has chosen to discuss such a use in print, and a fairly extensive inquiry among hypnosis experts from a variety of countries has not turned up anyone who admits to familiarity with applications of the process to interrogation. There is therefore no experimental evidence that can be cited, but it should be possible to reach tentative conclusions about its effectiveness in this field on the basis of theoretical considerations.

The Nature of Hypnosis Experimental analysis has gradually given us a better understanding of hypnosis...

Read More!

Retroperitoneal Injuries: Pitfalls In Diagnosis And Management

by

Abstract

Retroperitoneal injury caused by penetrating trauma or associated with progressive shock following blunt trauma is usually recognized promptly and managed appropriately. Isolated retroperitoneal injury from blunt trauma, unless accompanied by major hemorrhage or gross hematuria, is often difficult to diagnose and needed treatment may be delayed. Although clinical examination remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, the high incidence of ethanol abuse and/or concurrent head injury in trauma patients has led to increased use of computed tomography in the diagnosis of abdominal trauma. To determine the effect, if any, of CT examination on the diagnosis and management of retroperitoneal trauma, we reviewed our patient experience. During the 16-month period ending in April 1986, 135 patients sustained 177 retroperitoneal injuries (116 by blunt and 19 by penetrating trauma). There were 26 deaths (19% mortality). There were 90 pelvic fractures and 31 lumbar spine There were 90 pelvic fractures and 31 lumbar spine fractures, as

Read More!

Zero-Sum Game

by

What is a 'Zero-Sum Game

Zero-sum is a situation in game theory in which one person’s gain is equivalent to another’s loss, so the net change in wealth or benefit is zero. A zero-sum game may have as few as two players, or millions of participants.

Zero-sum games are found in game theory, but are less common than non-zero sum games. Poker and gambling are popular examples of zero-sum games since the sum of the amounts won by some players equals the combined losses of the others. Games like chess and tennis, where there is one winner and one loser, are also zero-sum games. In the financial markets, options and futures are examples of zero-sum games, excluding transaction costs. For every person who gains on a contract, there is a counter-party who loses.

Read More!

Quaaludes

by

What are Quaaludes?

Quaaludes (methaqualone) are a synthetic, barbiturate-like, central nervous system depressant. Methaqualone is an anxiolytic and a sedative-hypnotic drug. Quaaludes were introduced as a safe barbiturate substitute, but they later showed that the possibility of addiction and withdrawal symptoms were similar to those of barbiturates.

History of Quaaludes

Quaaludes were first synthesized in India in 1950's. It was introduced into America in the 1960's and by the late 1960's it became a popular recreational drug. The abuse potential of Quaaludes soon became apparent and in 1973 methaqualone was placed in Schedule II, making it difficult to prescribe and illegal to possess without a prescription. In 1984 it was moved to Federal Schedule I, so Quaaludes are no longer legally available in the United States.

Quaaludes that are sold for recreational use now are synthesized in illegal laboratories. Illegally produced Quaaludes can contain other central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines...

Read More!

The Scapegoat Identity

by

One of the most important of personal assessments we can give to ourselves, and one which will pretty quickly tell us whether or not OK are living authentically is answering this question: What thought or emotion runs me?  What emotion or thought gets me to do things I don't even want to do? 

Is it guilt?  Does guilt come around fairly frequently telling me that IF I don't do X, Y, or Z I am going to have to contend with horrible feelings of guilt later?  Do I  hang out with people I don't want to hang out with, do and say things I don't want to do and say-because I fear that if I don't I will feel guilty later?  Do I feel like I might be thought of as a "bad" person or, worse yet, a "selfish" person if I don't do that thing the guilt is urging me to do? ...

Read More!

Intimate Partner Homicide Methods In Heterosexual, Gay, And Lesbian Relationships

by

Abstract

Previous research indicates that the killing method used in homicides may reflect the motivation of the offender and qualities of the victim-offender relationship. The effect of gender and sexual orientation of intimate partner homicide offenders (N = 51,007) was examined with respect to the brutality of killing methods. Guided by previous research and theory, it was hypothesized that homicide brutality will vary with the offender's sexual orientation and gender, such that the percentage of killings coded as brutal will be higher for (a) gay and lesbian relative to heterosexual relations, (b) men relative to women, (c) gay relative to heterosexual men, and (d) lesbian relative to heterosexual women. The rates of intimate partner homicide were also hypothesized to vary with the gender of the partners, such that (a) homicide rates will be higher in gay relative to heterosexual and lesbian couples and (b) homicide rates will be lowest in lesbian couples....

Read More!

Documenting Bloodstain Patterns Through Roadmapping

by

An accurate and methodical technique for documenting bloodstain patterns is invaluable in crime scene analysis.

As the old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” However, in the field of crime scene investigation this saying should be changed to “a properly taken picture is worth a thousand words.” Never is this more true than when documenting bloodstain patterns at a scene. Proper documentation of a crime scene, and bloodstains specifically, verifies the integrity of the scene and the evidence within it; provides quality presentations for subsequent courtroom testimony; and allows for outside analysis by other experts.1 The fundamental goal of documenting bloodstain patterns is to accurately depict the patterns as you found them. This is accomplished through note taking, sketching, and photography. Additionally, videotaping may be helpful depending on the scene, but it should never replace photography.

Let’s first address note taking. Your notes should...

Read More!

A New Look at Bloodstains Is Changing Forensics

by

The rolling pin is traditionally seen as a woman's tool. She can use it to roll out dough -- or to smash her husband's skull.

 The latter tends to be rather bloody, so it's no surprise that the seemingly harmless kitchen utensil is part of the equipment at Germany's only institute specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis, where it's stored between blood-splattered pieces of paper.

The lab uses very little high-tech and modern equipment. Inside the old barn in Usingen, a town in the western German state of Hesse, the creative chaos of a workshop prevails. Much of the equipment seems to have come directly from a hardware store.

Dr. Silke Brodbeck, the director of the institute, turns out not to be a morbid forensic scientist but a tidy and introspective woman. Brodbeck regularly assembles medical experts and criminologists in the barn for demonstrations in the art of interpreting bloodstains and blood...

Read More!

The Role Of Stabbing And Slashing In Knife Combat

by

You’ve got to know your weapon because your survival would depend on it. In knife fighting, you’ve got to know what damage a blade can do to the human anatomy.

Stabbing and slashing are the two fundamental ways of inflicting trauma with a knife. This is evident in the basic principle of Filipino knife fighting that says, “In every thrust there is a slash and in every slash there is a thrust.”

Stab wounds are considered more lethal than slash wounds because of the greater possibility of internal organ damage. Considering the application of force and the positioning of the weapon, stabbing has a greater chance of puncturing a vital organ than slashing. But the latter can be deadly too if it severed an artery.

Death by either stab wound or slash wound is often caused by shock. This kind of shock is different from emotional state of shock. “Hypovolemic shock...

Read More!

The Sudden Murderer A Comparative Analysis

by

Abstract

In this study, the “sudden murderer” is defined as a person who, without having been involved in any previous serious aggressive antisocial acts, suddenly, unlawfully, and intentionally kills (or makes a serious attempt to kill) another human being. The murder is “sudden” in the sense that it appears to be a single, isolated, unexpected episode of violent, impulsive acting-out behavior behavior which is never well thought out, behavior which has no obvious purpose or hope for personal advantage or profit foreseeable as a result. Of 153 criminal offenders referred for psychiatric evaluation between July 1, 1956, and Dec. 30, 1957, to the Social Maladjustment Study Unit at the Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center in St Louis,* 13 could be called “sudden murderers” by this definition. Although in this group of patients the crime as a function of the personality of the patient concerned proved most...

Read More!

Unreliable Admissions To Homicide. A Case Of Misdiagnosis Of Amnesia And Misuse Of Abreaction Technique.

by

Abstract

BACKGROUND The past decade has witnessed a recognition that unsafe criminal convictions may be occasioned by unreliable confessions.

AIMS To present a case which illustrates the dangers of using abreaction interview techniques in a legal context and demonstrate the relevance of the memory distrust syndrome to an unsafe confession to murder.

METHOD We under took a detailed assessment of a person appealing against his original murder conviction, 'the appellant', and a careful scrutiny of all the relevant papers in the case.

RESULTS The appellant served 25 years in prison before his conviction was quashed as 'unsafe' on the basis of fresh psychological and psychiatric evidence.

CONCLUSIONS Amnesia for an offence had been misdiagnosed, and the use of repeated abreaction interviews had further confused both the appellant and the original court. At the Appeal Court, the advice was that the man had experienced a form of source amnesia which resulted in an unreliable confession.

Read More!