Providentia

Eiffel Tower Suicide Under Investigation

A 25 year old Brazilian tourist is in hospital with extreme shock after failing to stop his sister from throwing herself off of Paris' Eiffel Tower. The still unnamed 18-year old woman apparently broke through a security barrier and threw herself over a railing from the landmark's second tier. She fell onto the plastic roof of the tower's first floor restaurant where patrons were still eating. A waiter in the restaurant said that the sound of her falling on the roof was "like a bomb going off as the roof cracked, then everyone there very quickly realised what had happened. But the most bizarre thing was, most of the customers just carried on eating. I have no idea why they did that."

The Eiffel Tower attracts over six million tourists a year with an estimated four or five suicides annually. Security barriers and netting have been erected on the Tower's upper levels to prevent attempts. An investigation is continuing and the name of the victim will not be released until her family is informed.

The Alchemist

Alchemy has a very long history. First believed to have been practiced in Ancient Persia, the ancient dream of endless wealth and immortality has enticed practitioners for thousands of years. While attempts to transmute lead into gold or create the elixir of life have always ended in failure, the lure was enough to entice famous scientists such as Roger Bacon, Tycho Brahe and Isaac Newton to give it a try. Still, by the 18th century, there was enough skepticism for alchemy to be dismissed as a fantasy by the scientific community.

Which brings us to James Price...

Born in 1752, his original name was actually Higginbotham but he changed it to Price when a wealthy relative left him a legacy. After distinguishing himself at Oxford by earning various degrees, he became a member of the Royal Society at the age of 29. Although Price seemed set for an eminent career in science, he began to concentrate a more unconventional line of research: transmuting base metals into precious metals (particularly turning mercury into gold). As I've already mentioned, whatever respect alchemists claimed in previous centuries had long since evaporated by Price's time.; After telling a few of his friends that he had been successful in his strange research, Price became the subject of some fearful whispering among fellow chemists. It was this public skepticism that caused Price to begin a series of public demonstrations of his transmutation process. The process centered on a special "powder of production" that could transform mercury and other base metals into gold or silver "under special circumstances". He conducted seven public experiments beginning on on May 6, 1782 and ended on May 25th. With various peers, baronets, clergymen and chemists in attendance, Price mixed borax, nitre, mercury, and other assorted chemicals and produced small amounts of gold and silver that he later presented to King George III.

The initial reaction was certainly positive. Oxford University bestowed a Doctor of Medicine degree on Price and there was tremendous demand for the written account of his experiments. Anyone remembering the cold fusion debacle a few years back can appreciate the tremendous enthusiasm resulting from the news of Price's discovery. The notion of endless wealth being produced for England through alchemy was certainly intoxicating (setting aside the fact that gold was mainly valuable because it was scarce). Since James Price was a respected and wealthy scientist who came from a distinguished family, the possibility that he might have faked his results seemed unthinkable.

Unfortunately for Price, the Royal Society remained skeptical.They insisted that Price repeat his experiments under controlled conditions to rule out the possibility of error. Price's hesitation made them even more suspicious. He attempted to downplay his earlier success and insisted that his powder of production was too expensive to make in large quantities. He added that the process of creating gold wasn't as cost-effective as he had previously assumed and that the cost of ingredients was greater than the cost of the gold produced. While his experiments were of scientific value, Price insisted that there would be no point in repeating them.

The president of the Royal Society, Joseph Banks, flatly told Price that his scientific reputation was at stake as well as the reputation of the Royal Society itself. Price, in return, began to insist that he was the victim of persecution and that his reputation should rule out any thought of deceit. By then, even Price's friends had become distressed by his refusal and finally persuaded him to produce more of his powder of production for the Royal Society to examine. He left London in January, 1783 and returned to his Guildford laboratory. Although he had promised to return in a month, nothing more was heard from him for six months when he finally returned to London. Inviting as many members of the Royal Society as he could to his Guildford laboratory, he arranged for a demonstration on August 3rd of that same year.

Price's reputation had already been damaged by his long delay and even most of his friends had deserted him by the time of his demonstration. That only three members of the Royal Society showed up on August 3rd probably told Price all he needed to know. After greeting his guests cordially, he stepped away from them and drank a vial of what would later turn out to be laurel water. When he began to collapse, his visitors tried to help him but it was too late.Before they could arrange for medical attention, James Price was dead. An investigation would later find that Price had recently written his last will and testament and wrapped up his affairs before calling for the demonstration. Despite intense speculation over why Price had staked his professional reputation (and his life) on his strange fixation with alchemy, no real explanation was ever found. It's probably likely that he had deceived himself into believing that he was successful and, little by little, resorted to deception to avoid disgrace. Suicide may have been the only solution for the mess that he had created for himself.

James Price's suicide marked the end of alchemy in the United Kingdom (though it lingered on in other parts of the world). His sad fate represents an object lesson in how easy it is to be seduced by the prospect of fame and fortune as well as how hard it is to admit that you're wrong. Too many other would-be discoverers have learned this the hard way.

Sex, Women, Children and the Media

The sexualization of underage girls in the popular media has become a major concern both due to the media representation of children as sexually aware as well as the "trickle up" phenomenon where adult women are presented as childlike. A study published in a recent issue of Journal of Media Psychology tested the hypothesis that viewing images of women posed as sexy young girls can lead to greater acceptance of child sexual abuse myths. Sixty-five participants were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group who viewed “Nature” ads, the “Sexy Adult” group who viewed ads of adult women, and the “Sexy Child” group who viewed advertisements of women posed as sexy young girls. It was predicted that participants who viewed advertisements of women posed as sexy young girls would score higher on the Child Sexual Abuse Myth Scale (CSAM; Collings, 1997) than participants in the two other groups. The hypothesis was not supported; however participants who saw ads portraying women of any age in sexual terms scored significantly higher on the CSAM Scale than those who viewed nature ads. The researchers conclude that images of objectified women can lead to greater acceptance of child sexual abuse myths. While it was recognized that this research was preliminary in nature, the researchers concluded that further research was definitely justified.

For more information.

Off to Edinburgh

I'm heading to Edinburgh this week to attend the annual International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services conference. I'm looking forward to attending some fascinating talks and renewing my acquaintance with a city I haven't seen in 25 years. Walking along the Royal Mile and checking out the scenery should be fun (and I may even try eating haggis again). I'll give you a summation of the conference and what I learn in future posts.

 

For more information.

Remembering Past Lives

The controversy over repressed and recovered memories represents one of the most contentious issues in recent years. The phenomenon of false memory is often researched in laboratory conditions using an experimental procedures known as the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm involving the learning of word lists with a common theme and and having subjects recall the word lists to determine if thematically similar words can be falsely recalled. Previous studies have shown that some individuals are especially prone to false recall using the paradigm and subjects with a history of recovered memories of childhood abuse (primarily through hypnosis and other reconstructive methods) were especially vulnerable. Similar results were found for subjects claiming to have been abducted by aliens suggesting the the DRM paradigm taps a propensity to form autobiographical memories that never happened. In a recent study published in the May 2009 issue of Journal of Abnormal Psychology, researchers recruited participants who reported improbable memories of past lives and compared their DRM performance with that of control participants who reported having lived only one life (i.e., their current one). Relative to control participants, those reporting memories of past lives exhibited significantly higher false recall and recognition rates in the DRM paradigm, and they scored higher on measures of magical ideation and absorption as well. The groups did not differ on correct recall, recognition, or intelligence. False memory propensity in the DRM paradigm may tap proneness for developing false memories outside the laboratory.

 

For more information.

Vatican Still Silent about Visions in Malta

According to Angelik Caruana, the visions began two years ago. While on Borg-in-Nadur Hill in the Malta town of Birzebbuga, he reportedly saw the Virgin Mary. She told him that she was appearing in Malta because she "wants people to accept her son again", to say the Holy Rosary, and to fast. Since that time, Caruana has reported numerous appearances by Mary accompanied by religious ecstasy and speaking in tongues. IN one reported instance, Caruana was seen rolling in the Borg-in-Nadur dirt, "stuffing his mouth with grass, reeling from stigmata and clutching at his throat, where one of Christ’s thorns is now believed to be lodged". Despite allegations of fraud and an official dismissal by Malta's Archbishop, busloads of believers continue to flock to Borg-in-Nadur to listen to Caruana and be present at one of the Virgin's appearances.

Medical concerns have also been raised due to Caruana's insistence that it was safe to look at the sun while the Virgin was present (since the sun resembles a communion host) but devout attendees frequently risk damaging their eyesight during their pilgrimages. Caruana had previously come to public attention through his claim to possess a statue of the Virgin in his Birzebbuga home that sheds blood. (two investigations by the Maltese Church failed to substantiate this claim). While the Vatican has acknowledged Marian visions in other locations, Pope Benedict has called for new guidelines for the acceptance of visions to avoid "excesses and abuses". The Malta Curia is still awaiting a Vatican response on Caruana's visions.

 

For more information.

The Visionary

It's hard to think of the right word to describe Emmanuel Swedenborg. Complex doesn't even come close.

Born in 1688, Emmanuel Swedenborg's father was a bishop who often claimed to see spirits and made claims of miraculous cures (he also did exorcisms). His religious upbringing didn't prevent Emmanuel Swedenborg from traveling extensively and immersing himself in the natural sciences.  Despite a stuttering problem that made him extremely reluctant to speak in public, Swedenborg devoted the next two decades of his life to projects in astronomy, physics, and mineralogy including various attempts to reconcile philosophy and the physical sciences (he even proposed early versions of a flying machine and a submarine). After turning down an appointment as professor of mathematics at Upsala University (his stuttering made the idea of public lectures unthinkable), he turned to the life sciences in 1736.

Traveling to medical centres in France and Italy, he went on to do extensive research in anatomy and physiology. It was Swedenborg who first proposed that the cerebral cortex could be divided into specific regions that controlled different parts of the body. These specialized "cortical territories" were highly interconnected and enable the brain to function as a coherent whole. He also identified the role of cortical region at the back of the frontal lobes in voluntary muscle control, and even suggested that the frontal lobes of the brain were linked to intellectual functions (including imagination memory and thought).

Although many of Swedenborg's discoveries were revolutionary, the mainstream medical community in other countries didn't really become aware of them until the late 19th century (his treatises on the brain weren't fully translated for decades). By then, most of Swedenborg's astounding discoveries had been made by other researchers working independently. His lack of an academic post worked against him as well but Swedenborg might still have become one of the pioneers of medical science if he had persisted in his research. Unfortunately, all of his scientific activities had ended by 1743.

Which was when the visions started...

While he had been a religious man all his life, Emmanuel Swedenborg was fifty-five when first began experiencing a strange spiritual crisis. After taking a leave of absence from his research and traveling to the Netherlands, he was haunted by strange dreams that he faithfully recorded in his journal. In one story that was often retold years later, Swedenborg was eating in a London tavern when "a darkness fell upon his eyes and the room shifted character. Suddenly he saw a person sitting at a corner of the room, telling him: "Do not eat too much!". Swedenborg, scared, hurried home. Later that night, the same man appeared in his dreams. The man told Swedenborg that He was the Lord, that He had appointed Swedenborg to reveal the spiritual meaning of the Bible, and that He would guide Swedenborg in what to write. The same night, the spiritual world was opened to Swedenborg." He reportedly became so agitated that the physician who was treating him had six men guard him as he slept.

After arranging for a government pension to support him, Swedenborg devoted himself to his strange visions and the religious books that he wrote based on what he experienced (and which he later claimed were dictated to him by an angel). He spent the remaining years of his life traveling between London, Stockholm, and the Netherlands and wrote fourteen books on various spiritual topics. The visions that he described took him from Heaven to Hell and across the solar system (and meeting the inhabitants he found there). Most of his works were published during his lifetime and he quickly developed a reputation as a mystic (or a lunatic depending on who you asked).His books were remarkably consistent and his descriptions of the nature of Heaven, Hell and the universe has had a tremendous influence over the years. Although some of Swedenborg's writings were bizarre (he claimed that the moon was inhabited by a race of creatures who spoke through their stomachs), his sincere manner and reputed psychic ability won over many doubters. Other critics were more skeptical (Immanuel Kant wrote that Swedenborg should be in a madhouse and two of his supporters were tried for heresy in Sweden), but Swedenborg's crusade continued.

The bulk of his spiritual writings focused on God's plan to initiate His kingdom on earth but he denied that anything he wrote was theological (they were based on his personal experiences after all). In later years, Swedenborg became increasingly deranged and lived on a diet of milk and bread. Evil spirits continually harassed him with temptations although he was comforted and protected by good spirits. Although he was already a lifelong bachelor, Swedenborg was so frightened of women that he would never see them alone. By the time of his death in 1772, Swedenborg was one of the most well-known mystical writers of his time and his works have since been translated into numerous languages. His works inspired later writers including William Blake, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Henry James Senior (father of William and Henry James), and Carl Jung. Swedenborg's supporters founded the New Jerusalem Church in 1778 (a branch in the United States was founded in 1792). Despite the inevitable schisms over interpretations of his writings, he still has a devoted following and the Swedenborg Society (founded in 1810) is actively engaged in disseminating his works.

The question of why an accomplished scientist like Swedenborg made such an abrupt change in his later life from science to mysticism has baffled later writers and researchers. While it's tempting to link Swedenborg's experiences to the mystical visions and religious grandiosity often experienced by schizophrenics and patients with certain neurological conditions, the available evidence doesn't really indicate a clear diagnosis. If there was a neurological basis to these visions, then it would be especially ironic that it would occur in someone who might well have become one of the great pioneers in brain research had his life not take such a strange direction.

How Well Can We Predict Sex Offender Recidivism?

One of the prime factors shaping community policy concerning sex offenders is the likelihood of their re-offending. The process of applied decision making in psychology typically involves a combination of clinical versus statistical prediction. A review published in a recent issue of Psychological Assessment compared the accuracy of various approaches to the prediction of recidivism among sexual offenders. The researchers used a meta-analysis of 536 findings drawn from 118 distinct samples of adult sexual offenders (45,398 sexual offenders from 16 countries). Recidivism information came from law enforcement agencies and arrest records (follow-up ranged from 6 to 276 months with an average of 70 months). Their results indicated that actuarial measures including the Static-99 and the SVR-20 were found to be more accurate than unstructured professional judgment for all outcomes (sexual, violent, or any recidivism). Actuarial measures specifically designed for sex offenders were found to be the best predictor of sex offender recidivism. The accuracy of structured professional judgment was intermediate between the accuracy found for the actuarial measures and for unstructured professional judgment. The effect sizes for the actuarial measures were moderate to large by conventional standards but the utility of the actuarial measures will vary according to the referral question and samples assessed. The authors conclude that further research is needed to better identify the psychologically meaningful factors that contribute to risk for re-offending and also to develop better actuarial tools to guide professional judgment.

For more information.

Schoolgirl's Dream Causes Bomb Panic

A recent bomb scare at a school in the autonomous republic of North Ossetia was apparently triggered by a dream reported by a schoolgirl. The unidentified girl reported that she had dreamed that there would be an explosion on May 15 and that her dream included "coffins being carried out of a school building". Law enforcement officials, panicked by reports of terrorist activity as well as memories of the Beslan School hostage crisis, closed the school for two days in a row while bomb-sniffing dogs were used to search the premises. At last report, despite no explosives being found, parents were refusing to bring their children to the school's kindergarten and local police continue to guard the school.

For more information.

Predicting Longitudinal Patterns of Functional Deficits in Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

Childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long been associatied with academic, functional, and cognitive problems in school-age children. A study published in the May issue of Neuropsychology looked into longitudinal patterns of functional deficits in 37 children with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 8), 40 children with moderate TBI (Score of 9 to 12 without complications), and 44 children with orthopedic injuries. The injuries occurred between the ages of 6 to 12 years of age. The children in the study underwent neuropsychological, behavioral, adaptive, and academic testing at 6 months, 12 months, and 3–5 years postinjury. Functional deficits (<10th percentile for age) were identified within each outcome domain at each occasion. Children were classified into 4  longitudinal patterns of outcomes within domains (i.e., no deficits, improvement, deterioration, persistent deficits). Statistical analyses showed that severe TBI predicted an increased likelihood of persistent deficits in all outcome domains, as well as deterioration in behavioral functioning and improvement in neuropsychological, adaptive, and academic functioning. Severe TBI also predicted a greater total number of functional deficits across domains at each occasion. However, many children with severe TBI showed no deficits from 6 months to 4 years postinjury in 1 or more outcome domains. Duration of unconsciousness and lowest Glasgow Coma scores were significant predictors of range and extent of deficits. The findings help clarify the course of recovery for individual children following TBI.

For more information.