Considerações éticas na investigação com vítimas de violência e de crime

A investigação vitimológica é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de políticas que possam promover a segurança e o equilíbrio emocional das vítimas. Na produção deste conhecimento científico colocam-se inúmeros preceitos éticos que devem ser devidamente salvaguardados sob pena de se poder promover uma revitimação. A experienciação de uma situação de vitimação poderá ter efeitos muito nefastos, podendo interferir com a capacidade das vítimas para decidir a sua participação numa investigação. Tendo por base as evidências em torno do impacto da violência e do crime nas suas vítimas, pretende-se ao longo deste artigo elencar algumas das principais questões éticas subjacentes à produção científica neste domínio, identificando alguns dos cuidados e recomendações a implementar. A observância deste conjunto de guidelines é fundamental para a realização de uma investigação de qualidade e para mitigar eventuais danos que a mesma possa causar nos seus participantes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Youth cyber dating abuse: a meta-analysis of risk and protective factors

yber Dating Abuse (CDA) has been identified as a prevalent and negative experience for youth, which highlights the need to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of this phenomenon. Thus, this meta-analysis aims to determine the factors associated with youth CDA perpetration and victimization, identifying which of the factors present the strongest risk and protective effects. We identified 16 studies and 17 independent samples, including a total sample of 12,760 adolescents and young adults. Results showed that individual and intimate relation factors were related to both CDA perpetration and victimization, and peer factors were significantly associated with CDA perpetration; individual sociodemographic factors were unrelated to CDA. Findings from this metaanalysis provide valuable evidence to develop CDA prevention and intervention strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

(Dis)paridades de género ao nível das sentenças judiciais: Uma revisão estruturada da literatura.

Com esta revisão estruturada da literatura pretendeu-se analisar as disparidades nas sentenças judiciais que envolvem mulheres agressoras. Foi efetuada uma pesquisa em diversas bases de dados eletrónicas, acedendo-se a um total de 30 artigos. A análise destes diferentes estudos permitiu perceber que ainda são escassos os trabalhos de investigação nesta área. Entre os diferentes fatores com potencial influência no resultado das sentenças judiciais, identificaram-se: idade, existência de filhos, raça, tipo de crime praticado, escolaridade e antecedentes criminais. Concluiu-se pela necessidade de haver transformações nas práticas sociais e jurídicas, promovendo a eficácia normativa e a credibilização do sistema judicial.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Violência nas relações íntimas juvenis e ideação e comportamento suicidas

Este estudo procurou analisar a relação entre violência nas relações íntimas juvenis e a ocorrência de ideação e comportamentos suicidas. Para tal recorreu-se à Escala Tática de Conflitos que permite avaliar a prevalência de diferentes tipos de abuso íntimo e ao Inventário de Ideação e Comportamentos Suicidas. Participaram neste estudo 262 jovens, maioritariamente raparigas (75.2%), cuja média de idades era de 23.7 (D.P. = 4.14), que admitiram estar envolvidos numa relação de namoro no último ano. Em termos de resultados o abuso psicológico assume maior preponderância sobre todos os outros tipos de abuso, na perpetração (51.1%) e na vitimação (45.4%). As análises de associação revelaram que ofensores e vítimas apresentam pensamentos e/ou comportamentos suicidas. Quando se considerou o sexo dos participantes, detetamos mais associações estatisticamente significativas entre a ideação e/ou comportamentos suicidas pelo sexo feminino e a perpetração e a vitimação de diferentes tipos de abuso. Os resultados encontrados neste estudo confirmam assim a necessidade de se continuar a desenvolver esforços de identificação e prevenção da violência íntima juvenil, procurando-se igualmente e de forma específica implementar estratégias de prevenção do suicídio junto desta população.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Violência sexual no namoro: relevância da prevenção

Este artigo apresenta uma revisão da investigação sobre a violência sexual ocorrida no contexto das relações de namoro. Para esta revisão, foi efectuada uma pesquisa sistemática nas revistas publicadas entre 1985 e 2006 nas bases de dados PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO1887, Sociology: A SAGE Full-Text Collection, EBSCO-HOST: Research Databases e IBSS – International Bibliography of the Social Science, para além da análise de livros publicados no mesmo período sobre o tema. A partir desta revisão, são apresentados indicadores de prevalência da violência sexual e os principais factores de risco para a sua ocorrência e caracteriza- se a cultura de prevenção existente a este nível. Especificamente, procura-se identificar as diferentes acções preventivas desenroladas neste âmbito, assim como a sua eficácia. Para concluir, reflecte-se sobre algumas limitações dos programas preventivos existentes na área e algumas recomendações são avançadas para futuras acções preventivas a desenvolver junto dos jovens.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Violence in intimate relationship between same- sex partners: prevalence study.

Este estudo procurou caracterizar a prevalência da violência nas relações íntimas entre parceiros do mesmo sexo em Portugal, recorrendo às Escalas de Táticas de Confl ito Revisadas. Participaram neste estudo 168 participantes, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 35 anos, cuja média de idade foi de 22,5 anos (DP=3,79), sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (76,2%). Em termos de perpetração, os resultados revelaram uma elevação da agressão psicológica (70,2% na ligeira e 29,8% na severa); uma ligeira elevação dos atos que não deixam sequelas (26,8% no ligeiro e 9,5% no severo) e, ainda, uma preponderância da coerção sexual ligeira (28%). Em relação a vitimação, constatou-se igualmente uma preponderância da agressão psicológica ligeira (69,2%). Os homens admitiram adotar mais comportamentos de coerção sexual, tanto na forma ligeira como severa. Foi ainda possível apurar a existência de uma relação positiva e signifi cativa entre a duração do relacionamento íntimo e a vitimação por agressão psicológica ligeira. Estes resultados apelam à elaboração de respostas de apoio específi cas para os diferentes tipos de vítimas, bem como a aposta na implementação de esforços preventivos mais contextualizados às diferentes realidades.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Female crime, criminal justice practice and gender roles: judicial professionals’ perspectives

Introduction: Gender has been identified as an important and consistent variable that differentiates crime behaviour in which men have traditionally been associated with the offense and the exercise of authority, and women suffering victimization. Criminal statistics in recent years contradict this assumption and document an increase in female crime around the world and the greater involvement of women in the criminal justice system. In turn, the influence that gender role has on attitudes about female and male crime may also impact the way in which judicial professionals operate on female involvement in crime and the type of risk assessment performed, also affecting policies prevention and intervention. Method: Using a qualitative methodology, the present study aimed to analyse and characterize the practices of the criminal justice system in cases involving female crime, based on the perceptions of judicial professionals. More specifically, it was intended to: i) analyse the perception of judicial professionals about female crime; ii) analyse how socially established gender roles are used to explain the female crime; iii) analyse the factors that may contribute to possible gender differences in the decision-making of judicial professionals. Ten judicial professionals, mostly male (70%), with an average age of 46 years and with an average professional experience of approximately 20 years, were interviewed. Results: Participants pointed to a growing criminal parity between men and women, as a result of social progress and new opportunities. However, they also identified differences between female and male criminal activity (e.g., less serious female criminal conduct, less female recidivism, less female criminal agency). The results also revealed an ambivalent position regarding the performance of the criminal justice system in relation to crime in women. Discussion and conclusions: The perception conveyed by the judicial professionals about the absence of female identity in crime and an existing ideology about the role of women in society, promotes not only a certain benevolence in judicial decisions, but also ignore certain risk behaviours. This could compromise the risk assessment of female criminal conduct, and subsequent judicial intervention, so it is important to promote greater awareness of crime in women, deconstructing stereotypes around the role of women in society.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Court decisions, gender role and female crime: Judicial (dis)parities

Introduction: For years, crime investigation did not consider female, given the reduced involvement in the practice of criminal behaviour. However, official data from the past few years has been challenging this impression, documenting an increase in crime perpetrated by women, all over the world. Social perceptions about women continue to be imbued with gender stereotypes (e.g., fragile, weak, more credible, maternal) that make female incompatible with the role of offender. Women are commonly perceived as playing the role of the victim and the man is usually considered the offender. This under-representation or even relativization of female criminal conduct tends to interfere with the performance of law professionals and the criminal justice system itself, also influencing the design of prevention/intervention policies. Method: Using a qualitative methodology, the present study sought to identify the factors that are considered by the judicial professionals in the analysis of female criminal conduct, seeking to understand how gender stereotypes may influence the attribution of judicial sentences. To this end, a total of ten court sentences involving women with criminal conduct, aged between 18 and 42 years old (M = 30.5; SD = 12.26) were collected and analysed. Results: In terms of results, previous criminal experience, modus operandi, perception of criminal responsibility, degree of illegality, as well as the sociodemographic characteristics of the victims, were identified as important variables in the judicial decision-making process. Discussion and conclusions: The criminal justice system doesn't seem to be oblivious of the influence of some gender stereotypes, which, under certain circumstances, appear to promote unequal treatment practices in situations involving women as a criminal agent. It is expected that this study may contribute to the deconstruction of some prescriptions, historically attributed to women (e.g., the greatest female vulnerability, the pathologization of the offending woman, among others) and may contribute to promote changes in the way judicial professionals face and judge the offender female, encouraging a greater judicial equity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Risk factors for antisocial behavior in children: comparison between boys and girls

Recognizing the importance of assessing the risk of antisocial behavior, this study aimed to characterize the risk factors for the occurrence of antisocial behavior, seeking to understand if there are differences between boys and girls. Eightyfive cases of children referred by the promotion and protection system due to the display of antisocial behaviors were reviewed. A total of 65 were boys and 20 were girls, aged between six and eleven years. Data collection was performed using the Portuguese version of the risk assessment instruments Early Assessment Risk List for boys and for girls. Gender differences were assessed, with boys exhibiting a higher risk level for antisocial behavior, adopting more serious behaviors (e.g., impulsive behaviors). Girls engaged in less serious behavior (e.g., disrespect). By characterizing the most prevalent risk factors, the results of this study may contribute to the identification of intervention priorities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

School diagnostic: Perceptions of educational professionals

Aim: The school is a privileged context to prevent certain problems that may begin during the development of young students. The main objective is to assess the perceptions of educational professionals about the school structure, functioning, and organization, as well as students’ behaviors. Method: We developed an exploratory study using a questionnaire, applied to a sample of 81 educational agents, teachers and non-teachers, aged between 25 and 62 years (M = 45.8, SD = 10.6). Results: Despite the positive perception of the participants about the physical school environment, it is necessary to create spaces for leisure and sport, logistic conditions and multidisciplinary teams in order to maximize the overall good functioning of schools. Adding to this, participants described the participation of parents in the school life as negative; they also identified several disruptive behaviours among students and referred to a general lack of active participation in life school. Conclusion: It is important to create action plans in schools, which should be multimodal and multi-agent in order to have intervention perspectives with connected actions developed by different educational agents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio