Slide
Centre Interdisciplinaire
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
1.
Thorul, S. K.; Côté-Lussier, C.; Blais, C.; Fiset, D.; Boutet, I.
‘I can see your pain, but I don't want to help you’: How observers react to the pain of individuals charged with violent crimes Journal Article
In: Psychology, Crime and Law, 2026, ISSN: 1068316X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Criminality stigma, healthcare and incarceration, pain estimation, social status, willingness to help
@article{thorulCanSeeYour2026,
title = {‘I can see your pain, but I don't want to help you’: How observers react to the pain of individuals charged with violent crimes},
author = {S. K. Thorul and C. Côté-Lussier and C. Blais and D. Fiset and I. Boutet},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038427238?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1080/1068316X.2026.2667211},
issn = {1068316X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Psychology, Crime and Law},
publisher = {Routledge},
abstract = {Objectives: We investigated how the psychosocial components of criminality stigma can influence the reactions to the pain of individuals framed as violent criminals. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 487) were randomly divided into three groups. Groups viewed models and read scenarios describing either models’ criminal behaviour, neutral behaviour or just saw models’ initials. Participants rated models on various components of stigma (valence, trust, threat, social status). Their reactions to the pain expressed by these models were measured (willingness to help, perception of pain signals, recommended medication). Results: Participants in the criminal condition perceived models as having a lower social status, which was associated with evaluations of models being lower in trustworthiness, lower in valence, and higher in threateningness. Participants were also less willing to help alleviate models’ pain, despite accurately estimating it. Crucially, the relationship between violent crime exposure and willingness to help was mediated by the link between lower social status and decreased likability. Conclusion: These findings reveal psychosocial mechanisms that may contribute to healthcare inequities experienced by individuals with a history of criminality. Future research could explore these results in more ecologically valid settings. © 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.},
keywords = {Criminality stigma, healthcare and incarceration, pain estimation, social status, willingness to help},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Objectives: We investigated how the psychosocial components of criminality stigma can influence the reactions to the pain of individuals framed as violent criminals. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 487) were randomly divided into three groups. Groups viewed models and read scenarios describing either models’ criminal behaviour, neutral behaviour or just saw models’ initials. Participants rated models on various components of stigma (valence, trust, threat, social status). Their reactions to the pain expressed by these models were measured (willingness to help, perception of pain signals, recommended medication). Results: Participants in the criminal condition perceived models as having a lower social status, which was associated with evaluations of models being lower in trustworthiness, lower in valence, and higher in threateningness. Participants were also less willing to help alleviate models’ pain, despite accurately estimating it. Crucially, the relationship between violent crime exposure and willingness to help was mediated by the link between lower social status and decreased likability. Conclusion: These findings reveal psychosocial mechanisms that may contribute to healthcare inequities experienced by individuals with a history of criminality. Future research could explore these results in more ecologically valid settings. © 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
2.
Fernández-Álvarez, J.; Rozental, A.; Carlbring, P.; Colombo, D.; Riva, G.; Anderson, P. L.; Baños, R. M.; Benbow, A. A.; Bouchard, S.; Bretón-López, J. M.; Cárdenas, G.; Difede, J.; Emmelkamp, P.; García-Palacios, A.; Guillén, V.; Hoffman, H.; Kampann, I.; Moldovan, R.; Mühlberger, A.; North, M.; Pauli, P.; Castro, W. Peñate; Quero, S.; Tortella-Feliu, M.; Wyka, K.; Botella, C.
Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis Journal Article
In: Journal of Anxiety Disorders, vol. 61, pp. 3–17, 2019, ISSN: 08876185 (ISSN), (Publisher: Elsevier Ltd).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, aged, Anxiety disorder, Anxiety Disorders, article, demography, deterioration, Deterioration rates, disease association, female, human, Humans, Individual patient data analysis, male, marriage, meta analysis, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, outcome assessment, Probability, psychology, randomized controlled trial (topic), social status, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult
@article{fernandez-alvarez_deterioration_2019,
title = {Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis},
author = {J. Fernández-Álvarez and A. Rozental and P. Carlbring and D. Colombo and G. Riva and P. L. Anderson and R. M. Baños and A. A. Benbow and S. Bouchard and J. M. Bretón-López and G. Cárdenas and J. Difede and P. Emmelkamp and A. García-Palacios and V. Guillén and H. Hoffman and I. Kampann and R. Moldovan and A. Mühlberger and M. North and P. Pauli and W. Peñate Castro and S. Quero and M. Tortella-Feliu and K. Wyka and C. Botella},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050381788&doi=10.1016%2fj.janxdis.2018.06.005&partnerID=40&md5=012fdcaa9b8676314cbf22c52c91135b},
doi = {10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.06.005},
issn = {08876185 (ISSN)},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Anxiety Disorders},
volume = {61},
pages = {3–17},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {Ample evidence supports the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for anxiety disorders. Nonetheless, currently there is no evidence about moderators or potential negative effects of VR treatment strategies. An Individual Patient Data (IPD) approach was employed with 15 retrieved datasets. The current study sample was composed of 810 patients. Randomized control trials (RCTs) for each primary outcome measure were performed, in addition to moderator analyses of the socio-demographic variables. Deterioration rates were 14 patients (4.0%) in VR, 8 (2.8%) in active control conditions, and 27 (15%) in the WL condition. With regard to receiving treatment, patients in a waiting list control condition had greater odds of deteriorating than in the two active conditions, odds ratios (ORs) 4.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.05, 0.67]. In the case of the socio-demographic variables, none of them were associated with higher or lower odds of deterioration, with the exception of marital status in the WL condition; married people presented a significantly lower probability of deterioration, OR 0.19, 95% CI [0.05, 0.67]. Finally, when comparing pooled effects of VR versus all control conditions, the OR was 0.61 (95% CI 0.31–1.23) in favor of VR, although this result was not statistically significant. This study provides evidence about the deterioration rates of a therapeutic VR approach, showing that the number of deteriorated patients coincides with other therapeutic approaches, and that deterioration is less likely to occur, compared to patients in WL control groups. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd},
note = {Publisher: Elsevier Ltd},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, aged, Anxiety disorder, Anxiety Disorders, article, demography, deterioration, Deterioration rates, disease association, female, human, Humans, Individual patient data analysis, male, marriage, meta analysis, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, outcome assessment, Probability, psychology, randomized controlled trial (topic), social status, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Ample evidence supports the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for anxiety disorders. Nonetheless, currently there is no evidence about moderators or potential negative effects of VR treatment strategies. An Individual Patient Data (IPD) approach was employed with 15 retrieved datasets. The current study sample was composed of 810 patients. Randomized control trials (RCTs) for each primary outcome measure were performed, in addition to moderator analyses of the socio-demographic variables. Deterioration rates were 14 patients (4.0%) in VR, 8 (2.8%) in active control conditions, and 27 (15%) in the WL condition. With regard to receiving treatment, patients in a waiting list control condition had greater odds of deteriorating than in the two active conditions, odds ratios (ORs) 4.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.05, 0.67]. In the case of the socio-demographic variables, none of them were associated with higher or lower odds of deterioration, with the exception of marital status in the WL condition; married people presented a significantly lower probability of deterioration, OR 0.19, 95% CI [0.05, 0.67]. Finally, when comparing pooled effects of VR versus all control conditions, the OR was 0.61 (95% CI 0.31–1.23) in favor of VR, although this result was not statistically significant. This study provides evidence about the deterioration rates of a therapeutic VR approach, showing that the number of deteriorated patients coincides with other therapeutic approaches, and that deterioration is less likely to occur, compared to patients in WL control groups. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
3.
Fernández-Álvarez, J.; Rozental, A.; Carlbring, P.; Colombo, D.; Riva, G.; Anderson, P. L.; Baños, R. M.; Benbow, A. A.; Bouchard, S.; Bretón-López, J. M.; Cárdenas, G.; Difede, J.; Emmelkamp, P.; García-Palacios, A.; Guillén, V.; Hoffman, H.; Kampann, I.; Moldovan, R.; Mühlberger, A.; North, M.; Pauli, P.; Castro, W. Peñate; Quero, S.; Tortella-Feliu, M.; Wyka, K.; Botella, C.
Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis Journal Article
In: Journal of Anxiety Disorders, vol. 61, pp. 3–17, 2019, ISSN: 08876185 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, aged, Anxiety disorder, Anxiety Disorders, article, demography, deterioration, Deterioration rates, disease association, female, human, Humans, Individual patient data analysis, male, marriage, meta analysis, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, outcome assessment, Probability, psychology, randomized controlled trial (topic), social status, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult
@article{fernandez-alvarezDeteriorationRatesVirtual2019,
title = {Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis},
author = {J. Fernández-Álvarez and A. Rozental and P. Carlbring and D. Colombo and G. Riva and P. L. Anderson and R. M. Baños and A. A. Benbow and S. Bouchard and J. M. Bretón-López and G. Cárdenas and J. Difede and P. Emmelkamp and A. García-Palacios and V. Guillén and H. Hoffman and I. Kampann and R. Moldovan and A. Mühlberger and M. North and P. Pauli and W. Peñate Castro and S. Quero and M. Tortella-Feliu and K. Wyka and C. Botella},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050381788&doi=10.1016%2fj.janxdis.2018.06.005&partnerID=40&md5=012fdcaa9b8676314cbf22c52c91135b},
doi = {10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.06.005},
issn = {08876185 (ISSN)},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Anxiety Disorders},
volume = {61},
pages = {3–17},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {Ample evidence supports the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for anxiety disorders. Nonetheless, currently there is no evidence about moderators or potential negative effects of VR treatment strategies. An Individual Patient Data (IPD) approach was employed with 15 retrieved datasets. The current study sample was composed of 810 patients. Randomized control trials (RCTs) for each primary outcome measure were performed, in addition to moderator analyses of the socio-demographic variables. Deterioration rates were 14 patients (4.0%) in VR, 8 (2.8%) in active control conditions, and 27 (15%) in the WL condition. With regard to receiving treatment, patients in a waiting list control condition had greater odds of deteriorating than in the two active conditions, odds ratios (ORs) 4.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.05, 0.67]. In the case of the socio-demographic variables, none of them were associated with higher or lower odds of deterioration, with the exception of marital status in the WL condition; married people presented a significantly lower probability of deterioration, OR 0.19, 95% CI [0.05, 0.67]. Finally, when comparing pooled effects of VR versus all control conditions, the OR was 0.61 (95% CI 0.31–1.23) in favor of VR, although this result was not statistically significant. This study provides evidence about the deterioration rates of a therapeutic VR approach, showing that the number of deteriorated patients coincides with other therapeutic approaches, and that deterioration is less likely to occur, compared to patients in WL control groups. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, aged, Anxiety disorder, Anxiety Disorders, article, demography, deterioration, Deterioration rates, disease association, female, human, Humans, Individual patient data analysis, male, marriage, meta analysis, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, outcome assessment, Probability, psychology, randomized controlled trial (topic), social status, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Ample evidence supports the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for anxiety disorders. Nonetheless, currently there is no evidence about moderators or potential negative effects of VR treatment strategies. An Individual Patient Data (IPD) approach was employed with 15 retrieved datasets. The current study sample was composed of 810 patients. Randomized control trials (RCTs) for each primary outcome measure were performed, in addition to moderator analyses of the socio-demographic variables. Deterioration rates were 14 patients (4.0%) in VR, 8 (2.8%) in active control conditions, and 27 (15%) in the WL condition. With regard to receiving treatment, patients in a waiting list control condition had greater odds of deteriorating than in the two active conditions, odds ratios (ORs) 4.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.05, 0.67]. In the case of the socio-demographic variables, none of them were associated with higher or lower odds of deterioration, with the exception of marital status in the WL condition; married people presented a significantly lower probability of deterioration, OR 0.19, 95% CI [0.05, 0.67]. Finally, when comparing pooled effects of VR versus all control conditions, the OR was 0.61 (95% CI 0.31–1.23) in favor of VR, although this result was not statistically significant. This study provides evidence about the deterioration rates of a therapeutic VR approach, showing that the number of deteriorated patients coincides with other therapeutic approaches, and that deterioration is less likely to occur, compared to patients in WL control groups. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd