- Email: [email protected]
Who hurts who?
Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28 (2013) 242-247
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL COLLEGES OF PLA www.elsevier.com/locate/jmcpla
Who hurts who? YAN Wenhua School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China Received July 09, 2013; accepted July 25, 2013
Abstract Some criminal cases happen campus in recent years. A typical case is the Fudan poison case. The case is closed, but the effect does not end. The objectives of this paper were explore: the personality profile of poison case offender; effects of p oison case and to whom they hurt; how to prevent such criminal case. A ten-person focus group interview was used. Content analysis was used for data.
Keywords: Poison case; Student; Personality
Why criminal offenders use poison? What are the 1. Introduction
characters of these criminal cases? To whom these criminal cases hurt? What impact of media report of
On April, 2013, one medical school student of
these cases has towards mass readers? The
Fudan University died. He was murdered by his
objective of current research is to answer these
roommate with N- dimethylnitrosamine (N-DMN).
questions.
E-mail address: [email protected]
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
243
3. Character of poison case and personality 2. Research methods
analysis of criminal offender
Focus group interview, one qualitative research
When poison is used in a murder case, it is a
method was used to explore the objectives. Eight
well-prepared murder, an offender has enough time
psychological
two
to make decision, to collect poison [1], and then use
psychological teachers took part into 118 minutes
poison. There is some time for an offender to finish
focus group interview. Two of students were men,
whole process, and it is possible for an offender to
and others were women. Semi-structured interview
stop or cancellation at any step, then criminal will
guideline was used. The guideline was centered on
not happen [2]. In most situations, a poison case is
following questions: Why criminal offenders use
not a hurt case with passion or impulse. Once poison
poison? What are the personality traits of these
is used, the result is destructive, and result is
offenders? Do they have specific victims, or they
irreversible [3].
major
undergraduates
and
have uncertain victims? How do participant think
As for personality of a poison criminal offender,
about media report of these case? What impact of
he or she is a rational person with careful
these media report?
consideration. He or she does not want to use
The author was the facilitator of focus group
violence to execute crime, or dares not to use
interview. At the beginning of interview, the
violence. In his or her mind, he or she has the
discussion rules were introduced carefully, such as
possibility to avoid punishment of law. In some cases,
one speaker one time, two minutes for each speaker
the offenders do not need to face the victim directly,
one round. Then the well-prepared background
or they do not need to be on the field when the
information of Fudan case was introduced by the
victim takes poison, thus they can be in different
facilitator.
space and time. They do not need to witness the
The whole group interview was recorded, and
terrible result, thus they can keep distance from
recorded was fully transcribed word by word. The
crime. In most cases, a poison offender really knows
whole characters were 14155. Content analysis was
victim’s life and time very much, thus he or she can
used.
pick up chance to put poison [4-5].
244
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
That is general personality profile of poison
knows clearly what will happen before he uses
criminal offender: keep distance of everything, from
poison. He had got poison for several months before
affection to action; do not want to be involved into
he used it finally.
things very deeply; well-controlled emotion, control
There is a detail: after the victim taking poison,
impulse very well; do not have strong security
the offender sent his greeting to the victim, and
feeling, thus it is not easy for them to trust others;
conducted medical examination for victim. We do
they have strong vengeance intention, and they
not know what emotion of the offender facing the
suppress their unsatisfaction and complaints, but
victim. In most situations, people under this situation
they remember everything clear and wait for a
may have guilty, fear, anxiety and unease, or some
chance to say no with poison; They have two-sides,
struggling. The offender is a medical major student,
on one side, they look nice and positive, on the other
he may have different attitude towards life and death.
side, they have deep hostility, but the other side is
We do know that the offender have possibility to tell
hidden carefully by them. They calculate cost and
the truth and save the victim’s life, but he did not do
benefit in their way, and use trade-off strategy in
that. It seems that he made up his mind firmly. There
their life. It is not easy for them to say no directly,
is no very serious conflict before he used poison to
but once they begin to say no, it is a big no with
his roommate, and it is he to choose a time to
strong negative emotion, and all Nos will be
execute crime.
calculated totally. They would like to control all things, and poison is a good media for them to
4. To whom the poison case hurt
realize their control [6]. In some cases, the offenders are high intellectual, and they believe
their
intelligence.
The direct victim of poison case is the offender’s roommate, but he is not the only victim.
Some offenders of poison may only chooses
It also hurts people’s security feeling towards their
poison they are given other possibilities due to their
roommates or neighbors, and hurts the image of
typical personality, but others may choose other
university students’ as well. Some people even doubt
options due to their mixture of personality type. It
the fairness of current society, and questioning the
seems the offender of Fudan case belongs to first
education system. It enhances the disappointments of
situation. He is well educated and trained, and he
people toward total society.
245
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
Why a case has so wide impact? It connects the
people is not only towards mass media but also
way in which mass media report it, and also how
towards whole society. Second, people use a
people react towards media report.
de-emotional attitude towards reports. They do not
First, small possibility cases are reported in a
involve their emotion when they reading or watching
way that they happen everywhere and everyplace
reports. They are in a thumb status. Third, news
and everyday, thus report has negative psychological
report is a kind of entertainment in some people’s
impact towards people.
eyes, and they just consume news, but not think
Second, some parts or details of a case are
about the reason, the cost and the tragedy. Fourth, the
reported dramatically according to journalists’
way people perceive information is to get broken
preference, thus they are not the whole truth, but the
piece information, not whole or deep information,
tuzzed case.
and they are satisfied with knowing title or superior
Third, only crime or some parts are reported
information.
with detail, but why it happens, what is the result, how it influence other may be not reported, thus
5. How to prevent poison hurt?
potential criminal offender can learn how to make a crime, but people do not know how to prevent, and what cost for crime. Fourth, some reports are emotional reactions of journalists, and they try to raise same emotional
Fudan poison case is a small possibility case, but it raises one question: Is it to be prevented? If yes, how? From the participants of focus group, there are
reaction of other people, thus details that prime
several
emotion are emphasized.
psychology, dormitory, and individual oneself. The
Fifth, some reports are superior, and there is no
factors,
such
as
society,
education,
last one was discussed mainly.
deep thinking in them, or at least reports do not raise thinking of people.
5.1.Society
The way people react towards media report is totally different with previous time. First, people do
Competitiveness is emphasized, and it is easy
not believe what reports say, and they have strong
for people perceive others as competitors with
doubt what they are told. The distrust attitude of
hostility. It is important for kids to know how to
246
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
a criminal, reports him or her negatively, but is not
cooperate with competition. Academic performance is the only important
based on complex of reality.
emotional
For report of Fudan case, there is no many
intelligence is also important to learn for students in
evidence in report. But people expect to get more
formal education, esp. how to deal with emotion and
details of evidence and facts.
thing
for
students
currently.
But
For a criminal case, report should lead people to
interpersonal relationship. Death is a forbidden topic and life education is
know what consequence of a case, and how
a missing part in missing in China. It is important to
government takes action after case, and how it is
let kids how valuable of life.
prevented. Thus people might have impression that whole society is under control.
5.2.School and university 5.4.Individual Students could have right to choose their own dormitory, or change their dorm if they can not deal
The participants mentioned about some actions they would take after Fudan and other hurt cases.
with the conflict with their roommate. fixed
First, people will reflect on their own behavior
classroom now, thus no fixed place for all classmates
and think about others more, thus there is no any
to get familiar with each other. If fixed classroom is
possible cause for potential criminal case.
Many universities
do
not
provide
provided, students might know each other better. Teachers in primary school should teach kid how to express oneself without violence and
Second, keeps distance with mass media, and not influenced by negative report of mass media. Third,
gets
more
information,
facts
and
aggressive behavior, and ask kids keep distance from
evidence to make oneself feel safe and security,
some books, magazines and TVs that encourages
makes a difference between mass media reports and
violence.
reality. Fourth, to set a positive belief that criminal case
5.3.Mass media
will not happen to oneself and keep normal life. Fifth, tries to find social support from friends
Currently mass media treats the offender only as
and family members when getting anxiety or
247
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
counseling or training with them.
helplessness.
Third,
Sixth, tries to build a healthy relationship among
classmates
and
roommates.
For
the
classmates to whom are difficult to communicate,
psychological
people
should
give
professional explanation for criminal cases, and give some positive strength for people.
keeps distance with them. It is difficult to prevent criminal case, and it is also difficult to have a
References
defensive attitude towards classmates, thus it is important to deal with interpersonal conflict or
1.
Li H B. Criminal motive category, character and
misunderstanding as quick as one can once there is.
judgment of poison case [J]. Journal of Jiangsu Public
It is important for a dorm to build basic rules how to
Security, 2001, 4: 93-96.(In Chinese)
live together.
2.
Liu X, Bai X .Comprehensive analysis of poison case [J]. Journal of Henan Public Security of Academy, 2000, 51:
5.5.Psychology
29-31. (In Chinese) 3.
Some participants are majored in psychology,
Chinese) 4.
First, psychological people may take a more proactive attitude in university life. They can sponsor
Character of poison case [J].
Forensic Science and Technology, 2005, 4:46-48. (In
and they mentioned what psychology could to for such cases.
Niu Y, Liu Y, Lu Y.
Li M, Zhou Y. Psychological test of a poison case [J]. Legal System and Society, 2011, 2: 74-76. (In Chinese)
5.
Long X Y, Zhang J F. The test questionnaire of poison
some campus activities, and builds platform to let
criminal offender [J]. Journal of Hubei University of
more students have chance to ask for professional
Police, 2012, 130: 147-148. (In Chinese)
support. Second, in newcomers psychological prescreen test, students with some personality traits can be selected, and psychological people can have some
6.
Li C. Comprehensive summary of criminal cause [J]. Social Psychological Science, 2007, 22: 125-127. (In Chinese) （Editor XU Jia）
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL COLLEGES OF PLA www.elsevier.com/locate/jmcpla
Who hurts who? YAN Wenhua School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China Received July 09, 2013; accepted July 25, 2013
Abstract Some criminal cases happen campus in recent years. A typical case is the Fudan poison case. The case is closed, but the effect does not end. The objectives of this paper were explore: the personality profile of poison case offender; effects of p oison case and to whom they hurt; how to prevent such criminal case. A ten-person focus group interview was used. Content analysis was used for data.
Keywords: Poison case; Student; Personality
Why criminal offenders use poison? What are the 1. Introduction
characters of these criminal cases? To whom these criminal cases hurt? What impact of media report of
On April, 2013, one medical school student of
these cases has towards mass readers? The
Fudan University died. He was murdered by his
objective of current research is to answer these
roommate with N- dimethylnitrosamine (N-DMN).
questions.
E-mail address: [email protected]
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
243
3. Character of poison case and personality 2. Research methods
analysis of criminal offender
Focus group interview, one qualitative research
When poison is used in a murder case, it is a
method was used to explore the objectives. Eight
well-prepared murder, an offender has enough time
psychological
two
to make decision, to collect poison [1], and then use
psychological teachers took part into 118 minutes
poison. There is some time for an offender to finish
focus group interview. Two of students were men,
whole process, and it is possible for an offender to
and others were women. Semi-structured interview
stop or cancellation at any step, then criminal will
guideline was used. The guideline was centered on
not happen [2]. In most situations, a poison case is
following questions: Why criminal offenders use
not a hurt case with passion or impulse. Once poison
poison? What are the personality traits of these
is used, the result is destructive, and result is
offenders? Do they have specific victims, or they
irreversible [3].
major
undergraduates
and
have uncertain victims? How do participant think
As for personality of a poison criminal offender,
about media report of these case? What impact of
he or she is a rational person with careful
these media report?
consideration. He or she does not want to use
The author was the facilitator of focus group
violence to execute crime, or dares not to use
interview. At the beginning of interview, the
violence. In his or her mind, he or she has the
discussion rules were introduced carefully, such as
possibility to avoid punishment of law. In some cases,
one speaker one time, two minutes for each speaker
the offenders do not need to face the victim directly,
one round. Then the well-prepared background
or they do not need to be on the field when the
information of Fudan case was introduced by the
victim takes poison, thus they can be in different
facilitator.
space and time. They do not need to witness the
The whole group interview was recorded, and
terrible result, thus they can keep distance from
recorded was fully transcribed word by word. The
crime. In most cases, a poison offender really knows
whole characters were 14155. Content analysis was
victim’s life and time very much, thus he or she can
used.
pick up chance to put poison [4-5].
244
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
That is general personality profile of poison
knows clearly what will happen before he uses
criminal offender: keep distance of everything, from
poison. He had got poison for several months before
affection to action; do not want to be involved into
he used it finally.
things very deeply; well-controlled emotion, control
There is a detail: after the victim taking poison,
impulse very well; do not have strong security
the offender sent his greeting to the victim, and
feeling, thus it is not easy for them to trust others;
conducted medical examination for victim. We do
they have strong vengeance intention, and they
not know what emotion of the offender facing the
suppress their unsatisfaction and complaints, but
victim. In most situations, people under this situation
they remember everything clear and wait for a
may have guilty, fear, anxiety and unease, or some
chance to say no with poison; They have two-sides,
struggling. The offender is a medical major student,
on one side, they look nice and positive, on the other
he may have different attitude towards life and death.
side, they have deep hostility, but the other side is
We do know that the offender have possibility to tell
hidden carefully by them. They calculate cost and
the truth and save the victim’s life, but he did not do
benefit in their way, and use trade-off strategy in
that. It seems that he made up his mind firmly. There
their life. It is not easy for them to say no directly,
is no very serious conflict before he used poison to
but once they begin to say no, it is a big no with
his roommate, and it is he to choose a time to
strong negative emotion, and all Nos will be
execute crime.
calculated totally. They would like to control all things, and poison is a good media for them to
4. To whom the poison case hurt
realize their control [6]. In some cases, the offenders are high intellectual, and they believe
their
intelligence.
The direct victim of poison case is the offender’s roommate, but he is not the only victim.
Some offenders of poison may only chooses
It also hurts people’s security feeling towards their
poison they are given other possibilities due to their
roommates or neighbors, and hurts the image of
typical personality, but others may choose other
university students’ as well. Some people even doubt
options due to their mixture of personality type. It
the fairness of current society, and questioning the
seems the offender of Fudan case belongs to first
education system. It enhances the disappointments of
situation. He is well educated and trained, and he
people toward total society.
245
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
Why a case has so wide impact? It connects the
people is not only towards mass media but also
way in which mass media report it, and also how
towards whole society. Second, people use a
people react towards media report.
de-emotional attitude towards reports. They do not
First, small possibility cases are reported in a
involve their emotion when they reading or watching
way that they happen everywhere and everyplace
reports. They are in a thumb status. Third, news
and everyday, thus report has negative psychological
report is a kind of entertainment in some people’s
impact towards people.
eyes, and they just consume news, but not think
Second, some parts or details of a case are
about the reason, the cost and the tragedy. Fourth, the
reported dramatically according to journalists’
way people perceive information is to get broken
preference, thus they are not the whole truth, but the
piece information, not whole or deep information,
tuzzed case.
and they are satisfied with knowing title or superior
Third, only crime or some parts are reported
information.
with detail, but why it happens, what is the result, how it influence other may be not reported, thus
5. How to prevent poison hurt?
potential criminal offender can learn how to make a crime, but people do not know how to prevent, and what cost for crime. Fourth, some reports are emotional reactions of journalists, and they try to raise same emotional
Fudan poison case is a small possibility case, but it raises one question: Is it to be prevented? If yes, how? From the participants of focus group, there are
reaction of other people, thus details that prime
several
emotion are emphasized.
psychology, dormitory, and individual oneself. The
Fifth, some reports are superior, and there is no
factors,
such
as
society,
education,
last one was discussed mainly.
deep thinking in them, or at least reports do not raise thinking of people.
5.1.Society
The way people react towards media report is totally different with previous time. First, people do
Competitiveness is emphasized, and it is easy
not believe what reports say, and they have strong
for people perceive others as competitors with
doubt what they are told. The distrust attitude of
hostility. It is important for kids to know how to
246
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
a criminal, reports him or her negatively, but is not
cooperate with competition. Academic performance is the only important
based on complex of reality.
emotional
For report of Fudan case, there is no many
intelligence is also important to learn for students in
evidence in report. But people expect to get more
formal education, esp. how to deal with emotion and
details of evidence and facts.
thing
for
students
currently.
But
For a criminal case, report should lead people to
interpersonal relationship. Death is a forbidden topic and life education is
know what consequence of a case, and how
a missing part in missing in China. It is important to
government takes action after case, and how it is
let kids how valuable of life.
prevented. Thus people might have impression that whole society is under control.
5.2.School and university 5.4.Individual Students could have right to choose their own dormitory, or change their dorm if they can not deal
The participants mentioned about some actions they would take after Fudan and other hurt cases.
with the conflict with their roommate. fixed
First, people will reflect on their own behavior
classroom now, thus no fixed place for all classmates
and think about others more, thus there is no any
to get familiar with each other. If fixed classroom is
possible cause for potential criminal case.
Many universities
do
not
provide
provided, students might know each other better. Teachers in primary school should teach kid how to express oneself without violence and
Second, keeps distance with mass media, and not influenced by negative report of mass media. Third,
gets
more
information,
facts
and
aggressive behavior, and ask kids keep distance from
evidence to make oneself feel safe and security,
some books, magazines and TVs that encourages
makes a difference between mass media reports and
violence.
reality. Fourth, to set a positive belief that criminal case
5.3.Mass media
will not happen to oneself and keep normal life. Fifth, tries to find social support from friends
Currently mass media treats the offender only as
and family members when getting anxiety or
247
YAN Wenhua / Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA 28(2013)242-247
counseling or training with them.
helplessness.
Third,
Sixth, tries to build a healthy relationship among
classmates
and
roommates.
For
the
classmates to whom are difficult to communicate,
psychological
people
should
give
professional explanation for criminal cases, and give some positive strength for people.
keeps distance with them. It is difficult to prevent criminal case, and it is also difficult to have a
References
defensive attitude towards classmates, thus it is important to deal with interpersonal conflict or
1.
Li H B. Criminal motive category, character and
misunderstanding as quick as one can once there is.
judgment of poison case [J]. Journal of Jiangsu Public
It is important for a dorm to build basic rules how to
Security, 2001, 4: 93-96.(In Chinese)
live together.
2.
Liu X, Bai X .Comprehensive analysis of poison case [J]. Journal of Henan Public Security of Academy, 2000, 51:
5.5.Psychology
29-31. (In Chinese) 3.
Some participants are majored in psychology,
Chinese) 4.
First, psychological people may take a more proactive attitude in university life. They can sponsor
Character of poison case [J].
Forensic Science and Technology, 2005, 4:46-48. (In
and they mentioned what psychology could to for such cases.
Niu Y, Liu Y, Lu Y.
Li M, Zhou Y. Psychological test of a poison case [J]. Legal System and Society, 2011, 2: 74-76. (In Chinese)
5.
Long X Y, Zhang J F. The test questionnaire of poison
some campus activities, and builds platform to let
criminal offender [J]. Journal of Hubei University of
more students have chance to ask for professional
Police, 2012, 130: 147-148. (In Chinese)
support. Second, in newcomers psychological prescreen test, students with some personality traits can be selected, and psychological people can have some
6.
Li C. Comprehensive summary of criminal cause [J]. Social Psychological Science, 2007, 22: 125-127. (In Chinese) （Editor XU Jia）