O uso indiscriminado do termo ‘psicopata’ pelos meios de comunicação digitais aplicado a adolescentes em conflito com a lei
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: The sensationalization of the terminology “psychopath” and digital media maintains a direct relationship with the population's morbid curiosity in criminal cases and when applied to children and adolescents, there is a breach of confidentiality and protection guaranteed by law. Objective: This work, therefore, aimed to understand the influence of digital media in cases of juvenile offenders and the use of the sensational term “psychopath”, considering the existence of pre-diagnosis by mental health professionals. Methods: This is a qualitative, descriptive and analytical study with a mixed design, combining a narrative literature review and the documentary analysis of public domain videos. Results: It is understood that the cause of psychopathy is inconclusive in scientific circles, but Psychology has scientific evaluative means for a reliable diagnosis. Departing from common sense, it is important to understand that such a diagnosis must be carried out by qualified professionals, who are also responsible for monitoring the adolescent and the family preventively or after the commission of the infraction, which are essential for the best outcome of the case. Conclusion: Raising awareness among the population and journalism professionals about the stigmatization that teenagers in conflict with the law suffer when given such a complex diagnosis needs to be worked on to prevent criminal recidivism and the evolutionary impairment of these children and teenagers.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7166315830