Search Results (5)

Japanese narcissism refers to a culturally embedded form of narcissistic personality that emerges within collectivist societies, particularly in Japan, where self-worth is maintained through emotional over-adaptation, perfectionism, self-sacrifice, and conformity to internalized moral obligations. Within the framework of Schema Therapy, this construct is characterized by dominant coping modes, such as Armor mode and Demanding Community mode, that suppress vulnerable emotional states and promote socially sanctioned compliance. Although narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) has been extensively studied in individualistic Western cultures, its manifestation in collectivist cultures remains underexplored. Japanese narcissism offers a culturally contextualized model that integrates psychoanalytic and Schema Therapy perspectives to explain thin-skinned narcissistic vulnerability, disguised as adaptive functioning. Clinical observations and case analyses indicate that patients often develop Armor mode (fusing Detached Protector and Perfectionistic Over-controller functions) and Demanding Community mode (internalizing collective moral expectations). These adaptive-appearing modes mask core maladaptive schemas—Emotional Deprivation, Defectiveness/Shame, Enmeshment, and Self-Sacrifice—while being mistaken for mature or healthy functioning. Historically, such patterns have been reinforced by moral-collectivist ideals, exemplified by the Imperial Rescript on Education, which valorized loyalty, endurance, and self-denial. Japanese narcissism may therefore represent a culturally specific clinical configuration, suggesting the need for contextually adapted Schema Therapy interventions that recognize both the harmony-preserving and narcissism-reinforcing functions of adaptive behavior. This framework contributes to the cross-cultural extension of Schema Therapy by theorizing how narcissistic structures manifest in collectivist societies, and highlights the need for empirical validation of culturally sensitive treatment protocols. Full article

This paper introduces an innovative automatic trajectory generation method for the robotic deburring of molded parts, effectively addressing challenges posed by burr defects and workpiece deformation common in casting and injection molding processes. Existing offline trajectory planning methods often struggle with substantial burr sizes and complex surface deformations, resulting in compromised machining quality due to over-adaptation. To overcome these issues, the proposed approach utilizes 3D vision techniques to achieve precise burr localization. A novel burr point cloud segmentation method based on feature analysis, combined with a tolerance-constrained non-rigid registration algorithm, accurately identifies burr regions and optimizes trajectory positioning within defined manufacturing tolerances. Furthermore, the method employs quantitative burr height distribution analysis to dynamically adjust robotic feed rates, significantly enhancing processing efficiency. Experimental validations demonstrated that the proposed method reduces the deburring time by up to 68% compared to conventional techniques, achieving an average trajectory deviation of only 0.79 mm. This study provides a robust, efficient, and precise solution for automating deburring operations in complex molded components, highlighting its substantial potential for industrial applications. Full article

This study investigates the influence of family functioning on the subjective well-being of Japanese university students, focusing on the serial mediation roles of internal and external aspects of over-adaptation and the moderating effects of gender and rumination. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey of 219 university students, this study gathered data on a variety of factors including family functioning, over-adaptation, subjective well-being, and demographic variables. Key findings indicate that effective family functioning reduces the detrimental impacts of over-adaptation on internal aspects, thereby enhancing students’ subjective well-being. This study substantiates the application of family system theory in developmental psychology, providing empirical support for interventions aimed at improving students’ psychological health. Moreover, it highlights the role of rumination as a significant moderator in the relationship between over-adaptation and subjective well-being, suggesting avenues for further investigation into individual psychological coping mechanisms. This research has profound implications for the development of targeted family interventions and mental health strategies within clinical psychology. Full article

This report presents the follow-up treatment course of a previously published case that demonstrated the effectiveness of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for a disaster relief worker. The patient, a municipal employee in Fukushima Prefecture, developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mood disorders after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent disasters. This follow-up focuses on the period from 2021 to early 2024, during which the patient experienced symptom recurrence after his father’s death. This event revealed psychological patterns similar to his disaster-related responses. Schema therapy was introduced to address over-adaptive work behaviors and vulnerabilities in relationships, identified as relapse risk factors. Combined with antidepressants, schema therapy achieved sustained improvement. This longitudinal perspective demonstrates schema therapy’s effectiveness in addressing underlying vulnerabilities when symptoms re-emerge after trauma-focused treatment. The findings underscore how initial trauma responses may interact with subsequent life events and suggest schema therapy’s potential as a secondary intervention for disaster relief workers facing complex challenges. Full article

The tumor microenvironment plays a pillar role in the progression and the distance dissemination of cancer cells in the main malignancies affecting women—epithelial ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and cervical cancer. Their milieu acquires specific properties thanks to intense crosstalk between stromal and cancer cells, leading to a vicious circle. Fibroblasts, pericytes, lymphocytes and tumor associated-macrophages orchestrate most of the biological pathways. In epithelial ovarian cancer, high rates of activated pericytes determine a poorer prognosis, defining a common signature promoting ovarian cancer proliferation, local invasion and distant spread. Mesenchymal cells also release chemokines and cytokines under hormonal influence, such as estrogens that drive most of the endometrial cancers. Interestingly, the architecture of the cervical cancer milieu is shaped by the synergy of high-risk Human Papilloma Virus oncoproteins and the activity of stromal estrogen receptor α. Lymphocytes represent a shield against cancer cells but some cell subpopulation could lead to immunosuppression, tumor growth and dissemination. Cytotoxic tumor infiltrating lymphocytes can be eluded by over-adapted cancer cells in a scenario of immune-tolerance driven by T-regulatory cells. Therefore, the tumor microenvironment has a high translational potential offering many targets for biological and immunological therapies. Full article