The phenomenon of digital obituaries and posthumous identities is increasingly shaping the way contemporary society perceives death, remembrance, and the grieving process. Death no longer signifies the complete end of social presence, as digital profiles of the deceased remain active on social media platforms even after physical death, enabling a continuity of symbolic connection with them. This paper explores the emotional, psychological, social, ethical, and legal dimensions of digital memorialization, focusing on the impact of virtual spaces and algorithmic reminders on the grieving process and emotional resolution. A qualitative approach was employed in analyzing secondary sources, grounded in contemporary theories of identity, grief, and digital legacy. The paradoxes of digital mourning are analyzed, wherein memorial profiles and digital obituaries may offer a sense of presence and support, yet simultaneously prolong emotional attachment and hinder acceptance of loss. The paper also examines how the algorithmic functioning of digital platforms generates memories and reminders without sensitivity to the emotional state of users, potentially burdening the grieving process further. It raises critical ethical and legal questions surrounding the management of digital identities after death, including unclear ownership, control, and rights to content removal. The complexity of survivors’ emotional responses and the growing significance of digital legacy further reinforce the need for clear regulations aligned with the psychological dimensions of grief and ethical principles of dignity. In this context, digital memorialization emerges not only as a form of remembrance, but also as a challenge requiring thoughtful consideration within the frameworks of mental health, social practice, and legal accountability.

Purpose: This study examines the psychological implications of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into judicial decision-making in criminal justice, including algorithmically supported risk assessment and sentencing decisions. It analyzes how AI-based decision-support systems influence perceptions of fairness, trust in judicial decisions, and decision confidence, as well as the emotional responses of judges, jurors, defendants, and victims. Methodology: The study employs a theory-driven and interdisciplinary conceptual framework grounded in psychological theories of decision-making, procedural justice, and affective processes. Through a critical integrative synthesis of legal, psychological, and ethical scholarship on algorithmic decision-making, predictive modeling, and risk assessment systems in criminal justice, the study examines their implications for human judgment, responsibility attribution, and judicial experience. Findings: The analysis demonstrates that AI-assisted decision-making can substantially shape psychological perceptions of justice and the legitimacy of judicial processes. Although algorithmic tools are often perceived as consistent and objective, their reliance on historical data may reproduce existing biases, thereby negatively affecting perceived fairness, trust in judicial outcomes, and decision confidence among legal professionals and trial participants. These findings indicate that the psychological impact of artificial intelligence extends beyond technical accuracy and plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of the legitimacy of judicial processes. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: This study contributes to psychological theory by offering a systematic examination of the cognitive, affective, and evaluative processes associated with algorithmically supported judicial decision-making in criminal justice. In the context of judicial practice, the analysis demonstrates how uncritical reliance on AI systems may diminish judicial autonomy and obscure responsibility attribution in decision-making processes. From a public policy perspective, the findings contribute to the conceptualization of regulatory approaches oriented toward transparency, fairness, and trust in the use of AI in judicial decision-making.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review is to determine how virtual empathy, as a multidimensional psychological construct, manifests within digitally mediated interactions and to examine its impact on emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, and patterns of social connectedness. The analysis encompasses both cognitive and affective components of empathy, their variations depending on communication modalities, as well as empathy-related dysfunctions conditioned by technological factors. The review also includes studies that investigate the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the modulation of emotional processes, moral evaluation, and neurocognitive sensitivity within digital contexts. Methodology: This systematic review includes the analysis of 42 empirical studies published between 2013 and 2024, identified through a structured search of major scientific databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. A qualitative content analysis was used to synthesize key findings, with a focus on psychological and neurocognitive mechanisms relevant to the phenomenon of virtual empathy. The selected studies span various research designs, experimental, longitudinal, survey-based, and meta-analytic, and examine digital mechanisms such as emojis, avatars, algorithmic content personalization, and interactive AI-based systems. The analytical approach is oriented toward identifying how digital environments compensate for the absence of nonverbal cues and mediate empathic processes through symbolic and immersive technologies. Findings: The systematic review suggests that virtual empathy has a significant impact on emotional regulation and the quality of interpersonal relationships in digital contexts. Digital platforms, especially those utilizing Virtual Reality (VR), can facilitate the development of cognitive and affective empathy, particularly when the content stimulates perspective-taking and emotional resonance. However, specific limitations of digital communication, including the absence of nonverbal cues, emotional superficiality, and the dominance of algorithmically shaped “echo chambers,” may substantially reduce the authenticity of empathic responses. Furthermore, chronic exposure to digitally mediated content may lead to gradual desensitization to others’ emotions, potentially impairing moral sensitivity and eroding social cohesion. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: This review advances theoretical understanding through the synthesis of classical frameworks, such as Social Presence Theory and Media Richness Theory, with emerging constructs like simulated affectivity and algorithmic mediation, offering an enhanced model of digital empathy. It provides insights into how virtual environments shape moral reasoning, emotional regulation, and prosocial behavior. It provides insights into how virtual environments shape moral reasoning, emotional regulation, and prosocial behavior. At the practical level, it offers recommendations for the design of emotionally intelligent digital tools and educational programs aimed at preventing empathic desensitization. At the policy level, it highlights the need for ethical standards to regulate algorithmic content and promote inclusive, emotionally authentic communication. It also opens avenues for interdisciplinary research into the psychological implications of contemporary technologies.

Purpose: This study aims to explore the multidimensional aspects of the phenomenon of evil from a psychological perspective, with particular emphasis on the interaction of biological predispositions, evolutionary adaptations, and personality traits that contribute to its manifestation. Methodology: The research adopts a qualitative methodological approach, employing content analysis as the primary technique for synthesizing interdisciplinary data. This method allows for an in-depth examination of the psychological mechanisms underlying moral disengagement and the rationalization of violence, aspects that cannot be fully captured by quantitative methodologies. Case studies are used to identify key cognitive and affective components of malevolent behavior, including dehumanization, empathy deficits, and moral disengagement, while comparative analysis is applied to investigate variations in the perception of evil across different social and cultural contexts. The selection of case studies is based on psychological profiling of violent offenders and authoritarian political figures implicated in mass atrocities, facilitating a comparative exploration of individual and collective mechanisms of moral disengagement. Additionally, the study employs a hermeneutic interpretative framework to examine the dynamic interplay between intrapsychic, cognitive, and societal factors that contribute to the normalization of destructive conduct. Findings: The study identifies empathy deficits as a central etiological factor in the development of aggressive and antisocial behavioral patterns, emphasizing the role of moral dilemmas in cognitive-affective processing underlying ethical decision-making. Dehumanization emerges as a core psychosocial construct that facilitates the cognitive restructuring of moral transgressions, thereby reducing both individual and collective moral accountability. Moreover, findings indicate that sensationalized media representations of violence perpetuate negative cognitive schemas and reinforce social prejudices, ultimately contributing to the stigmatization of victims and the normalization of aggression. These insights underscore the necessity of implementing evidence-based educational interventions aimed at enhancing moral reasoning, fostering empathy, and building resilience against socio-cognitive distortions that legitimize violence. Such interventions hold particular significance in the context of forensic rehabilitation programs and preventive strategies in educational settings, helping to counteract the internalization of maladaptive cognitive frameworks that sustain destructive behavioral tendencies. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The theoretical contribution of this study lies in its emphasis on the neuropsychological underpinnings of empathy, particularly focusing on the neurocognitive substrates of moral judgment and affective regulation. Psychologists and neuroscientists can leverage these insights to refine clinical models of moral cognition and emotional regulation in individuals with aggressive tendencies. Educators and policymakers can integrate these findings into psychoeducational programs aimed at fostering moral sensitivity, enhancing prosocial behavior, and reducing implicit biases in children and adolescents. Legal professionals and forensic psychologists can apply this knowledge in the development of therapeutic jurisprudence frameworks and rehabilitation strategies that target cognitive-affective mechanisms implicated in antisocial conduct. At the policy level, the study advocates for the implementation of legal and institutional measures that promote victim destigmatization and ethical standards in media representations of violence, thus counteracting narratives that legitimize aggression and reinforce systemic moral exclusion.

Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the core emotional and motivational factors influencing serial killers, particularly examining the role of traumatic childhood experiences and psychological disorders in the development of violent tendencies. The study seeks to enhance the understanding of the psychological profiles of serial killers, ultimately providing insights that can inform ethical judicial strategies for identifying and preventing serial homicides. Methodology: A qualitative approach is employed, utilizing psychological, behavioral, and developmental models to comprehensively map the psychological profiles of serial killers. Case studies are examined, emphasizing how early trauma and psychological disorders shape behavior. A comparative analysis investigates key emotional motives and patterns, focusing on the correlation between traumatic experiences and recurrent violent behaviors. Additionally, clinical assessments and available case data are utilized to identify common patterns and individual variations in psychological disorders. Findings: The analysis indicates that a combination of early traumas, psychological disorders, and emotional patterns, such as impulsivity, lack of empathy, and aggression, significantly prevails among serial killers. Traumatic childhood experiences not only shape individual behavior but also play a crucial role in the development of violent tendencies and complex psychological disorders. The interconnection between emotional factors and psychological disorders enables a deeper understanding of the psychological profiles of serial killers, aiding researchers and practitioners in grasping the mechanisms that drive such behavior. The analysis of specific cases reveals a correlation between traumatic experiences and criminal behavior, suggesting that emotional patterns, such as the desire for power and revenge, often reflect internal conflicts or deep-seated trauma. These findings illuminate the complex relationship between emotional dynamics and criminal behavior, providing important insights that can enhance judicial strategies. Understanding these psychological aspects can assist in the development of more effective identification and intervention methods, contributing to an ethical approach in working with individuals who have committed serious crimes. Unique Contributions To Theory, Practice and Policy: This study makes several unique contributions to the fields of psychology and criminology by integrating the understanding of early trauma, psychological disorders, and emotional patterns into the analysis of serial killers' motivations. Theoretically, it expands existing frameworks by emphasizing the interplay of these factors, thereby enriching our comprehension of criminal behavior. In practice, the findings provide valuable insights for law enforcement and mental health professionals, highlighting the importance of a nuanced understanding of the psychological profiles of serial killers. This knowledge can inform more effective investigative techniques and interventions aimed at preventing serial homicides. Policy-wise, the recommendations advocate for the incorporation of these insights into judicial strategies, fostering ethical identification and prevention measures that consider the psychological and sociocultural contexts of serial offenders. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this study aims to contribute to more informed decision-making processes within the criminal justice system, ultimately enhancing the safety and well-being of communities.

The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables of the respondents and the perception of social disorganization related to housing conditions and the quality of the neighborhood. The research was conducted in December 2022 on a sample of 102 respondents (49 male and 53 female), average age 43. The following scales and questionnaires were applied: Sociodemographic Variables Questionnaire, Social Organization Inventory and Social Perception Scale. The results of the research showed that socio-demographic variables have influence on the perception of social disorganization and neighborhood quality. It was found that there is a statistically significant positive association with the social disorganization variable in the direction of the impact of tenants on the quality of collective living, emotional ties of tenants, the need to fulfill requests, neighborhood stability and informal control. The data indicate that all individual items of the subtest of the neighborhood variable showed a statistically significant positive association with tenants' external connections, with institutions related to the quality of housing, pro-social norms of collective housing, basic participation of tenants in skyscraper activities, informal participation of tenants in skyscraper activities and formal participation of tenants in skyscraper activities. Factor analysis revealed three dominant factors: involvement of tenants in activities of common interest, connection and assistance among tenants, and opportunities to improve living conditions for all tenants by engaging in the local community. The obtained results suggest positive attitudes related to housing values that arise from social organization and neighborhood quality. The paper is concluded with recommendations for future research and directions.

The aim of the research is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence and magnitude of mental health consequences among students at the University of Sarajevo, which manifest themselves in certain types and levels of psychological distress, as well as to examine various aspects of general mental functioning that are particularly important in an online learning and teaching environment. The research was conducted in July 2021 on a sample of 3439 students at the University of Sarajevo. The following measurement instruments were used: The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), a Stress Coping Strategies Inventory and a Sociodemographic Variables Questionnaire. The results have shown that depression, anxiety and stress were present among students at levels which require additional interventions. Symptoms are significantly more present among female students than among male students. The differences tested between students of distinct faculties indicate that arts students have the highest values of depression, followed by students studying humanities, while social sciences students show the lowest values. The results showed that positive coping with stress is a protective factor for the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, while negative coping style is a risk factor for students' mental health. The obtained results suggest that the pandemic has a significant psychological impact on students that require interventions in improving their mental health.

Psychological pain is a social issue which is highly present in societies, and can accordingly have a significant negative effect on all aspects of a person's existence with particularly harmful consequences on chronic pain, thus increasing the possibility of developing comorbid psychiatric disorders. Clinicians often tend to label the appearance of psychological symptoms as a "normal" or usual response to physical ailments. Psychological pain or suffering is not only manifested on a psychological level, nonetheless, it is usually in a certain way immanent in the body itself. As regards the physical pain, there is an evident connection between awareness of the physical spot of pain in the body and the psychological experience of pain, which is not the case when it comes to emotional pain. The aim of this paper is to systematize and classify scientific findings and knowledge about psychological pain. The paper is based on the results of contemporary research in the field of psychology and other related sciences and scientific disciplines related to social and scientific issues. Psychological assessment of pain is of great importance due to the consequences it entails – including primarily the impaired physical and psychological integrity of a person, since the mind, reason, and emotions are mainly conditioned by the normal existence of the body. Psychological assessment of pain can have significant results in applied scientific research and modern social practice.