Digital Commons Network^™

Social, Religious, And Personal Contributors To Prejudice, Robert Lundblad

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Prejudicial beliefs and behaviors have been viewed from numerous perspectives. Four factors, religious attitudes, pride of in-group membership, traditional beliefs, and certain personality types, have individually been shown to be associated with prejudice. Some researchers have looked at a few of these factors together, but none have looked at all four together to examine potential relationships and their individual contribution to prejudicial thinking. This research is designed to investigate attitudes toward out-groups, sources of prejudice, and religious outlook. Four measures of religious attitudes, the Quest scale of the Religious Life Inventory (RLI), the Intrinsic and Extrinsic scales from the Religious …

Psychiatric Diagnosis And Inmate Profiles In A Metropolitan County Jail, Teg W. Mcbride

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

In recent years, there has been an increase in public and professional concern regarding the mentally ill offender in the criminal justice system. Several researchers have identified the need for further investigation of the mentally ill in correctional environments. This research was pai1 of a program evaluation in a large metropolitan county jail. Four main question were investigated: 1. Do inmates identified as mentally ill differ from the general jail population? 2. How consistent are the diagnoses of those identified as mentally in the correctional computer database (SWIS) compared to the diagnoses recorded in the medical records? 3. Is there …

"Image Of God'' And Object Relations Theory Of Human Development: Their Integration And Mutual Contribution To Development Of God-Images, God-Concepts, And Relationship With God, Laura Emily Palik

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

In an endeavor to further the work of integration of psychology and theology, this theoretical-conceptual research study examined (a) the meaning of the biblical description of humanity's creation in God's image (Gen. 1.26-27), (b) the relationship between the conceptualization of humans as "image of God" and object relations theory of human development, and (c) the mutual contribution of "image of God" and object relational development to the internal god-images (object-representations) and cognitive god-concepts that persons develop. It was proposed that (a) creation in the image of God is foundational both to understanding humankind as a spiritual-socio-psycho-physiological species and to human …

Shame, Grace, And Spirituality: A Comparison Of Measures, Jill D. Spradlin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Shame is a widely studied aspect of human experience; grace, perhaps its counterpart, has so far largely been overlooked. The relationships among shame, grace, and spiritual well-being were explored. A sample of 115 college-aged participants completed the Internalized Shame (Cook, 1987), Grace (Payton, Spradlin, & Bufford, 2000) and Spiritual Well-Being (Ellison, 1983) scales. It was hypothesized that shame would be negatively correlated with grace and spiritual well-being, and that spiritual well-being and grace would be moderately positively correlated.

The Grace Scale had adequate internal consistency and expected correlations with demographic items. There was no effect for gender on the Grace …

A Correlational Study Of Firefighter Personality Traits And Emotional Exhaustion, Jeffrey P. Mccall

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The occupational stress of the firefighter has received much attention over the last two decades in a variety of professional articles and studies. Elevated levels of stress may facilitate the onset of occupational burnout within this public service. The emotional exhaustion component of Maslach's burnout theory, which can be conceptualized as the first stage of burnout, will be specifically addressed in this study. The subjects were 81 firefighters from a large urban fire department, with a range in age, years of service, marital status, and ethnicity. A Pearson product-moment correlation was conducted to ascertain correlations between personality traits as noted …

An Examination Of Racial Identity And Auitudes, Perceived Cultural Competence, And Level Of Academic Training Of European-American Graduate Studen!S With Culturally Diverse Clients, Justin Kyckelhann Crawford

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Working Memory And Disinhibition In Children With Adhd, Nicholas Dietlein

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This research sought to test predictions from Barkley's (1997) theory of disinhibition in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). To this end, the performance differences among younger and older children with and without ADHD were measured. The testing paradigm used in this study was originally developed by Hale, Bronik, and Fry (1997), who sought to measure the verbal and spatial working memory differences in school age children. In this study, ADHD children performed significantly worse on the tasks than did non-ADHD children, indicating that the working memory of the children with ADHD was more subject to interference. Also, younger children performed …

Dose-Effect Relations In Simulated Psychotherapy As Measured By The Outcome Questionnaire-45.11, Brian J. Whitehall

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Outcome assessment has been used to evaluate the length of treatment needed and has been disputed for some time. Changes within both mental health and health insurance companies have contributed to a trend toward time-limited therapy and the optimal number of sessions has become a central issue. This study sought to extend research in the area of treatment outcome. Specifically. it examined the efficacy of psychotherapy after five and ten sessions on the subjective well-being of university students. Three hypotheses were tested in th.is study: (1) Subjective Well-Being scores (as measured by the Outcome Questionnaire-45. l l) for the treatment …

Mental Health Needs And Resources In Christian Communities Of South Korea, Lisa Graham Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Department of World Languages, Sociology & Cultural Studies

In an effort to understand the mental health needs and resources of Korean Christians, we collected quantitative and qualitative data through surveys and interviews with Korean pastors and Christian educators. Several mental health concerns were identified: the high level of daily stress faced by many Koreans, marriage and family concerns, conflicts between Korean culture and the teachings of the church, and a tendency to keep emotional discomfort suppressed. Mental health resources include deep spiritual commitment to a life of prayer, high levels of commitment to family and community, cultural values of persistence and patience, and reliance on Christian communities for …

Context-Dependent Memory Under Stressful Conditions: The Case Of Skydiving, Laura A. Thompson, Keith L. Williams, Paul R. L'Esperance, Jerffrey Cornelius

Faculty Publications - College of Nursing

Two experiments examined the effect of differing levels of emotional arousal on learning and memory for words in matching and mismatching contexts. In Experiment 1, experienced skydivers learned words either in the air or on the ground and recalled them in the same context or in the other context. Experiment 2 replicated the stimuli and design of the first experiment except that participants were shown a skydiving video in lieu of skydiving. Recall was poor in air-learning conditions with actual skydiving, but when lists were learned on land, recall was higher in the matching context than in the mismatching context. …

Feminist Perspectives On Erikson’S Theory: Their Relevance For Contemporary Identity Development Research, Gwendolyn T. Sorell, Marilyn J. Montgomery

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

In view of recent controversies about theory and self, identity development re- searchers need to examine the utility of their own theory. In an effort to begin this enterprise, we define what we see as the central concerns of Erikson’s theory—a life- span, psychosocial emphasis, and the notion of agentic identity development—and use a feminist standpoint analysis to examine the usefulness of these aspects of his theory in a rapidly changing, multicultural context. We critique the theory’s emphasis on biology as a significant component of psychosocial development, including the emphasis on the biological distinctiveness of women and men as an …

Theories Of Crying, Jeffrey A. Kottler, Marilyn J. Montgomery

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

It was dark outside, and cold, so cold the man’s eyes stung from the moisture on his lids. He was hunched over, trying to make himself as small a target as possible against the frigid wind. He shuffled along at an unsteady gait, trying to keep his balance on the slick sidewalk. Occasionally, he would stop, peek out from under his hood to reorient himself in the blowing snow, and then step cautiously but purposefully onward toward his destination.

Using Systems Perspectives In Supervision, Marilyn J. Montgomery, C. Bret Hendricks, Loretta J. Bradley

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

This article emphasizes the important contributions of systems theory in the supervision process. A case study is used to illustrate how attention to the systemic contexts of the client, the supervisee, and the supervision process itself enlarges the possibilities for helpful change. The unifying themes of many systems theories are identified (diagnosing the system, viewing problems in context, and focusing on systemic change), and techniques for keeping supervision systemically focused are suggested. The usefulness of systems perspectives for conceptualizing diverse cultural influences and for framing advocacy efforts is explored. In addition, the supervision goals of three common systems-based approaches (structural, …

Opportunity Knocks Only Once? Challenging Common Beliefs About Adulthood, Marilyn Montgomery, Camille Debell, Patricia R. Mccarthy, Gerald Parr

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

Growth-oriented groups for adults are designed to help individuals learn about themselves for the purpose of making constructive life changes. While the success of such groups always depends to some extent on individual characteristics (e.g., motivation, openness to experience), group success can also be affected by members' beliefs or stereotypes about appropriate age-related behaviour. In this article, proverbs such as Don't change horses mid-stream or Opportunity knocks only once are targeted for discussion by group participants as a means of identifying irrational beliefs, confronting stereotypes, promoting flexible thinking, and examining acceptable adult behaviour.

Stroop Interference And Working Memory - Reply To Stafford On Koch On Stroop-Differences, Chris Koch

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

Koch et al. (1999) presented two studies in which cluster analysis was used to examine individual differences in Stroop processing. Stafford (2000) raised two questions concerning the methodology of Study I and the results from Study II. This reply addresses those issues. It is concluded that cluster analysis can be used examine individual differences but that multiple methods of cluster analysis may be appropriate when analyzing data. Further, the results from Study II are consistent with current research on working memory when comparing across participants. The results, however, do suggest that additional research is needed to determine the role of …

Stress, Coping, And Success Among Clinical Psychology Graduate Students, Nancy G. Nelson, Carol Dell'oliver, Chris Koch, Robert Buckler

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Coping And Well-Functioning Among Psychologists, Paul W. Case, Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

The work of psychologists can be stressful and demanding, which calls for an understanding of how psychologists cope with the stress of their work and how they prevent distress by establishing habits of well-functioning. Previous studies on psychologists’ well-functioning and coping behaviors have not considered the role of spiritual practices in the life of the professional. 400 psychologists (69% response rate) returned questionnaires rating their levels of distress, coping behaviors, methods of well-functioning, and religious coping. No overall differences were observed in levels of distress between more religious and less religious psychologists. Spiritual practices, especially attending religious services and prayer/meditation, …

Mental Health Needs And Resources In Christian Communities Of South Korea, Mark R. Mcminn, Sang Hun Roh, Lisa G. Mcminn, Amy W. Dominguez, Eunnie R. Rhee, Anne Boheon Maurina, Eunsil Kim, Marie-Christine Goodworth, Paul Kyuman Chae

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

In an effort to understand the mental health needs and resources of Korean Christians, we collected quantitative and qualitative data through surveys and interviews with Korean pastors and Christian educators. Several mental health concerns were identified: the high level of daily stress faced by many Koreans, marriage and family concerns, conflicts between Korean culture and the teachings of the church, and a tendency to keep emotional discomfort suppressed. Mental health resources include deep spiritual commitment to a life of prayer, high levels of commitment to family and community, cultural values of persistence and patience, and reliance on Christian communities for …

What Evangelical Pastors Want To Know About Psychology, Barrett W. Mcray, Mark R. Mcminn, Karen Wrightsman, Todd Burnett, Shiu-Ting Donna Ho

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Increasing attention has been given to psychologist-clergy collaboration in mainstream psychology journals, yet much remains to be considered regarding how these collaborative relationships will benefit the work of pastors and Christian congregations. The purpose of this research was to evaluate clergy perspectives regarding what psychologists can offer to facilitate the ministry of the church. Various methods of assessment were used, including a survey of evangelical pastors, responses to an open-ended question via electronic mail and in person, and a focus group of Christian mental health practitioners. Respondents indicated an interest in the relationship of sin and psychological disorder, interventions particularly …

Psychology, Theology & Care For The Soul (The Introduction To Care For The Soul: Exploring The Intersection Of Psychology & Theology), Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Solitude, Silence, And The Training Of Psychotherapists: A Preliminary Study, Jeffrey B. Van Meter, Mark R. Mcminn, Leslie D. Bissell, Mahinder Kaur, Jana D. Pressley

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

The spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude have long been practiced within the contemplative Christian tradition as a means of character transformation and experiencing God. Do these disciplines affect the use of silence in psychotherapy for Christian clinicians in a graduate training program? Nineteen graduate students in clinical psychology were assigned to a wait-list control condition or a training program involving the disciplines of solitude and silence, and the groups were reversed after the ftrst cohort completed the spiritual disciplines training. One group, which was coincidentally comprised of more introverted individuals, demonstrated a striking increase in the number of silent …

Client Weight As A Barrier To Non-Biased Clinical Judgment, Tricia Duncan Hassel, Carol J. Amici, Nancy S. Thurston, Richard L. Gorsuch

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

A sample of 95 Christian and 68 Non-Christian mental health professionals were given a picture of either an overweight or average-weight male or female client and a generic case vignette. Participants were asked to make clinical judgments of pathology and client attributions for the pictured client. Results indicated that mental health professionals ascribe more pathology and negative attributes to obese clients than to average-weight clients. In addition, Christian mental health professionals are just as likely as non-Christians to ascribe more negative attributes to obese clients. Ways to remove barriers to unbiased psychotherapy and deal with countertransference issues are discussed from …

Christian Spirituality: Introduction To Special Issue - Part 2, Mark R. Mcminn, Todd W. Hall

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Training Psychologists To Work With Religious Organizations: The Center For Church-Psychology Collaboration, Mark R. Mcminn, Katheryn Rhoads Meek, Sally Schwer Canning, Carlos F. Pozzi

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Church-psychology collaboration is gaining attention among professional psychologists, but few training or practical research opportunities are available for those interested in collaborating with religious leaders and organizations. The authors introduce the Center for Church-Psychology Collaboration (CCPC), with its mission to make sustained and relevant contributions to the research literature in psychology, train doctoral students in effective means of collaborating with religious organizations, and provide service to religious communities throughout the world. Domestic and global implications are discussed.

Review Of Miller's "Integrating Spirituality Into Treatment: Resources For Practitioners", Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.