Digital Commons Network^™

Does Subjective Time Cost Explain Cognitive Task Choices?, Raina Ashley Isaacs

Theses and Dissertations

The current literature suggests that subjective time duration could be the common currency used for task choice. However, few studies have been conducted that use non-physical tasks for their task choice options. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine if subjective time duration is the common currency for task choice regardless of task type. Participants first provided their subjective time estimates for each of the perceptual-motor and cognitive tasks that have been a priori determined to be at the medium difficulty level. Two cognitive tasks (item generation and math problem task) and one perceptual-motor task with a …

People Who Mistake Dogma For Reason: Development And Validation Of The Pseudo-Rationalism Scale, Han Wool Jung

Theses and Dissertations

Pseudo-rationalism is defined as a distorted ideology that believes reason or rationality is superior to other components of minds (especially, emotion), which may lead to the overestimation of one’s own rational ability and underestimation of others’ rationality. Such a trait would be similar to rigidity or closed-mindedness measurable with other existing scales, but also is expected to have some distinctive characteristics compared to them because it is based on a certain myth in terms of reason. Also, if the psychological trait of pseudo-rationalism exists, it is anticipated as a byproduct of a certain egocentric world-view represented by naïve realism. This …

Co -Localization Of D 1 And Darpp-32 In Methamphetamine-Treated Rat Nucleus Accumbens, Perirhinal Cortex, And Hippocampus, Yonca Cam

Theses and Dissertations

Methamphetamine abuse is a major health concern that has been associated with adverseeffects such as behavioral disturbances, impaired memory, and cognitive deficits. Chronic use of methamphetamine has been found to cause persistent changes in dopamine receptors and DARPP-32 expression in the rat striatum. Because methamphetamine use has been associated with memory and cognitive impairments, chronic effects in memory-related regions should be thoroughly examined as well. The current study investigated the long-term effects of methamphetamine self-administration on D1 receptor and DARPP-32 expression on the subregions of nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, and perirhinal cortex via immunostaining. I expected to find decreased levels of …

Searching: Waves, Spencer Molnar

Theses and Dissertations

This supportive statement examines a philosophical conception of the self and how it can be identified through experience, consciousness, and perception by focusing on a human inclination to rationalize, or concretize, that which is everchanging. The methods of exploring this concept were achieved by examining the formal structure of composition and materials through the process of visual art. By pushing against historical traditions of creating spatial illusions in visual art, we can conclude that the legibility of an artwork is equally dependent on the experiential world as it is the social construction of image making. The question that is left …

Moral Modeling: How Heroes Impact Values, Christopher David Atkinson

Theses and Dissertations

The Hero Functions Framework states that heroes play three functions in society: enhancing others, protecting those around them, and modeling morals for others (Kinsella et al., 2015b). This study evaluated the experimental validity of the moral modeling function of heroes. Experiencing heroes may lead a change in values to better align with the values of that heroes model. Moral elevation, the feeling of awe and inspiration one feels when witnessing a morally beautiful act (Aquino et al., 2011), may also mediate the relation between heroes and a change in one’s values. Therefore, it was hypothesized that participants who reflected on …

Understanding Teacher-Child And Peer Interactions During A 12-Week Preschool Art Program, Rebecca Bove

Theses and Dissertations

Children’s social and emotional development is essential for well being (Garner & Estep, 2001). Prior research has examined the impact of teacher-child interactions on children’s school adjustment, but little research has been done to explore how certain behaviors children demonstrate with teachers influence peer interactions (Graves Jr. & Howes, 2011; Rudasill et al., 2013). The goal of the study was to examine whether the proportion of interactions and the positive or negative connotation of the interactions that a child had with teachers had an impact on social-emotional relations with peers. Using archival observational data collected while children participated in a …

Implicit Attitudes Toward Children’S Gender Nonconforming Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Stigma By Association When Blaming Mothers, Emily A. Morrow

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the possible connection between a child’s gender nonconformity and attitudes toward both the child and the mother of the gender nonconforming child. Specifically, this study explored the impact of gender nonconforming behavior on undergraduate student perceptions of the child and the parenting competence of the mother. Following social psychology theories examining stigma and stigma by association, this study represents an attempt to determine whether gender nonconforming behavior is a stigmatizing factor, and if that stigma is carried over to the mother. Findings from this study suggested that gender nonconforming behavior is indeed a stigma …

Social Media Rumination: The Impact Of Materialistic Value Orientation, Keeley Hynes

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research demonstrates that ruminating on social media content is associated with greater mental distress (Yang, Holden, Carter, & Webb, 2018). However, it is unclear what factors are associated with rumination. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework, this study examined how materialistic value orientation (MVO) predicted social media rumination in a sample of racially and socioeconomically diverse high school students at two waves of time. Those who are more materialistic value the means by which to gain possessions, and extrinsic life-goals associated with MVO are aimed at garnering external reinforcers such as money and social status (Richins & …

Right-Wing Authoritarianism, Moral Disengagement, And Victimization: The Demeaning Socio-Cognitive Attitudes Of Bullies, Megan E. Donnelly

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To examine the socio-cognitive attitudes of Right-wing authoritarianism and moral disengagement as they relate to bullying victimization and perpetration within the high school context. Method: Ninth grade students (N = 212; 50% male) at a public Midwest high school completed self-report measures during study hall assessing their levels of Right-wing authoritarianism, moral disengagement, and the frequency with which they were involved (i.e., as perpetrators and victims) in bullying both online and in person within the last month. The current study utilized a moderated mediation model to examine the effects of Right-wing authoritarian and morally disengaged attitudes on the school-based …

Parent Reactions To Individualized Education Program ( Iep ) Meeting Vignettes: The Effect Of Jargon And Labels On Emotional Reactivity And Feelings Of Collaboration, Kristin Gallaway

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the emotional responses of parents of school-aged children who read a vignette describing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. The vignette used either specific or generic language to label the participants’ relationship to the child who meets the eligibility criteria for Specific Learning Disability. The label used was either a specific “Your Child” description or a generic description of “A Child.” Further, the vignettes were presented either with or without technical professional jargon commonly used in an IEP setting.

In a pilot study, parents provided emotional response ratings for the 13 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act …

Comparing Verbal And Spatial Working Memory In Monolingual And Bilingual Speakers, Rosaury Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

The bilingual advantage has been demonstrated in different domains of cognitive functioning, especially executive functioning. Compared to other domains of executive functioning, the impact of bilingualism on working memory in children and adults has received relatively little attention. Moreover, research on the bilingual advantage in young adults has produced mix results in tasks where working memory is required. The present study examined whether bilingual expertise yielded different results depending on the working memory task. The present study included 54 participants, 44 identified as female and 10 identified as male. Spatial working memory was measured using the computerized spatial span task …

Reducing Narcissistic Aggression: Examining The Effect Of Self-Affirmation On Subclinical Levels Of Narcissism, Kelsey Ann Anello

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of narcissism has been studied for hundreds of years and has typically emphasized grandiose aspects of personality – inflated self-esteem and being socially domineering. More recent literature has sought to differentiate between two aspects of narcissism – grandiosity and vulnerability; that is, narcissism may be marked by not only grandiose thoughts and beliefs, but also have negative emotionality and hypersensitivity. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism exhibit tendencies to act out aggressively, especially in the face of interpersonal rejection. There are still gaps in the literature when it comes to interventions, especially ones that may be used in order …

The Dark Tetrad At Work: Examining The Effects Of Bottom-Line Mentality, Job Satisfaction, And Perceptions Of Organizational Politics On Counterproductive Work Behavior, Ryan Barry

Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary organizations often use personality measures when selecting new employees. Recent developments in the literature have shown that measures of the dark tetrad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism) provide additional benefits (e.g., incremental validity) over measures of normal personality (e.g., Big Five) in predicting counterproductive work behavior (CWB). The purpose for this study was to identify factors that may affect the positive relationship between higher levels the dark tetrad and CWB. We proposed that perceptions of supervisor’s bottom-line mentality (their focus on prioritizing profits over other goals) serves as a moderator, whereas one’s job satisfaction and perceptions of organizational …

Mediating The Relation Between Parent-Child Attachment Relationships And Peer Acceptance With Preschoolers’ Self-Regulation, Jessica Nicole Lucas-Nihei

Theses and Dissertations

Peer acceptance represents the degree to which a child is well liked by peers, and it is a crucial component of the early childhood years (Ladd & Sechler, 2013). Being accepted among peers impacts multiple areas of child development, including academics, behavior, and social-emotional domains. A child who is highly accepted by their peers is viewed as a preferred playmate and can be observed playing with various peers. Young children’s earliest peer relationships begin forming during the preschool years. One predicting factor of peer acceptance is the attachment relationship between the parent and child. The security experiences within parent-child attachment …

The Impact Of Colorblind Racial Attitudes And Implicit Bias In Evaluations Of Student Behavior, Khyati Verma

Theses and Dissertations

Racism is a deep-rooted, systemically prevalent structure of social divide evident in various aspects of the American society, including schools. Previous researches have focused on racism occurring in classrooms, its effects on teacher behavior, as well as negative outcomes for students of color. However discriminatory and prejudiced behaviors towards students of color have become more implicit due to shift in the course of racist attitudes to what is now known as modern racism. The current study focused on the effects of race, colorblind racial attitudes, and implicit racial bias on problem behavior and punishment severity ratings. Data collected online from …

Black American Students With And Without Disabilities: Stress And Coping Strategies, Gabriel Asare Sarpong

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined if perceived level of stress for Black /African American students was exacerbated by their disability status. This study also examined the relationship between Africultural coping, minority stressors (racial minority stress, disability related stress) and perceive stress level. 123 students who identified themselves as Black/African American enrolled in two Midwestern universities participated in the online survey of this study (n = 39 with disabilities; n= 84 with no disabilities). Results showed that Black students with disabilities reported higher level of perceived stress compared to those with no disabilities. Racial minority stressors, and societal barrier component of disability related …

Temperament And Aggression: Examining The Link Between A Shy And Inhibited Temperament And Reactive And Proactive Aggression, Samantha L. Croney

Theses and Dissertations

Temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control relate to how a child presents themselves socially in uncertain situations. Although prior research has found evidence linking temperament and aggression, little attention has been given to temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control and the subtypes of aggressive behaviors. This distinction could be crucial as some children may be more likely to use aggression to interact with others due to their shy nature or may act react aggressively in situations that are unfamiliar. The goal of this study was to understand how the temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control and gender …

A Comparison Between General And Special Educators: Elementary Teachers' Efficacy For Teaching Students With Disabilities, Morgan E. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) is a U.S. federal law that promotes an inclusive model of classroom participation. In this model, the goal is that all children, regardless of disability status, learn together while receiving high quality instruction and developing positive social relationships with peers. With the rise of inclusive education, more and more students with disabilities are receiving instruction in the general education classroom. Thus, it is pertinent that general educators feel confident in their abilities to effectively teach students with disabilities. Unfortunately, research has demonstrated that general education teachers have a low sense of teacher efficacy …

Role-Differentiated Bimanual Manipulations Efficiency: The Difference In Speed For Rdbms Based On Age, Toy-Type, And Infant Hand Preference, Sarai Mikal Cortina

Theses and Dissertations

Role-differentiated bimanual manipulation (RDBM) is a complex behavior requiring the complementary movement of two hands to achieve a common goal. The current study investigated the relation of RDBM efficiency (speed to complete a successful RDBM) with hand preference, toy type (simple/difficult), age, and hand used to perform the RDBM. This study observed 46 infants between the ages of 9 to 14 months, each with a different hand preference category. Changes in RDBM efficiency across time were examined across different hand preference groups for RDBMs performed on simple toys using the right hand. The analysis revealed that early-right preference infants had …

Physical Therapists Perceptions Of Patient Adherence And Strategies For Facilitating Motivation, Teadora Markovski

Theses and Dissertations

Physical therapists (PTs) are professionally required to undertake a comprehensive examination of their patients and provide consultation within their expertise, yet also have the task to motivate patients to adhere to therapy. Self-determined motivation, as a positive predictor of treatment adherence, can be facilitated by promoting patient autonomy, competence and relatedness. However, a greater understanding is needed of the context specific strategies PT’s can use to facilitate motivation. The purpose of this study is to explore physical therapists’ (PT)s perceptions of the factors affecting patient motivation, strategies and methods to facilitate adherence, and strategies used to satisfy patients basic needs …

Identity Centrality's Influence On The Relation Between Disclosure And Mental Health Stigma, Samantha Ege

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has shown that disclosing one’s mental illness to another individual has reduced one’s feelings of self-stigma. However, there are gaps concerning the reasons why the act of disclosing for some decreases self-stigma, whereas the act of disclosing increases self-stigma in others. This study purported to fill this gap by investigating the influence of identity centrality on the relation between disclosure and self-stigma and positive regard’s moderation of identity centrality’s influence. Students from Illinois State University were recruited through e-mail and SONA and were asked to complete a series of questionnaires regarding distress, disclosure, identity, positive affect, and self-stigma. …

Oops I Drank It Again: Predictors Of Emerging Adults’ Unplanned Drinking, Ashley Rose Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Heavy alcohol consumption in college increases risk for sexual assault, decreases academic performance, and can lead to future development of alcohol-related problems or negative developmental outcomes. Given these potential negative consequences, it is critical to investigate ways emerging adults at colleges are using and abusing alcohol. Previous research has shown that unplanned drinking is related to negative outcomes; therefore, examining predictors of unplanned drinking is important for determining at-risk groups. The current study investigated variables that are established predictors of alcohol use and misuse in emerging adults, including impulsivity, caregiver problem drinking, and age of onset alcohol use. These variables …

The Dark Triad Predicted By Belief In Determinism And Objectification, Rachel Boros

Theses and Dissertations

While philosophers and psychologists continue to debate the existence of free will without reaching any consensus, recent attention has shifted to the matter of the consequences of belief in free will, or belief in the alternative, determinism. Proponents of the latter position argue that human behavior is the result of causal forces, which implies a lack of autonomy in decision-making and inevitability (Paulhus & Carey, 2011). Recent research has found consequences of belief in determinism that include the promotion of undesirable behavior and undermining of moral behavior (Vohs & Schooler, 2008), impulsive and selfish responses demonstrated through aggression (Baumeister, Masicampo, …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Autonomy-Supportive And Controlling Coaching Styles, Kayla Love

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine how collegiate athletes perceive their coach’s behaviors and if there are differences in the perceived effectiveness of autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching styles.

Method: A cluster analysis was conducted among collegiate athletes (N = 306) from the Midwest portion of the United States. The athletes were given questionnaires to report on perceived autonomy-support and control exhibited by their coach, as well as the perceived effectiveness of their coach in terms of confidence in their coach.

Results: Preliminary analyses found that autonomy support was positively related to confidence in the coach, whereas controlling …

Exploring Emotions At Work: The Effects Of Trait Affect And Display Rules On Co-Rumination, Miranda Maher

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the relation between trait affect and co-rumination, and the mediating role of display rules on the affect-co-rumination association. The moderating role of trait affect on the relation between display rules and co-rumination was also examined. Affectivity was examined as a moderator of its own indirect effect to test for moderated-mediation. For data collection, MTurk was used to generate a sample of 338 US employees. Participants received affectivity, display rules, and co-rumination measures at one time point. Results showed that affectivity is related to one’s display rule perceptions, with negative affectivity predicting negative display rules and …

Mediation Among Maladaptive Perfectionism, Maladaptive Emotion Regulation, And Distress, Jennifer L. Woodrum

Theses and Dissertations

Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by high standards for performance (Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990) and a striving for flawlessness (Flett & Hewitt, 2002). Maladaptive perfectionism, which has to do with self-critical thoughts (Dunkley, Zuroff, & Blankstein, 2003) and feelings of falling short of high standards (Slaney, Rice, & Ashby, 2002), is often associated with maladaptive strategies of emotion regulation (Aldea & Rice, 2006; Dunkley et al., 2003; Rudolph, Flett, & Hewitt, 2007). Additionally, research has shown that general use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies mediates the relation between maladaptive perfectionism and distress (Aldea & Rice, 2006; Di …

Mediation Among Childhood Sexual Abuse, Self-Objectification, And Risk Recognition, Michelle Maria Coventry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), self-objectification, and risk recognition in a sample of freshman, college women. Self-objectification was expected to interfere with the ability to readily identify risk (risk appraisal) and respond effectively (risk response), particularly for survivors of CSA. Participants were 335 freshman women ages 18 to 25, with 47.8% reporting a history of CSA. Participants completed an online survey that assessed demographics, abuse history, and indicators of self-objectification (body surveillance, body shame, and appearance anxiety). Participants also completed a task to assess risk recognition which included reading …

“Where Words Fail, Music Speaks ”: Emotion Regulation Strategies Using Music When Experiencing Sadness, Kendall M. Ladd

Theses and Dissertations

Past literature has suggested that individuals use the emotion regulation strategies of

catharsis, emotional support, understanding emotions, and mood congruency when deciding to listen to sad music when feeling sad (Friedman et al., 2012; Garrido & Schubert, 2013; Sedikides, 1992; Taylor & Friedman, 2015; van Goethem & Sloboda, 2011). This thesis sought to confirm this by comparing these four strategies to revival, another emotion regulation strategy that uses happy music instead of sad music.

The final sample of participants consisted of 122 undergraduate and graduate students at a Midwestern university. Participants completed questionnaires designed to measure how they typically regulate …

Prominence Of Slut Shaming Connected With Sexual Objectification: Boys Will Be Boys And Girls Will Be Sluts, Christina M. Whitaker

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this research was to develop a psychometric for slut shaming that would serve as a reliable and valid measure. The secondary purpose was to look at the relation between slut shaming and sexual objectification as it pertains to gender and race. Participants (n = 200) were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and asked to complete survey questions. Research analyses found the Slut Shaming Scale to be a reliable and valid measure without having to exclude any of the original items on the psychometric. Additional analyses showed that men reported victim blaming significantly more often than …

Need Fulfillment And Happiness In Botswana, Carolyn Moe

Theses and Dissertations

Happiness has been an important aspect of people’s lives spanning centuries and continents; as such, it is a widely researched area. A current prominent theory in happiness research is Needs Theory which has the premise that there are universal human needs and having these needs met would lead to a person’s happiness. Most often, the needs referenced are those presented by Abraham Maslow including needs of physiology, safety and security, love and belonging, esteem, knowing and understanding, aesthetics, self-actualization and transcendence. However, some studies have found that there are individuals who do not fit this theory either through having their …