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The Effects Of Personalization On Homelessness Stigma, Kalie Leon Jan 2022

The Effects Of Personalization On Homelessness Stigma, Kalie Leon

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Previous research has suggested those in stigmatized groups experience status loss, social rejection, and dehumanization. The homeless population, in particular, has also been perceived as the ones to blame for their current situation. Using the homeless population as the stigmatized group, the current study investigated whether personalizing people in stigmatized groups leads to differences in attitudes of them. Participants consisted of 148 undergraduate students enrolled in psychology courses from the University of North Florida. Via Qualtrics, participants were randomly assigned to a vignette that either included general information about a homeless man or one with more personal details such as …


Imaginary Friends: The Effect Of Imagined Social Support On Subjective And Physiological Indicators Of Stress, Breana Bryant Jan 2020

Imaginary Friends: The Effect Of Imagined Social Support On Subjective And Physiological Indicators Of Stress, Breana Bryant

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social support is known to help buffer the effects of stress (Uchino et al., 1996). However, in many situations social support is unavailable, and imagining social support may help to reduce the impact of stress. Although imagined physical touch has been shown to be an effective stress buffer, little research has compared it to other types of imagined support (Feldman et al., 2010). Additionally, women tend to seek emotional support, whereas men tend to seek tangible support, but it is unknown if imagining those types of support will reduce stress (Reevy & Maslach, 2001). To gain greater insight into these …


The Philosopher's Journey: A Chapter In Kindness And Animals, Vaughn E. Sayers Jan 2019

The Philosopher's Journey: A Chapter In Kindness And Animals, Vaughn E. Sayers

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

We each are presented with a choice; do we remain in the cave of ignorance or embark on the philosopher’s journey. Your choice will determine the way in which you interpret this paper. However, I will confidently make the assumption that you, like myself, desire to embrace an existence guided by the light of wisdom. This thesis is one of many chapters in the philosopher’s journey, dealing with animals and (cutting through the jargon) kindness. I have found that a lot of scholarship on animal ethics acknowledges a truth, but does not acknowledge that the application of such a truth …


Behavioral Factors Related To Weight Change In A Health Promotion And Weight Control Intervention, Bethany M. Hartsell Jan 2018

Behavioral Factors Related To Weight Change In A Health Promotion And Weight Control Intervention, Bethany M. Hartsell

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study explored whether body weight was affected by certain lifestyle behaviors and if these behaviors were affected by a brief, self-directed weight control intervention. The behavioral factors assessed in this study included: meal regularity, fast-food eating, television viewing and eating/sedentary time, dietary modifications (e.g., portion control, reducing fat intake), self-monitoring (tracking diet and exercise), self-weighing, and physical activity. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention groups or a minimal contact control group. The intervention groups completed a 1-hour education session at baseline and received bi-weekly emails. Participants completed online questionnaires at baseline and 3 months, and body measurement sessions at …


Democracy For Resistance: Employing Participatory Democracy As A Tool For Social Resistance, Sally-Ann Akuetteh Jan 2018

Democracy For Resistance: Employing Participatory Democracy As A Tool For Social Resistance, Sally-Ann Akuetteh

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this paper, I argue that intentional and active participation in public life made possible by a participatory democracy is perhaps the most potent tool for resistance. This is because increased participation, even in a flawed system such as democracy, can undo previous conventions of the ‘normal’ and re-establish less oppressive institutions and an even better and more inclusive democracy. Through an emphasis on the participation of ‘othered’ groups, democracy-- which at a point served as the source of oppression for these groups by ensuring their exclusion from it-- can become a potent tool for change. The participatory democracy approach, …


Personality And Stress: Understanding The Roles Of Extraversion And Neuroticism In Social Stress Scenarios, Synthia Knapp Jan 2018

Personality And Stress: Understanding The Roles Of Extraversion And Neuroticism In Social Stress Scenarios, Synthia Knapp

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to increase knowledge regarding personality and stress, with a focus on ambiverts, by investigating potential non-linear relationships and overall relationships between extraversion and stress levels, and neuroticism and stress levels. Two hundred thirty­-eight participants completed an online survey through SONA, consisting of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Social Stress Scenarios (SSS), the Big Five Aspects Scale (BF AS), and the Open Extended Jungian Type Scales 1.2 (OEJTS). In general, those lower in extraversion and those higher in neuroticism were found to have higher perceived stress levels. Both aspects of extraversion-enthusiasm and assertiveness-were negatively related …


Stereotypes And Evaluations Of People Who Are D/Deaf, Mary Wood Jan 2018

Stereotypes And Evaluations Of People Who Are D/Deaf, Mary Wood

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

D/deaf individuals face discrimination in their daily lives, impacting their access to language, education, and life satisfaction. While there has been research about some of the stereotypes held about those who are D/deaf, the relationship between those stereotypes and prejudice and discrimination has not been explored, to my knowledge. Additionally, how D/deaf individuals are categorized has not been examined, to my knowledge. Understanding whether the hearing majority holds a distinct cognitive schema for those who are D/deaf or consider D/deaf people within a larger group of disabled people will help in creating anti-bias interventions. For example, if hearing people have …


The Role Of Grit In A Self-Directed Weight Control Intervention, Molly Wright Jan 2018

The Role Of Grit In A Self-Directed Weight Control Intervention, Molly Wright

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study was conducted to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s level of the trait of GRIT (Duckworth et al., 2007) and the effectiveness of a health promotion and weight control intervention. Participants completed an initial online survey that consisted of the GRIT scale, demographic questions (age, gender, ethnicity), and health behavior questions, along with a baseline body measurement. Participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 34) or one of two treatment groups (n = 57). Those assigned to the treatment groups completed a 1 hour educational session and received intervention packets, while those in the …


Self-Compassion And Personality: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Big Five Personality, Moral Reasoning, And Values, Kaylee Sisneros Jan 2017

Self-Compassion And Personality: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Big Five Personality, Moral Reasoning, And Values, Kaylee Sisneros

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Self-compassion is a relatively new construct in the psychological literature, and it is comprised of practicing self-kindness, recognizing our common humanity, and being mindful of one’s emotions. Previous research has found that individuals higher in self-compassion benefit from greater psychological well-being, less anxiety and depression, and greater clarity about their own strengths and limitations relative to those lower in self-compassion. While this construct has been investigated primarily in clinical and mental health contexts, few studies have evaluated its associations with certain aspects of personality, morals, and values. In the present research, we examined cross-sectional associations between the Self-Compassion Scale, the …


The Persistence Of An Anti-Stereotyping Intervention, Kristan Palermo Jan 2017

The Persistence Of An Anti-Stereotyping Intervention, Kristan Palermo

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Research demonstrates that Black people are more likely to be mistakenly shot in experimental computer programs when posing no threat (Correll, Park, Judd, & Wittenbrink, 2002; Greenwald, Oakes, & Hoffman, 2003). Additionally, when primed with a Black face, participants recognize guns faster, and are more likely to mistake a harmless object (e.g. tool) for a gun (Judd et al., 2004; Payne 2001;2006). This may be related to stereotyping of Black people as aggressive, dangerous, threatening, and criminal (Correll, Park, Judd, Wittenbrink, Sadler, & Keesee, 2007; Devine & Elliot, 1995; Hugenberg & Bodenhausen, 2003; Payne, 2001). The link between weapons and …


The Function Of Second-Order Male Alliances In St. Johns River Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus), Arien D. Widrick Apr 2016

The Function Of Second-Order Male Alliances In St. Johns River Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus), Arien D. Widrick

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have a sexually segregated fission-fusion society, in which males and females form different types of social groups for different purposes. Social interactions among dolphins are frequent, and group composition changes just as often. Male-male association patterns reveal the formation of alliances, which range in complexity. Recently, second-order alliance formation was confirmed in the St. Johns River, but the function of these alliances is unknown. To investigate their function, this research analyzes the seasonality of first and second-order alliance formation, and whether female presence plays a role. It was hypothesized that higher level male alliances form in …


Analysis Of The Basigin Subset Of The Immunoglobulin Superfamily Throughout The Mouse Lifespan, Tavia N. Hall Apr 2016

Analysis Of The Basigin Subset Of The Immunoglobulin Superfamily Throughout The Mouse Lifespan, Tavia N. Hall

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Immunoglobulin Superfamily (IgSF) is a subset of cellular adhesion molecules that are involved in regulation of a variety of cellular processes throughout the body. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the expression levels of the Basigin subset of the IgSF in the brain throughout the mouse life-span. This study is the first to compare the expression of Basigin, Embigin, and Neuroplastin, which form the Basigin subset of the IgSF. The expression levels of MCT-1, which is known to associate with Basigin in the neural retina, were also quantified to identify its role in brain tissue. …


Excluding The Problem: Does Supervenience Resolve The Exclusion Problem?, Katelyn S. Hallman Jan 2016

Excluding The Problem: Does Supervenience Resolve The Exclusion Problem?, Katelyn S. Hallman

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

The exclusion problem challenges views that hold that the mental is distinct from and irreducible to the physical. I follow Karen Bennett’s formulation of the exclusion problem, which is unique in that it sets up the problem as a set of five inconsistent claims, where at least one of which must be denied: DISTINCTNESS, COMPLETENESS, EFFICACY, EXCLUSION, NON-OVERDETERMINATION. In brief, the issue is that if the mental and physical are distinct, and each is causally sufficient to bring about their effects, then our actions would frequently be overdetermined. However, since mental overdetermination isn’t something that happens frequently, the five claims …


Mystery Of The Moon's Origin, Abubakr Hassan Jan 2016

Mystery Of The Moon's Origin, Abubakr Hassan

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

The dominant theory of the moon’s origin is the Giant Impact Hypothesis, which states that the moon formed when a Mars-sized object - named Theia - impacted the proto-Earth early in the solar system’s formation, with the resulting material contributing to the formation of the Moon. Using models of planetary development and the solar system’s formation, we attempt to answer where the impactor - Theia - might have originated from. We conclude that the Asteroid belt is a likely location for Theia’s formation, and we find that the parameters associated with this point of origin may help advance other models …


Klebsiella Pneumoniae Assimilates To Increasing Concentrations Of Cephalothin By Differential Outer Membrane Porin Expression And Increased Production Of Capsular Polysaccharides, Nghi B. Lam Jan 2015

Klebsiella Pneumoniae Assimilates To Increasing Concentrations Of Cephalothin By Differential Outer Membrane Porin Expression And Increased Production Of Capsular Polysaccharides, Nghi B. Lam

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative nonmotile bacteria that causes nosocomial infections. In these bacteria, nutrients as well as antibiotics are able to diffuse through the outer membrane via outer membrane porins, transmembrane protein channels. Loss of outer membrane porins, increased capsule production, and a highly mucoid phenotype are commonly observed among antibiotic resistant isolates of this pathogen. The goal of this study was to investigate changes in outer membrane porin expression and capsular polysaccharide production by K. pneumoniae as it transitions to a β-lactam antibiotic resistant phenotype. Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 43816, which is susceptible to β-lactam antibiotics such as …


Molecular And Biochemical Analysis Of Phenolic Acid Decarboxylase From Brettanomyces Yeast Isolates, Chad Lawerence Harris Jan 2015

Molecular And Biochemical Analysis Of Phenolic Acid Decarboxylase From Brettanomyces Yeast Isolates, Chad Lawerence Harris

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many strains of Brettanomyces pose a major threat to the commercial brewing industry by producing phenolic off-flavors, while a few strains contribute desirable characteristics in unique beer styles. This genus of yeast possesses a two-step pathway that converts hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) to vinyl and ethyl derivatives that add unwanted flavors and aromas to the final beverage. This project focused on analyzing Brettanomyces yeast isolates for variation in phenolic acid decarboxylase activity (PAD), which catalyzes the first step in the pathway. Each strain was grown in the three different common HCAs (ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid) to understand each strain’s …


Art As Person: Correlative Personhood In Aesthetic Representation, Michael Dufresne Jan 2014

Art As Person: Correlative Personhood In Aesthetic Representation, Michael Dufresne

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this paper, I argue that the metaphor of art as person should be implemented as a way to understand artistic interaction, such that the relationship between artworks and spectators should be understood as one between persons. I begin this argument by first juxtaposing Hans-Georg Gadamer’s notion of aesthetic representation with the values that constitute correlative person in Confucianism. This juxtaposition draws similarities between artworks and persons that make the metaphor of art as person a plausible means for understanding artistic interaction. I then appeal to Michel Foucault for two significant reasons: his subjectfication of the self solidifies the comparisons …


Potential Of Marine Bacteria As A Source Of New Biofilm Formation Inhibiting Compounds, Jane Lee Han Jan 2012

Potential Of Marine Bacteria As A Source Of New Biofilm Formation Inhibiting Compounds, Jane Lee Han

UNF Undergraduate Honors Theses

New antibacterial drugs are needed to keep up with the alarming increase in infections and incidence. Historically, the majority of clinically useful drugs have been obtained from terrestrial natural sources such as plants and microorganisms. Today such terrestrial sources of drugs are diminishing, owing to rediscovery of known compounds. Fortunately marine microorganisms are in an emerging and underdeveloped source of novel compounds with promising pharmaceutical potential.