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Articles 1 - 30 of 34
Full-Text Articles in Psychology
Neuropsychological Performance In Cannabis Users And Non-Users Following Motivation Manipulation, Michelle Stiles
Neuropsychological Performance In Cannabis Users And Non-Users Following Motivation Manipulation, Michelle Stiles
Psychology
Background: Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding the long term consequences of cannabis use on cognitive functioning. Although in the cannabis literature, there is a commonly held belief associated with cannabis use called, “amotivational syndrome” the authors were unable to find any studies of neuropsychological performance that attempted to manipulate motivation. Methods: Fifty-five undergraduates (34 cannabis users and 21 non-users) participated in an extensive neuropsychological battery. The experimenter read a statement at the beginning of the battery designed to induce motivation. Group differences on test performance were calculated with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for tests that did …
The Role Of Progesterone Receptor In Development Of Medial Prefrontal Cortex And Impulsive Behavior, Vanessa Costanzo
The Role Of Progesterone Receptor In Development Of Medial Prefrontal Cortex And Impulsive Behavior, Vanessa Costanzo
Psychology
Human behaviors are regulated by the complex functions of the brain and many behavioral disorders are assumed to be the result of alterations or deficits in neural function. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by differences in complex behaviors such as attention, memory and impulse control has been linked to alterations in dopaminergic activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Therefore, factors that regulate development of this region may be implicated in ADHD. For example, steroid hormones can alter fundamental processes of neural development through interaction with their nuclear receptors, which act as transcription factors. Progesterone receptor (PR) is transiently …
The Effect Of Recurrent Hypoglycemia On Mental Flexibility, Justin Ramcharitar
The Effect Of Recurrent Hypoglycemia On Mental Flexibility, Justin Ramcharitar
Psychology
A major side-effect of intensive insulin replacement therapy, is recurrent hypoglycemia (RH). Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that RH may be associated with deficits in higher cognitive processes; specifically, in judgment and mental flexibility, processes believed to be mediated in large part by the medial prefrontal cortex. The present study investigates the effects of short-term RH on mental flexibility in rats. Animals underwent food restriction and were extensively handled and habituated. Prior to testing animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups with varying levels of RH. Animals were then tested for two consecutive days on a set-shift maze …
Effects Of Early Developmental Stress On Adult Physiology And Behavior, Michael James Frederick
Effects Of Early Developmental Stress On Adult Physiology And Behavior, Michael James Frederick
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Events during early development can have long-term effects on physiology and behavior. While extreme developmental stress is known to be associated with a variety of behavioral problems, it is less well understood how milder stress may affect behavior, personality, and reproductive success. This research project assessed a variety of behavioral dimensions in a college age sample, while assessing early development using size at birth, fluctuating asymmetry, and retrospective surveys. Maternal stress during pregnancy was found to reduce adolescent growth spurts and adult handgrip strength in the offspring. In males, lower birth weights were associated with higher scores of impulsivity and …
Building Perceived Organizational Support Through Justice : The Mediating Effect Of Perceived Organizational Support On The Relationship Between Justice Interventions And Organizational Outcomes, Maria Belen Arboleda
Building Perceived Organizational Support Through Justice : The Mediating Effect Of Perceived Organizational Support On The Relationship Between Justice Interventions And Organizational Outcomes, Maria Belen Arboleda
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Research on perceived organizational support has focused on theoretical antecedents and organizational outcomes, however to date there is limited research on practical interventions to enhance POS. The present study examined, in a lab setting, whether two operationalizations of justice, provision of information (informational justice) and encouraging suggestions (procedural justice) influence the extent to which employees feel supported by their organization. Further, this study explored the mediating effect of POS on the relationship between these justice interventions and organizational outcomes supported in the literature, affective commitment, extra-role performance and in-role performance. One hundred and seventy three participants were randomly assigned to …
Improving Primary Care Outcomes For Hispanics With Anxiety Disorders : A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Velma -. Barrios
Improving Primary Care Outcomes For Hispanics With Anxiety Disorders : A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Velma -. Barrios
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The proportion of Hispanics in psychosocial treatment outcome research is limited. To our knowledge, no randomized clinical trials have investigated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in adult Hispanics with anxiety disorders. This is important because Hispanics are among the fastest growing minority group in the U. S., and as a group, they evidence pervasive and persistent anxiety disorders. The growth of the Hispanic population has taken place while social service systems are ill prepared to address the needs of these individuals. In this study, we addressed this gap in the literature by evaluating the difference in clinical effectiveness of cognitive …
Do You See What I See? : Testing The Effects Of Race And Social Class On Therapists' Recognition Of And Attributions For Intimate Partner Violence, Susana Blanco
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
An estimated 5.3 million intimate partner violence (IPV) victimizations occur among U.S. women each year (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Because of the high prevalence, Harway and Hansen (2004) recommended that therapists assume that all women presenting for therapy may be at risk for violence. However, assessment for IPV is not standard practice. In fact, studies repeatedly indicate that therapists tend to under-identify IPV (e.g., Harway & Hansen, 1993).
Experiences Of Christian Clients In Secular Psychotherapy : A Qualitative Investigation, Carrie Lynn Cragun
Experiences Of Christian Clients In Secular Psychotherapy : A Qualitative Investigation, Carrie Lynn Cragun
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
According to several authors, many Christians are skeptical of psychology and fear that their religious beliefs will be misunderstood, unappreciated, ridiculed, or eroded in secular therapy (King, 1978). The purpose of the present discovery-oriented study was to understand Christian clients' phenomenological experiences in secular therapy.
The Neuropsychological Deficits In Cannabis Users : Does Motivation Play A Role?, Rayna Beth Ericson
The Neuropsychological Deficits In Cannabis Users : Does Motivation Play A Role?, Rayna Beth Ericson
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Prior research of the neuropsychological functioning of cannabis users has yielded mixed results, in that some studies identified differences compared to non-users, while others found no group differences at all. A meta-analysis revealed a small effect of cannabis use on the cognitive domains of learning and forgetting, while domains such as attention and processing speed yielded no effect (Grant et al., 2003). However, none of the previous studies assessed the participants' motivation to perform well on the assessment, which may have influenced the results. The present study sought to determine whether motivation is differentially demonstrated in cannabis users compared to …
Psychosocial Factors Contributing To Medication Non-Adherence, Health-Related Quality Of Life, And Disease Activity In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Alejandra Halperin Faust
Psychosocial Factors Contributing To Medication Non-Adherence, Health-Related Quality Of Life, And Disease Activity In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Alejandra Halperin Faust
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic and are characterized by periodic exacerbations followed by symptom-free intervals. Symptoms can have a detrimental impact on quality of life. Medication non-adherence in adults with IBD has been well-documented in the literature; continuous medication use is necessary to prevent flares of the disease. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was three-fold: (1) to examine associations between medication non-adherence, disease activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), (2) to examine if group differences were present for patients who were high versus low in anxiety or depression in terms of their medication non-adherence, …
Prospective Effects Of Temperamental Reactivity, Emotion Dysregulation, And Stress On Risk For Anxiety And Depression In Elementary School-Age Children, Jeremy Kyle Fox
Prospective Effects Of Temperamental Reactivity, Emotion Dysregulation, And Stress On Risk For Anxiety And Depression In Elementary School-Age Children, Jeremy Kyle Fox
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Temperamental reactivity and emotion dysregulation are both considered important vulnerability factors in the development of childhood anxiety and depression. Little is known, however, about how these emotional processes work together to shape developmental pathways to internalizing difficulties.
Self-Control Conservation : A Closer Look At The Underlying Process, Nicholas Allegretti Freeman
Self-Control Conservation : A Closer Look At The Underlying Process, Nicholas Allegretti Freeman
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Preliminary evidence suggests that when individuals believe that they will have to exert self-control in the near future, their performance on an intervening self-control task suffers so that limited self-control resources are conserved for later use (Muraven, Shmueli, & Burkley, 2006). The current research sought to further clarify the extent to which beliefs about the limited nature of self-control contribute to this conservation effect. Specifically, it is unclear whether simply recognizing that a task requires self-control is enough to prompt individuals to approach the task with a conservation strategy, or, if conservation strategies are only pursued in reaction to resources …
Word Concreteness And Word Frequency As Moderators Of The Tip-Of-The-Tongue Effect, Jennifer Lynn Gianico
Word Concreteness And Word Frequency As Moderators Of The Tip-Of-The-Tongue Effect, Jennifer Lynn Gianico
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) experience is a universal experience in which a speaker cannot fully produce a word that he or she believes will eventually be recalled and could easily be recognized. The purpose of the current set of experiments is to determine how different variables affect the rate of TOTs. Specifically, a series of three experiments investigates the roles of word concreteness and word frequency on TOT rates. A new finding, the concreteness effect on TOT rates, emerged and was replicated across all three experiments. This never-before investigated concreteness effect is discussed in terms of a general two-stage model of …
The Role Of The Progesterone Receptor In The Development Of The Ventromedial Nucleus And Female Sexual Behaviors, Keith L. Gonzales
The Role Of The Progesterone Receptor In The Development Of The Ventromedial Nucleus And Female Sexual Behaviors, Keith L. Gonzales
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Steroid induced gene transcription plays an important role in neural sex differences within many mammalian species. Steroid hormones actions within the developing brain have profound, permanent effects in the development of neurochemical processes and behaviors. Within the developing ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN), a potent transcription factor, the progesterone receptor (PR), is highly expressed within female rats. Furthermore, the regulation of PR within the developing VMN of the female rat is anatomically and developmentally specific. Typically, PR expression is highly dependent on the activity of estradiol acting at ERα. As such, circulating levels of estradiol act to induce PR …
An Examination Of Predictors Of Relational And Physical Aggression Among African American Early Adolescent Girls : The Role Of Father Involvement, Temperament, And Self-Regulation, Nakia Maureen Hamlett
An Examination Of Predictors Of Relational And Physical Aggression Among African American Early Adolescent Girls : The Role Of Father Involvement, Temperament, And Self-Regulation, Nakia Maureen Hamlett
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Abstract
Engaging Reluctant Adolescents In Family Therapy : An Exploratory Change Process Study, Jane Higham
Engaging Reluctant Adolescents In Family Therapy : An Exploratory Change Process Study, Jane Higham
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Engagement in family therapy is considered to be a challenging task with adolescent members who resist the therapy process, and this task begins from the first moment of interaction (Liddle, 1995; Rubenstein, 2005). The term engagement in family therapy refers to a client's observable or self-reported experience of therapy as meaningful, a sense of involvement, and active negotiation of the goals and tasks of therapy with the therapist and with other family members (Friedlander, Escudero, & Heatherington, 2006). There is, however, little empirical research on how to do so, and exactly how therapists can create a shift from disengagement to …
Brief Motivational Interviewing : An Intervention For Alcohol Abusing College Students, Kelly Jane Horner
Brief Motivational Interviewing : An Intervention For Alcohol Abusing College Students, Kelly Jane Horner
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Efforts to curtail alcohol abuse in college with traditional alcohol education programs have been unsuccessful as heavy drinking on college campuses has remained remarkably constant. Brief Motivational Interventions (BMIs) have recently emerged as a viable alternative that facilitates behavior change in students who engage in heavy drinking. The present study recruited college students who violated campus drinking policies and were referred to the University's judicial system. The efficacy of an individualized BMI intervention was compared to that of a group oriented educational intervention and a control condition consisting of a sanction. Possible interaction effects between specific individual characteristics and the …
Examining The Persuasive Effect Of Metaphor Use In Psychotherapy : An Experimental Test Of Contributing Factors, Walter A. Kendall
Examining The Persuasive Effect Of Metaphor Use In Psychotherapy : An Experimental Test Of Contributing Factors, Walter A. Kendall
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Research suggests that metaphors can facilitate attitude change in psychotherapy. Based on social influence theory (Strong, 1968) and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM; Petty & Cacioppo, 1986) of persuasion, this analogue study tested the impact of metaphor use in the context of advice as a therapeutic intervention. In an experimental design, 138 adult participants were randomly assigned to observe a brief videotaped vignette in which a therapist's advice to a client either did or did not include a novel metaphor. After observing the video, participants completed a measure of therapist credibility, the Counselor Rating Form-Short Version (CRF-S; Corrigan & Schmidt, …
Between-Object Superiority And The Effects Of Preview On Object-Based Attention In Occluded Objects, Yongna Li
Between-Object Superiority And The Effects Of Preview On Object-Based Attention In Occluded Objects, Yongna Li
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Object-based attention accounts assume that visual attention selects one object at a time and more efficiently processes properties belonging to the attended object relative to properties belonging to different objects. Within-object superiority (faster RTs and fewer errors for targets on the same object than for targets on different objects) supports object-based attention accounts. However, a contrasting effect, between-object superiority, has also been found. The present nine experiments were designed to distinguish between within-object and between-object superiority effects in objects with occlusion. The present results showed that between-object superiority can be obtained for occluded objects and that this effect is influenced …
The Influence Of Contextual Family Stressors On The Relationship Between Parental Psychological Adjustment And Parenting Constructs, Ilana Rebecca Luft
The Influence Of Contextual Family Stressors On The Relationship Between Parental Psychological Adjustment And Parenting Constructs, Ilana Rebecca Luft
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The present investigation seeks to examine relationships among predictors of three parenting constructs: parental discipline, monitoring and warmth. Specifically, the current investigation examines the relationship between a broad, continuous measure of parental psychosocial adjustment and these parenting constructs, and also the influence of two contextual stressors, family life changes and family economic pressure on this relationship. It was hypothesized that parental psychosocial adjustment and the contextual stress constructs would be predictive of the parenting constructs, such that with greater psychosocial adjustment problems and/or greater contextual stressors, quality of parenting would decline. Additionally, a moderation model was proposed in which it …
The Role Of Organizational Commitment In Practitioner Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices In Substance Abuse Treatment Settings, Irene Teresa Manfredo
The Role Of Organizational Commitment In Practitioner Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices In Substance Abuse Treatment Settings, Irene Teresa Manfredo
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Organizational commitment (OC) has been linked to different types of work-related behaviors including innovation implementation and professional behavior change but the influence of OC on technology transfer or research to practice processes is as yet unknown. Using a social exchange perspective, the study employed constructs derived from Klein & Sorra (1996) - perceived implementation climate and practitioner innovation-values fit - to understand the association between practitioner level OC and evidence-based practice implementation (EBP) in substance abuse treatment settings. Method: A secondary data analysis was conducted utilizing a 2008 cross-sectional survey of outpatient substance abuse practitioners in eastern New York State …
Assessing Interventions For Reducing Gender-Based Occupational Stereotypes : A Multi-Method Study Comparing The Implicit Association Test To Indirect And Explicit Measures Of Stereotypes, And An Examination Of Sex Roles And Entity Versus Incremental Lay Theories Of Social Perception, Carolyn C. Matheus
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Certain occupations are often stereotyped as feminine (e.g., elementary school teacher) while others are stereotyped as masculine (e.g., engineer) (White, Kruczek, Brown, & White, 1989; White & White, 2006). This study proposed using multiple methods to assess stereotypical judgments about the masculinity and femininity of five occupations: engineer, law enforcement officer, accountant, fashion designer, and elementary school teacher. Implicit, indirect, and explicit assessments were used to measure gender based stereotypes of occupations to examine similarities or differences between the different methods. Implicit assessments involve measuring automatic evaluations to stimuli, while indirect assessments involve gender ratings of attributes associated with occupations. …
How Do Therapists Ally With Adolescents In The Context Of Family Therapy? : An Examination Of Relational Control Communication Patterns, Cristina Muniz
How Do Therapists Ally With Adolescents In The Context Of Family Therapy? : An Examination Of Relational Control Communication Patterns, Cristina Muniz
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The creation and maintenance of a strong therapeutic alliance is one of the most robust predictors of successful treatment for adult (Horvath & Bedi, 2002) and adolescent (Karver, Handelsman, Fields, & Bickman, 2006) clients across diverse therapy formats and presenting problems. However, research on the alliance with adolescents lags far behind research with adults, particularly in the context of family therapy. Because of the supported efficacy of family therapy for diverse adolescent problems (Shelef et al., 2005), the present study examined the association between observed therapist-adolescent alliances and relational control communication in the context of conjoint family therapy. Relational control …
Biological And Behavioral Correlates Among Young Adults Exposed To Harsh Parenting Practices, Christy Lyn Olezeski
Biological And Behavioral Correlates Among Young Adults Exposed To Harsh Parenting Practices, Christy Lyn Olezeski
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Whereas the subject of harsh parenting has been a source of debate for many years, research has shown that harsh parenting practices are associated with an increase in behavioral problems, including aggression toward others. However, not all youth who have been subjected to harsh parenting develop problems. Researchers have begun examining moderators of the effects of harsh parenting and other psychosocial stressors, specifically whether functioning in physiological stress response systems buffers or exacerbates the effects of harsh parenting on later functioning. Research also suggests that exposure to stressful situations (including harsh parenting) may affect the biological stress system. In particular, …
Children's Weekend Activities In Four Countries : Context For Personal And Social Development, Asil Ozdogru
Children's Weekend Activities In Four Countries : Context For Personal And Social Development, Asil Ozdogru
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Out-of-school time constitutes a major context of social and emotional development for children across cultures. Because it is not constrained by school attendance, weekend time allows cultural and gender differences in time usage to emerge. In this study, children's weekend activities, choice, and some of the related emotional outcomes were examined for fourth-grade students in four countries. A total of 1,265 children of families from middle socioeconomic status in Bulgaria, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United States completed an activity survey asking them to state their typical activity for each of 12 hours on Saturday, their enjoyment of the activity, and …
Resolving Incomparability, David Pinkowski
Resolving Incomparability, David Pinkowski
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
When confronted with an important choice between two very different options, an agent often will be at a loss as to how to decide between them. This is often true even if the agent has a good understanding of the pros and cons of each option, and even if she is committed to something like "the best overall decision for me." One way to analyze this situation is to assert that the options are incomparable for the agent. Incomparability arises when, for two options, it seems that one is neither better nor worse than, nor equal to, the other. If …
The Impact Of Counselor Recovery Status, Disclosure, Education, And Experience On The Working Alliance In The Treatment Of Substance Use Disorders, Brian D. Roland
The Impact Of Counselor Recovery Status, Disclosure, Education, And Experience On The Working Alliance In The Treatment Of Substance Use Disorders, Brian D. Roland
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Although evidence shows that between 30 and 75 percent of alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselors are themselves in recovery from a substance use disorder, dated research comparing the effectiveness of recovering and non-recovering counselors failed to control for education, experience, and use of disclosure. Given that the strength of the working alliance between client and counselor is highly predictive of outcome and utilizing interpersonal influence theory as an organizing framework, a path model was hypothesized which posited (a) counselor recovery status and its disclosure impact counselor attractiveness which, in turn, impacts working alliance; (b) counselor education impacts counselor expertness …
A Multiple Cue Threshold Learning Model Of Selection And Detection : Balancing Judgmental Accuracy With Threshold Learning, April M. Roggio
A Multiple Cue Threshold Learning Model Of Selection And Detection : Balancing Judgmental Accuracy With Threshold Learning, April M. Roggio
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Selection and detection problems represent some of the most challenging decision making tasks, especially in the fields of health and medicine. In a population of pregnant women, who is a candidate for a cesarean delivery? Does this mammogram indicate the presence of cancer? Should antibiotics be prescribed for this illness? We must judge
Cognitive Factors In Childhood Social Anxiety : The Role Of Hostile Intent And Fear Of Social Evaluation, Julie Lynn Ryan
Cognitive Factors In Childhood Social Anxiety : The Role Of Hostile Intent And Fear Of Social Evaluation, Julie Lynn Ryan
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The current study sought to expand the literature on the cognitive process of interpretation bias associated with social anxiety in youth. The interpretation bias in social anxiety includes an assumption that others are inherently hostile and critical therefore the child perceives or anticipates social evaluation of the self by others. Despite the studies examining interpretation bias and self-evaluation, no studies examine whether individuals with social anxiety evaluate others critically and hostilely. Additionally, hostile intent has been conceptualized as a single construct. However, we propose that hostile intent is a two-dimensional construct involving hostile thoughts about others and perceiving that others …
The Static-99 And Additional Research-Based Risk Factors : A Statistical Theory To Improve Sex Offender Risk Assessment, Jeffrey C. Sandler
The Static-99 And Additional Research-Based Risk Factors : A Statistical Theory To Improve Sex Offender Risk Assessment, Jeffrey C. Sandler
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Research has indicated that adjusting Static-99 risk assessments for sexual recidivism using unguided clinical opinion reduces the accuracy of the risk assessments. While progress has been made in the last decade toward identifying which variables (both internal and external to the Static-99) are associated with the likelihood of an offender sexually recidivating, very little guidance has been given on how to consider the variables external to the Static-99 within the context of a Static-99 risk assessment. The current study proposes a statistical theory for how to incorporate certain variables into such an assessment, and provides some preliminary analyses to support …