Psychology Commons^™

Investigating The Roles Of The Dorsal And Ventral Striatum In Humor Comprehension And Appreciation Throughout Health, Aging, And Parkinson’S Disease, Maggie Prenger

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Humor processing is thought to involve two distinct components. The first, humor comprehension, involves detecting and resolving incongruities that are present within a humorous stimulus. This is related to cognitive processes such as ambiguity resolution, response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, functions that are mediated in part by the dorsal portion of the striatum (DS). Humor appreciation, on the other hand, refers to the subjective amusement and mirth that one experiences in response to a joke. This is related to reward processing, which implicates the ventral portion of the striatum (VS). Across three separate studies, we investigated the involvement …

Examining The Paradox Of Adult Second Language Word And Grammar Learning, Leah Brainin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Adults generally demonstrate advanced cognitive skills compared to children, with second language (L2) learning being a key exception, particularly within the grammar domain. As optimal vocabulary and grammar learning are believed to engage in distinct explicit and implicit learning mechanisms, respectively, the advanced neurocognitive mechanisms underpinning adults’ higher-order cognitive skills may particularly interfere with implicit grammar learning. The objective of this dissertation was to examine select neural and cognitive factors that may contribute to word and grammar learning differences.

In Study 1, I investigated the neural correlates of artificial vocabulary and morphology learning using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy …

Exploring The Dimensions And Dynamics Of Partnered Sexual Behaviours: Scale Development And Validation Using Factor And Network Analysis, Devinder S. Khera

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Sexual behaviours are an integral part of most intimate relationships and can serve as mechanisms for building intimacy, enhancing emotional connection, and can serve as non-verbal communication to express care, love, and compassion for significant others. Sexually compatible behaviours are also associated with sexual satisfaction – something especially important given the downstream consequences of sexual satisfaction on relationship satisfaction, relationship stability, and general well-being. However, to date, no inclusive, psychometrically validated measure of partnered sexual interests and behaviours exists. Given the central role of sexual interests and behaviours in sexual satisfaction and in turn relationship quality, we sought to develop …

An Investigation Of Lgbtq+-Specific Workplace Microaggressions: Their Impact On Job Engagement And The Buffering Effects Of Organizational Trust And Identity Disclosure, Vishal Sooknanan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Minoritized employees are not protected from all forms of discrimination such as microaggressions. These are subtle discriminatory acts, with or without intent to harm, that target minoritized identities. Little research has investigated LGBTQ+ microaggressions even though the community is particularly at risk or tried to discern the unique nature of microaggressions when compared to other forms of subtle discrimination such as incivility. This study tested the relationship between LGBTQ+ microaggressions and job engagement, the roles of organizational trust and outness as moderators, as well as the unique contribution of microaggressions over and above incivility. LGBTQ+ microaggressions were not significantly related …

Individual Differences In Decision-Making And Emotions: A Study Of Alexithymia Using The Columbia Card Task, Kaycee A. Stewart Ms.

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Making effective decisions requires a balance between rational thinking and emotional processing. Optimal decision-making approaches involve carefully analyzing available information to make informed and advantageous choices. This study investigates how people’s ability to identify, process, and express emotions (alexithymia) relates to their decision-making in different emotional contexts. We used the Hot and Cold versions of the Columbia Card Task (CCT) to evaluate how participants make decisions. By analyzing their decisions as a function of their alexithymia levels and three manipulated game parameters (loss probability, loss amount, and gain amount), we discovered that people with higher levels of alexithymia had reduced …

The Development Of The Experiential Impact Of Mental Fatigue Scale, Olivia H. Richards

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Measures of mental fatigue often do not consider daily life experiences, and existing measures fail to distinguish among various, potentially dissociable, ways that mental fatigue manifests. The present studies assessed the validity of the newly created Experiential Impact of Mental Fatigue Scale (EIMFS). Participants (Study 1, n = 365; Study 2, n = 243) responded to 85 items that address the various forms of mental fatigue across different situational contexts. The final scale, analysed through both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, included 22 items that loaded differentially on four factors which I term: emotional consequences, daily life impact, cognitive difficulties, …

Professionals' Application Of Intersectionality With Marginalized Youth: Considerations For Teen Dating Violence Prevention Programming And Beyond, Bradley Kyle Daly

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Marginalized youth disproportionality experience adverse outcomes such as increased rates of mental health issues and teen dating violence. Addressing their compounding concerns requires an approach that considers their interlocking marginalized identities and the oppressive systems impacting them. Intersectionality incorporates both elements, yet the literature on how frontline practitioners understand and apply this complex theory within their practice remains sparse. This integrated-article dissertation explored how professionals working with marginalized youth within various settings, including teen dating violence prevention contexts, understood and applied intersectionality. The first paper (chapter two) used group concept mapping to explore how 12 professionals applied intersectionality. Results yielded …

An Empirical Examination Of The Dyadic Partner-Schema Model Of Relationship Distress And Depression, Jesse Lee Wilde Ms.

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Romantic relationship discord is prevalent in depression and has been repeatedly associated with poor prognosis for the disorder. Although a significant body of literature has examined the ways in which depressive self-schema structures (SSS) are implicated in depression, a paucity of research has investigated the role of partner-schema structures (PSS) in the disorder. The Dyadic Partner Schema Model (DPSM; Wilde & Dozois, 2019) was recently developed as a novel theoretical model of the mechanisms that maintain relationship distress in depression. This dissertation provided the first direct empirical examination of the DPSM by examining four main research questions: (1) how are …

Economics Or Culture? Measuring Economic Thinking And Cultural Enrichment Beliefs About Immigration., Paolo Aldrin Palma

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present work attempts to distinguish people’s economic concerns about immigration from their (anti-)diversity attitudes, and examines how these economic concerns influence attitudes towards immigrants. To do this, we develop a scale to assess economic thinking and cultural enrichment beliefs about immigration (ETI/CBI). Economic thinking was associated with personality and ideological traits related to viewing the world as competitive and anti-diversity attitudes. Cultural enrichment beliefs on the other hand, were associated with traits associated with a preference for equity and pro-diversity orientations. Furthermore, economic thinking was associated with greater preferences to reduce immigration for all migrant groups except economic migrants, …

Exploring The Impact Of Mood States On Motivation To Consume Food And Non-Food Rewards In Individuals With Loss Of Control Eating, Kendall M. Schmidt

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction. Loss of control (LOC) eating episodes are eating episodes in which an individual feels they cannot control what or how much they are eating, regardless of the amount of food consumed. These episodes are associated with significant psychological distress, psychiatric comorbidity, and reduced quality of living. Both negative affect and heightened reward processing of food have been posited as mechanisms that contribute to LOC eating. However, few studies have investigated whether negative affect influences reward processing of food and/or non-food rewards in individuals with LOC eating. Understanding how purported mechanisms of LOC work in conjunction may help to …

The Concept Of Trust In Newly-Formed Versus Long-Term Romantic Relationships, Omar Jordan Camanto

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Trust, a fundamental principle upon which social relationships are predicated, is axiomatically thought to develop for someone by virtue of time spent and past experiences with that someone. However, existing data suggest that trust for a romantic partner already manifests at unvaryingly high quantities from the earliest stages of the relationship onward. Via measurement modelling, we investigated the extent to which the construction of trust – harkening to the intra-psychic entity itself, rather than the measured quantity – varies and addresses different psychological meaning at different stages of romantic relationships. Across two studies (Study 1, N = 464; Study 2, …

Psychometric Validation Of The Team Resilience Inventory, Alexander J. Mcgregor 6971928

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Work teams frequently face adversities that may affect group processes and ultimately lead to a loss of performance. Despite a large literature on the characteristics of high-performance work teams, we know little about the processes by which teams resist, persist through, adapt to, recover from, or otherwise be resilient to challenges that they encounter. In part, this is due to the lack of a psychometrically sound and well-validated measure for team resilience; how work teams collectively respond to and ‘bounce back’ from adversities. The present dissertation project addresses this need in the literature through the development and validation of the …

What Is Good Sex, And For Whom? A Psychometric Perspective, Nini Longoria

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research has demonstrated that satisfying sex is a crucial element for sexual health. However, what makes good sex good, and for whom, are often not explored, and these conceptualizations are critical to equitable sexual health promotion. I therefore explored different groups’ good sex constructions using novel psychometric methods (i.e., applying qualitative meaning-making interpretations to bifactor-specific invariance tests). I recruited 13 diverse groups (N = 3,141) consisting of: gay, lesbian, queer, bisexual, heterosexual, cisgender, non-binary, kink and non-monogamous identities. I asked participants the extent to which they considered 67 sexual behaviors as representing “good sex.” Pairwise invariance tests revealed different …

A Scoping Review Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In Higher Education, Sarah Caimano

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a transdiagnostic intervention that holds promise in improving well-being across various contexts. The current scoping review aims to examine the literature on the use of ACT interventions in higher education to improve aspects of student well-being and academic outcomes. Chapter 2 summarizes the results of the review and includes 34 peer-reviewed empirical research articles that applied ACT interventions with higher education students. Online and in-person interventions were both widely used and found to be effective. Though these outcomes are promising, nearly half of the articles reviewed provided insufficient detail to allow for replication and …

Affectivity And Its Role In Predicting Sociometric Position In Small Group Networks, Roy Hui

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

An individual’s tendency to experience positive emotions can impact the likelihood they find themselves in advantageous positions within their social circle. Adopting a network perspective to map social relations, the current study examined the extent to which dispositional positive affectivity predicts one’s eigenvector centrality and indegree centrality within interaction networks and status networks, respectively. Gathering data during the Fall of 2023, I collected data from 16 student clubs and the members within them and utilised multilevel modeling to disaggregate data. Controlling for individual demographics and group-structure variables, the results suggest that dispositional positive affectivity significantly predicted eigenvector centrality for interaction …

Exploring The Experience Of Disclosing In The Workplace, Jillian Auger

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

An alarming rate of workplace violence/harassment is observed each year, with negative outcomes that affect the organization (i.e., financial loss) and those directly involved (i.e., job loss, financial strain, fear of being blamed, being labeled a ‘troublemaker’). The literature indicates that, for many victim-survivors, there is little hope for positive outcomes following a disclosure of workplace violence/harassment. In fact, some studies show that negative reactions to disclosure can compound and intensify the impact of violence/harassment on psychological functioning. However, minimal research has been devoted to the experiences of victim-survivors regarding the outcomes of a disclosure. Utilizing virtual semi-structured interviews, the …

Identifying Cognitive Profiles In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders Using Online Cognitive Testing, Abagail Hennessy

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are characterized by diverse cognitive deficits. Early identification of cognitive deficits is fundamental to improving academic and emotional/behavioural outcomes in children. Creyos has pioneered online cognitive testing which assesses working memory, attention, reasoning and verbal abilities. We developed audiovisual instructions for the task battery and implemented them in an online sample of children ages 4-16 with ADHD (n = 83), ASD (n = 37), and typically developing children (TD) (n = 86), to determine whether unique cognitive profiles would emerge. Four tasks reflective of working memory, …

Using Virtual And Augmented Reality To Teach Children On The Autism Spectrum With Intellectual Disabilities: A Scoping Review, Emily M. Erb

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In recent years, both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology have shown great promise for the instruction of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by simulating real-world experiences in a safe and controlled environment. However, there are many reports of the failure of such research to include individuals with both ASD and Intellectual Disability (ID). The present scoping review consists of 20 studies which utilized VR/AR to teach various skills to children and youth with comorbid ASD and ID. Findings show that within the small number of eligible studies, a great deal of variation exists in essentially every …

Non-Directed Time, Danial Derakhshan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Non-Directed Time is a sixteen-minute composition for mixed septet and soundtracks. Its two movements are entitled Brainwash and Introduction. The piece aims to challenge listeners' perception of passing time through gradual transformations between timeless, non-directional musical textures to moments of textural clarity and directionality. The musical material in my composition repeats at both large-scale and micro-scale levels, developing an alternative musical time structure and a sense of familiarity. Thus, changes in repeating material affect the experience of this time structure, in which time seems to expand and contract. Because these changes are gradual and their goals are unpredictable, listeners may …

Self-Worth And Identity: The Influence Of Workplace Violence And Harassment In Canadian Workplaces, Chelsea Reid

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

As innately social beings, individuals crave acceptance and yearn to find a sense of purpose in life. More often than not, this sense of purpose is linked to careers or roles within a system. Examination of individuals’ perception of self-worth following acts of violence in the workplace is limited. The gap in the literature on self-worth following experiences of violence and harassment is critical to explore because not only is self-worth linked to overall well-being, but individuals also vary in outcomes following the survival of violence (Breines et al., 2008; Sojo et al., 2016). Violence within the workplace is evident …

Culture And Identity In Relation To Mental Wellness For The Haudenosaunee Community, Rammiyaa Devanathan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Since the arrival of European settlers, Indigenous peoples have experienced immeasurable adversities. The intergenerational trauma caused by colonization and legislation aimed at cultural desecration has contributed to mental health concerns. Assimilation policies that made cultural practises illegal pushed knowledge and ceremonies underground and led to cultural and spiritual disconnection. The effects of colonization are as pervasive today as they were in the past. Western models of psychological intervention are antithetical to Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing. As a result, mainstream mental health services have had limited effectiveness. Existing mental health literature on Indigenous peoples is largely rooted in a …

Assessing The Relationships Between Self-Compassion, Perfectionistic Types, Resilience, And The “Big Five”, Clara A. Baker

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Self-compassion is a non-evaluative, protective, and positive attitude comprised of three components: (a) self-kindness, whereby in times of suffering or failure, one is understanding towards themselves, (b) common humanity, referring to the understanding that one’s experiences are part of a larger collective experience, and (c) mindfulness, where one remains conscious of painful thoughts without over-identifying with them (Neff, 2003a). Increasing self-compassion has been shown to improve mental health outcomes, and is related to the concepts of perfectionism, trait resilience, and the five-factor model of personality (Macbeth & Gumley, 2012). The current study assessed the relationships between adaptive, maladaptive, and non-perfectionism …

Working Memory During The Menstrual Cycle: A Study Of The Role Of The Different Phases Of The Menstrual Cycle On Working Memory, Daniella Brownrigg

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigated the role of the menstrual cycle phases (Follicular, Luteal and Menstruation) on working memory components (verbal and visuospatial). Eighty-eight undergraduate students attending Brescia University college completed a survey regarding: demographics, menstrual cycle information and working memory cognitive tasks. The cognitive tasks were the Corsi Block Tapping Test and a shorter version of the Hooper Visual Organization test for visuospatial working memory; and the Forward Digit Span Test and the Semantic Verbal Fluency Subset: Animals from the Barcelona Test for verbal working memory. Participants were categorized into the different menstrual phases they were experiencing. No significant differences were …

The Effects Of Intimacy And Parental Bonding On The Psychological Well-Being Of University Aged Women, Samantha G. Delmage

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigated whether students who had high perceived parental bonding and low fear of intimacy would have a more positive level of psychological well-being. Additionally, the study sought to determine any differences between a single parent household and a two parent household. The sample consisted of 93 female undergraduate students in University in London, Ontario. An independent t-test revealed there was no significant differences in bonding between a single parent household and a two parent household. A multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived parental bonding and fear of intimacy were significant predictors of psychological well-being. A significant positive correlation …

Social Connectedness And Its Relation To Perceived Stress And Loneliness, Foluke Olusegun-Emmanuel

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study evaluated university students’ levels of overall social connectedness, perceived stress, loneliness, and strength of social connection with different groups (family, friends, classmates, instructors, university community). Associations between the aforementioned factors were also investigated, and time-related changes to 2020-21 data during COVID-19. Undergraduate students (n = 100) at a university in London, Ontario, completed a questionnaire comprising the Social Connectedness Scale, questions about the strength of social connections with different groups, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. A correlational analysis revealed significant, negative correlations between social connectedness and perceived stress and loneliness. A repeated measures ANOVA …

Exploring Support Seeking Behaviours Of First-Year Students To Predict Academic Performance, Easha Faisal

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Academic performance during first year is critical in determining student retention rates, later undergraduate performance, and career related prospects. Previous literature has assessed importance of predictors individually. This study combined predictors to develop a model to predict academic performance of first-year students (n = 90) based on motivated learning strategies and on-campus resource use. An online survey was created to evaluate students’ help-seeking (HS), peer learning (PL), self-efficacy (SE), perceived social support (PSS) and access to social support (SSA) and academic support (ASA) resources. Consistent with previous research, SE was the strongest predictor of academic performance. Additionally, HS, SE, ASA, …

The Impact Of Sleep On Academic Burnout With The Effects Of Perceived Stress And General Well-Being, Julia D. Davidson

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigated the correlation between sleep deprivation, sleep quality, perceived stress, and general well-being and whether they were risk or protective factors for academic burnout. The sample consisted of 61 female undergraduate students at Brescia University College and participants completed an online questionnaire. A correlational analysis and multiple regression model revealed a significant positive correlation with the three studied factors namely sleep deprivation, sleep quality, and perceived stress with academic burnout. However, general well-being was not significantly correlated. The model that best predicted burnout scores included the variables of sleep deprivation, sleep quality, and perceived stress. Together, these findings …

Effects Of Childhood Activities On Spatial Skills, Bronwyn Lacey

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigated the association between childhood activities and later spatial abilities. Additionally, the impact of sex and hometown was tested. Undergraduate students completed a demographics question asking about their hometown, along with the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction (SBSOD; Hegarty et al., 2002) questionnaire, the Card Rotation Test (CRT; Ekstrom et al., 1979), the newly revised version of the SAQ, the Southern California Spatial Activities Questionnaire (SoCalSAQ; Munns et al., 2022), the Paper Folding Test (PFT; Ekstrom et al., 1976), and the Childhood Wayfinding Experience (CWE; Lawton & Kallai, 2002)) questionnaire. The results indicated a non-significant association between childhood …

Psychology 3840g: Taking Out The Trash: Towards Responsible Waste Management Among London’S Post-Secondary Student Residents, Wendy Ellis, Noah Laskey, Sarina Lizotte, Bram Richmond

Community Engaged Learning Final Projects

The City of London’s off-campus student population exhausts much of the Waste Management Department’s time and resources with their irresponsible waste disposal habits. To better understand the factors affecting student waste mismanagement, a Qualtrics survey was administered on problematic streets populated largely by post-secondary students. This survey examined whether understanding one’s waste management expectations translated into responsible waste disposal. The survey also explored the impact of environmental, economic, and community concerns on waste management behaviours. Finally, students answered questions regarding perceived barriers to responsible waste management. Analyses revealed that students who understand waste management expectations are more likely to responsibly …

“Is That My Agenda Or Is That Serving The Client?”: Perspectives Of Social Justice-Oriented Counsellors On Working With Clients Who Express Oppressive Views, Lily G. Mackenzie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Current North American public discourse is strongly influenced by widespread sociopolitical divide. Given that sociopolitical events seem to permeate conversations in the therapy room (Farber, 2018; MacLeod, 2013), it is essential that therapists are prepared to navigate conversations with clients who have beliefs different from their own. This qualitative study explored the experiences of Canadian social justice-oriented counsellors who have worked with clients with oppressive views. Seven counsellors were interviewed about their experiences of working with oppression in the therapy room. Through qualitative content analysis, informed by a phenomenological approach, five core themes emerged: effect of personal identities, determination of …