Psychology Commons^™

The Academic Self-Esteem Of Higher Education’S Lgbtq+ Students, Tory Cline

Scholars Week

LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer) students' academic self-esteem is underresearched, particularly among college students. Academic self-esteem refers to students' self-esteem regarding their ability to perform well in school. Past research shows that academic performance and academic self-esteem are strongly correlated with one another (Smith et al., 1998). Among high school students, it was found that LGBTQ+ victimization was correlated with worse academic performance and that the presence of a GSA (gay-straight alliance) was predictive of lower levels of victimization (Kosciw et al., 2013). With the vast majority of research on this matter being conducted on high school students, …

Homonegativity Is Predicted By Sexism And Attitudes Towards Women, Torii Doran

Scholars Week

Homonegativity is predicted by sexism and attitudes towards women

This study observed the relation between homonegativity, sexism, and attitudes towards women. The LGBTQ+ community has faced long-standing struggles which is why continued research to grow understanding of the root causes of the disparities that impact the LGBTQ+ community are so important. The current study looked to expand on previously literature that had previously explored homonegativity’s association with overall sexism, by examining hostile sexism, benevolent sexism, and attitudes towards women, specifically (Bernuy & Noe, 2017; Etengoff & Lefevor, 2021; Polimeni et al., 2000). We hypothesized homonegativity would be positively correlated with …

Correlates Of Anti-Asexual Bias In The Bible Belt, Lauren Robinson

Scholars Week

Many studies focus on LGBTQIA+ individuals in the United States, but there are fewer studies about asexuality, especially in the Bible Belt: a collection of states in the Southeast with populations having increased rates of conservatism, religiosity, and expectations of traditional gender and sexuality norms (Baunach et al, 2009). The purpose of the study was to examine anti-asexual bias and its relation to different variables in college-age students who attended college and/or lived in the Bible Belt. It was hypothesized political positioning, ethnic and racial background, religiosity/spirituality, adherence to social norms, traditional vs egalitarian gender roles, and pathologizing of asexual …

Uncharted Territory: Researching The Effect Of Implicit Bias On The Political Attitudes Of Black Participants, Briona Young

Scholars Week

Extant research suggests that implicit bias can predict behavior such as voting, policy preferences, and assessment of government performance (Pérez 2010). Yet, research on implicit bias has largely excluded people of color, leaving a wide gap in our understanding of implicit bias and its effects on society (Orey, 2013). In this study, we research implicit bias within the black community and test its effects on political attitudes. We administer Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT) and a survey to measure levels of implicit bias and subsequently policy preferences and trust in government. We expect to find that the black participants with …

Substance Use, Gender Differences, And Peer Influence Among College Students, Mary Hurst

Scholars Week

Abstract

College students all around the country have encounters with peers, in which they are pressured to consume alcohol or other substances. This research project investigates the extent to which gender and social anxiety influence an individual's likelihood to conform to peer pressure in the context of substance use. Conformity to peer pressure and its relationship to substance use is a critical area of study due to its implications for public health, prevention strategies, and gender-specific interventions. We will be assessing the potential of social anxiety and peer pressure influencing binge drinking on college campuses. We expect that (1) peer …

Motives And Mental Health In Adults, Jessica Pendley

Scholars Week

The relation between depressive symptomology and SU has been previously established; however, there is a lack of a consistent pattern of comorbidity (Swendsen & Merikangas, 2000). Further understanding of factors that contribute to or strengthen this relation is essential as these may be targets for intervention. Models of both SU and depression include two motivational processes, approach and avoidance (Ertel et al., 2018; Trew, 2011).

SU motives, or the reasons why individuals use substances, can be subdivided based on the functions underlying SU; 1) to avoid unpleasant states, either externally (i.e., using substances to avoid rejection from others; conformity) or …

Does Self-Esteem And Gender Attitudes Affect Sexual Prejudice Among Young Adults?, Kaid Marek

Scholars Week

The overarching aim of the current research is to better understand what predicts prejudice associated with lesbian and gay individuals and eventually inform prevention and intervention efforts. Given that sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) individuals are 2.7 times more likely to be victims of violent crimes compared to heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, and 45% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide within 2022, this body of research is necessary and vital. The current study expands previous research by proposing two different models predicting sexual prejudice; both which combine individual factors (e.g., self-esteem), perception of group norms based on gender (e.g., dominance …

Student Characteristics And The Workplace, Macy Barron, Torrie E. Cline

Scholars Week

As the cost of higher education rises (Gardner, 2022) many are beginning to question just how much completing a college degree helps to prepare them for the workforce (Forbes, 2017, Gerth, 2017). The purpose of this investigation is to examine the perceptions of college students on their employability including the ways in which their own characteristics may relate to these perceptions. Data collection is currently underway. Students will report their perceived employability (EmployABILITY scale, Bennet & Ananthram, 2021; and Employability Scale, Rothwell et al., 2008), demographic characteristics (age, gender, major, year in college, etc.) temperament (Adult Temperament Questionnaire, Evans & …

Student Learning Characteristics And Preferences, Erin Mcdaniel

Scholars Week

Making the transition from high school to college can be a stressful event for any future college student; however, research shows that those difficulties were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic (Husky et al., 2020; Li et al., 2021) In a previous study, data indicated that during the pandemic, students had a difficult time staying on task and expressing self-discipline when it came to school-work. Despite these difficulties, however, students still showed promising trends in being self-aware that they would have to increase their study habits thus resulting in a higher GPA. The purpose of this present study is to determine …

Striking Out Or Hitting A Homer: Relationship Between Sport Fandom And Dating, Emily Kinsey

Scholars Week

Striking Out or Hitting a Homer: Relationship between Sport Fandom and Dating

Emily H. Kinsey

Murray State University

Sport fandom runs deeper than simply cheering for a favorite team. Rather, it assists in meeting powerful, innate human needs, such as sharing a connection that facilitates the need to belong (Wann & James, 2019). Previous research has suggested that men with a high interest in sport tend to view females who share this high level of interest more positively than females showing little interest in sport (Wann, Schinner, & Keenan, 2001). Given this, I was interested in extending this line of …

Personality Traits In The Workplace: Examining The Light Triad And Its Relationship With Job Satisfaction, Sarah Overton

Scholars Week

The expanding psychological research into several “dark traits” of one’s personality (Moshagen et al., 2018) has presented a void in examining more positive characteristics. In recent years, Kaufman and colleagues (2019) developed the “Light Triad” to provide a more holistic perspective on humankind. The Light Triad is a construct encompassing benevolent personality traits, including humanism, faith in humanity, and Kantianism. Most relevant to the current study, Kaufman and colleagues (2019) found a significant relationship between the Light Triad and life satisfaction. Furthermore, life satisfaction is also positively correlated with job satisfaction (Rice et al., 1980). Given these relationships, it was …

Effects Of Self-Efficacy And Motivation On Self-Disclosure Through Artwork, Abigail Emerson

Scholars Week

Art therapy provides a non-verbal method for individuals to express themselves and process their experiences (Luzzatto & Gabriel, 2000). Self-disclosure of emotional states and personal experiences through art and creative activity is important for clients to experience the full benefits of art therapy (Haeyen, Chakhssi, & Van Hooren, 2020). Self-disclosure occurs when individuals willingly reveal information about themselves and their experiences (Wheeless & Grotz, 1976), but some individuals may be reluctant to engage in this process. Clients may also experience differing levels of motivation for therapy, and although intrinsic motivation generally leads to the greater investment in any activity, many …

Understanding Mental Health Stigma, Lainie K. Krumenacker

Scholars Week

Understanding Mental Health Stigma

Lainie K. Krumenacker

Problem or Purpose

Mental illness affects nearly 1 in 5 adults according to the National Institute of Mental Health and yet discrimination against mental illness is not only relevant, but considered a risk factor as stigma can be responsible for treatment delay. Individuals suffering from mental illnesses may not seek treatment, as they may fear they will be regarded negatively which can lead to detrimental health outcomes (Shrivastava, et al., 2022). Where is the disconnect if so many adults are experiencing mental illness? Why isn’t it more widely researched with a solution focus, …

The Storm Is Coming: Analyzing The Belief In Q-Anon, Hillary Copeland

Scholars Week

The Storm is Coming: Analyzing the Belief in Q-Anon

Conspiracy theories can broadly be defined as constructed attempts to provide monocausal explanations for high-profile social and political events with a premise of secretive malicious intent to further push the agenda of powerful, evil-minded groups that seek to pursue goals in direct opposition of less powerful groups (Douglas, Sutton, & Cichocka, 2017; van Prooijen & van Vugt, 2018). One conspiracy theory which has recently gained prominence is known as Q-Anon. Proponents of Q-Anon believe that criminals have risen to power who abuse children and take advantage of Americans to advance their …

Put Yourself In Their Shoes: Empathy And Thinking Patterns, Tyler Robinson

Scholars Week

Fewer social maxims are repeated more than to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes.” This sentiment encourages empathy by prompting one to change their entrenched thinking patterns. Empathy can be thought of as an active attempt to understand another’s perspective or the visceral sensation of identifying with another's emotions (i.e., cognitive or affective empathy; Davis, 1983). Recently, research has identified a relationship between empathy and self-serving cognitive distortions (Grieve & Panebianco, 2013). Cognitive distortions refer to predictable and inaccurate patterns of thinking. Self-serving cognitive distortions are a form of distorted thinking patterns that are steeped in self-centered attitudes, thoughts, and …

Exploring Relationships Between Perfectionism, Social Anxiety, And Post-Event Rumination, Xavier Brown, Patrick Cushen

Scholars Week

Disruptive cognitive biases are often problems for people with anxiety-related disorders. For those individuals with social anxiety, one common bias is negative post-event rumination. This bias involves people with social anxiety remembering and distorting past experiences by focusing on negative details and perceptions. This bias may also be key to maintaining social anxiety as it feeds into the cycle of distress associated with social experiences. Another factor that may relate to a person’s likelihood of demonstrating this bias is their level of perfectionism. Two aspects of perfectionism may be related to post-event rumination: socially prescribed perfectionism (thinking that others expect …

Gender Differences And Social Judgements Of Face Masks, Katherine Link, Daphne J. Jackson, Jessica M. Criddle, Jana Hackathorn

Scholars Week

This study seeks to investigate whether face masks influence social judgements of first impressions. Ratings of trustworthiness in strangers has been linked to smiling and facial features. With the Coronavirus pandemic still running rampant in today’s society it has become a social norm to wear a face mask out in public. Due to the fact that a facemask obscures half of an individual’s face, it is expected that the presence of a face mask will influence first impressions. Additionally, gender differences have also been associated with social judgments, in that females are often perceived more positively (e.g., trustworthy) than males. …

Self-Compassion, Anticipatory Anxiety, And Fear Of Evaluation In Social Anxiety, Brooke Short, Alexandria Sherman, Kayla Clarke, Jacob Barnette

Scholars Week

Self-compassion involves treating yourself with kindness instead of judgement, understanding that pain and failure is experienced by everyone instead of isolating oneself, and being mindfully aware of painful thoughts and feelings instead of ruminating on them (Neff, 2003). The present study is interested in self-compassion's effect on social anxiety; it is a replication of a recent study (Harwood & Kocovski, 2017) and an attempt to extend its findings. Harwood and Kocovski (2017) found that, among participants higher in social anxiety, those who completed a self-compassion writing task experienced less anticipatory anxiety before a speech task in comparison to those who …

(S)He Said What Behind My Back: The Negative Effects Of Gossip, Hillary Copeland

Scholars Week

Gossip can be defined as communication within a social context directed towards the evaluation of absent others (Foster, 2004), and likely evolved as an advantage for our ancestors to build social bonds and maintain group stability (Dunbar, 2004). The ubiquitous nature of gossip suggests significant influences on group dynamics, particularly when associated with factors related to social functions, such as influence, friendship, information, or entertainment (Foster, 2004; Peters et al., 2017; Wu et al., 2016). The current study examined the effects of gossip on the evaluations of absent targets. Undergraduate participants (N = 128) were presented with short biographies …

Can I Hit Your Juul? Nicotine Motives & Accessibility In College Students, Ashlen Grubbs

Scholars Week

The purpose of this project was to examine the associations between nicotine dependency, motives, and the impact of new laws on college student nicotine patterns. Motives for smoking can also be analyzed through categorizing motives into primary and secondary motives (Piasecki, et. al., 2011). Primary motives are reasons such as habit, tolerance, cravings, and loss of control (Piasecki, et. el., 2011). All motives for smoking have been shown to have a positive correlation with nicotine dependence except smoking to lose weight and for socialization (McEwen, et. al., 2008). Yet conflicting research by Aloise-Young, Grant, and Hansen (1994) indicates that smoking …

Face Masks And Ambiguity In Expressions: A Barrier To Social Affiliation?, Jessica Criddle, Daphne J. Jackson, Katherine D. Link

Scholars Week

First impressions are a key component of the formation of social relationships. Facial expressions and facial features inform impressions leading to social affiliation, such as trustworthiness. The usage of face masks, common with the incidence of COVID-19, veils features giving information on trustworthiness, attractiveness, and other factors informing social impressions. Existing literature shows ambiguity in expressions and in social situations can make individuals less trusting of others. This is prevalent in those intolerant of uncertainty or with a high need for closure, which is the need to find answers in ambiguous situations. Together, these findings suggest that ambiguity of facial …

Am I Laughing At What You're Laughing At?: The Relationship Between Humor And Empathy, Connor Brown

Scholars Week

How and when does someone decide to tell a joke? The current study is focused primarily on examining the relationship between using humor to communicate and empathy. It was hypothesized that there will be a positive correlation between using humor to communicate and empathy. This furthers previous research which has only commonly looked at enjoying humor as it correlates to empathy (Hampes, 2001; 2010). The current study was administered as an online survey to undergraduate participants (N = 70), and measured using communicative humor, and empathy, as well as other individual difference traits such as openness and conscientiousness. Results of …

Asian American Happiness: A Preliminary Analysis, Kris Tran, Hannah Proctor

Scholars Week

Happiness has been a long celebrated and pursued goal throughout the history of man. As the field of cross-cultural psychology looks to expand research boundaries, Asian Americans experience a unique blend of multiple cultures, and as a result, also hold a unique perception of happiness and subjective well-being. To understand their experience, we assessed relevant studies of life satisfaction in Asian American groups to uncover their population’s true mean level of happiness. We also looked to systematize and collate the various theories impacting Asian American happiness, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of subjective well-being and happiness overall.

Value-Aligned Behavior & Psychological Flexibility: Exploring Relationships Between Seeking Mental Health Services And Core Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Processes, Morgan Brewington

Scholars Week

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, the sense of self as context, committed action, and values (Hayes et al., 2006). Valued living, or acting in line with personal values, includes behaviors that are personally meaningful and intrinsically engaging (Smout, et al., 2014). Behavior aligning with values has been related to lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as lower impairment for individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress symptoms, pain, or other psychological stressors (Fox et al., 2019). Psychological flexibility, particularly low experiential avoidance, aids in valued living (Fox et al., 2019). Approaches such as ACT …

Emotions & Satisfaction: Does Emotional Contagion Make The Heart Grow Fonder?, Morgan Brewington

Scholars Week

Existing research identifies strong links between empathy within couples and relationship quality, often helping to cope with difficult life events (Levesque et al., 2014). Similarly, emotional contagion is the process of mirroring the expressions and affect of others, but going further to adopt the emotions that were mimicked (Doherty, 1997). Some research identifies a positive relationship between contagious emotions and relationship quality but impacts of empathy and emotional contagion in relation to sexual and relational satisfaction are yet to be investigated (Mazzuca et al., 2019). The interpersonal theory of depression includes the contagion of negative affect, by which depressed individuals …

I Couldn't Decide On A Title: The Relationship Between Parenting Style And Indecisiveness, Brooke Short

Scholars Week

The way a child is raised has been proven to be related to many characteristics that they take on as an adult. Indecisiveness is one characteristic, and it has commonly been examined through the lens of career indecision. There is little exploration of indecisiveness as a trait in relation to parenting style. Current literature also presents contradicting findings from different countries, and there has been limited inquiry within the United States. In these respects, the present study aimed to supplement the existing research. Participants were primarily female and Caucasian, and between 18 and 22 years old. Participants were asked to …

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: Edgar Allan Poe's Use Of Concealment, Alyssa Hubbard

Scholars Week

In his short stories “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Black Cat,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe uses the act and outcomes of concealment as a way to deal with guilt and introduce consequence. By examining each of these examples, we can see that how and where Poe's narrators hide the bodies of their victims directly impacts their mental health and how quickly their crimes are discovered.

Dating Apps: Quick Sex On The Maps, Hannah Hays

Scholars Week

Geosocial (i.e., location-based) dating apps are an increasingly popular way in which people meet for sexual purposes. For example, Tinder has at least 10 million active users a day (Sumter, Vandenbosch, & Ligtenberg, 2016). At present, little is known about the use of geosocial/location-based dating applications for sexual hookups and the relationship between this behavior and personality constructs. One possibility is that individuals who are highly impulsive are more likely to use geosocial dating apps, specifically for sexual “hookups” (i.e., the partners are not in a committed relationship with one another, the experience is short term, and not likely to …

Early Childhood Stressors And Negative Personality Behaviors, Kyler Joachim

Scholars Week

Early Childhood Stressors and Negative Personality Behaviors

Research is moving away from static to contextual models of understanding personality development, making it imperative to consider daily occurrences, not just biology or significant traumatic events, in personality formation. Temperament has long been considered the innate source of behaviors that later solidify into personality, but behaviors themselves and the conditions that produce and reinforce them are shaped by the daily environment. This behavior-environment interaction is especially important for children experiencing childhood stressors like poverty, food insecurity, and parental aggravation. Non-clinical personality related behaviors may arise from these stressors, which can lead to …

Head Start And Internalizing/Externalizing Behaviors, Camila Ferreira

Scholars Week

Children who attend Head Start program are impacted in externalizing/internalizing behaviors, and many other areas. The abstract explains how the study analyzes these impacts, and how temperament and parental involvement also play a role in behaviors.