Digital Commons Network^™

A Model Of Changeover Behavior In Concurrent Schedules Of Reinforcement, Matias A. Avellaneda

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Animals in the wild have access to a variety of food sources, and they must allocate their time between them in an efficient manner. This requires deciding when to depart from the source currently being exploited to travel to a different one. A general model of this decision process can be derived from three assumptions well supported by the learning literature. The first one is the so-called matching law, which says that the proportion of time allocated to any one behavior equals the proportion of total value obtained from that option. The second one is that the dwell times (i.e., …

The Impact Of Visually Presented Distractor Taboo Words During A Bilateral Attention Task, Chloe Taylor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Attention is a limited resource. Some events are able to capture one’s attention more efficiently than others, such as swear or sexual words. These events have preferential access to attentional resources and increase our arousal levels due to the activity of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. We investigate how well swear/sexual words capture peoples’ attention and interpret these effects in terms of norepinephrine activity.

Participants performed a visual task where they responded to different shapes presented while ignoring neutral or swear/sexual words presented on opposing sides of the computer screen.

Participants were significantly more inaccurate in identifying the shape present when …

Investigating The Effects Of Sod1 Knockout On Oxidative Stress And Stress Coping Styles In Zebrafish Using Crispr Technology, Tai Prauner, Ryan Wong

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Reactive oxygen species are byproducts of cellular metabolism that, when not efficiently neutralized, can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide radicals into less harmful molecules. While its molecular function is well documented, the role of SOD1 in shaping stress-related behavior remains underexplored. This project aimed to establish foundational tools for studying the behavioral impact of SOD1 knockout across proactive and reactive stress-coping styles in zebrafish.

To support future gene-editing experiments, microinjection and breeding protocols were refined across wildtype AB, proactive, and reactive zebrafish lines. No embryos were injected with CRISPR-Cas9 …

The Psychology Of Morbid Fascination: The Role Of Spectatorship In Executions, Rubbernecking, Dark Tourism, And True Crime Consumption, Sydnee L. Hope

Honors Theses

This literature review examines the general idea of morbid fascination through the lens of spectatorship. The questions that this paper will attempt to answer and contribute knowledge towards are, “What is the psychology behind morbid fascination?” and “Why are humans drawn to the macabre?”. This paper will use a myriad of different sources such as books, peer-reviewed articles, personal accounts, documentaries, podcasts, and different studies from the psychological, criminal justice, and philosophical fields of study to very carefully review, report, compile, and add new theories onto the information provided. The sections discussed throughout will fall under four categories: Public Executions, …

Adaptation Challenges In Scene-Specific Visual Search For Individuals With Asd, Carmen Ovalle

Honors Theses

This research investigates how individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) process category information and adapt to changing visual environments during search tasks. Drawing on Enhanced Perceptual Functioning and Weak Central Coherence theories, the study examines whether individuals with ASD rely more on detailed, exemplar-based templates compared to neurotypical individuals. Two experiments manipulated category-color associations within real-world scene contexts using match and mismatch conditions to assess visual search efficiency and cognitive flexibility. While no statistically significant group differences were found, a trending effect suggested that neurotypical participants may engage in more scene-based processing. These findings contribute to a growing body of …

Cultural Of Authenticity And Commodification: Analyzing The Aesthetic Waves And Collective Culture In The 2010s And 2020s, Stefanny Leung Yu

Student Theses

The “authentic self” is curated, aestheticized, and most notably, commodified. Digital algorithms, likes, views, and engagement are more than just digital metrics, they are the management of performance. For millions of other users — including the author herself — social media is the locus of personal expression. Most notably, sites like Tumblr, where users in the 2010s posted hazy images or overly filtered graphics along with melancholic song lyrics that match the vibe of the moment, expression was earnest and idealized. Today, social media in the 2020s, new creators like Hannah Neelaman, better known as Ballerina Farm, dress in pastoral …

Useful Measures Of Adult Attachment And Object Relations In Psychotherapy, Matilde A. Torallas Huerta

Dissertations

This is a literature review of objective and projective measures of attachment and object relations in adults, with the objective of reviewing outstanding research to identify the key factors for adult attachment assessment considered within attachment and object relations theories, what measures of adult attachment styles and dysfunction work best, and to provide key themes of assistance in the measurement of attachment and object relations in adult clients in psychotherapy. Theoretical foundations of attachment and object relations theory are reviewed as well as objective and projective instruments grouped by format. The 10 themes found to be useful in the assessment …

Psychology Across The Spectrum: Self-Regulation And Emotional Control In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emily Oswald

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This paper explores the complex relationship between self-regulation, emotional control, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emphasizing the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges autistic individuals often face. Drawing on contemporary research, it highlights how self-regulation is linked to cognitive and language development, while difficulties in emotional control can result in increased behavioral problems and mental health issues. The paper examines the dual role of behaviors like stimming—both as coping mechanisms and as forms of authentic self-expression—and addresses the tension between traditional behavioral interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and emerging neurodiversity-affirming practices. This paper also discusses the neurodiversity movement, noting …

Semantic Context Boosts Word Learning From Low-Informative Events, Wilona Boafo, Sumarga Suanda

Honors Scholar Theses

When a toddler hears a new word, its meaning is rarely transparent from the situational context in which the word occurred. Prior work has illustrated the challenge of learning from these low informative naming events (Cartmill et al., 2013; Medina et al., 2011). We investigate whether another feature of the learning environment – the rich semantic structure in which words occur (Tamis-LeMonda et al. 2019; Custode & Tamis-LeMonda 2020) – may help learners overcome low informativity of individual naming events. To test this, we designed a modified version of the Human Simulation Paradigm (HSP) in which adult participants (N = …

Exercise As An Intervention For Postpartum Depression (Ppd), Kylie P. Mistretta

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: To illustrate the applications of exercise for preventing the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and addressing associated risk factors identified in the literature. Data Sources: PubMed and EBSCO: Academic Search Premier were accessed using the search terms exercise OR physical activity OR yoga AND postpartum depression OR postnatal depression. A secondary search of PubMed was conducted using the search terms exercise AND pregnancy AND depression OR gestational diabetes OR weight gain OR sleep quality.

Study Selection: Studies selected for inclusion were peer-reviewed, published after January 2012, written in English, and relevant to the PPD risk factors examined. Only clinical …

Behavioral Factors Contributing To Initiation And Maintenance Of Adolescent Alcohol Consumption In Rats, Alexandra N. Tejada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Adolescent alcohol consumption is a prevalent and significant public health issue. This exposure to alcohol leads to an increased vulnerability to alcohol use disorder (AUD) or other cognitive deficits later in adulthood. The current study aimed to explore the behavioral and circadian factors contributing to the initiation and maintenance of alcohol consumption during adolescence in rats. We investigated whether the baseline social aggression, anxiety-like behaviors, working memory, and sleep/wake activity patterns could be predictors of adolescent ethanol intake. Male and female Long Evans rats (N=36) were tested in the following behavioral assays: social play, open field, and spontaneous alternation tasks, …

Precarious Manhood: Masculinity Threats In Gay Men, Andrew S. Rivera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Manhood is a precarious state that is both sought and easily undermined and demands continual validation from public perceptions. Previous research shows that threats to one's masculinity often coerces reactions of bravado, aggression, and sexual risk-taking behaviors in men in an attempt to reestablish their manhood. However, little empirical attention is paid to deviations of such reactions as a result of varying self-concepts of masculinity and femininity, such as in gay men. In the current study, I explored the different ways in which self-identified masculine and feminine gay men navigate the volatile state of manhood, particularly when confronted with masculinity …

Effect Of Emotional Expression And Teeth Visibility On Facial Processing, Alexandra Ackerman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The N170 is an event-related potential (ERP) component commonly associated with its sensitivities to face stimuli. While mixed literature exists, the N170 has been repeatedly demonstrated to be modulated by emotion. In a highly cited study, Blau et al. (2007) found that the N170 is heavily modulated by emotional expression, with fearful expressions eliciting larger N170 amplitudes than neutral expressions. In their study, however, analysis did not account for variability in mouth positioning in fearful and neutral expressions and how this variability might influence differences observed in amplitudes of the N170. A distinctive feature in the fearful condition was the …

The Moderating Role Of Social Support For Lgbtq People In South Central Appalachia: Present Yet Unimpactful?, Paige Henry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) minority stress theory states that LGBTQ people experience stressors specific to their identity that result in negative mental health outcomes. Social support has been shown to protect against these negative outcomes, but South Central Appalachia is known to be high stigma and low resource for this population. The present study examined the potential moderating impact of four sources of social support (family, friends, partners, and pets) on the relationship between minority stress experiences and psychological distress for LGBTQ people living in South Central Appalachia. Participants included 116 LGBTQ adults living in South Central …

Nature Of Smartphone Use: The Underlying Mechanisms Between Nature Exposure And Urge To Use Social Media, Jia Yi Aw

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The urge to use social media is prevalent and costly in modern society. However, little has been researched on how nature exposure can manage urge to use social media to combat its negative consequences. It was hypothesized that nature exposure through Instagram posts in Study 1 and nature park in Study 2 reduces urge to use social media. The underlying mechanisms were tested in a theory-driven serial mediation model, in which positive emotions, attention restoration and self-regulation served as serial mediators. Study 1 employed Instagram experimental manipulation in a laboratory setting by randomly assigning 206 undergraduates to view Instagram accounts …

Environmental Influences Of Zero-Sum Thinking And Its Outcome, Edison Sora Tan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Zero-sum thinking refers to a generalized mentality or a belief that one person’s gain can only come at the expense of another person’s loss. In this research, I argue that people’s zero-sum thinking is, at least in part, influenced by the interacting characteristics of the environment, namely, resource scarcity and population density. This is because resource scarcity highlights people’s resource insecurity, particularly when population density accentuates potential competition for finite resources. Consequently, zero-sum thinking reduces trust and cooperation as people reduce their commitment to potentially risky social investments. Analysis with data from a large-scale field study and ecological data provided …

What Makes An Experience Meaningful: A Process/Outcome Approach, Clement Yong Hao Lau

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Scant research has investigated how meaning judgement of an experience are derived; even fewer has examined how these judgements shift over time. To address these gaps, the present research introduced Process/Outcome Meaning Model (POMM)—which proposes that meaning can be derived from two distinct aspects of an experience: its process (i.e., the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that unfold during the experience) and its outcome (i.e., the results or consequences that follow). POMM further suggests that changes in perceived outcomes may lead to corresponding shifts in meaning judgements over time. Across three studies, participants wrote about and reflected on their personal (positive …

Interventions Of Eating Habits And Healthy Behaviors, Diego Armando Mazariegos Espinosa

Undergraduate Honors Theses

About thirty to fifty percent of college students report having negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, hopelessness, shame, fear, and more. And over seventy percent feel exhausted or overwhelmed by schoolwork. According to scholarly research, these emotions pose obstacles during college life impacting the eating habits and healthy behaviors of college students. These habits can have a possibility of bringing lifelong issues in social, educational, and self-esteem aspects. Technology has revolutionized the world in a spectacular way in a short period of time. As students today have access to all sorts of technology like phones and computers, the …

Matrix Training Of Verb Tenses With Autistic Children, Alexandra Lynn Ewald

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend the research on matrix training by evaluating its efficacy for producing recombinative generalization of regular verb tense endings. Three autistic children were shown videos of people known to the participants acting out behaviors associated with an action about to take place, currently taking place, or that took place. The targets (actors, actions, and verb tenses) were arranged in a matrix, and the targets appearing along the diagonal of the matrix were directly trained, while the remaining targets were probed to determine if the participant was able to emit correct responses without any …

Investigating Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Signatures Of Opioid-Induced Risk-Taking Behavior, Cana Quave

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Opioid use disorder occurs alongside impaired risk-related decision-making, but the underlying neural correlates are unclear. We developed an approach-avoidance conflict task using a modified conditioned place preference procedure to study neural signals of risky opioid seeking in the prefrontal cortex, a region implicated in executive decision-making. Following morphine conditioned place preference, rats underwent a conflict test in which fear-inducing cat odor was introduced in the previously drug-paired side of the apparatus. While the saline-exposed control group avoided cat odor, the morphine group included two subsets of rats that either maintained a preference for the paired side despite the presence of …

The Backdrop Of Leadership: How Environmental Awe Influences Charisma Attributions, Jack Mcguire, Nicolas Bastardoz, Leonie J. Hentrup, David De Cremer, Jochen I. Menges

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Charisma is often attributed to leaders based on how they look, talk, and behave. Yet very little is known about the role of the physical environment in influencing attributions of leader charisma. The role of the physical environment is crucial because leaders inevitably occupy physical spaces that vary across contexts. In this research, we find that the grandeur of the physical environment, specifically in its ability to induce awe, enhances attributions of charisma for leaders who are not already known to be charismatic. First, in a field experiment, we show that a real business leader is attributed with more charisma …

Adolescent Externalizing Symptoms And Parent Emotion Socialization: An Examination Of Longitudinal Effects And Differences By Adolescent Sex, Cheston West

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is an important developmental context with several changes in social and emotional functioning. Though adolescents are gaining independence from their caregivers, they still engage in dynamic interactions with their caregivers who remain key figures in their lives. When adolescents express emotions, caregivers engage in various behaviors in response to these expressions, a process known as emotion socialization. This process has mostly been examined as a parent-driven construct in which parent emotion socialization impacts child-level outcomes, namely internalizing symptoms, with limited research on externalizing symptoms. However, available literature demonstrates that child-level characteristics (e.g., externalizing symptoms) are linked to differences in …

Parkinson’S Disease And Processing Speed Theory Does Processing Speed Mediate Higher-Order Cognitive Functioning?, Priscilla Cuellar-Rocha

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder resulting in both motor and cognitive deficits. Salthouse (1990) proposed the Information Processing Speed (IPS) Theory that a reduced cognitive processing speed is a significant factor that accounts for the negative relationship between age-related variance and cognition. Parkinson’s is an idiopathic disorder, meaning that the cause is unknown, with most patients being 60 years and older. If the IPS theory suggests that an increased age affects the slowing of IPS, which then impairs cognition, PD, a disorder involving older adults, should also follow this pattern. However, no studies have assessed the IPS theory …

From Activity To Adaptability: Systematic Review On Elevating Adolescent Resilience Through Physical Activity, Kaylee Cowdrey

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The recent increase in mental health concerns among teens showcases the need for accessible solutions that help buffer against psychopathology and build resilience. This systematic literature review looks at various studies to see how physical activity can positively affect resilience in adolescents by enhancing their emotional regulation, self-efficacy, self-esteem, social connections, and brain function. Literature published since 2010 from databases, including APA PsycInfo, PubMed, and Google Scholar, was collected for this analysis. The results of the review found that as adolescents engage in physical activity, there is improvement in coping skills by enhancing emotional regulation, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and social connectedness …

Strengthening The Bonds Between Us: An Empirical Investigation Of Morale In Human-Ai Teams And The Socially Supportive Ai Teammates Who Empower It, Rohit Mallick

All Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) can be designed to improve the collective emotion within a team. A team's collective emotion, or morale, describes how motivated, optimistic, and enthusiastic the group is in accomplishing its goals. We conducted four studies that compared different social support strategies that AI teammates can provide to the team. Study 1A found that AI teammates who communicate with emotions can better motivate human team members and promote awareness of team dynamics and environmental changes. Study 1B found that human teammates become more motivated and happier when their AI teammates express joy and are close …

Associations Between Prenatal Inflammation And Dimensions Of Depressive Symptoms Across The Perinatal Period, Margaret M. Redic

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Risk for depression increases during the perinatal period due to several biological and physiological changes, including fluctuations in inflammation. However, the timing and cytokine-specific effects on depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy are unclear. In this study, we examined relations between four cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α) and depression at multiple time points throughout the perinatal period and investigated the role of dimensions of depressive symptoms in these relationships. We used longitudinal data of 314 mothers in the Early Life Adversity and Biological Embedding Study from the first trimester of pregnancy to the end of the first year postpartum. …

Do All Components Of Psychological Wellbeing Predict Cognitive Function?, Karysa Britton

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Sense of purpose has been consistently associated with cognitive function. However, less is known about the associations between the other five components of wellbeing and cognitive outcomes. The current research aimed to establish which components of wellbeing are most strongly associated with cognitive function. Participants from the Midlife in the United States study (M_Age=56.18, SD=12.38) completed the Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scales (1989) and the Brief Test of Adult Cognition. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the cross-sectional and prospective associations between wellbeing and cognitive function. All six components of wellbeing were significantly and positively …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Embedded Instruction And Item Quality On Activity Selection, Julianne Isabella Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Naturalistic teaching strategies, such as embedded instruction, have been used to effectively teach a variety of skills to individuals diagnosed with ASD and other developmental disabilities. However, the effect of embedding instructions on a child’s play preferences is unknown. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether response allocation is dependent on frequency of demands or quality of items available during preferred activities. We used a concurrent operants arrangement in which a room was divided into two sides and various toys were placed in each with embedded demands available in one side. In Experiment 1, researchers evaluated the time …

Evaluating A Video Modeling Approach To Teach Shelter Volunteers How To Interact With Dogs In The Shelter, Sean Michael Will

Theses and Dissertations

Well-trained volunteers are required to help meet the daily needs of dogs waiting to be adopted in animal shelters and to find new homes for them. Inadequate volunteer training leads to mismanagement and attrition of volunteers who are essential to helping shelter dogs get adopted. However, animal shelters often lack access to the resources and funds required to provide adequate training for volunteers. Using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design, this study evaluated a cost-effective program consisting of video modeling with voiceover instruction, on-screen text, examples, and non-examples that instructed volunteers to interact with the dogs in a specific manner to …

Unbridled Healing: Identifying The Barriers Of Equine-Assisted Therapy, Sally A. Hamm

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the documented benefits of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for mental health conditions, this complementary approach remains underutilized. This qualitative study investigated barriers preventing wider EAT implementation by examining challenges faced by clients, facilities, and volunteers. Data collected through open-ended surveys from 33 participants and the researcher's autoethnographic observations revealed eight common barriers: Accessibility (48 mentions), Money (43), Time (30), Awareness (23), Physical Factors (13), Relationships (13), Risk (13), and Weather (7). Clients identified financial constraints as their primary barrier, particularly insurance limitations. Facilitators struggled most with accessibility challenges, including lack of resources, trained staff, suitable horses, and appropriate facilities. Volunteers …