Digital Commons Network^™

Incentives Influence Congruency Pre-Cue Utilization In The Stroop Task, Christopher O. Nuno

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Prior work using 4-choice conflict tasks has shown that pre-cues signaling the congruency of the following trial tend to produce robust pre-cue benefits (i.e., faster RTs relative to uninformative pre-cues) for congruent but not incongruent trials. The scarcity of evidence for pre-cue benefits on incongruent trials raises the question of whether people can adjust cognitive control on demand, given that incongruent trials uniquely require participants to enact an abstract control setting to ignore the goal irrelevant feature and focus on the goal relevant feature when presented with the pre-cue. One potential explanation is that participants are not sufficiently motivated to …

Navigating The Storm: A Qualitative Metaphor-Based Analysis Of Resilience And Identity Reconstruction Among Displaced Professionals, Erhan Atay, Serkan Bayraktaroglu, Leo Johannesberg

The Qualitative Report

Building on previous management scholarship, this paper explains how Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and metaphorical expressions inform organizational resilience and leadership communication in employee support strategies. It tries to capture the interplay between personal sensemaking and collective adaptation. The study aims to provide practitioners with hands-on insights into developing inclusion, resilience, and identity reconstruction in organizational and societal contexts of disruption. The analysis identifies three critical metaphorical themes: resilience, which is likened to "climbing a mountain;" isolation, which is likened to being "trapped in a bubble;" and identity reconstruction, which is likened to "picking up the shattered pieces of a …

The Founding History Of The Journal Of Conscious Evolution, Charles H. Silverstein

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This article traces the founding history of the Journal of Conscious Evolution (JCE), established by Allan Leslie Combs in 2005. The narrative explores three distinct perspectives on conscious evolution that influenced the journal’s creation: Barbara Marx Hubbard’s emphasis on humanity’s interconnectedness and creative potential, the General Evolution Research Group’s systems theory approach led by Ervin László, and Combs’s integration of the developmental growth of states and structures of consciousness within a conscious evolution framework. The article details how Combs developed the curriculum for the first accredited Master of Arts degree program in Conscious Evolution at The Graduate Institute in Connecticut …

Young Adults And Early-Onset Psychosis: A Grounded Theory Study Of Experiences Of Identity Development, Katherine Hayden-Lewis, Deborah Rubel

The Qualitative Report

While identity development is a crucial task for young individuals ages 15-25, current research inadequately centralizes identity development in the context of first-time psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study addresses the knowledge gap by exploring the grand research question, “How does a young person experience their identity development after the first episode of psychosis?”. Constructivist grounded theory methods influenced by critical frameworks were used to collect and analyze data with seven young adults engaged in first episode psychosis programs. Participants were young adults, between the ages of 19-24, that at the time of the study were enrolled in …

Accuracy Of Student Career Choice: Analysis Of Interest And Personality Match In The Industry 4.0 Era, Nikon Aritonang, I Nyoman Sudana Degeng, M Ramli, Adi Atmoko

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study aims to clarify the high number of college students choosing unsuitable career choices. The impact of choosing an unsuitable career path can significantly hinder the development of Indonesian human resources in the context of the industry 4.0 era. This is caused by shifting paradigms in the recruitment process of most companies or institutions that no longer prioritize a diploma as the key factor in seeking new hires. Instead, there is greater emphasis on the employee's skills, interests, creativity, and innovation, followed by a diploma and achievement index. Descriptive-qualitative design was employed. Samples were collected from college students at …

How Experiencing Eudaimonic Emotions Through Music Shapes Prosocial And Altruistic Behavior: Introducing A Unified Model Of Music-Listening-Induced Eudaimonia (Ummie), Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster, Daniel H. Spitz, Tal-Chen Rabinowitch, Roni Granot

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

This paper introduces the Unified Model of Music-Listening Induced Eudaimonia (UMMIE), which offers an integrated novel theoretical framework to explain how music listening promotes prosocial and altruistic outcomes. Drawing on communication and psychology research, UMMIE maintains that elicitation of eudaimonic emotions can be appraised inwards, towards oneself, and thus contribute to the individual's personal growth, wellbeing, and development, or outwards, by connecting to something bigger than oneself, to humanity in general, which could possibly then lead to enhanced prosocial and altruistic attitudes and behaviors. The model specifies musical, situational, and individual variables that serve as moderators and increase the likelihood …

Perceived Parental Relationship Quality And Adolescent Conscious Bias: Important Links Between Affect, Agency, Gender, And Race/Ethnicity, Amanda Terrall, Michael J. Merten, Thulitha Wickrama

General Human Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Guided by attachment, social cognitive, and ecological systems theories, this study examined the direct and indirect effects of perceived parent-adolescent relationship quality on youths' conscious bias toward individuals facing socioeconomic or minority-related challenges.Methods Data were collected from 702 U.S. 18-year-olds via Qualtrics online panels. Measures included parent relationship quality, negative affect, human agency, and conscious bias (disregard for minority experiences and blaming attitudes).Results The findings revealed that strong parent-teen bonds indirectly influenced conscious bias through psychosocial wellbeing. However, while negative emotions were universally influential, the impact of human agency varied depending on gender and race/ethnicity.Discussion Study findings underscore the …

How Human Personality Will Change With The Use Of Artificial Intelligence, John Mayer

UNH Personality Lab

INTRODUCTION: Human personality changes in response to new habits, situations, and maturation, among other causes. As people interact with artificial intelligence (AI), their personalities are likely to change, from their emotional responses to their self-concept.

METHODOLOGY: This theoretical account draws together empirical studies of how personality changed in response to past technological innovations, changes in personal interactions observed in people’s AI usage, changes that arise from the use and disuse of cognitive skills, and works on the self-concept. Research reports in the review were selected according to their relevance and quality.

THEORETICAL STATEMENT: While AI becomes increasingly human-like, humans increasingly …

An Updated Perspective On Learning, Andrew S. Gibbons Iii

Faculty Publications

The subject of human learning is revisited. The emergence of new research findings in cognitive neuroscience and related disciplines using new imaging tools and techniques has revealed the existence of not one but two complementary learning systems. A newly-discovered prospection process, interacting with both memory systems, has been revealed as the pivotal mechanism of learning that leads to new experience and new memory records. The universal impact of emotion on this process also receives a new emphasis. This, coupled with the ever-present social environment, show learning to be the result of conversational activity. The existence of this more complete and …

Dating In The Digital Age: The Effects Of Parental Rejection, Rejection Sensitivity, And Self-Esteem Among Gender-Diverse Gen Z, Crystal Currie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gen Z, the first digital-native cohort, faces unique challenges in forming romantic relationships, including heightened dating anxiety. While there is extensive research with previous generations on dating anxiety, self-esteem, and early rejection, no study has examined parental rejection, self-esteem, and dating anxiety collectively, particularly in consideration of gender diverse individuals and digital dating platform use. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine (a) predictors of dating anxiety and (b) whether parental rejection during childhood and rejection sensitivity influenced dating anxiety, as well as the role of self-esteem in mediating those predictor variables. The conceptual framework was the interpersonal …

The Impact Of Adverse And Positive Childhood Experiences And Moral Injury On Compassion Fatigue Among Law-Enforcement Officers And First-Responders, Kaylee Nesland

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

More than ever, United States law enforcement officers are overworked, under-trained, and exposed to a great deal of trauma. Societal pressure to display strength and resilience, as well as fears of judgement and loss of job security, inhibit law enforcement officers from accessing psychological treatment and support (Drew & Martin, 2021). Without mental health support in place, compassion fatigue reveals itself, ultimately causing hurt and damage to individuals in law enforcement and those they interact with. This study examined whether adverse or positive childhood experiences affect compassion fatigue among law enforcement officers. Participants of this study—current and historical law enforcement …

Empathy On Trial: The Role Of Neuroscience And Communication In Sexual Violence Jurisprudence, Samantha M. Gonzales

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Sexual violence remains a contentious public safety and legal challenge, which has become further complicated by the tension between supporting victim-survivors and safeguarding the falsely accused. False accusations, though still well below the numbers of rightly accused, are experiencing a rise in popularity given recent (past ten years) political climates. This thesis examines how communication theory, neuroscience, and law intersect in molding perceptions of truth, culpability, and justice in sexual violence cases; while also examining the intersectionality of those fields in addressing the candor of allegations, the rate of recidivism, and quality of public health and safety. The most prominent …

Career Interest And Work Values Of Online Filipino Psychology Graduates: Basis For Retention Program, Henmar C. Cardiño, Erwin B. Sario, Rommel P. Sergio

Social Sciences and Development Review

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the significant association between career interests and workplace values among Filipino online psychology graduates in 2022 and to provide retention strategies for diverse organizations. The study’s goal was to identify the gap between the participants’ career interests and their work values and offer possible retention programs to bridge the gap. The researcher employed a quantitative correlational research design and utilized two research instruments, the RIASEC Test by John L. Holland and the Work Values Inventory by Ronald E. Super, to measure career interest and work values, respectively. In August 2022, a …

Exploring The Recognition Of Internalizing Problems Among Black Students: Delving Into The Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking Pathway, Marketta A. Adams

LSU Master's Theses

The mental health of Black adolescents is a growing concern, with high prevalence rates of internalizing disorders such as anxiety and depression. National studies report that nearly 47% of Black adolescents experience a mental health disorder by age 18, with over 60% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptomology. Despite these alarming rates, Black youth underutilize mental health services, often due to cultural stigma, limited access to culturally competent care, and under-recognition of their mental health needs. This study aimed to explore problem recognition as a key component in the mental health help-seeking pathway for Black adolescents in school settings. Grounded …

“What Are We And What’S Coming Next?”: Queer People’S Experiences During Sociopolitical Unrest In The Us, Ariana Cristal Morales

Master's Theses

Queer (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other gender and sexual identities) folx have become a major focal point during political elections. As political climates have projected forced attacks towards queer populations, society has followed suit. Investigation on the impacts of such changes towards queer folx is important to uncover, as sociopolitical climates have shifted within the last 10 years in the US. The present study utilizes a phenomenological framework to understand the lived experiences of queer participants living in the US from 2015-2025 during political and social shifts. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to explore 10 queer participant’s lived experience …

Renewal Of The Mind: Forgiveness Through The Lens Of Christian Faith And Neuroscience, Khelen Walsh

University Honors Theses

Within Christian theology, forgiveness is a foundational concept that is often understood as a divine command, a spiritual practice, and a path toward reconciliation and personal growth. Recent neuroscientific research further supports this viewpoint, providing data that shows forgiveness engages neural systems responsible for emotional regulation, empathy, moral reasoning, and perspective-taking. Through neuroplasticity, repeated acts of forgiveness reshape the brain, strengthen connections between prefrontal and limbic regions, reduce amygdala reactivity, and enhance emotional stability and cognitive flexibility. Although forgiveness offers many benefits, modern culture frequently distorts its meaning, framing it as a sign of weakness, gullibility, or a form of …

Interrelationships Among Social Media Use, University Social Capital, And Mental Health Outcomes In Undergraduate Students, Md Hasan Howlader

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Mental health concerns among university students have intensified globally, reflected in rising levels of psychological distress, declining life satisfaction, and reduced flourishing. These challenges present urgent implications for public health and higher education policy. Simultaneously, social media use (SMU) has become deeply embedded in students’ daily lives; however, its impact on mental health remains inconclusive. While some studies associate SMU with increased mental health issues, others emphasize its potential to foster social connection. These conflicting perspectives are further complicated by uncertainty regarding the directionality of these relationships—whether SMU influences mental health, or mental health status shapes SMU patterns. Furthermore, existing …

Comparing Gen Z And Millennials’ Experience In Management Trainee Programs And Their Impact On Employee Retention, Jyro B. Triviño, Josh Aidan T. Cue, Liana Beatriz G. Lu, Margaret Louise E. Mil, Gabrielle Marie P. Tamayo, Elisha Ann G. Tan

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

Understanding generational differences in engagement with Management Trainee (MT) programs is crucial for talent development, yet comparative studies linking these experiences to employee retention are limited. This study addressed this gap by investigating the distinct motivations and retention drivers of Filipino Gen Z and Millennial graduates from the MT program. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with six professionals (three Gen Z and three Millennials) who completed structured MT programs in Philippine-based organizations. The data were analyzed using a comparative thematic analysis framework adapted from Braun and Clark. Findings revealed key distinctions in motivations and retention drivers. …

School Shooting Drills Across Grade Levels: What We Know And Don't Know About Student And Teacher Experiences, Katherine Cutié

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

School shooting drills have become a standard component of school safety procedures in U.S. K–12 education, yet their psychological effects remain under-researched. This literature review synthesizes findings from 39 studies published between 1999 and 2025 to describe patterns in how students and teachers experience these drills across grade levels and drill types. Across the literature, anxiety and fear were the most frequently examined student outcomes, while teachers commonly reported stress, concerns about developmental appropriateness, and increased emotional labor during drills. Lockdown procedures were most frequently examined in the reviewed studies, with less research addressing ALICE, Run–Hide–Fight, and simulation drills. Few …

Martial Arts Studies: A Commentary On The Exploration Of Consciousness In Modern Martial Arts, James H. Sutton

Journal of Conscious Evolution

The rapid globalization of martial arts has reconditioned how the beliefs, customs, and philosophies of traditionally based systems are interpreted and applied in modern practice. As contemporary scholarship struggles to accommodate the cultural histories, myths, and traditions that permeate the perception of martial arts in modern contexts, the focus of inquiry has shifted towards explaining cultural variations in practice rather than understanding the nature of self-awareness derived from self-practice. Consequently, the deeper meanings of martial arts as pathways to personal and transpersonal awareness are often invalidated in favor of objective and verifiable explications. In short, the role of consciousness is …

An Examination Of Disparities In Adhd Diagnosis Between Men And Women, Julia Holloway

University Honors Theses

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has become an increasingly popular area of study over the last decade. The rise in cases over the same period likely explains this trend, as does ADHD’s status as one of the most commonly encountered neurodevelopmental disorders. While much of this research has served as an invaluable asset to both practitioners and patients there are still blind spots which have yet to be addressed by the existing body of research. This progress in our understanding of ADHD has gone far in illuminating the biases which have set the precedent for treatment and diagnosis, however, widespread understanding …

Considerations And Guidelines For Clinical Training And Professional Practice In The Area Of Psychotherapy Termination, Elyssa L. Jampolsky

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Treatment termination occurs, invariably, in every psychotherapy relationship. Closing the therapy relationship is often a complex process and requires targeted training for psychotherapists to terminate treatment competently and in a way that preserves gains made and fosters continued client growth. Discontinuation of psychotherapy services requires practitioners to apply ethical knowledge, clinical expertise, and relational boundaries. Further, the nuances of forced, end-of-year termination in clinical training environments necessitates targeted supervision and explicit guidelines. Surprisingly, termination practices are underemphasized in training programs and in the literature. The current paper will review the extant literature related to psychotherapy termination broadly as well as …

Effects Of Mental Health Clinician Characteristics And Education On Willingness To Treat Child Problematic Sexual Behavior, Debra Elise Hutchison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children aged 12 and under who exhibit problematic sexual behavior (PSB) often face barriers to care due to clinicians’ limited willingness and effectiveness in treating this population. However, little is known about the factors that influence clinicians’ willingness to provide treatment. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this study examined how differentiation of self (DoS), sexual intervention self-efficacy (SISE), sexual comfort, and sexual education/training affect clinicians’ willingness to treat child PSB. A quantitative, non-experimental survey design with a convenience sample of 63 clinicians with experience working with children used a multiple linear regression analysis that revealed …

Differential Substance Use Screening Approaches Among Medical Providers Based On Pregnancy Status, Ericka L. Suarez-Vella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exploring medical providers’ role in relation to pregnant individuals who use substances is critical. Understanding how screening practices and provider biases influence addiction treatment referrals based on pregnancy status can help address several key issues, including potential disparities resulting from provider bias. It can ensure fair referral practices, promote equitable access to treatment, and ensure timely intervention resulting in better health outcomes. It can influence changes to policy and procedure among healthcare and judicial establishments, ultimately improving the relationship between providers and patients. The purpose of this study was to explore how medical providers’ screening practices of substance use in …

The Experience Of Black Mothers Preparing Their Black Sons For Race-Related Risks, Yamilka Torres

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite progress in addressing racism in the United States, its effects remain deeply entrenched, particularly for Black families. Research on Black parenting shows that parents adapt their strategies to protect children from criminalization, discussing violence, providing safety within the home, and limiting exposure to unsafe environments while also managing their own stress. Yet limited attention has been given to how Black mothers prepare their sons for race-related risks within the modern sociopolitical climate shaped by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore how Black mothers prepare their Black sons for race-related risks. Carter’s …

Both Studying And Protecting Octopuses “On Their Own Terms”, Jennifer Jacquet, Janelle Kaz, Becca Franks, Christine Webb

Animal Sentience

Cephalopods – indeed, all animals – “must be seen on their own terms,” with respect for their autonomy and their ecological imperatives. This will provide greater scientific insight along with a more ethical and accurate understanding of minds beyond our own.

Culturally Aware Mindfulness Training For Army Leaders: A Scalable Solution To Strengthen Mental Readiness, Katherine Dutler (Skowronski)

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This doctoral paper examines cost-effective, easily distributed mindfulness practices as a force-multiplier for psychological readiness in the U.S. Army. Daily mindfulness reduces symptom burden, raises distress tolerance, and sharpens performance—all without added equipment, appointments, or cost. However, stigma, long waitlists, and civilian-centric messaging still deter soldiers from adapting mindfulness practices. Rather than replacing clinicians, the program functions as preventive maintenance and a bridge while soldiers await care, thereby easing load on an overtaxed system. By embedding mental fitness alongside physical PT, the Army can advance its mandate to “deploy, fight, and win” with forces that are both mentally and physically …

Cv: James Powell (Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Counselor Education And Supervision), James Powell

Psychology Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences In Self-Medication Patterns And Stress, Darin Challacombe, Paterson Romero

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: The current study sought to find out to what degree the linkage exists between sex, stress levels, and self-medication activities. Method: We used an anonymous survey in both English and Spanish and surveyed 615 participants, of which the average age was 36.5 years. For gender, participants coded themselves as “male” (n = 350) and “female” (n = 243). We did not request participants to code ethnicity. We used a demographics questionnaire, a list of substances used for self-medication along with some questions about self-medication activities, and the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen & Williamson, 1988). Results: We found a significant …

Gender As A Moderator In The Relationship Between Crisis Call Responding And Police Job Satisfaction, Krystal Fuller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study was conducted to investigate the relationship between crisis call responding and job satisfaction among police officers and whether gender moderates this relationship. With crisis helpline calls rising over the past decade, officers face increasing emotional labor demands, particularly female officers in male-dominated environments. While past research has explored stress and gender differences in law enforcement, few studies have examined their interaction. Using the job demands-resources model and gender role congruity theory, this study employed a correlational design with simple linear regression and Hayes’ PROCESS macro to test moderation effects. Participants included 78 police officers from central Texas …