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Assessing Risks Of Atypical Sexually Violent Offenders, Lesli Mattheus

Master of Arts in Human Services

Forensic behavioral health research over the past few decades has revealed the complexities of assessing sexually violent offenders (SVOs). Risk assessments play a critical role in determining penalties and treatment, evaluating recidivism risk, and guiding interventions. However, most research has focused on adult male offenders, leaving a significant gap in understanding less common offender types, such as women, juveniles, and pedophiles or child sexual abusers. Gender biases and underreporting limit the understanding of women offenders, while juveniles face challenges like substance use disorders and mental health issues. Structured clinical judgment is a key method for assessing SVO risk, but forensic …

Two Lies And A Truth: Perceived Credibility's Effect On The Truth Effect, Zefanya Boentoro, Carter King, Josiah Rosario

Student Work

The truth effect posits that a person believes information the more they are exposed to it. This study researched the effects of perceived source credibility on the truth effect when perceptual fluency is consistent. One hundred ninety-four participants across four groups reviewed sets of information with differing repetitions and perceived credibilities; they then reported their willingness to believe the presented information. A statistically significant relationship was found between one of the sources for one set of information and the willingness to believe scores, while no relationship existed between the repetitions and willingness to believe scores.

Stress And Trauma-Related Concerns Among Law Enforcement, James Hughes

Master of Arts in Human Services

Law enforcement personnel work in environments with routine exposure to high stress and trauma which can lead to increased risk for mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to learn about the prevalence and effects of PTSD and related mental health issues among law enforcement (LE) officers and how psychological issues are managed within the LE system. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design strategy was used that involved collecting quantitative data first and then explaining the results with in-depth follow-up qualitative data. In the first quantitative phase of the study, data was …

After The Training Ends: A Qualitative Study Of Therapists’ Experiences With Trauma Training And Self-Efficacy, Megan L. Briggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Counselors meet many clients with experiences of trauma throughout their careers, and many counselors do not feel confident in their skills to process trauma. The training programs that teach trauma-focused skills have been researched regarding dissemination practices, but there has been very little exploration of the experiences of the individuals who do not utilize newly acquired skills. The primary research question asks what are the experiences of outpatient therapists in applying the skills they learned in trauma processing training programs when practicing in the outpatient setting? The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study will be to describe the experiences of …

Understanding The Transitional Needs Of Servicemembers To Veterans: A Focus On Mental, Social, And Behavioral Health, Marieann C. Raguso

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to fill the gaps on the transitional American veterans’ lived experience using their own voice. The reconstruction of an American Veteran’s identity after transitioning back into civilian life is a process with many challenges. Transitional practices often fail to help veterans to acculturate back into the civilian world. This includes the formulation of identities and associations. There is a lack of consistency in military transitional practices leading to identity loss and the formulation of mental and behavioral disorders. The aim of this study is to examine the lived experiences of veterans who have transitioned back …

Perceptions Of False Acceptance Of Guilt Or Punishment Within Military Non-Judicial System, Jennifer Rockwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An innocent individual falsely accepting guilt and punishment for something they did not do confounds society at large. This research expands upon the literature studying false confessions and false guilty pleas within the civilian courts to the particulars of the military judicial system and specifically that of the non-judicial system. Understanding the possibility for false acceptance of guilt and punishment within this system can lead to process or program changes that would benefit both the military in general and the individual members of the military. Social influence theory along with social role theory and social norms theory forms the foundation …

The Relative Strength Of Social Dominance Orientation, Belief In A Just World, And Colorblind Racial Attitudes In Predicting Support For Race-Based College-Admission Affirmative Action Policies, Allison Nicole Gaines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students accepted into college programs are granted an opportunity to develop marketable skills they can use to their advantage in a competitive job market. However, students are not always afforded equal access to these opportunities. While some colleges and universities implemented race-based affirmative action policies to mitigate discrimination in the admissions process, resistance to these policies has impeded efforts to ensure that applicants receive an equal educational opportunity. Previous studies examined various legitimizing myths, such as the myth of meritocracy and just world beliefs. Yet, no studies have determined the relative strength of social dominance orientation, belief in a just …

Policing Emotions: What Social Psychology Can Teach Fourth Amendment Doctrine, Wayne A. Logan

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

How Sexual Assault Survivors Perceive Their Experiences With Victim Advocates, Stephanie Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Programs incorporating sexual assault victim advocates have become a prominent resource in assisting survivors gain access to necessary services to aid in their recovery. Although these efforts provide needed support to survivors, the programs are developed without the input of the survivors. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the relationship between victim advocates and survivors from the perspective of the survivor. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 sexual assault survivors regarding how they perceived their relationship with their advocates, what they experienced as helpful or not helpful in that relationship, and what they thought might improve that relationship. Thematic analysis was …

Cognitive Interviewing Within A Mixed Methods Practice: Utilization And Methodological Exploration Of Cognitive Interviewing, Jack Riley Hebner

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cognitive interviewing (CI) is a memory-enhancing technique used to extract more valid data from participants by addressing cognitive needs. Present research applied CI to program evaluation, theorizing that more quality data would be retrieved, especially when utilizing a mixed methods approach. The program chosen to further explore this technique and provide potentially invaluable evaluation data was the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (EDPS). The sample consisted of 32 individuals, consisting of graduate students and faculty across all programs.

The overall evaluation focused on inter-program and inner program understanding which is operationalized as the ability to relay how …

The Lasting Psychological Effects Of Juvenile Arrests, Nadia Olivia Bortolin

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the enduring psychological consequences, specifically depression and anxiety, stemming from juvenile arrests and their influence on adulthood. Literature has demonstrated impacts on juvenile arrests from cultural, socioeconomic, family dynamics, and environmental elements. This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the long-term impact on mental health and employment. Research indicates a sensitivity to outcomes based on the age of arrest, with early adolescent arrests having profound effects on development and an increased likelihood of subsequent criminal activities. Developmental and risk factors, such as socioeconomic challenges and pubescent difficulties, contribute to persistent delinquent behaviors into adulthood. Some studies …

Test Anxiety In University Students: Exploring The Roles Of Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, And Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Hannah Gibson

Honors College Theses

Test anxiety is the fear of being negatively evaluated, which can lead to negative behavioral, physiological, or emotional responses and impact academic performance. The effectiveness of interventions varies widely; however, progressive muscle relaxation may be able to reduce anxiety. The current study randomly assigned students to watch a progressive muscle relaxation video or an educational video before an exam in an introductory psychology course. Self-report and physiological anxiety were measured pre-and post-intervention, and traits of test anxiety, neuroticism, and conscientiousness were also measured (pre-intervention only). Conscientiousness and neuroticism did not predict trait anxiety (p = .052). Pre-intervention self-report anxiety …

Influential Nature Of Empathy In The Relationship Between Psychopathy And Aggression, Alessia M. Valentino

Student Theses

Past research discusses the development of psychopathy and its association with aggression and empathy. It highlights that while personality traits central to psychopathy are believed to arise early in life, adolescence is a critical period where these traits interact and manifest in behaviors. Some research discusses the role of empathy in moderating aggressive behavior, suggesting that interventions targeting empathy could potentially reduce aggressive and antisocial behaviors in individuals with psychopathic traits. The current study explores the relationship between psychopathic traits, empathy, and aggression in adolescents, aiming to enhance our understanding of these complex constructs and their implications for risk assessment …

Pretrial Release Decision-Making: Understanding The Factors Contributing To Pretrial Release Bond Information, Chelsea Sierra Queen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

At initial appearance, judges and magistrates must strike a balance between a defendantâ??s likelihood of returning to court and the safety of the community when determining pretrial release bonds, using limited available information in short periods of time. Across two complementary studies, factorsâ??both established by literature and novelâ??are assessed to further understand judicial decision-making in pretrial settings. Study 1 was a secondary data analysis to determine whether established factors considered at release are replicated in El Paso, Texas. Study 2 used observational data to review characteristics specific to defendants and the initial hearing interaction, while similarly analyzing established factors considered …

A New Normal: Testing Cumulative Prospect Theory In Defendant Plea Decision-Making, Grace Hanzelin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Plea-bargaining is a common and necessary part of the American criminal justice system and though psycholegal scholars have made great advancements in our understanding of defendant plea behavior, the field generalcy lacks a sufficient theoretical model of plea-bargain decision-making. Across two experiments, this dissertation empirically tests Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT; Tversky & Kahneman, 1992) as a potential model of defendant plea decisions. In Experiment 1, participants completed two risk aversion tasks, one economic and one adapted into a plea domain, to assess the presence of loss aversion and risk aversion in both domains. Findings suggest that, in a plea context, …

Influence Of Officers’ Race, Suspects’ Characteristics, And Arrest Contexts On Police Homicide Victim Risk Factors, Dominique Damon Block

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Media attention on the fatal use of force by law enforcement personnel has worsened the divide amongst the police and minority communities, intensifying the lack of confidence between groups. Further research is called for to understand how the fatal use of force by law enforcement is influenced by officer race, suspect race, and characteristics of the alleged crime. Implicit bias theory and procedural justice theory were used as theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The three research questions examined the extent to which characteristics of the officer, characteristics of the alleged perpetrator, and circumstances of the homicide predicted (a) perpetrator mental illness, …

The Mediating Effect Of Recognizing Racism And Biases Within The Workplace: Cross-Race Friendships And Allyship Behaviors, Amber Kaiser

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

In this study, engagement in allyship behaviors were tested in a sample of part- and full-time workers that worked either in a fully in-person or hybrid work environment. Participants (N = 271) responded to an online survey. Drawing on friendship and intergroup contact theories, the effect of cross-race friendships on allyship behaviors was tested. Recognition of racism and biases was proposed as the distinct candidate mediator in this relationship. All constructs consisted of individual measures, each tested through a series of linear regressions and multiple mediation models. Specifically, cross-race friendships included close cross-race friendship and cross-race friendship behaviors; recognition …

Childless Mothers: Lived Experiences Of Black Mothers Who Lost An Only Child, Arielle Jordan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study, grounded in hermeneutic phenomenology, explores the experiences of Black mothers who have lost their only child, addressing a topic often overlooked in counseling training programs. Many counselor educators and supervisors are unprepared to train counselors on how best to support these mothers through their unique grief journeys. This study outcomes fill that gap by providing a deeper understanding of their experiences, intending to shape better counseling practices. The central question guiding this research is: What are the lived experiences of Black mothers who have survived the loss of their only child? To answer this, in-depth interviews were …

Organizational Citizenship & Counterproductive Workplace Behaviors: Personal Trauma & Workplace Conduct, Patricia Giaccone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The influence of a survivor-advocates personal trauma history on their work and ability to cope with its challenges are inadequately understood. This research project aimed to distinguish if there was a significant difference in engagement between survivor-advocates and nonsurvivor-advocates in organizational citizenship behaviors or counterproductive workplace behaviors. Furthermore, this study looked at organizational employment tenure as a factor affecting such engagement. The data for this quantitative research project was collected from a nationwide pool of respondents who worked directly with victims of domestic violence in the United States resulting in a total of 54 participants completing the anonymous survey. Exploring …

Mental Health Of Western Tennessee Police Officers, Jasmin Marie Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand the group think regarding mental health and wellness of police officers in the western Tennessee region. The theory guiding this study is group think, a theory first defined in 1972 by Irvin Janis. Irvin Janis, a psychologist introduced the phenomenon of groupthink and described it as a group of people, in this research case police officers, where loyalty was required from members and that this can cause both positive and negative side effects. The research population for this research will consist of 92 participants, including males and females, of different …

Childhood Trauma As An Influencing Factor On Obesity Among Black Women, Andréa Autum Michel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood trauma and obesity have a significant impact on development throughout the lifespan. Black women have the highest prevalence of obesity and experience more severe and a greater number of traumatic events than their White peers. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Black women perceived the role of childhood trauma in their struggles with obesity. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. The central research question explored the experiences of Black women who experienced childhood trauma and were struggling with obesity as adults. A secondary question explored coping mechanisms developed to …

Investigating Job Attitudes Of Justice-Involved Individuals, Audrey Pennington, Sawyer Robinson

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

The US has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world resulting in one in three Americans having a criminal record (ACLU, 2017). Upon release from prison, securing employment is one of the most important factors to decrease recidivism (Berg & Huebner, 2011; Lundquist et al., 2018). Despite this, 75% of those who were incarcerated are unemployed a year after release. This is due, in part, to stigma and the wide use of background checks during the hiring process (ACLU, 2017). The research literature primarily focuses on effective ways to improve job-readiness for those who are incarcerated, barriers to …

It’S Complicated: The Level Of Risk Assigned To A Missing Person, Time They Were Missing For, And The Tasks Performed By Police Investigators., Karen Shalev, Craig Collie

International Journal of Missing Persons

This study examines the number of tasks police investigators perform by the level of risk assigned to cases and the length of time the investigations take to resolve. It analyses 40,091 solved cases from 2019 using data from eight English police forces, as part of a wider research project of missing person investigations demand on police resources. The findings show that (1) low and high risk with a search area cases have a relationship to the duration of the investigation; (2) there is a relationship between the risk classification and the number of tasks assigned to the case; (3) the …

An Exploration Into Why There Is An Overrepresentation Of Bame People In Missing Person Cases, Phoebe Sleigh-Johnson, Fiona Gabbert Dr., Adrian J. Scott

International Journal of Missing Persons

The overrepresentation of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in missing person cases is an issue that is not understood within society and has largely been neglected within academic literature to date. This study, therefore, aims to explore why this overrepresentation might exist by obtaining the views and opinions of 24 professionals (including police officers) working within the field of missing people. The study used a qualitative, exploratory method and an anonymous online survey containing a series of open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was performed on the data, and three main themes were identified; the first related to the idea …

Supporting & Protecting Repeat Missing Children From Different Residential Environments: A Scoping Review, Kirsty Bennett Dr, Petra Salisbury, Rebecca O'Keefe, Sharon Vincent, Bethany Mccarthy

International Journal of Missing Persons

Repeat missing children pose a significant financial burden onto services, including the police, social services, and health providers. Recognising that 37 to 65 percent of missing child reports each year are repeats, efforts have been made by academics and practitioners to understand this societal problem. Research has identified the risks causing children to go missing and the harms that they experience, but these focus primarily on children missing from residential care only. This PRISMA (2020) scoping review of 76 studies explores strategies implemented to prevent repeat missing episodes, and the role/influence of the home environment (e.g., with parents/guardians, and foster …

Racial Bias In Risk Allocation And Resource Utilisation: A Contributing Factor To Ethnic Minority Overrepresentation In Missing Person Investigations?, Amy Van Langeraad, Fiona Gabbert, Adrian J. Scott

International Journal of Missing Persons

Statistics from the National Crime Agency reveal that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are over-represented within the missing population in the United Kingdom, and previous archival studies have shown there is a discrepancy in the recovery of ethnic minority missing persons compared to White missing persons. A wider body of research shows that racial bias is prevalent in the criminal justice system and law enforcement, resulting in different outcomes for victims depending on their racial background. Such outcomes have yet to be examined in the context of missing persons. Therefore, this study tries to address this gap in the literature …

Nature Vs. Nurture In Albuquerque: What Breaking Bad And Better Call Saul Teach Us About How We Talk About Criminals, Max Romanowski

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul focus on the criminal transformation of their two main characters, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk). While quite similar on the surface, Walter and Jimmy’s narratives represent two different criminal transitions, evoking the classic nature vs nurture conversation. Both of these shows bring the conversation to the idea of inevitability. The nature vs. nurture argument is a popular one because it acts as a teaching tool for how we think and talk about criminal behavior. At first, it follows that since criminality was in Walter White’s nature the whole time, his …

Four Decades, Three Songs, Too Much Violence: Using Popular Culture Media Analysis To Prepare Preservice Teachers For Dealing With School Violence, Edward Janak, Lisa Pescara-Kovach

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Since teacher education has morphed from normal schools into colleges of education, the goals of preparing teachers have expanded. While it is essential to prepare teachers to utilize scientifically proven methods as well as to read and use research in the field, there are ever-expanding other goals that must be met as well. For one example, with the increase of school violence taking place in the United States, it is imperative to include preparation for preservice teachers on how to prevent bullying and how to handle traumatic events, such as school shootings, with their future students. However, broaching such a …

The Personality Profile And Leadership Style Of U.S. Vice President And 2024 Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris, Aubrey Immelman, Anne Marie Griebie, Elise Vomacka

Psychology Faculty Publications

The paper presents the results of an indirect personality assessment of U.S. vice president Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential nominee in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon.

Psychodiagnostically relevant data about Harris were collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and DSM-5-TR.

The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed in accordance with interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and Millon Index of Personality …

Burnout And Employee Satisfaction Of Mental Health Clinicians In Corrections, Jeremy C. Capuyon, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Approximately 1.9 million individuals are currently incarcerated within the United States. Rehabilitation and preparation for parole back into the community is common goal amongst correctional facilities. Mental health clinicians (social workers and psychologists) within the correctional facilities are providers who assist in the rehabilitation of inmates. Unfortunately, mental health clinicians in correctional facilities experience high rates of burnout and low levels of job satisfaction, resulting in an increase in turnover rates. This research project looks to investigate the impact burnout and employee satisfaction has on mental health clinicians who work in correctional settings. Furthermore, this research project compares burnout and …