Digital Commons Network^™

Exploration And Habituation In Intact Free Moving Octopus Vulgaris, Jennifer Mather

Sentience Collection

Despite the huge numbers of studies published on the learning of cephalopod mollusks, studies on non-associative learning are scarce. We tested non-associative learning (habituation) and exploration in Octopus vulgaris in two different studies using a prey-shaped object (Study A) and inanimate objects and food objects (Study B). Study A consisted of the repeated presentation of a prey-like stimulus, which 23 subjects could only explore visually. In study B, 14 octopuses were presented two Lego blocks (one black and white with a smooth surface, one a blue "snowflake" with a rough surface) and two food items, one preferred (clams) and one …

Behaviour Development: A Cephalopod Perspective, Jennifer A. Mather

Interactive Behavior Collection

This paper evaluates the development of behaviour from the viewpoint of the intelligent and learningdependent cephalopod mollusks as a contrast to that of mammals. They have a short lifespan, commonly one to two years, and most are semelparous, reproducing only near the end of their lifespan. In the first two months of life, Sepia officinalis cuttlefish show drastic limitation on learning of prey choice and capture, gradually acquiring first short-term and then long-term learning over 60 days. This is paralleled by development of the vertical lobe of the brain which processes visually learned information. In the long nonreproductive adulthood, Octopus …

Attachment Disorders In Residential Treatment, John Church

Graduate Research Papers

Various aspects of developmental attachment are explored in this power point presentation. Attachment is defined and differentiated from bonding. The variations of attachment are described as they relate to the work of Mary Ainsworth (1978) and Katharine Leslie (2004). Trauma is also explored as one of the major contributors to attachment disorders. The trauma information is also linked with how the brain develops and ultimately is affected by trauma. Lastly, the symptoms of reactive attachment disorder are discussed and explored as they relate to other diagnoses such as depression and oppositional defiant disorder.

The Effect Of Olanzapine On Craving And Alcohol Consumption, Kent E. Hutchinson, Lara Ray, Erica Sandman, Marie-Christine Rutter Goodworth, Annie Peters, Dena Davidson, Robert Swift

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Previous studies have indicated that olanzapine decreases craving after a priming dose of alcohol, that craving after a priming dose of alcohol is greater among individuals with the seven-repeat allele of the DRD4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism, and that the effect of olanzapine (a D2/D4 antagonist) is more pronounced among individuals with this allele. The present study tested the hypothesis that olanzapine may be differentially effective at reducing cue-elicited craving and differentially effective as a treatment for alcohol dependence over the course of a 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among individuals with and without the seven-repeat allele. Participants …

Family Functioning And Coping Behaviors In Parents Of Children With Autism, Matthew J. Altiere

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

We looked at how a child with autism affects the dynamics and coping behaviors of a family. A majority of studies on families with a child with autism collect information from the mother but not the father. Therefore, this study examined the involvement of both parents from a family systems theory approach, which compares relationships among different familial variables, to determine the contributions of each individual to the developmental outcomes of the family unit. It was hypothesized that moderate levels of cohesion and adaptability would be associated with higher levels of positive coping mechanisms. Further, the more coping strategies implemented …

Coping And Quality Of Life Of Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis, Elizabeth Shannon Kuhl

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

How adolescents cope with the stress of bracing or spinal fusion surgery for idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and how coping might impact quality of life (QOL) for this population is unknown. The primary aim of this study was thus to examine these relationships.

Forty-eight adolescents participated in this cross-sectional study and completed the SRS-22r, the PedsQL, and the A-COPE during regularly scheduled orthopedic appointments. Treatment groups did not differ significantly on either dimension of coping (approach or avoidant) or on either measure of quality of life. In addition, neither dimension of coping moderated QOL. However, higher use of avoidant …

The Biological Etiology Of Mental Health Disorders: Social Influences And Change Potential Of Practitioners’ Beliefs, Donna Marie Midkiff

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study was designed to examine mental health professionals’ strength of belief in biological causation of several syndromes including ADHD, unipolar depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia and whether a three-hour educational program will alter their thinking. Findings suggest that pre-training, mental health professionals’ reported strength of belief regarding the etiology of many mental health disorders tends toward the biologically based. Also, this study demonstrated that attendance at a three hour training program is able to reduce the expressed acceptance of biological causation of such disorders. The social influences of pharmaceutical direct to consumer advertising and medical guild dominance, as well …

The Sexual Sinthome, Geneviève Morel, Roland K. Végső

Department of English: Faculty Publications

Psychoanalysis possesses the means to think the difference of the sexes without relying on the phallus. Lacanian theory of the sinthome offers an alternative by articulating a new quadruplicity (R, S, I, and the sinthome), which allows us to think the relation between the sexes and the generations without necessarily referring to the Name-of-the-Father or the phallus as absolute norms. Thanks to this theory, we can avoid the moral and political prejudices that accompany the grand questions of society posed to us at the dawn of the 21st century: the treatment of “mental health,” the legislation of marriage, filiation, and …

A Very Little Bit Of Knowledge: Re-Evaluating The Meaning Of The Heritability Of Iq, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

There is a deeper assumption underlying adoption studies that is often not acknowledged by either adoption study researchers or their critics, and it is an assumptions that is at least as important as the two considered by Richardson and Norgate: the assumption that the heritability statistics generated by adoption studies are informative about something of consequence. Although Richardson and Norgate’s paper presents several valid criticisms of adoption studies of IQ that lead them to suggest a ‘radical reappraisal’ of such studies, a reappraisal even more radical than the one they suggest might, in fact, be warranted.

Data Mining Techniques To Study Therapy Success With Autistic Children, Gondy A. Leroy, Annika Irmscher, Marjorie H. Charlop

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Autism spectrum disorder has become one of the most prevalent developmental disorders, characterized by a wide variety of symptoms. Many children need extensive therapy for years to improve their behavior and facilitate integration in society. However, few systematic evaluations are done on a large scale that can provide insights into how, where, and how therapy has an impact. We describe how data mining techniques can be used to provide insights into behavioral therapy as well as its effect on participants. To this end, we are developing a digital library of coded video segments that contains data on appropriate and inappropriate …

Influences Of Maternal Parenting Behaviors: Maternal Mental Health, Attachment History And Eduction, Rebecca Socorro Carreon-Bailey

Theses Digitization Project

Studies have found that the type of parenting a child receives affects his or her subsequent development. This study investigates the relative influence of maternal parenting behavior and the impact of multiple variables influencing the quality of mothers' parenting behaviors. This knowledge will help to understand how early attachment experiences impact future parenting behavior.

Behavioral And Neurochemical Responses To Cocaine In Periadolescent And Adult Rats, Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Within The Central Nucleus Of The Amygdala Mediates Enhanced Ethanol Self-Administration In Ethanol-Dependent Rats During Withdrawal., Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Paradox, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Excerpt: "‘Paradox’ is derived from two words that literally mean against opinion. The Oxford English Dictionary (1989; vol. 11, p. 185) identifies several meanings for ‘paradox’. It may refer to: (1) claims contrary to common opinion, often suggesting that the statement is incredible, absurd or fantastic, but sometimes with a favourable connotation as a correction for ignorance; (2) a statement that seems self-contradictory, but which is actually well founded; (3) a statement that involves a genuine *contradiction; (4) in *logic, a conclusion based on acceptable premises and sound *reasoning that nonetheless is self-contradictory. These inconsistent uses of the term pose …

School Violence, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

The purpose of this chapter is threefold. First, the chapter summarizes what is known about the prevalence of violence and weapons in U.S. schools. Second, the chapter examines theories that bear on school violence and the empirical evidence linked to those theories. Third, the chapter looks at attempts to prevent school violence and, consequently, the suffering school violence causes.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Children And Adolescents, Mary R. Driscoll

Graduate Research Papers

Post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents has only been researched for the past fifteen to twenty years. Despite the estimates from state and local child protective services that approximately 896,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2002 (National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2002), the vast majority of research and techniques used in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents has stemmed from research focused on adults. This report will provide a summary of current perspectives on the definition, assessment, and treatment of PTSD in adolescents.

An Assessment Of Obese And Non Obese Girls’ Metabolic Rate During Television Viewing, Reading, And Resting., Theodore Cooper, L. Klesges, M. Debon, R. Klesges, M. Shelton

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Biphasic Alterations In Serotonin1b (5-Ht1b) Receptor Function During Abstinence From Extended Cocaine Self-Administration, Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Extended Access To Nicotine Self-Administration Leads To Dependence: Circadian Measures, Withdrawal Measures, And Extinction Behavior In Rats, Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Unlimited Access To Heroin Self-Administration: Independent Motivational Markers Of Opiate Dependence, Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Mapping The Road From Childhood Trauma To Adult Somatization: The Role Of Attachment, Robert J. Waldinger, Marc S. Schulz, Arthur J. Barsky, David K. Ahern

Psychology Faculty Research and Scholarship

Objective: This study tested whether insecure attachment mediates the link between childhood trauma and adult somatization. Methods: A community sample of 101 couples completed self-report measures including the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Somatic Symptom Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Conflict Tactics Scale. Results: Childhood trauma was associated with higher levels of somatization and insecure attachment. Insecure attachment style was also associated with higher levels of somatization. Controlling for age, income, and recent intimate partner violence, analyses showed that fearful attachment fully mediated the link between childhood trauma and somatization for women. …

Childhood Sexual Abuse Among University Students In Tanzania, Denis Mccrann, Kevin Lalor, Joviter K. Katabaro

Articles

Objectives: There are no prevalence data for childhood sexual abuse among Tanzanian university students. This investigation addressed this paucity. The nature of sexual abuse was also investigated. Method: Participants (N= 487) from a university in Tanzania completed a questionnaire which assessed abusive childhood sexual experiences, gathering information about age of victim, duration of abuse, perpetrators, amount of force or persuasion involved, and potential causes of child sexual abuse. A number of individuals were also interviewed about their experiences. Results: The overall prevalence rate for child sexual abuse was 27.7%, with rates being higher for females than for males. The average …

Evaluating The Contributions Of State Of The Art Assessment Techniques To Predicting Memory Outcome After Unilateral Anterior Temporal Lobectomy, Tara T. Lineweaver, Harold H. Morris, Richard I. Naugle, Imad M. Najm, Beate Diehl, William Bingaman

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Purpose:Although anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) is an effective treatment for many patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), one risk associated with this procedure is postsurgical decline in memory. A substantial number of past studies examined factors that predict memory decline after surgery, but few have investigated multiple predictors simultaneously or considered measures that are currently in use.

Methods: This study compared the relative contributions made by presurgical neuropsychological test scores, MRI-based hippocampal volumetric analysis, and Wada test results to predicting memory outcome after ATL in a group of 87 patients.

Results: Logistic regression analyses indicated that noninvasive …

Professional Psychology And The Doctrines Of Sin And Grace: Christian Leaders’ Perspectives, Mark R. Mcminn, Janeil N. Ruiz, David Marx, J. Brooke Wright, Nicole B. Gilbert

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

What is a professional psychologist to do when a client brings up the concept of sin? To some, sin may seem like a stifling religious relic that has no place in contemporary psychology. But viewing sin from within the Christian faith, and in tandem with the doctrine of grace, can help psychologists understand why sin is such an important concept for many of their Christian clients. Psychologists’ misunderstanding of sin and grace may contribute to relatively low rates of referral from Christian leaders to clinical psychologists, and may sometimes hinder therapeutic progress. Two methods of data collection, involving a total …

Psychology, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Excerpt: "Psychology has been defined in many ways. For much of the twentieth century psychology was defined as the *science of behaviour. Earlier, and again more recently, psychology has also emphasized internal experiences, such as sensations, perceptions, feelings or emotions, motivations and thoughts. Today, most definitions of psychology include both elements. Thus, we will define psychology as the science of behaviour and mental processes."

Older Adults And Depression : The Relationships Between Distorted Thinking, Quality Of Life And Depressive Themes, Carissa Y. Ferguson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study analyzed the relationships between depression, distorted thinking and quality of life in an elderly population. Ninety non-depressed and 72 depressed individuals were interviewed and administered 3 self report measures. The study results demonstrate that: (a) Those who reported greater numbers of cognitive distortions, reported lower quality of life than those who reported less cognitive distortions; (b) depressed individuals reported lower quality of life than non-depressed individuals; (c) depressed individuals endorsed more distorted thinking phrases than non-depressed individuals and (d) depressed individuals reported more subcategories of cognitive distortions than nondepressed individuals. The results of this study support the ideas …

Decreasing Alcohol Use Among High School Students By Challenging Alcohol Expectancies, Iris Cruz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Altering alcohol expectancies has reduced alcohol use among college students and may lead to successful prevention of alcohol use among high school students. We randomly assigned 379 12th-grade students to an expectancy challenge, traditional alcohol information, or control condition, and used Individual Differences Scaling to map expectancies into memory network format with Preference Mapping to model likely paths of association. After expectancy and traditional alcohol interventions, higher drinking male participants exhibited a greater likelihood to associate alcohol use with negative and sedating consequences and a decreased likelihood to associate alcohol with positive and arousing consequences. Drinking decreases paralleled the magnitude …

Gambling By College Students: Personality Characteristics And Acceptability Of Internet-Based Treatment, Andrew E. Cameron

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Personality disorders are associated with Pathological Gambling (PG) among adults. Little is known, however, about these symptoms in college-student gamblers. In addition, little is known about the current prevalence or treatment preferences of college gamblers. An online survey of gambling practices and personality characteristics was conducted, as well as a series of focus groups evaluating a web-based gambling treatment program. A higher prevalence of PG was observed among college students than previously reported. College students with PG displayed similar personality disorder symptoms to those observed among adults with PG. Students preferred free or reduced cost treatment. Focus group participants provided …

Religious Orientation And Flow, Scott Robert Brown

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the nature and extent of relationships between religious orientations, religious orthodoxy, and flow, which is an experience akin to “being in the zone” in sports. The three religious orientations examined were intrinsic religiosity, which involves shaping one’s life around religious beliefs and practices; extrinsic religiosity, which involves trying to gain rewards, such as social status, from religious participation; and quest, which involves seeking religious meaning as opposed to accepting traditional doctrines. Data analyses indicated that high scorers on extrinsic religiosity tended to have less intense flow experiences and that they tended to experience flow more often during …

An Exploratory Study Of The Influence Of Life Management Strategies On Job Satisfaction And Job Performance In A Personal Selling Context, Dheeraj Sharma

Doctoral Dissertations

Extant literature on goal oriented behaviors suggests that individual goal orientation is an important determinant of a salesperson's job satisfaction and job performance. However, the present conceptualization of goal orientation suffers from flawed paradigmatic structure. There are two major disparate paradigms of goal orientation in the extant literature. The first paradigm views goal orientation as a stable personality trait and the second paradigm views it as contextually driven phenomenon. The present study proffers a new approach of conceptualizing individual goal orientation, by introducing the meta-model of Life Management Strategies (Baltes and Baltes, 1998; Freund and Baltes, 1998) in the personal …