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How Perceptions Of Trauma Impact The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Events And Drinking Habits Of College Students, Caitlin M. Ward

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been consistently linked to alcohol misuse across the lifespan; however, little research has examined how individuals’ perceptions of these experiences contribute to risky drinking behaviors. The present study investigated the associations among ACEs, perceived traumatic impact of childhood adversity, gender identity, and alcohol use among 211 undergraduate students ages 18 to 25 at the University of Montana (Missoula). Participants completed measures assessing ACE exposure, perceived trauma impact, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), adult adverse experiences, and alcohol use (AUDIT). ACE scores significantly predicted higher AUDIT scores in an unadjusted model; however, this relationship was no longer significant …

Learning Paradigms For Rhythm Detection And Generation Using Mathematical Models, Biophysical And Artificial Neural Networks, Prianka Bose

Dissertations

Humans possess an inherent ability to recognize evenly-spaced rhythms, known as isochronous rhythms, owing to the brain's predisposition to entrain to external auditory stimuli with regular temporal intervals. The central focus of this research is to understand how the brain learns and retains rhythmic time intervals in the context of music. This dissertation studies rhythm detection and generation through mathematical models, biophysical networks, and artificial neural networks, addressing both isochronous and non-isochronous patterns.

A primary focus of the thesis is on isochronous rhythms. In particular, given a perturbation to an isochronous rhythm such as a tempo change or phase shift …

Griffin's Slow Burn Revolution In Philosophy And Comparative Cognition, Kristin Andrews

Animal Sentience

Ristau presents Griffin as launching a scientific revolution supported by philosophical insights. This commentary focuses on two points: Griffin as a scientific revolutionary, although the cognitive ethology revolution is not yet complete; and on the immense influence Griffin had, and continues to have, on philosophy.

Issues In Religion And Psychotherapy Volume 42 Number 1

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

No abstract provided.

What Is It Like To Be A Diplomat? Reflections On Donald Griffin And Emotion, Oliver H. Turnbull

Animal Sentience

This commentary addresses three aspects of Donald Griffin’s work: (1) his thoughts beyond cognition, on emotion; (2) his views on the earliest origins of mind, including primitive forms of consciousness; and (3) his diplomatic use of memorable phrases to facilitate change.

A Network Analysis Of Social Determinants Of Health And Youth Suicidal Ideation And Suicide Attempts At The Neighborhood-Level In Houston, Tx, Tyler Hendley

LSU Master's Theses

Youth suicide is a complex, multi-faceted human phenomenon that has no singular cause but instead is theorized to be a result of an interplay of psychological, biological, and social risk and protective factors. To best identify youth suicide risk and possible avenues for intervention, a social-ecological model approach may prove beneficial. As community-level risk factors (i.e., social determinants of health (SDOH)) have shown to impact health outcomes, it is important to understand the association between community-level risk and youth suicide-related behaviors. Utilizing a network analytic approach, this study developed an estimated partial correlation network to understand the relationship between youth …

Can Animal Consciousness Be Resolved Scientifically?, Yoram Gutfreund

Animal Sentience

Carolyn Ristau's biography of Donald Griffin is a comprehensive work that sheds light on a seminal chapter in the history of ethology—the ambitious attempt to establish a research field dedicated to animal consciousness. Although Donald Griffin's endeavor ultimately fell short of its revolutionary goals, it catalyzed significant progress in understanding evolution and mechanisms of animal cognition.

Beyond Human Perception: The Remarkable Science Of Donald R. Griffin, Gareth Jones

Animal Sentience

Carolyn Ristau shows how Donald Griffin’s revolutionary science sometimes progressed from ridicule, to opposition, to being self-evident. Griffin’s work involved phenomena beyond human perception, making it sometimes difficult for others to fathom. His work on ultrasonic echolocation, navigation and animal cognition has shifted established paradigms. His ‘zoomorphic’ approach provides a realistic framework for understanding how other animals perceive the world.

Clocking In And Speaking Out: Navigating Workday Rhythms For Voice Behaviors, Katelyn M. Reeves

LSU Master's Theses

Employee voice behaviors help organizations identify problems, increase productivity, and enhance satisfaction. Most literature focuses on daily-level variations while neglecting potential within-day variations that may have a stronger impact on voice engagement. To investigate within-day variations, this thesis applies chronotype synchrony to explain resource depletion throughout the day, which will determine voice engagement. An experience sampling study with the day reconstruction method of 250 employees revealed that having a morning chronotype leads to a more promotive and prohibitive voice in the morning, with a decline throughout the day due to resource depletion increasing throughout the day. Further, individuals with evening …

Childhood Maltreatment And The Conserved Transcriptional Response To Adversity (Ctra): The Protective Roles Of Social Support From Romantic Partners, Family, And Friends In Adulthood, Sumaiyah U. Syed

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Childhood maltreatment is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and mortality in adulthood, with chronic inflammation emerging as a key pathway. However, findings in the literature are mixed: while some studies associate childhood maltreatment with heightened inflammation, others report no such link. Given the prevalence of childhood maltreatment, identifying protective factors in adulthood is crucial. Social support during childhood has been shown to buffer the effects of early life stress on immune function, yet the role of social support from various sources in adulthood remains unclear. The current study examined the association between childhood maltreatment and the expression …

Is Helping You Good For Me? Associations With Giving Capitalization Support And The Moderating Role Of Closeness, Samuel Molli

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

When good things happen, people often seek to share their joy with others. This act of sharing one’s positive experience with another is termed capitalization. Receiving capitalization support has been linked to multiple positive outcomes, especially when one receives an engaged and positive response. However, the outcomes related to giving engaged and positive responses to another’s capitalization are less clear. The current study sought to understand how responding positively to a romantic partner’s capitalization event is associated with the support provider’s momentary mood and interpersonal closeness. Additionally, the current study examined how the support provider’s trait-level closeness with their …

The Effectiveness Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy In Treating Major Depression, Chloe Nehme

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Individuals differ in their view of themselves, others, and the world. Those with distorted and negative core beliefs are more likely to be pessimistic and exhibit maladaptive behaviors. Consequently, these individuals tend to experience major depression disorder, which is the most common diagnosis affecting 19% of adults aged 18 and older (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Moreover, Major depression causes the highest mortality rates among adults (Katayama, 2022). There are 21 million adults who experience at least one major depression episode, while 15 million experience major depression with severe impairments (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Adults aged 18 …

Excessive Before It Begins: A Critical Analysis Of Racialized Encounters Between Police And African American Men, Lucas Goodwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last decade, the racial violence that plagues relations between African Americans and the police has been brought to the attention of the American public by means of cell phone video footage of police use of excessive, and at times lethal, force in encounters with African American men. The images of police brutality that have emerged in this time have outraged millions of Americans, sparking nationwide protests, as well as various social and political movements. While perspectives may abound regarding the causes and significance of such brutality, the data is clear on one thing: Police violence disproportionately harms African …

Relationship Of Emotional Intelligence To Workplace Stress And Burnout In Behavior Analysts, Elia Santos

Student Dissertations

The experience of stress leading to burnout is at an all-time high in the field of behavior analysis. Increasing job demands for board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA) put newly minted BCBAs at a higher risk of burnout. The problem is that BCBAs only receive technical and clinical training to become certified. Yet, their emotional intelligence (EI), which is associated with stress and burnout, had never been examined. The purpose of this quantitative, associational study was to investigate the relationships between EI, workplace stress, and burnout in BCBAs. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Goleman’s (1995) theory of EI. …

Neuropunk: A Discursive Ethnographic Study Of The Do-It-Yourself Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Community, Erick Guzman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to understand the sociocultural contexts surrounding the do-it-yourself (DIY) use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) devices. TDCS is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation which has a history of use in (1) human brain mapping for basic neuroscience studies, (2) neuropsychological rehabilitation and the treatment of psychological disorders in clinical populations, and (3) cognitive enhancement in healthy people. However, its validity and effectiveness across these uses remain open to debate. Since the early 2010’s, tDCS has attracted a number of lay individuals interested in using it outside of formal scientific and medical contexts. These DIY tDCS …

Investigating Anomalous Experiences In Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Pavan Brar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The self-disorder model provides a phenomenological framework for understanding how the core symptoms of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSDs) are rooted in an instability of minimal selfhood. This instability involves a range of ‘anomalous experiences’: transformations in an individual’s perceptual field and sense of being an agent of action. The explanatory value of this theoretical model can be summarized in two claims about the role of anomalous experiences in self-disorders: (1) anomalous experiences express a common trait-like disturbance that is characteristic of SSDs, and (2) anomalous experiences contribute to the progression of self-disorders into SSDs. Although hypotheses consistent with the first …

From Margins To Mainstream: Embracing Neurodiverse Needs For An Inclusive Workplace, Ricardo Twumasi, Lewis Burton

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This article critically examines the dominance of neurotypical norms in contemporary workplaces and explores the potential for inclusive, neurodiverse workplaces to move from the margins to the mainstream. We offer a brief scoping review of the existing review literature on neurodivergence at work. Focusing on the more common neurominority differences such as autism spectrum, dyslexia and ADHD we apply the neurodiversity framework to challenge traditional notions of workplace "professionalism" and productivity. By synthesizing current research we propose constructive suggestions for creating truly neurodiverse work environments. Our analysis shows that the research community is calling out for long-term, scientific intervention trials …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt) Interventions For Group Therapy For College Students Experiencing Depression, Ty Ogren

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This group manual was created to support college students struggling with a depressive mood disorder such as Major Depressive Disorder. The instance of mental health concerns, including depression, have increased greatly over the last several years. Depression is the most common mental health concern for college students, and the rate at which they experience depressive symptoms has exceeded that of the general population. Depressive symptoms in college students can lead to many concerns like poor academic achievement, self-isolation, poor diet and nutrition, and suicidal ideation (Liu et al., 2022). This group manual aims to equip college students struggling with depression …

Military Members Mental Health And Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Mediating Role Of Mental Toughness, Maureen Kenyon James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military members’ mental health has been in the spotlight for many years. Although Australia and the United States have strong, robust forces, exposure to this high-stress environments can take its toll. This study is important to keep our armed forces in top mental and physical health and look after them post-service. We need to know what can protect mental health and how to minimize the risks to health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to ask the question, “To what extent are Adverse childhood experiences related to military members' mental health status, and is this relationship mediated by …

The Role Of Resilience And Coping Strategies Among African American College Athletes, Angela R. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between resilience-type coping strategies, stress, and positive well-being among 110 NCAA Division I African American college athletes. This study utilized seven validated scales: Minority Stress Scale (MSS-37), Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experience (COPE-28), Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS=10), Coping Schemas Inventory-Revised (CSI-R), WHO Positive Well-Being (WHO-5), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-Sp-12). These scales measured levels of social support (emotional and informational support), hopefulness/optimism (freedom from worry), active/coping/flexibility/resourcefulness (goal setting, peaking under pressure, coachability, and confidence), good emotional-regulation and self-awareness (coping with adversity and concentration), finding meaning …

Perceived Parental Narcissism: The Adult Child's Search Of Romantic Attachment Through Self-Compassion, Deanna A. Bishop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Narcissistic personality disorder is defined by a strong desire for admiration and apathetic responses to others’ emotional needs making bonding in any relationship difficult (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Healthy bonding within a family environment can be hindered by the lack of empathetic response and agentic behaviors that are characteristic of this personality type (Shaw, 2014). By virtue of innocence and dependency, children are the most vulnerable. The literature illustrates that emotional abuse and neglect, like parental narcissistic abuse, disrupts secure attachment between the parent and the child and can also prevent the child from learning healthy coping mechanisms, such as …

The Moderating Effect Of Life History Strategies On The Relationship Between Dark Triad Traits And Delayed Gratification, Jisook Park, Whitney Whitaker, Sydney Hicks

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

Dark Triad (DT) traits are often used to account for individuals’ impulsivity and inability to delay gratification, postponing an immediate reward to receive a greater outcome at a later time. Life-history theory (LHT) provides additional theoretical framework to understand our choices related to delayed gratification. LHT posits individuals develop life-history strategies (LHS) shaped by their environmental cues. Individuals using slow LHS are believed to invest more in maturation in life whereas those with fast LHS prefer immediate rewards. Despite insights shared from past studies on DT and delayed gratification, inconsistencies in findings remain. The goal of the current study is …

Social Learning And Cultural Enrichment For Fish Welfare, Chiawen Chiang, Becca Franks

Animal Sentience

This commentary examines how understanding animal culture—shared behaviors and knowledge transmitted through social learning—plays a role in advancing welfare practices for captive fishes. Despite extensive evidence of fishes' complex sociocultural capacities, their psycho-social needs remain underestimated and unmet in zoos and aquaria. We explore what considering fish culture might mean for welfare practices: diverse social learning opportunities, cultural development, and thoughtful group management. More knowledge about wild fishes' lives will help bridge the gap between their full, complex lives and current captive welfare practices.

Does Emotion Regulation Capacity Moderate Social Anxiety Risk Given Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions In Black/African American Undergraduate Students?, Alisha M. Sylvester

Honors College Theses

Racial microaggressions are intentional or unintentional slights toward members of a marginalized community that may come in the form of verbal, behavioral, or environmental insults. Black/African Americans experience racial microaggressions frequently, and these experiences threaten mental health. Specifically, experiencing more racial microaggressions is linked with a risk for social anxiety. However, not all individuals within the community go on to experience social anxiety. Therefore, the present study sought to identify which individuals are more vulnerable to social anxiety given experiences of racism. Poorer emotion regulation (i.e., the ability to manage emotions) is a known risk factor for anxiety. Thus, I …

Embodied Cognition And Teaching Stem: Tenets To Explain And Enhance A Middle School Science Project, Jonathan E. Roberts, Joshua L. Williams, Robert A. Hodgdon, Caroline Payne, Gabriela Ruiz Emmanuelli

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

STEM pedagogy is a popular area for research and discussion. The empirical literature on this topic supports a variety of approaches (e.g., inquiry-based) to help instructors spark student interest create an effective learning environment, and foster long-term retention and transfer of information related to STEM topics. One potential approach is to use tenets of embodied cognition, in which behavior and cognition emerge out of real-time sensorimotor behavior of the individual situated within a particular context, to implement strategies to enhance STEM pedagogy. We applied the six lessons of embodied cognition to understand the beneficial aspects of a middle-school project on …

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 …

A Latent Profile Analysis Of High-Risk Children's Problematic Sexual Behavior, Claudia Campbell

Dissertations

As research and intervention regarding children’s problematic sexual behavior (PSB) have broadly defined PSB, including all forms of developmentally atypical sexual behavior and all potential etiological factors, limited work to date has identified subtypes or unique patterns of PSB. The aim of the current study was to examine the presence of unique patterns of PSB and etiological factors among high-risk children utilizing latent profile analysis (LPA) based on children’s self-focused PSB, interpersonal PSB (IPSB), maltreatment factors, co-occurring symptoms, adaptive functioning, and family functioning. The present study included 689 8-year-old children (50.1% male, 50.2% Black) with potential PSB and their caregivers …

A Multimodal Examination Of Altered Reward Processing In Anhedonia, Christopher J.H. Pirrung

Psychology ETDs

Anhedonia refers to a complex deficit in depression, characterized by deficits in reward processing. An EEG signal of reward, the Reward Positivity, has been proposed as a potential biomarker of depressive symptoms. In this investigation, we define generative neural sources of the Reward Positivity using MEG and examine the source level deficits of this signal associated with anhedonia. A composite measure of anhedonia was defined in this sample, combining several self-report measures of anhedonia. Ventral hypoactivation was present in depressed individuals alongside a counterintuitive positive correlation with anhedonia. An independent study using fMRI in the same subjects found similar, but …

Falling In Love, Rebecca Bradbury

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of The Contributions Of Parenting Styles And Peer Relationships On The Emotional Expression Of Second-Generation Indian-Americans, Smitha M. Kashi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation used a qualitative analysis methodology to study the contributions of parenting styles and peer relationships on the emotional expressivity of second generation Asian Indian-Americans. Seven participants participated in a 60 - 90 minute long semi-structured interview and the content was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Most previous research regarding this topic has been conducted on White American or European individuals and does not take into consideration the many intersectionalities that second-generation Indian-Americans hold. Many participants discussed the lack of direction they experienced in regards to learning about their emotions and disclosed that college and young adulthood provided …