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

Honors Theses

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

Better Together – Maximising Group Creativity Through Co-Design, Sophie Tversky

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The complexity and systems-level nature of organisational and societal challenges have called for engaging team creativity, benefiting from differing perspectives and experiences to drive impactful solutions. Surveying the co-design and group creativity literature, it is suggested that creative potential of a group is only realised when several polarities are leveraged by facilitators and orchestrators of the process. This concept was validated and extended through conducting a thematic analysis of a series of exploratory interviews, resulting in the identification of interdependent themes comprising stacks of polarities and a key problem to solve. The themes identified were: Determining Whether Co-Design is Appropriate, …

Emotion Regulation, Reasoning, And Procedural Safeguards In Politically-Polarized Moral Dilemmas., Alanea Graci

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Societal disputes often stem from polarized moral dilemmas. Procedural justice and self-determination (PJSD) afforded by societal decision-making processes may influence cooperation and acceptance in these dilemmas. However, moral conviction can sometimes overshadow PJSD, causing morally-opposed individuals to avoid deliberation, become uncooperative, or reject decision outcomes. I conducted two experiments to explore the role emotions (emotion regulation) and procedural safeguards for democratic deliberation (e.g., equal discussion time, rules for civility) play in these situations. I examined the topic of abortion in the U.S. after the Supreme Court’s June 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. Undergraduates at a large, urban Midwestern university …

Administrator Reflections On Youth Sport Programming: Moving Forward After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alysha Matthews, Meredith Wekesser, Karl Erickson, Scott Pierce, Adam L. Kelly

Journal of Youth Development

AbstractYouth sport has been a context where positive youth development (PYD) can be promoted (Fraser-Thomas et al., 2005). However, for youth sport to effectively foster PYD, all adult leaders need to understand and invest in the approach. The youth sport context is a large system that encompasses multiple stakeholders across the developmental lifespan of athletes (Dorsch et al., 2022). Much of PYD research reflects the contributions of parents and coaches (e.g., Harwood et al., 2019; Vella et al., 2011), yet often overlooked is the administrator role in PYD. Administrators are tasked with communicating and reinforcing organizational missions across stakeholders for …

Associations Between Community Based Learning And Openness To Diversity Among Ur Undergraduate Students, Shea T. Baker

Honors Theses

This study examined the relationship between the quality of community based learning (CBL) experiences and students’ openness to diversity, and the potential moderating effects of student identity. Prior research indicates that CBL can have positive diversity-related outcomes, but other studies show CBL can perpetuate biases and white supremacy. I surveyed 152 University of Richmond undergraduate students who completed a CBL course in Fall 2024. Measures included a modified version of the Service Learning Quality Assessment Tool (SLQAT), the Openness to Diversity and Challenge scale, and demographic information. Results indicate that higher quality CBL is positively associated with openness to diversity, …

The Ripple Effects Of Belonging: How Faculty–Student Connections May Drive Mutual Success, Marissa Burton

Honors Theses

Experiencing a sense of belonging on a college campus is predicted to increase academic success, classroom engagement, and greater well-being for students. Less central to the belonging conversation is faculty belonging; since faculty play an instrumental role in the development of student belonging, we hypothesize that faculty belonging may increase positive student outcomes inside and outside the classroom. Study 1 examines faculty experiences of and beliefs about belonging at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), with the aim of identifying patterns and indicators of heterogeneity. Results revealed that significant burnout is central to a lack of faculty belonging and stronger desires …

Man Versus Machine: Investigating The Likelihood Of Improvement And Perceptions Based On Ai Generated Versus Human Generated Feedback On Writing Assignments, Catherine Cummins

Honors Theses

With AI use becoming more common every day, it is important to test how technology can help us. Feedback is an integral part of the writing process, so we decided to test how well AI can generate feedback for an assignment. Additionally, we examined perceptions people held towards AI & if AI can help student essay scores improve. Overall, no difference of the rate of improvement from the first draft to the second draft was found between AI and humans. Additionally, perceptions of AI are still on the negative side. Finally there was no difference in quality of AI feedback …

Past Lessons, Present Strengths: Does Prior Experience Predict Greater Well-Being And Resilience Among Community-Based Learning Students?, Madison Fields

Honors Theses

This study examined the relationship between prior experiences, vicarious resilience, and psychological well-being of students enrolled in a community-based learning (CBL) course. Given that CBL has positive psychological benefits for students, I investigated the circumstances under which positive outcomes were more likely, specifically: To what extent does prior CBL-relevant experience improve students’ mental health outcomes as a result of a current CBL experience? The study consisted of N = 158 undergraduate students at the University of Richmond enrolled in a CBL course in Fall 2024. They completed self-reported measures of prior experiences, vicarious resilience, and psychological well-being. Results were analyzed …

Loneliness By Choice Or By Circumstance?: Examining The Relationship Between Friendship, Need To Belong, And Loneliness, Yuting Hong

Honors Theses

A sense of belonging is a fundamental human need (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Maslow, 1943). On college campuses, students’ need to belong is often satisfied by interactions with peers. Friends comprise the largest component of college students’ social network, and good friendships provide a variety of resources, such as companionship, help, and emotional security. When students lack high-quality friendships, they are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness. However, there are likely important individual differences in the relationship between friendship quality and loneliness. The cognitive discrepancy theory of loneliness suggests that loneliness arises when there is a gap between the …

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

Honors Theses

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

Hegemony And Homophobia Drive Conservative Men’S Heightened Endorsement Of Adverse Relationship Conflict Responses, Abigail Smith

Honors Theses

Conflict is inevitable in romantic relationships, and men vary widely in the strategies they use to resolve such conflict. The present study tested the roles of sexual orientation, political orientation, and masculine norm conformity in predicting men’s endorsement of adverse conflict responses in romantic relationships. In this pre-registered experiment, 403 cisgender men (200 straight, 203 queer-identifying; 44% racial/ethnic minority) first indicated their conformity to stereotypical masculinity norms then were presented with four randomly-ordered vignettes of a couple in an argument—each depicting a target man engaging in one of four conflict responses (physical violence, psychological aggression, withdrawal, compromise). After each vignette, …

The Fragility Of Belonging: Interpersonal And Institutional Factors Shaping Student Experiences In Higher Education, Ziran (Ted) Zhou

Honors Theses

Belonging is a core human need that shapes students' emotional well-being, motivation, and academic persistence (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Strayhorn, 2019). Students who experience a strong sense of belonging in higher education report lower levels of stress and depression, greater engagement, and higher academic achievement (Gillen-O'Neel, 2021; Meehan & Howells, 2019). Yet belonging remains a fragile and uneven experience, shaped by social relationships, campus climate, and institutional structures (Covarrubias, 2024; Valdez & Golash-Boza, 2020).

This study addressed two primary research questions: (1) How do experiences of belonging differ across students with varying social and identity backgrounds? (2) What factors foster …

The Interplay Between Attribution Bias And Psychotic-Like Experiences: The Role Of Social Media, Jordan Leggett

Honors Theses

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are perceptions, thoughts, or beliefs that resemble symptoms of psychosis but are less severe and not necessarily related to a mental disorder. A plethora of research has found associations between PLEs and hostile attribution bias, the tendency to over-interpret situations as hostile, aggressive, or intentional. Some work suggests viewing certain types of content online may be linked to hostile attribution bias. Yet, limited research has examined hostile attribution bias and PLEs through the lens of social media. This study aimed to explore these relationships by modifying a measure of hostile attribution bias using social media vignettes. This …

Can Exploring Before Instruction Improve Underrepresented Stem Students’ Learning Compared To Traditional Methods? Investigating Psychosocial Factors., Katherine G. Golway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing evidence suggests that active learning benefits students’ learning outcomes, while also helping to reduce or eliminate grade differences between historically underrepresented (UR) and non-underrepresented (non-UR) students in STEM courses. This dissertation investigates if, and when, a specific active learning strategy – exploratory learning before instruction – can have these learning benefits and impact students’ fundamental needs (i.e., security, belonging, competence, and self-efficacy) and curiosity/interest. In five experimentally-controlled studies conducted within undergraduate STEM courses (physics, engineering, and chemistry), students were randomly assigned to exploratory learning conditions (explore-first) or traditional instruct-then-practice conditions (instruct-first). After completing both the learning activity and lecture-based …

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

Student Theses

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

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

Dissertations

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

Critical Race Historical Examination Of Summer Programs: Impact On African American Youth, Megan Lee, June Hopps, Deryl Bailey

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

United Arab Emirates: Navigating Tolerance And Complexity, Ava Brown

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Shows how we explored a "misunderstood" place with respect and grace (Storytelling: Ava, Mustapha).

Parenting Young Children While Coping With A Spouse's Anticipated Death: Evidence For The Dual Process Model Of Coping With Bereavement, Madison Kruse

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Following a young parent’s untimely death, family dynamics change as remaining parent and child(ren) endure stress and cope with grief. This research presented 1) addresses a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence for individual- and family-level restoration-oriented coping (Dual Process Model [DPM]) and 2) presents findings from semi-structured interviews that support the application of DPM with young parenting widows and children and provides implications for professional support.

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

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

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

Students’ Relationships With Professors And Peers And Their Belonging Within Majors, Alicia Sylvester, Valerie Partida, Majel Baker

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Relationships with peers and professors are central features of the college experience and may relate to how students feel about their place within their academic majors. This study hypothesized that 1) students who report more comfortable relationships with their professors would also report greater comfort within their academic major, 2) stronger peer relationships would be associated with a heightened sense of belonging in one’s major. Participants were recruited from the CSBSJU Psychology Research in Action pool (n=38) and were surveyed twice in one semester, one week apart (Time 1 and Time 2). Professor relationships was statistically significant, F(2, 34) = …

Kansas City, Kansas, Vida Davidović

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS is a thesis that operates in the tradition of expressionist dramaturgy and playwriting, taking up themes of abuse, imperialism, war, trauma, womanhood, Balkan identities, history of the Balkans, as well as the discourses of psychoanalysis and postcolonial theory. The use of different theoretical frameworks related to both international and personal politics, which are shown to be intertwined, suggests a strong relationship between political processes in the Second World Countries that had experienced many occupations throughout their history and the way women in those countries relate to the questions of body, authority, feminity, and interpersonal relationships. The play …

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

Honors Scholar Theses

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

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

Honors Scholar Theses

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

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

The Drawing Effect: Evaluating Drawing Method And Strategic Implementation On Recall Accuracy, Jacob M. Namias

Dissertations

Drawing images of to-be-remembered word’s reference often improves memory for the word relative to a control in which the word is written or read silently, a pattern dubbed the drawing effect. Drawing effects have been recorded in a variety of contexts and are generally more beneficial than other deep/elaborative encoding tasks. My dissertation compared recall for words that are drawn by copying a given image versus generating a drawn image without copying, and in study contexts in which the proportion of drawn items is disproportionally skewed. Experiment 1 gauged whether drawing effects differ relative to writing when participants draw an …

The Examination Of Teacher Mentorship Design For Mentees, Cagla Cobek

Dissertations

Teacher stress has been documented as a problem for today’s educators. Improving teachers’ well-being through mentorship programs is promising in the literature. Therefore, this study examined a daily check-in mentorship program for teachers experiencing moderate stress. The researchers examined the changes in mentees’ daily stress levels, perceived stress, sense of self-efficacy, and use of proactive classroom management strategies. Mentees and mentors were also asked to complete ratings of the social validity of the mentorship program. Three mentees and mentor dyads working in an elementary and middle school in a Southeastern school district in the USA participated. A nonconcurrent Multiple Baseline …

Parenting Among Mothers With High Psychosocial Stress In South-Central Appalachia: Aspirations, Actions, And Intervention, Kelly Daniel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conceptualizations of adaptive parenting within Appalachia have been historically limited by the scarcity of research with the region as well as stereotyped depictions of Appalachian parents. As such, this project aimed to examine Appalachian parenting through a culturally sensitive lens by centering lived experiences through the ecological systems theory. The sample included mothers (n = 41) who attended Mom Power, an attachment-based, trauma-informed parenting skills intervention in the Appalachian Highlands. Reflective Thematic Analysis was used to analyze qualitative interview data by exploring and conceptualizing current parenting challenges and associated maternal feelings and reactions. Results include the development of a metaphor …

Identifying And Addressing Current Gaps In Knowledge And Treatment Dissemination For Individuals With Trichotillomania, Leila K. Capel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Trichotillomania is an impairing and debilitating mental health condition, and while the research in this area is growing, this population is underserved. The aim of this project was to identify gaps in the research that may be contributing to lack of treatment access and begin filling those gaps. The first gap is knowledge of how treatments work and for whom they work best. While there are a variety of treatment options and ways of delivering treatment, individual factors that predict who will benefit most are not well investigated. We explored the individual factors, and aspects of treatment that we believe …

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

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

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

The Structural Barriers In Occupational Licensing For Undocumented Students, Itzayana J. Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Research has focused on understanding the barriers to financial stability, higher education, and access to healthcare among undocumented immigrants but less efforts have been geared towards identifying the obstacles they face in obtaining professional licensure. This exploratory study sought to identify the structural barriers to professional licensure for undocumented students in higher education. Methods: Qualitative data were collected on the licensing requirements of behavioral health careers in California. Using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administrations determination of behavioral health careers, specific professions were identified. The requirements for professional licensure were extracted from each profession’s official …