Digital Commons Network^™

Evolution Of A Program "Driving After Age 55", Michael Andrew Seaton

Theses

This thesis documents the development of “Driving After Age 55,” a specialized driver education program tailored for older adults, particularly members of the National Retired Teachers Association/American Association of Retired Persons (NRTA/AARP). Created during Seaton's tenure with NRTA/AARP and his graduate studies at Lindenwood College, the program addresses the unique needs of drivers aged 55 and older—an often-overlooked demographic in traditional defensive driving curricula. The thesis outlines the rationale for a separate course, citing age-related physical changes, increased accident rates per miles driven, and a lack of formal driver training among older populations. It includes an assessment of existing programs, …

In Search Of The Sources Of Rationality: A Study Of The Work Of Jerome Bruner, Keith Weeks Lyou

Theses

Unavailable.

Loneliness: Origins, Manifestations, And Treatment, Andrea Schalman

Theses

This thesis explores loneliness as a multifaceted psychological and social phenomenon, examining its origins, manifestations, and potential avenues for treatment. Beginning with a historical overview, the work situates loneliness within cultural and theoretical contexts, noting how the experience has been interpreted through philosophy, literature, and psychology. Drawing heavily on psychoanalytic theory, the thesis considers the role of early childhood attachment, separation, and loss as central contributors to the development of loneliness. The impact of maternal deprivation, insecure attachment patterns, and unresolved separation anxiety are analyzed as formative influences that shape one’s vulnerability to chronic isolation.

The study also examines the …

The Mental Health Needs Of The Moderately Mentally Retarded Individual And The Family, Carol Ann Baglin

Theses

The general setting for this study was a typical special education site serving the severely handicapped in Los Angeles County, between the ages of three to twenty-one. The discussions refer to those individuals whose psychological evaluations , using the Stanford- Binet Intelligence Scale , the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Revised, or the Leiter International Intelligence Scale, place them within the range of the moderately retarded and cause them to warrant an educational setting that serves such individuals. The families reside in Los Angeles County and generally fall within the lower to middle economic strata , with approximately 55% qualifying …

Group Dynamics In A Task Oriented Work Group, Virginia H. Foster

Theses

Unavailable.

Diagnostic Strategies: Suggested Procedures To Identify And Evaluate Reading Problems Of The Middle Grade Student, Mary T. Powell

Theses

Mary T. Powell’s 1978 thesis, Diagnostic Strategies: Suggested Procedures to Identify and Evaluate Reading Problems of the Middle Grade Student, explores methods for diagnosing and addressing reading difficulties among fourth to sixth grade students. Drawing on her experience teaching in a low socioeconomic urban school, Powell outlines a range of factors contributing to reading disabilities, including physical, psychological, intellectual, and environmental causes. She emphasizes the importance of early identification and individualized diagnosis, highlighting tools such as intelligence tests, oral reading inventories, and teacher observation checklists.

A central focus of the study is the development of decoding skills—often referred to …

The Affective Meaning Of Color, Henrietta N. Senecal

Theses

Henrietta N. Senecal’s The Affective Meaning of Color explores how individuals emotionally respond to color, emphasizing the personal and psychological significance of color perception. Drawing from psychological, physiological, and cultural theories, the thesis critiques standardized color interpretation systems—such as those by Luscher and Don—and argues that affective color meaning varies greatly between individuals. Senecal supports this claim with an informal community survey, where participants matched colors to emotion-laden words. Results revealed both common associations (e.g., red with anger or love, black with death) and significant variation, reinforcing the idea that color interpretation is deeply personal and often shaped by context, …

Focus On Tomorrow: A Community Based Diversionary Program For Juvenile Delinquents, Mary Louise Hannegan

Theses

This paper is a presentation of "Focus on Tomorrow," a community based diversionary program designed to impact predelinquent juveniles at the junior high school level. The program is a collaborative effort of the YMCA, The Lindenwood Colleges, the St. Charles School District, and the St. Charles County Juvenile Court. The purpose is to identify high-risk juveniles within the school system and provide resources to the juveniles and their families to help them complete school and avoid referral to court. Resources include tutoring, stress/challenge outings, family counseling, and YMCA memberships. Included in the paper is a justification for the need of …

Closet Woman: A Study Of Societal Changes, The Infantalized Woman And The Ways In Which Psychotherapy Can Effect Change, Alice Beck Simmons

Theses

This 1978 Master’s thesis by Alice Beck Simmons investigates the psychological phenomenon of the "infantilized woman" within the context of middle-class American society. The study posits that traditional cultural attitudes toward marriage, family, and sexuality systematically repress female potential, resulting in women who mature physically but remain emotionally dependent and child-like. The author defines "infantilization" as a condition characterized by low self-esteem, a lack of personal identity, and an inability to function or make decisions without relying on another person.

The paper traces the origins of this condition through developmental stages, arguing that parental reinforcement of dependency and the repression …

The Feasibility Of A Counselor-Adjunct In A Private Pediatric Practice, Charlotte Samuels

Theses

This research examines the practical feasibility of integrating a licensed counselor as an adjunct practitioner within a private pediatric medical practice. The study focuses on a mid‑sized suburban pediatric clinic serving children and adolescents, and explores the rationale, operational considerations, anticipated benefits, challenges, and best‑practice recommendations for embedding counseling services in primary pediatric care. Drawing upon a mixed‑methods design, the investigation includes a review of relevant literature around pediatric mental‑health integration, semi‑structured interviews with pediatricians, clinic administrators, and practicing mental‑health counselors, along with a cost‑benefit analysis of a pilot implementation model. Findings indicate that embedding a counselor directly into pediatric …

My Snapshots, Arnold Sorvari

Theses

None provided.

An Approach To Marriage Counseling Based On Hypnosis, John G. Kappas

Theses

Unavailable.

Christian Art In The Twentieth Century, Jane Fretz

Theses

None provided.

Inner Bridges: Issues In The Development Of A Psychotherapeutic Model For Transpersonal Growth, Diane Asay

Theses

Not available.

Art Therapy With Institutionalized Adult Mental Patients: A Four-Week Study, Margaret E. Goodwin

Theses

Unavailable.

The Fulfillment Of Love And Belongingness Needs Among Single Parents, Anne Roemer Bannes

Theses

The present study investigates the differences between single parents and married parents regarding (a) to what extent they fulfill their love and belongingness needs , and (b) what sources they enlist for this fulfillment. Nine hypotheses are tested using 50 subjects who were given a questionnaire developed for this study. No differences are found between married parents and single parents in the fulfillment of their needs . Differences are found in the sources they enlist for the fulfillment of their need for love, but no differences are found between groups for sources of fulfillment of their need for belonging. It …

The Development Of An Effective Treatment Program For Schizophrenics, Francine Kane

Theses

Unavailable.

Living Together / Growing Together: A Study Of Communal Family Life And Growth, Tina B. Tessina

Theses

Living Together/Growing Together explores the psychological and social dynamics of communal family life through both historical research and personal experience. Author Tina B. Tessina, drawing from her own participation in a cooperative living group (CLG), investigates why individuals choose to live communally and how such environments can facilitate personal growth and autonomy. The study proposes that communal living satisfies higher-order psychological needs—such as belonging, mutuality, and self-actualization—as outlined by theorists like Maslow and Berne.

The work is structured around key themes of group stability, including charismatic leadership, common ideology, external persecution, and companionship/cooperation. Tessina provides historical case studies of successful …

An Understanding Of Care For The Geriatric Patient, Lois Jacobs Ricci

Theses

Lois Jacobs Ricci’s thesis, An Understanding of Care for the Geriatric Patient: A Manual for the Inservice Instructor, focuses on the need for continuous education in nursing homes to enhance the quality of geriatric care. The manual provides guidance for inservice instructors, emphasizing that nursing home staff must regularly update their knowledge and skills to address the unique challenges of caring for elderly patients.

The study highlights the significance of inservice training in maintaining high standards of patient care, job satisfaction, and effective communication among healthcare workers. Ricci outlines key components of an inservice program, including the importance of …

Therapy: An Eclectic Approach, Jeri De Vale

Theses

Unavailable.

The Multiple Losses Of Housewives Who Become Widowed, Emily Carton

Theses

Housewives who become widowed suffer from the loss of two roles - that of wife and worker. Since housework is not traditionally considered employment, these women are not given equivalent financial or emotional support that one would give retirees. This paper will define housework as an occupational identity and will examine the social and financial similarities between the housewife who becomes widowed and the individual who is forced to retire from long term employment.

Unplanned Absenteeism: An Administrative Problem In A Health Care Organization, Karin Jean Simpson

Theses

Nursing technicians in the psychiatric department of a government health care system were selected for an empirical study focusing on their unplanned leave usage. My on-the-job experience as a nursing supervisor was one of the main motivations for the study.

Since the presence of nursing technicians is of vital importance to the success of psychiatric treatment modalities in a hospital setting, it is obvious that a high rate of unscheduled absences causes disruption and diminution of the therapeutic process.

The assessment measurements employed for predicting the subjects' unplanned leave usage consisted of a questionnaire including eighteen written descriptive statements eliciting …

Life Planning: A Compendium Of Twelve Practitioners, Marilyn Mitchell

Theses

This thesis, Life Planning: A Compendium of Twelve Practitioners by Marilyn Mitchell, explores the emerging field of life planning in the late 20th century, focusing on its application to personal and career development. The study investigates the diverse practices, backgrounds, and philosophies of twelve life planners from various professional fields, including education, counseling, and organizational development. Through in-depth interviews, the thesis identifies key components of life planning, such as self-assessment, goal setting, assertiveness training, and decision-making. It highlights the holistic approach of life planners, who assist clients in reevaluating their past and taking assertive responsibility for their present choices to …

A Theoretically Based Project Applying Family Systems Theory To School Consultation, Susan Richman

Theses

Susan Richman’s thesis, A Theoretically Based Project Applying Family Systems Theory to School Consultation, explores how principles of family therapy can be applied to school consultation. Rooted in Structural Family Systems Theory, the study examines how classroom dynamics function similarly to family units, where interactions between teachers, students, and parents shape behavior. Richman conducted a pilot study using the Family Demonstration Therapy (FDT) model, traditionally applied in family therapy, to assess its effectiveness in school settings.

The study involved consultations at two schools: a cooperative infant center and a public kindergarten. Through classroom observations, teacher discussions, and modeled interventions, …

Administrative Manual For Schools Of Nurse Anesthesia: A Research And Development Study, Joyce W. Kelly

Theses

Unavailable.

Older Marrieds: Case Studies Of Six Traditional Marriages, Anne S. Weil

Theses

This thesis, Older Marriages: Case Studies of Six Traditional Marriages by Anne S. Weil (1977), explores the dynamics and developmental processes of long-term, traditional heterosexual marriages through a qualitative psychological lens. Using case study methodology, the author investigates six couples who have each been married for at least 20 years, aiming to understand how they have sustained their relationships over time.

The study is grounded in developmental and systems theory, proposing that marriages evolve through a series of life-cycle crises that require adaptation and restructuring by the couple. Each case study was developed from in-depth, taped interviews and supported by …

A Study Of Reality Orientation And A Program Design For A Geriatric Setting, Mary Barrett Paspalas

Theses

The thesis, "A Study of Reality Orientation and a Program Design for a Geriatric Setting", explores the benefits of reality orientation for elderly individuals experiencing disorientation and confusion. Focused on designing a structured reality orientation program for the Jewish Center for Aged in St. Louis, the study emphasizes the potential for this approach to improve cognitive awareness in institutionalized elderly patients. The program consists of 24-hour orientation by all staff members and scheduled classroom sessions, which reinforce residents' sense of time, place, and identity. Key components include consistent repetition of basic facts, supportive materials like clocks and calendars, and …

A Curriculum Implementation For The Teaching Of Creative Writing In High School Communication Skills, Joyce Reynolds

Theses

Joyce Reynolds’ thesis presents a structured curriculum for an elective creative writing course designed for high school students in grades 10 through 12. The study emphasizes the importance of communication skills in education and argues that creative writing fosters self-expression, critical thinking, and intellectual development. The curriculum is designed to balance both the pleasure of writing and the development of essential writing skills, ensuring students engage meaningfully with their work.

The project outlines course objectives, class routines, unit structure, and methods for fostering a supportive classroom environment. Reynolds highlights the role of creativity in education, discussing its psychological foundations and …

Counseling For Older Adults: A Study Of Its Importance And Effectiveness, Suzanne Gram

Theses

Unavailable.

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Gloss And Smoothness On Legibility, Donald Perlman

Theses

This study on legibility takes a different approach than the studies that precede it. Standardized test targets (ISO Characters) were used as the measurement device instead of the various means used previously. This was done to keep the test more objective. Twelve papers of different gloss and smoothness values were tested with two groups--college students and senior citizens. These experiments were done under controlled conditions with the only variable being the paper. The average results from the legibility readings were correlated against the physical properties of the paper samples. The results of this study showed a 2 and 4% correlation …