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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Articles 1 - 19 of 19

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Every Screen Is A Window And A Mirror: How Social Media Strengthens Ties Within The Lgbtq+ Community, Jourdan Sadir Pérez Jan 2023

Every Screen Is A Window And A Mirror: How Social Media Strengthens Ties Within The Lgbtq+ Community, Jourdan Sadir Pérez

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.


The Impact Of Psychiatric Labels And Sexual Orientation On Attitudes Toward People With Pedophilic Attractions, Gabriel Traub Jan 2023

The Impact Of Psychiatric Labels And Sexual Orientation On Attitudes Toward People With Pedophilic Attractions, Gabriel Traub

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This study explores whether framing pedophilic attractions as a mental disorder and/or manipulating the sexual orientation of these attractions impacts attitudes toward people with pedophilic attractions (PPA). This study used an experimental 2 (Pathological Language vs. Non-Pathological Language) by 2 (Heterosexual vs. Homosexual) between-subjects design, in which online participants read a vignette describing a fictional subject’s pedophilic attractions. Both independent variables were manipulated within the vignette, in that the subject’s attractions were either given a pathological or non-pathological explanation, and were either heterosexual or homosexual. To assess stigmatizing attitudes, participants reported their affective responses, agreement with beliefs/stereotypes about the individual, …


Analyzing The Effects Of Video Games On Social Anxiety And Communication, Ana S. Quigley Jan 2023

Analyzing The Effects Of Video Games On Social Anxiety And Communication, Ana S. Quigley

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Those with high levels of social anxiety can struggle with their communication skills, and confidence in communication. By using a virtual platform such as Zoom to communicate with others, individuals with social anxiety have shown decreased levels of anxiety, even noting that they prefer the virtual platform over face-to-face encounters (Yen et al., 2012). Video games can increase this level of anonymity that could be felt through zoom, by removing the ability to see the other individual’s face. This gives video games the opportunity to decrease anxiety levels while still requiring a degree of communication. Participants will be randomly sorted …


A Repulsive Inquiry: Evaluating The Impact Of Cognitive Load On Aversive Gaze Behaviors Following Exposure To Disgusting And Fearful Stimuli, Asa Miles Kaplan Jan 2023

A Repulsive Inquiry: Evaluating The Impact Of Cognitive Load On Aversive Gaze Behaviors Following Exposure To Disgusting And Fearful Stimuli, Asa Miles Kaplan

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The present study analyzed the impact of gaze behavior in response to disgusting, fearful, and neutral pictures while participants operate under a cognitive load. Participants were exposed to fearful and disgusting stimuli and their eye movements were tracked accordingly. Participants were randomly sorted into either the cognitive load or no-cognitive load groups. Those within the cognitive load group were given a 5-digit memorization task before each of the four trial sets while the no cognitive load group received a break (in the form of a blank screen) instead. After completing the free-viewing task, participants from both groups were prompted to …


Moments That Matter: The Role Of Emotional Stimuli At Event Boundaries In Memory, Haonan Chen Jan 2023

Moments That Matter: The Role Of Emotional Stimuli At Event Boundaries In Memory, Haonan Chen

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The present study examined the impact of event segmentation and emotional arousal on long-term memory performance. Event segmentation is the cognitive process of automatically dividing experiences into smaller pieces for better consolidation and retrieval, resulting in the formation of event boundaries. Prior research has identified the crucial role of event segmentation in long-term memory and working memory. However, few studies have explored ways to enhance its effects. Emotional arousal refers to the physiological and psychological activation of the body and mind in response to an emotional stimulus. Previous research has indicated that heightened levels of arousal may enhance memory performance. …


Gender And Theory Of Mind: The Complex Relationships Between The Depiction Of Emotion In Preschool Age Children And Moderating Variables, Anna Delaney Skamser Jan 2023

Gender And Theory Of Mind: The Complex Relationships Between The Depiction Of Emotion In Preschool Age Children And Moderating Variables, Anna Delaney Skamser

Senior Projects Spring 2023

As children grow, their artistic depictions of emotions become more accurate; however, these depictions become more influenced by gender roles and social expectations. Research shows that though gender does not influence the ability to depict emotion, it does have an effect on the style used to artistically depict emotion (Vendeville et al., 2018). A majority of the research on this topic is done on grade school children, because of both physical and cognitive development that occurs between the ages of five and ten. The goal of this study is to see if these results can generalize to a younger population …


The Feeling Of Control: The Psychology Behind Immersive Controls In Video Games And Their Real World Effects, Atom Orbit Carrasco Jan 2023

The Feeling Of Control: The Psychology Behind Immersive Controls In Video Games And Their Real World Effects, Atom Orbit Carrasco

Senior Projects Spring 2023

There is a phenomenon that can occur while playing video games where the player begins to feel similar sensations to the player character. This phenomenon, unnamed until now, has very little research directly related to it. There is plenty of indirect research that can be applied to this phenomenon, now called sensation mirroring. A review of both cognitive and psychobiological literature allows for major connections between human functions and how they interact with video game control schemes to be drawn. These connections help form a potential theory on the mechanisms of sensation mirroring and provide directions for future research on …


Mind Over Body: A Comparison Of Psychobiological Versus Physiological Focused Distance Runners, Adam Laurence Beach Jan 2023

Mind Over Body: A Comparison Of Psychobiological Versus Physiological Focused Distance Runners, Adam Laurence Beach

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Previous research has shown that psychology can have significant effects on endurance performance. According to exercise physiologist Samuele Marcora all performance gains in endurance racing are due to a reduction of perceived effort at a given pace (Sherman, 2021). The proposed study will compare athletes focusing on reducing perceived effort at a given pace over a four month training period with athletes focused on improving physical fitness over the same period. The fitness group will complete workouts designed to maximize physiological indicators while the perceived effort groups will complete workouts designed to reduce perceived effort while running at a given …


The Chicken Or The Egg: A Proposed Longitudinal Study On Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Memory Impairment, Hominy Tara Mcmahon Jan 2023

The Chicken Or The Egg: A Proposed Longitudinal Study On Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Memory Impairment, Hominy Tara Mcmahon

Senior Projects Spring 2023

After experiencing trauma, some people go on to develop PTSD while others do not. Resilience and response to treatment also differ depending on the individual. To date, little research has been done to narrow down the reasons for these differences. Therefore, the main goal of this proposed 3-year longitudinal study of PTSD is to better understand the temporal relationship between the development of PTSD and structural changes in the hippocampus. Since PTSD is a costly disorder and disproportionately affects those serving in the military, this study may help determine better prevention tactics and treatment plans for those entering the military …


Teacher Diversity Training: Revealing Biases And Changing Practices, Deva Grumet Bass Jan 2023

Teacher Diversity Training: Revealing Biases And Changing Practices, Deva Grumet Bass

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Black students are disciplined in K-12 schools at higher rates when compared to their White peers. Research has shown that this inequality in treatment can be traced back to the teachers' biases and prejudices against students of color. Lack of support from teachers can harm students’ academic achievement and overall success outside of school as well. In response, various programs have been implemented to help teachers better support all of their students. For example, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has been successful at helping teachers facilitate learning in an emotionally sensitive way. This program began as an initiative to help teachers …


Myths And Fables Of Electroconvulsive Therapy: Knowledge, Attitudes, And Stigmas Of Ect In College Students, Madison Anne Brown Jan 2023

Myths And Fables Of Electroconvulsive Therapy: Knowledge, Attitudes, And Stigmas Of Ect In College Students, Madison Anne Brown

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This study builds upon extensive research on Electroconvulsive Therapy’s (ECT) effectiveness and advancements over time while providing insight into its continuous stigmatization as a psychotherapeutic treatment. The literature provided in this paper explores ECT’s historical background and its misrepresentations in society commonly perpetuated in the media. To further examine present day perceptions of ECT, this study evaluated Bard College undergraduate students’ (n = 24) knowledge, attitudes, and stigmas towards ECT. The data was collected using a five part questionnaire concerning the socio-demographic of participants (part 1), stigmas about ECT (part 2), knowledge about ECT (part 3), sources of knowledge of …


Black Women In Pwi: Cultural Taxation, Microaggressions, & Stress, Roxanna Delgado Jan 2023

Black Women In Pwi: Cultural Taxation, Microaggressions, & Stress, Roxanna Delgado

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Science, Mathematics and Computing of Bard College.


Something Is Lurking: The Impact Of Liminality On The Emotional Valence Of Buildings, Alice Eliot Orlando Knowlton Jan 2023

Something Is Lurking: The Impact Of Liminality On The Emotional Valence Of Buildings, Alice Eliot Orlando Knowlton

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This proposed study examines the effect of architectural liminality on the emotional experience of occupying buildings. Liminality is a quality of strangeness in built spaces which arises from deviations in normal, expected, or logical design. These deviations may create a sense of unease or being creeped out. The proposed study tests the self-reported emotional reaction of participants to one of two buildings, one having liminal traits and the other being without them. It is hypothesized that a greater degree of discomfort or nervousness will be reported in the liminal space than in the nonliminal.


Further Investigation Into The Power Of Wake And Sleep Incubation In Creative Problem Solving, Henry C. Mccullers Jan 2023

Further Investigation Into The Power Of Wake And Sleep Incubation In Creative Problem Solving, Henry C. Mccullers

Senior Projects Spring 2023

An incubation effect occurs when you “let a problem rest” and then try again to answer it. During this period of rest, it is thought that your brain unconsciously does problem solves. Brodt et al. (2018) investigated if this incubation period is better spent awake or asleep. They introduced participants to different types of tasks, and had them stay awake or sleep before attempting the problems again. They found that sleep was not better than staying awake, and concluded that while incubation may exist, sleep is not a better form than staying awake. In this study, I am proposing that …


Racing To Math: Racial Identity, Math Anxiety, And Achievement Motivation Amongst College Students, Amanda A. Derrell Jan 2023

Racing To Math: Racial Identity, Math Anxiety, And Achievement Motivation Amongst College Students, Amanda A. Derrell

Senior Projects Spring 2023

A person’s racial identity can inform their choices in life as well as their perceptions. Existing literature typically investigates how racial identity is involved in the development of one’s overall self-growth throughout their childhood and adolescence and how it influences their adulthood. The aim of this present study was to see if racial identity is associated with the feelings college students hold towards math, specifically math anxiety, as well as achievement motivation. The study also explored the relationship between math anxiety and achievement motivation. The sample was made up of college students in their first year, ages 18-19 (N = …


Can I Have It All?: Does Attachment Style Dictate Relationship Security?, Jessalyn Henriquez Polanco Jan 2023

Can I Have It All?: Does Attachment Style Dictate Relationship Security?, Jessalyn Henriquez Polanco

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Studies have shown that individuals with insecure attachment styles are less likely to feel satisfied or secure in their relationships. Research has shown that security priming can be used to increase one’s attachment security towards relationships. In the present study 40 students (ages 18-23) from Bard College were recruited in order to investigate whether a short-term priming intervention can make people feel more securely attached in their relationships. Participants first completed the ECR-RS questionnaire in order to get their attachment style. Then, participants completed the first half (Time 1) of the ECR-R questionnaire in order to determine how secure they …


Diversity In Diagnosis: A Comparative Relationship Between The Social Behavioral Effects And Timing Of Adhd Diagnosis In African American Adults, K. N'Kira Hailey Jan 2023

Diversity In Diagnosis: A Comparative Relationship Between The Social Behavioral Effects And Timing Of Adhd Diagnosis In African American Adults, K. N'Kira Hailey

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are first seen during childhood and can persist throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD can differ between childhood and adulthood, and there can also be a difference in symptoms for African American adults compared to other groups. Childhood social support and mental health stigma can affect the probability of a person seeking professional help. In addition, the severity of their symptoms, especially if untreated, may lead to experiences of impostor syndrome. This study examined these three social behavioral effects in Black adults in three diagnosis conditions: diagnosed as (1) a child, (2) …


Academics, Anxiety, And Autistic Traits: A Study On The Relation Of Academic Anxiety And Autistic Traits, Keelyn O. Zepp Jan 2023

Academics, Anxiety, And Autistic Traits: A Study On The Relation Of Academic Anxiety And Autistic Traits, Keelyn O. Zepp

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a disorder in which an individual shows a marked deficit in ability in social communication and interaction, as well as behaviors, interests, or rituals which can be considered restrained or repetitive (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Due to these symptoms, autistic individuals have a higher likelihood to struggle in an academic setting. This study investigates the connection between high levels of autistic traits, academic anxiety, and the self-perception of struggle in a college setting. I hypothesized that in populations of current undergraduate students ages 18-22 located within the continental United States, the number of autistic traits that …


Asian American Mental Health: The Coronavirus Influence, Evangeline Faith Cheng Jan 2023

Asian American Mental Health: The Coronavirus Influence, Evangeline Faith Cheng

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Science, Mathematics and Computing of Bard College.