Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Expression Of Guilt, Chloe A. Stewart

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Though aversive, the experience and expression of guilt is important to healthy social functioning. Guilt is often described as visceral, and nonverbal guilt expressions are anecdotally observed, yet much remains unknown about how guilt is expressed. The present work aimed to explore the visceral experience of guilt via the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the nonverbal display of guilt via facial, gestural, and postural expressions. Using a novel film paradigm, we explored ANS activity during guilt in healthy adults and adults with neurodegenerative disorders (NDs). We further explored the nonverbal behaviours associated with guilt in healthy adults. We hypothesized that, …

The Orgasm Gap: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Noemie Bouchars

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Background

Global perspectives on sexual health emphasize that everyone has the right to pleasurable sexual experiences (WHO, 2006). However, research suggests that men and women may not experience orgasms with the same frequency—a phenomenon termed the orgasm gap (Wade et al., 2005). Past research has found that men experience orgasm more frequently than women (e.g., Garcia et al., 2017; Piemonté et al., 2019). Researchers have offered several theories in an attempt to explain and predict the size of the orgasm gap, in a growing and varied literature (Mahar et al., 2020).

Aims

Our aim was to conduct a meta-analysis on …

Social Cognition Across Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review, Jina C. Kim

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Social cognition refers to the cognitive processes involved in social interactions. Deficits in social cognition may play a role in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders (ED). The goal of this review was to examine the current literature on social cognition across EDs, specifically, anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED).

The search revealed 79 studies which were organized according to six domains of social cognition: alexithymia, theory of mind, empathy, social processing, emotion recognition, and emotion processing. Most studies examined AN, finding evidence for deficits in some domains of social cognition. Literature on BN …

Partner Effects May Be Weaker Than We Thought. What Does That Mean For Relationship Science?, Madeline J. Bloomberg

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

In relationship science, researchers focus on studying interpersonal effects among dyads or romantic couples, as well as common relationship outcomes like quality, satisfaction, and commitment. To do so, a statistical analysis known as the actor-partner interdependence model is used to examine dyadic effects, such as how an individual’s variable may affect the other member of the dyad. Within this model, there are actor and partner effects. An actor effect can be defined as the effect of partner 1’s independent variable on their own dependent variable. A partner effect can be defined as the effect of partner 1’s independent variable on …

Is Tik-Tok Body Positive?, Grace N. Solylo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Feminist Identity On Women's Conceptualizations Of Beauty And Body-Based Stigma: A Conceptual Replication And Extension, Courtney C. Hillier

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research in the area of feminist identity and body image has produced mixed results. Some evidence suggests that feminist identity may be protective against negative body image in women. The current study was an independent partial conceptual replication and extension of Roy et al. (2007) and examines the experimental effect of feminist self-identification on forms of internalized body stigma. After completion of baseline measures, undergraduate women (N = 149) were assigned to one of three experimental conditions and read about either a positive portrayal of feminists, negative portrayal of feminists, or non-feminist-related topic. Participants then completed measures of feminist …

A Mixed-Methods Examination Of Modern Feminist Identity, Jaclyn Siegel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Gender inequality remains a pressing social issue around the world. Due to recent social movements, feminism has become a part of the cultural zeitgeist, and an increasing number of people have begun identifying as feminists in recent years. However, many modern feminists maintain a sense of ambivalence about the movement and their place within it. This ambivalence is difficult to study because the tools designed to evaluate feminist attitudes and identity do not capture this or other important and common aspects of modern feminist identity, such as fear of stigma, solidarity with other feminists, and competence to engage in feminist …

The Impact Of Using Social Media To Understand The Pandemic: Does It Spread Conspiracy And Discourage Health-Protective Behaviours?, Kitara Patry

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigates the interplay between social media use for COVID-19 related information, belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, and the negative behaviours associated with these conspiracy theories that manifest in participants’ disregard of health-protective behaviours. Participants (N = 69) were recruited from an all-female undergraduate population and completed one online questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information and experience with the pandemic. Questions about COVID-19 conspiracy theories and health-protective behaviours were adapted from Allington et al.’s (2020) research. A Pearson correlation analysis for using social media or traditional news as a main source of COVID-19 information was not significant with measures …

Types Of Social Relationships And Their Effects On Psychological Well-Being, Alana A. Graham

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Research has already established the importance of social networks in developing and maintaining well-being. Furthermore, different types of social relationships have been found to influence individuals’ lives in unique ways. There is little understanding, however, of the manner in which relationship types compare in their effects on individuals’ psychological well-being. Using a correlational design, this study investigated the associations between relationship intimacy and psychological well-being. Relationship intimacy was measured for respondents’ parents, significant others, close friends, and pets. The surveys were distributed to 91 undergraduate students and combined the Miller Social Intimacy Scale (MSIS) and Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-being …

Using Cognitive Dissonance To Encourage Covid-Preventive Behaviours, Xuanqiao Wang

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study investigated whether a hypocrisy-based intervention would increase students’ intentions to engage in COVID-preventive behaviours. We hypothesized that participants in the hypocrisy-induction condition (experimental condition) would express higher levels of intention to engage in COVID-preventative behaviours than participants in whom hypocrisy has not been induced (control condition). The sample consisted of 2 male and 64 female undergraduate students at Brescia University College. An independent t-test was conducted on the intention rating scores of practicing COVID-preventative behaviours for the experimental and control conditions. It was found that there was no significant difference in the average intention rating score between the …

The Impact Of Locus Of Control, Norms, And Social Desirability On Substance Risk Perception, Rachel A. Turner

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Drug use among college students is common and can be associated with adverse effects. This study sought to identify how drug-related beliefs about risk and descriptive and injunctive social norms vary for a variety of legal, prescription, and illicit drugs. The relationship between these attitudes, locus of control and social desirability was also assessed. A sample of 58 female undergraduate students from a university in Ontario, Canada completed a web-based survey. Findings indicated no association between locus of control and any other measures apart from social desirability and descriptive marijuana norms, which were also associated. Although marijuana was perceived as …

Exploring Social Connections And Perceived Stress During Covid-19, Lily G. Mackenzie

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study evaluated university students’ levels of overall social connectedness, social connectedness with various groups (family, friends, classmates, instructors, school community), and perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this study investigated whether there were associations between students’ overall social connectedness levels, levels of social connectedness with various groups, and perceived stress levels. Undergraduate students (n = 91) at a university in London, Ontario, completed a questionnaire comprising the Social Connectedness Scale, questions about social connections with particular groups, and the Perceived Stress Scale. A correlation analysis revealed a significant, negative correlation between overall social connectedness and perceived stress. Furthermore, …