Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Awake, Online And Sleep-Deprived – The Rise Of The Teenage 'Vamper', Elizabeth Englander

Psychology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Civil Unrest And Collective Violence In France: A Historical Comparative Analysis, Kenneth Arsenault

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Civil unrest as a precursor for collective violence to erupt is analyzed using historic events in France. The theoretical background for collective violence is outlined, along with a discussion of the origin of crowd behavior by Le Bon. By analyzing historic events in a single country, the variable of differing cultural contexts is eliminated. Four cases of events that led to collective violence ranging across time from the late 18th century to the late 20th century are analyzed in detail to determine the causal mechanisms that led the crowds to become violent. A comparison of the cases leads to a …

Empirical Assessment Of Risk Factors: How Online And Offline Lifestyle, Social Learning, And Social Networking Sites Influence Crime Victimization, Ashley Bettencourt

Master’s Theses and Projects

As technology and social media become more intertwined with our everyday lives, people are more exposed to various types of victimizations. The purpose of this study is to examine how our online and offline lifestyle choices can contribute to our risk of becoming a sexual crime victim. A random sample of college students from a Massachusetts college was used to gather the necessary information. This survey data was analyzed based on major theoretical components derived from the lifestyle exposure and social learning perspectives. This study determined that both online and offline lifestyle and social learning theory have a substantial impact …

Work To Do, Colby King

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Project Holly: Can Human-Based Behavioral Therapy Help A Chimpanzee?, Ellen Ingmanson

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Miniature Books At Maxwell Library, Marcia Dinneen

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Bulletin Of The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Vol. 75, No. 2, Massachusetts Archaeological Society

Bulletin of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society

75th Anniversary Issue:

• Editor's Note (Curtiss Hoffman)
• The Davis Farm Site, Sudbury, Massachusetts: A Final Report for the Middlesex Group, 1940-1941 (Shirley Blancke)
• The Faunal Assemblage from the Davis Farm Site (19-MD-160; M-23-26) (Tonya Largy)

Colonization Through The Eyes Of Dolls: An Iconography Of The Doyle Doll Collection, Erika Umali

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Past Is Present: Exploring Methods Of Cooperation Between Archaeologists, Native Americans, And Museums In Southern New England, Mckayla Hoffman

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Homo sapiens sapiens is arguably one of the most fascinating and complex species that has ever existed on Earth. On the surface, we appear to be highly diversified, and we interpret the world around us in a variety of ways. These interpretations shape the way that we live our lives on this planet, and inform our wide array of kinship patterns, marriage ceremonies, languages, religious beliefs, and more. However, for all of these differences, we are the same at our core: we contain relatively the same DNA, and might generally share similar goals and aspirations for ourselves and those we …

Making The Dough And Knowing How To Spend It: Students' Understanding Of Personal Finance, Anthony Bazile

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This paper will explore the responsiveness Bridgewater State University (BSU) students have to the implementation of a personal finance course as part of a graduation requirement for every student. The National Financial Capability Study showed that most young people, 18-34 years old, scored the lowest in a basic financial literacy test. The aim of this paper is to analyze where BSU students stand on financial education while gauging how open students are to take personal finance courses offered on campus. In order to do so; the paper will analyze the students’ financial knowledge, attitudes and other influences to grasp what …

Using The Objectification Theory Framework To Assess The Unique Body Image Concerns Of Women Experiencing Homelessness, Melanie K. Mitchell

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The primary objective of this research is to explore the unique body image concerns of women experiencing homelessness, an understudied population in body image research. The hypothesis is that women who are currently homeless and who have experienced longer periods of homelessness will be more likely to have poorer body image. Homeless women may not possess the means to modify their appearance with hygiene products or facilities (Hoffman & Coffey, 2008). Also, an inconsistent food source may influence some women to binge when food is available, or to eat unhealthy foods that result in weight gain (Bove & Olsen, 2006). …

The Development Of Body Image In Dancers: Examining Gesture's Role In Conveying Body Image, Valeria Albano

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Body image and body dissatisfaction is an issue in western countries. Many females, especially dancers, have been objectified by a cultural stereotype of a thin body and being referred to as “skin and bones”. Recently, body disturbances have been reported in children as young as six years old. Children this young may be unaware that they are expressing these negative thoughts about their bodies and thus, the measures assessing body image are challenging to analyze. Another line of research has shown that children spontaneously produce hand gestures when narrating stories, solving math problems, or explaining scientific ideas. Moreover, children convey …

Prisons And Pups: An Examination Of Service Dog Training And Their Weekend Families, Kendra Garcia

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The use of service dogs for people with disabilities has increased in the last few decades. The service dogs come in the form of companion dogs, socialization dogs, medical alert dogs, and dogs for the mobility and hearing impaired. Therapy dogs are also used in clinical settings to ease the tension in hospital, and school settings. Since their use has increased, so has the demand. Training of service dogs can take anywhere from 12-18 months and can cost upwards of $20,000. Organizations have become creative in meeting the needs of their clients and turned to recruiting incarcerated persons in correctional …

Generation Peace: Peace Education To Unify A Globalized Society, Jocelyn Coombs

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The purpose of this study is to discuss how Peace Education may build on the objectives of Global and Diversity Education, and how it may enhance these objectives in higher education. Through a qualitative study of survey data and analysis of curriculum and diversity programs at Bridgewater State University, I examine connections between the diversity-oriented campus environment and student attitudes towards diversity. I use responses from a fifty-question survey distributed to over 300 students at BSU to analyze student attitudes towards diversity, individualism, and political engagement. While students enjoy meeting people from diverse backgrounds, a significant percent of respondents do …

Relation Of Personality Traits To Cognitive Impairments And Disease Severity In Parkinson's Disease, Lindsey Clark

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence rate ranging from 31 to 201 per 100,000 individuals. PD primarily affects individuals over the age of 65 years. Recently, researchers have recognized the importance that cognitive and other non-motor type deficits play in the lives of PD patients. Some speculate that PD patients even exhibit changes in certain personality traits. It is currently unclear, however, how these personality traits might relate to cognitive deficits and even disease severity. The current study examined this issue by administering a personality assessment and several cognitive (frontal-lobe) assessments to 27 …

Correlates Of Maternal Mortality: A Cross-National Examination, Amanda Blasingame

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Maternal mortality is an important issue that has persisted around the world; specifically in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (2012), about 800 women die from pregnancy or childbirth related complications around the world every day with 99 percent of maternal deaths occurring in developing countries. Previous research has linked a number of other social factors to increased rates of maternal mortality including education, socioeconomic status, access to health care, autonomy, and cultural beliefs. This secondary qualitative research study looks further into rates of maternal mortality in a selection of thirty different countries and what other factors may …

The Construction Of Ethnoreligious Identity Groups In Syria: Loyalties And Tensions In The Syrian Civil War, Eliott Rousseau

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The ongoing civil war in Syria is characterized by its inherent complexity, often leaving non-Syrian onlookers and geopolitical stakeholders confused and fatigued. In a war with such a high human toll—refugees hemorrhaging from Syria’s borders, the death toll ever-climbing, and a generation of children growing up with the fighting—there is no room for mystification. This research project contextualizes the Syrian Civil War using anthropological concepts of religion and ethnicity. The ways in which religion and ethnicity help construct identity and group loyalty among Syria’s diverse population are examined. In particular, the role of membership in specific identity groups in creating …

Perceptions And Misconceptions: The Relationship Between Education And Understandings Of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Julie Cronin

Honors Program Theses and Projects

An impediment to solving social issues such as homelessness lies in people’s stereotyped views and lack of knowledge regarding the issues. Holding stereotypes of entire groups of people often marginalizes the group of people and perpetuates their struggle. This can be seen in stereotypes that are held of individuals experiencing homelessness. The homeless population is highly stigmatized in the U.S. based on stereotyped views. Previous research, such as that completed by Knecht & Martinez (2009) indicates that individuals who have positive interaction with people experiencing homeless, as well as education about the issue, are much less likely to hold stereotyped …

More Than Just Food: Analysis Of Food And Social Interactions, Kelsey Kazlauskas

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This study examines gender differences in the social interactions of elementary school students during their lunchtime period. This pre-adolescent culture initiates gender role behaviors that reflect how future views on gender will grow. The role of social interaction between peers relates to the food choices made in the lunchroom. The data for this study was collected through observations that took place over the course of two months in an urban public elementary school in southeastern Massachusetts. Observations were collected to closely examine how students in elementary grades are intermixing by age and gender in an informal, school-based setting. The observational …

From Goal-Striving To "Right Intention": A Grounded Theory Analysis Of Interviews With Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Participants, Julia E. Field

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) helps people to manage stress reactivity through contemplative practices such as meditation. The creator of the program, Kabat-Zinn (1994), defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally” (p. 4). Shapiro et al. (2006) clarified this definition as consisting of three mechanisms of mindfulness. In particular, their mechanism “intention” captures Kabat-Zinn’s phrase “on purpose.” Historically, mindfulness practices were intended to cultivate compassion and insight; thus, practitioners’ intentions need to be included in a psychological model of mindfulness (Shapiro & Schwartz, 2000). In keeping with their approach, this project …

Chain Of Command: The Barriers Of Reporting Sexual Assault In The Military, Danielle Christenson

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Reported rates of sexual assault in the military have increased dramatically over the past 10 years (Groves, 2013). One reason for the pervasiveness of sexual assault is the reporting structure. Despite changes in the way sexual assault complaints are handled, there continue to be numerous sexual assault scandals (Childress, 2013). The purpose of this study is to examine how the military’s chain of command influences the reporting procedures, and how this may influence the military’s ability to prevent sexual assaults. This thesis examines three case studies specifically focusing on military sexual assault reporting.

Adam Smith: Providing Morality In A Free Market Economy, Kendra Tully

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments (TMS) and Wealth of Nations (WN) appear to suffer from an irresolvable tension: TMS extols human sympathy whereas WN extols the consequences of self-interest. This paper takes a comprehensive approach, adding to scholarship on what has become known as the “Adam Smith Problem.” There are traditionally four different approaches to the “Adam Smith Problem” in the secondary literature; economic, political, moral, and “principles” approach. Through a textual analysis of TMS and WN that focuses on prudence, the nature of happiness and Smith’s rhetorical style, this inconsistency between his two texts disappears. The emphasis Smith …

The Power Of The Gaze: Self- And Partner-Objectification Within Same-Sex Relationships, Diane Smedberg

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Most of the literature concerning objectification is focused on the individual experiences and the consequences that manifest from objectification. This study sought to address the gap in the existing literature on objectification theory by examining self- and partner- objectification in the context of same-sex relationships. The primary hypothesis of the current study is that gay men experience higher levels of self-objectification and partner-objectification than do lesbian women. A secondary aim of the study was to explore related variables, including enjoyment of sexualization, drive for muscularity, thinness attitudes, internalized heterosexism, and fear of HIV/AIDS. Participants were gay men (n = 32) …

Beating South Africa's Endless Plague: Making Life Easier For Hiv/Aids Orphans, Shannon Garrity

Honors Program Theses and Projects

There are many modern beauties on this earth, including the incredible power of twenty-first century science and technology. But, due to many socio-economic injustices and current wars, these modern ‘beauties’ do not reach everyone. The spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa is a pertinent example of a social and public health issue disabling millions of people from obtaining their basic necessities. Although South Africa is the richest country on the African continent, it continues to contain the highest number of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS worldwide. One out of five adults is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in South Africa; this has left over …

Voices On Campus - Julian Bond On "From Civil War To Civil Rights", Julian Bond

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense, Norad And The Canada Conundrum, Joel Sokolsky

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

“Too Embarrassed To Ask”: The Pros And Cons Of Foreign Affairs Explainers In The Washington Post, Jessica Birthisel

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Dynamics Of Bystander Behavior In Child Sexual Abuse Incidents, Charles Leonard

Master’s Theses and Projects

It is well known that child sexual abuse is a long standing problem in society. Much has been researched concerning the pedophile and other child molesters who choose to sexually exploit minors. Too often the victims of these crimes have been abused over a protracted period—sometimes years. Even more disturbing is the discovery that the abuse was noticed, even witnessed by others who choose not to intervene. Many people have looked the other way, denied what has occurred, or simply refused to become involved in stopping child molesters. This exploratory research examines what bystanders choose to do once they recognize …

Does Parental Divorce Have An Affect On A Child's Education?, Brittany Odenweller

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In the U.S., 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Children who experience their parents going through a divorce are often left susceptible to depression, acting out, and suffering problems academically. This study examines the relationship between academic problems and parent relationships and divorce. When parents decide to divorce or separate, their actions can affect their children’s education and schooling. The twenty former Abington High School and now Bridgewater State University students were each interviewed one-on-one to find out if their parents’ relationships and conflicts had any effect on their academics. Between the ten students who came from divorced parents, …

How Judges Decide: James Wilson's Theory Of Constitutional Interpretation, Geena Bournazian

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.