Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Truth Of The American Immigration System: Family Separation, Tegwyn Hollenbach '24

Honor Scholar Theses

This paper will begin with the first chapter by detailing the foundation of policies the American government built up in order to create the immigration system. The policies centralized around being acts of exclusion in an attempt to keep those the government deemed good enough out. There will be details on the last major immigration reform law and explanations as to what factors and events have played into creating the American Immigration system today. The second chapter will delve deeper into more modern immigration policies by focusing on recent presidential administrations that have attempted and failed to make a productive …

Greening The Green: Examining The Resource Use Of Golf Courses With Suggestions On How To Improve Their Sustainability, Kaelan Addison Lestock '24

Honor Scholar Theses

Golf is a journey full of challenges, requiring each player to strive for precision, rather than merely a game of getting a small, dimpled ball in a cup hundreds of yards away in the fewest strokes possible The game is both physical and mental; it tests one’s focus, decision making, and resilience. Those who play competitively rarely feel as though they are competing against another player, instead their opponent is the course. And for those who play recreationally, the game can be a time to reconnect with nature, foster both old and new friendships, or enjoy the pursuit for perfection. …

A Chemical And Historical Analysis Of Beer: Discovering Brewing Styles And Beer Stages, Alexander Taylor '24

Honor Scholar Theses

This interdisciplinary project is designed to explore both the compositional qualities of beer during the brewing process and its impact on society from a cultural, economic, and social viewpoint. Comparing various styles of beer against each other in a historical, societal, and chemical lens allows for a deeper understanding of what creates a beer’s identity, and what makes it different from other styles. Here we analyzed two different styles of beer, a bock lager and a saison ale, in order to determine their chemical composition through their developmental stages to their final product. Based on previously published research and extended …

The Failed Promise Of Gun Legislation: The Assault Weapons Ban And Sandy Hook, Matigan Williams '24

Honor Scholar Theses

This paper has three chapters. The first details the Assault Weapons Ban and what led to its passage in 1994. It goes through the different provisions and exemptions in the ban. This chapter analyzes the impact that the ban had on crime, gun violence, government spending, and electoral politics. The chapter then details why the ban failed to pass again in 2004 and the resulting impact. The second chapter analyzes the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the shooting’s role in the gun control debate. This chapter looks at why the Assault Weapons Ban failed to pass in 2013 …

The Bard’S Precursors To Psychology: Exposing Dark Sides Of Human Nature, Rebecca Parsons '23

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

The Process And Me: Creating A Film About Archaeology, Jack Woods '23

Honor Scholar Theses

The film I created is entitled “The Bomb: The 2022 Trasimeno Regional Archaeological Project.” It documents the research methods used to ethically excavate an archaeological site and presents Professor Rebecca Schindler and Pedar Foss’s research from Castiglione del Lago, Italy. The stakes of the project are as follows: I wanted to create an entertaining documentary about the process of ethically excavating an archaeological dig site through the 2022 Trasimeno Regional Archaeology Project (TRAP) in Castiglione del Lago, Italy. This thesis contains three parts: Analysis of Archaeology in the Media, where I analyze two TV shows about archaeology as the main …

Dissecting The Musical Body: Analyzing The Influence Of Body Norms On Musical Discourse, Lauren Del Rosario '23

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Petro Pasts And Solar Futures: An Exploration Of Critical, Creative, And Activist Solarpunk Discourse, Emma Gilliam '23

Honor Scholar Theses

While some scholars in the subject of environmentalism may be familiar with the genre of petrofiction, the emerging genre of solarpunk is much less well-known by both academics and average readers alike. It occupies many of the same spaces as petrofiction, as a genre that grapples with modern society’s relationship to energy sources of oil and renewables. However, solarpunk differs from petrofiction in the fact that it goes beyond just a literary genre, reaching out into the worlds of art and activism simultaneously. Not only is the term ‘solarpunk’ used to refer to works of art and literature, but it …

The Emotions Behind The Screen, Eli Gray Nations '23

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis revolves around the narrative form of Dungeons and Dragons, that the players have true free will, which allows for the highest level of storytelling. By reaching this level, the players are able to freely tackle issues in their life and surrounding them, like testing out negative parts of their personality and finding community during events like the COVID pandemic. This, combined with the recent scandal from DnD’s publisher Wizards of the Coast poses this question: what exactly is DnD, therapy, art, community, or just a game? This thesis hopes to lead the reader to answer this question in …

An Examination Of Parental Transmission On Young Voters’ Political Party Affiliation, Parenting Style Mediations, Kelly J. Truax '23

Honor Scholar Theses

This paper examines the relationship of parental transmission and young voter’s political affiliation by examining parental and offsprings’ political affiliations within the United States. Correlations between both maternal and paternal political affiliations with offspring political affiliations were significant. Paternal types of authoritative and permissive parenting acted as mediators of parental transmission. Examining literature from psychological, political science, historical, and sociological tests, the thesis explores how young voters’ develop their political affiliations. Suggestions from the text emphasize the importance of examining voters’ identities, historical events, and the priorities of the generation to understand young voters’ political behavior.

Resilience In Girlhood: An Analysis Of The Social Determinants Of Anxiety Disorders For Adolescent Girls, Maggie Sullivan '23

Honor Scholar Theses

Anxiety disorders affect twice as many women as men and often begin in adolescence or young adulthood, which is a unique period of accelerated development and identity formation. Evidence points to social determinants of health (SDH) such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), socioeconomic status (SES), education, social media, and resilience that lead to this discrepancy. Girlhood is a distinct adolescence because girls face the effects of more ACEs, self-objectification, internalization of academic stress, and predisposition to low SES. This thesis summarizes research on the social determinants of anxiety for adolescent girls, utilizing a socio-ecological model and feminist research methods to …

Power, Pleasure, And Privilege: Defining Depauw’S Hookup Culture And Its Mental Health Implications, Reanna Stiehler '23

Honor Scholar Theses

Hookup culture is not primarily about sex, pleasure, connection, or freedom. Hookup culture is about power—how power is used, distributed, and desired. Previous work in hookup culture discusses a discourse of desire; however, the root and nature of this desire are unclear. I posit that hookup culture, as it currently exists, is strongly related to rape culture. In this thesis, I will explicate my anecdotal, qualitative, and quantitative evidence supporting this hypothesis.

Synthetic Or Not: Implications Of Hormonal Birth Control On Women’S Hormones And The Cortisol Stress Response, Maddie Perry '23

Honor Scholar Theses

Women’s bodies are the subject of decision-making and control, yet women’s lives are dismally ignored. The field of women’s health is highly understudied, and the demand for that adequate research must be granted to the women’s health field. This interdisciplinary research study investigated stress response differences between hormonal birth control users and non-users. Hormonal birth control (HBC) is one of the greatest technologies afforded to women and further research is necessary to ensure women are guaranteed bodily autonomy and women’s health education. Due to altered hormonal signaling, HBC has been linked to behavioral and decision making differences in women. Building …

An Oral History On Material Culture In Greencastle, Indiana: Investigating The Importance Of Movable Objects To Individual, Familial, And Community Relationships, Brenna Milligan '22

Honor Scholar Theses

If things could talk, what would they tell us? Specifically, what do the things within the walls of our own homes, or tucked away in a box for safe-keeping, or stuffed in our backpack—things of ordinary value or small-scale worth— say about life in the 21st century? While objects displayed in museums provoke visitors to consider the mastery of artistic skill, or the desirability of rare materials, what does the family photograph in the pocket of the museumgoer signify about human relations to things? This project explores why everyday things and personal artifacts are worthy of academic research. Specifically, it …

Identity, Knowledge, And Environmentalism: How The Media Can Affect The Politics Of Climate Change In The United States, Colette Polezonis '22

Honor Scholar Theses

This paper will examine how individual identities can affect both their news media preferences and their belief in climate change. Identity impacts what news sources an individual finds trustworthy, and therefore what news sources they read and watch. Identity also affects an individual’s belief that climate change is already happening, and that it is manmade. Media preferences can also shape those beliefs, based on the way they frame the same story, and what rhetoric is used within each frame. The media uses rhetoric and framing to influence individuals’ knowledge on particular topics, which impacts their voting behaviors. A person’s identity …

A Child’S Mental Health Journey: Using An Activity Book As A Guide For Mental Health Literacy And Emotional, Social And Behavioral Development, Sage Sherfick '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Like adults, children experience mental health symptoms that can have negative effects on their life and development. According to the CDC (2018), 1 in 6 children has a mental health disorder are 2-8 years old. The prevalence of many mental health disorders increases as children age, and those 6 to 11 years old are more likely to have behavioral problems. There are many theories of why this may be, including the increase in the number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) a child may have. Those who are exposed to trauma during childhood are at greater risk for lifelong health problems. …

A Dangerous Pursuit Of Safety: The Value Of Freedom Of Expression And The Folly Of Trading It Away, Nina Katarina Štular '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Freedom of expression has always been weighed against other values. Like all freedoms, it brings with it a degree of risk that it will be misused to do ill. In the work ahead, I hope to offer a reminder of the value of free expression and a warning against the folly of over-restricting it. Those in favor of censoring and regulating expression too often feign to act as protectors of the much desired public or community safety. What censorship really produces, however, is at best a mere illusion of safety. Only an environment in which all ideas, no matter how …

Coffee, Music, And Taste: Why We Like What We Like, And Why That Matters, Thomas Curdt '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Research Questions

In both my research and performance, I will investigate three aspects of taste:

How do we Taste?

• What are the mechanical and physiological mechanisms through which we taste food and hear music?

How do we communicate Taste?

• How do we translate physical senses and taste into language?
• What is the role of metaphor in communicating taste?

How does our worldview affect our Taste?

• How do our emotions affect our taste?
• How does our identities affect our taste?
• How does technology affect our taste?
• How can we be more intentional about our taste?

Property Blockchains Have Failed To Realize Their Promise, Alexander Walton '22

Honor Scholar Theses

We analyze the introduction of blockchain technology in the U.S. home sales market. The introduction of blockchain technology into the real estate industry has failed to meet high expectations to streamline operations and reduce costs. Required legal changes in the management of property deeds, high investment costs and unproven technology met resistance in a fragmented industry with many players, some holding monopoly control. Many parties in the complex chain of real estate transactions have resisted the natural Schumpeterian wave of creative destruction which, at the macro level, should bring huge savings. At the micro level, title insurers have the most …

The Impact Of Political Satire Programs On Viewers’ Perceptions Of Us Politicians: A Study Of Hbo’S Veep, Alexander J. Hlade '22

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis addresses an existing line of study surrounding the effects that political satire programs have on their audiences. More specifically, this paper focuses on HBO’s fictional satire program Veep (2012-2019) and its potential to influence viewers’ perceptions of current Vice President Kamala Harris. This study uses focus group survey responses to an interview Vice President Harris gave on April 5th, 2021 and compares survey responses taken prior to and following a viewing of Veep season 2 episode 8 “First Response.” In so doing, this study aims to determine if viewing fictional satire programs has any immediate effect on viewers’ …

The Decline Of Mental Health: Pandemic Effects In School-Aged Children Katherine Lenger Depauw University Honor Scholar Program Class Of 2022 Rebecca Schindler,, Katherine Lenger '22

Honor Scholar Theses

This research project examines the mental health impact of Covid-19 on children in primary school. When I first began this research project, there were not many reports on children’s mental health in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. There were already published studies about adult mental health, college students, and even teenagers, but not much about school-aged children. That is what prompted this study. Since I have begun my research, there have been a few more reports published, including some by the US Department of Education, that have drawn more attention to the current lack of sources available for younger children. …

The Simulated Life: A Psychological And Philosophical Examination Of Contemporary Social Media Use Of Adolescents, Lauren T. Lamore '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Suppose you were born 50 years ago. You may not have encountered a screen for several years. Suppose you were born today. You would likely encounter a screen instantly. Unlike 50 years ago, adolescents are exposed to screens and social media quickly and frequently. For those born today, it can be difficult to imagine a world without social media, smartphones, and the internet.

Recently, China limited the amount of time adolescents under the age of 18 can spend playing video games. Bans and limitations like this may sound strange to a western audience, but many people are worried about the …

The Red Line: An Examination Of The Power Dynamics And Concepts Impacting The Bus Rapid Transit Plan For Marion County, In, Kelby Stallings '22

Honor Scholar Theses

I intend to apply critical theory to the relationship between historic Home Owner’s Loan Corporation (HOLC) residential security maps and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system currently being developed for Marion County, Indiana. This critical examination will aid in the visualization of current power dynamics contained within the Indianapolis city system, which are partial artifacts of the historic HOLC mapping of the city. Visualizing the Indianapolis city system from a critical perspective may in turn help to indicate who will be privileged by the structure and redevelopment of the Indianapolis city with the advancement of zero-emission and/or sustainable infrastructure in …

A Closer Look Into American Humanitarian Intervention: How Understanding Humanity Tells Who And When We Help, Katie Noble 21

Honor Scholar Theses

I will focus on the United States and their motivation to aid humanitarian crises through three case studies. To realize how the United States is motivated to help, humanity’s predispositions must be well-defined, alongside their established geopolitical interests. It is easy to feel empathy for loved ones or family members, but how does empathy translate with someone in a foreign country? At our core, humans seek interaction and cooperation among others. Who and how they decide to cooperate with defines the intervention strategies. If we can understand how the individual selects their in-group, these tendencies will reflect at the state …

Uswnt And Twitter: Resistance And Activism In The Equal Pay Campaign, Mia Manney 21

Honor Scholar Theses

Research for this study of the “equal pay campaign” centers around the following overarching question: how does the USWNT use Twitter as a performative mechanism for expressing and enhancing social activist causes? In particular, my research explores how members of the USWNT, both individually and collectively use social media in the pursuit of gender equality and equal pay provisions. In what specific ways have the women engaged social media and why do they rely upon Twitter in particular? How does the rhetoric that the women use accentuate their motivations and advance their social activist cause? Is the women’s use of …

The Relationship Between Grassroots Activism And Government Agencies Confronting Water Contamination In Marginalized Communities., Hira Ahmad 21

Honor Scholar Theses

Overall, this research project seeks to understand the relationship between the grassroots movements fighting against corporate induced water contamination and government agencies responding to their concerns. How do these parties communicate currently and what factors provide context into how this flawed system can be modified in order to recognize and remedy the effects of environmental injustice in the United States?

Dilemma: A Magazine About Sexual Assault Ft. Me, Emma Rees 21

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Over-Medicalization And Criminalization Of Birth In The United States: Exploring The Outcomes, Meg Wallace 20

Honor Scholar Theses

This paper will examine the effects that over-medicalization and criminalization have had on the state of giving birth in the United States. It will attempt to offer insight on why the United States ranks near the bottom of countries that are considered “developed” in maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates, despite spending the highest percentage of gross national product on health care. The paper will analyze: the history behind the medicalization of birth in the United States, different methods of over-medicalization, the impacts of unnecessary medical interventions, different incentives driving medicalization, the history of criminalization of pregnant women, the …

Contemporary Challenges Facing Small, Family Farms In America: The Grant Family And Their Maraschino Cherry Farm, Haley Allaben 20

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Multi-Ethnic Chronicles: Interrogating My Imposter Syndrome, Maria Flores 20

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.