Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Teach Them How To Say Goodbye: Student Therapist Termination At A Psychodynamic Training Clinic, Michael Ferrara

Dissertations and Theses

Termination is arguably one of the most important aspects of psychotherapy, however, the research into training for termination is sparse. Further, student therapists report that their training for termination provided little guidance, instruction, or acknowledgment of clinical realities around treatment endings. Using a semi-structured interview with a sample of 11 student therapists at a psychodynamic training clinic, this study explored experiences of termination and the preparation for those endings. Qualitative thematic analysis indicated that this group of student therapists did not experience shared and structured termination training but did not feel they were unprepared for the endings with their patients. …

Identity-Focused Therapist Self-Disclosure In Matched Sexual/Gender Minority Dyads: A Longitudinal Therapy Process-Outcome Study, Brian Thomas Neff

Dissertations and Theses

Therapist self-disclosure (TSD) is a controversial clinical intervention whose benefits and drawbacks remain contested. Notably, no prior research has differentiated explicitly between self-disclosures related to the therapist’s core identities and those peripheral to identity, and qualitative studies suggest that identity-focused therapist self-disclosure (TSD-I) may be beneficial when therapist and patient share at least one marginalized identity. LGBTQ+ people, who experience significant health disparities and utilize psychotherapy more than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, could benefit particularly from TSD-I. The mental and physical health challenges facing LGBTQ+ individuals are predominantly explained through minority stress theory, which suggests that societal prejudice and …

The Development Of A Computerized Text Analysis Measure Of Differentiation Relatedness: A Pilot Study, Liang Yi Wong

Dissertations and Theses

Self-definition and relatedness are considered two important processes for psychological development. Self-definition refers to an individual’s ability to maintain a stable, agentic, integrated sense of self that is differentiated from others. Relatedness refers to one’s ability to establish and maintain mutually reciprocal, stable, interpersonal relationships. Research shows that impairments in self-definition and relatedness are connected with various forms of personality and psychiatric disorders. Assessing for these impairments may allow clinicians and researchers to identity relevant factors that lead to therapeutic change. One way to assess for self-definition and relatedness is by understanding an individual’s description of self and others, which …

The Mental Health Of Southeast Asian American Lgbtqia+ Adults, Phetsamone P. Phoummavong

Dissertations and Theses

The current study examines the prevalence of and relationship between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of Southeast Asian Americans (age: M = 26.6, SD = 4.0) who self-identified as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual and plus [LGBTQIA+]) (n = 41). Our national online survey was co-developed with a partnering community-based organization (CBO), Mekong NYC, and was disseminated through Southeast Asian American and/or LGBTQIA+ serving CBOs, university-affiliated organizations, and relevant affinity groups.

Results indicate that participants in our sample who identified as female, …

Character Strengths In Applied Behavior Analysis And The Treatment Of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study, Michael G. Johansen

Dissertations and Theses

Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have continued to rise. Individuals diagnosed with ASD may display a range of deficits in social communication, behaviors, and symptoms that limit everyday functioning. Among the treatments for ASD, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is typically the earliest and longest intervention individuals with ASD are exposed to. Concerns have been raised over ABA being a compliance-based therapy which potentially produces prompt reliance, reinforcement dependency, and a lack of intrinsic motivation. In an attempt to address these concerns, this study aimed to assess the potential benefits of including the concept of character strengths from the field …

Policing With A Double-Edged Sword: The Associations Between Neighborhood Deprivation, Coping & Substance Use Among Black & Latiné Families, Neil M. Allicock

Dissertations and Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated systemic racial inequities among Black and Latiné communities, increasing daily stressors such as exposure to violence, racial discrimination, and negative perceptions of the police. Social constraints from quarantining and social distancing have weakened community relationships that previously provided relief from these stressors. Persistent poverty and racial discrimination further strain community ties and challenge the well-being of marginalized communities. Negative experiences with the police are unique stressors for Black and Latiné youth, potentially increasing their risk for substance use. The erosion of community ties may heighten psychological stress and lead to less adaptive coping methods, such …

Comparing Perceptions Of Continued Presence Of The Deceased And Unidentified Sensed Presence Experiences In A Non-Clinical Sample Of Paranormal Experients, Scarlet Sidwell

Dissertations and Theses

Research on individuals' paranormal experiences, particularly sensed presence experiences, has predominantly focused on bereavement contexts (Kamp et al., 2020; Evrard et al., 2021). However, less is understood about the similarities and distinctions between perceived presence of the deceased and unfamiliar sensory perceptions of presence. The present study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the phenomenology of individuals' sensory experiences of presence within two distinct domains: perceptions of the continued presence of the deceased (PCPDs) and unidentified sensed presence experiences (USPEs). The current study utilized data from a sample of paranormal believers and experients to test the hypotheses that …

Mentalized Affectivity Among Adolescents In Wilderness Therapy: An Initial Exploration, William Holland

Dissertations and Theses

Mentalized affectivity (MA) blends emotion regulation and mentalization in a single construct that underlies psychopathology and is a target of psychotherapeutic intervention as a mechanism of change. Little research has investigated MA’s role in psychopathology and treatment for adolescents. Change in MA has yet to be investigated. Wilderness therapy is a non-traditional treatment model for “hard-to-reach” adolescents; its mechanisms of change have not been robustly researched. This study aims to investigate change in adolescents’ MA capacities over the course of wilderness therapy, in order to explore the role of MA components (Identifying, Processing, Expressing) in adolescent psychopathology; the relation between …

Making Sense Of The Space Between: A Qualitative Study Of Therapist’S Experience And Use Of Therapeutic Enactments, Paul Ballantyne Lafreniere

Dissertations and Theses

This study sought to examine a particular category of technical challenge in therapy: enactments. Enactments, broadly defined, are moments or stretches of time in therapy where both the patient and therapist cannot put their conflicts into words, and instead act them out within the therapeutic milieu. These phenomena frequently elicit shame and guilt on the part of the therapist, and can prove detrimental to treatment. Equally, however, investigation of these moments within treatment can be of considerable clinical utility. In this qualitative phenomenological study, 6 therapists were interviewed about their experiences working with enactments in clinical practice. The strategies which …

Adult Play And Its Relations To The Working Alliance And Psychosocial Dysfunction In Short-Term Psychotherapy, Charlotte B. Gendron

Dissertations and Theses

The importance of play in child development is well-documented: the capacity to play is associated with psychological health, and the cognitive and affective processes involved in play, such as fantasy, symbolism, narrative organization, divergent thinking, and affective expression, relate to areas of adaptive functioning. Research also illustrates that the inability to play is associated with adverse experiences in children, and that play therapy can facilitate the development of play and subsequent psychological health. In addition to its relation to psychological health, the capacity to play in childhood is inextricably linked to the infant-caregiver relationship. There is less literature on what …

Belonging In The Psychic Nowhere: Racial Trauma, Racial Melancholia And Related Mental Health Outcomes Amongst South Asian Immigrants In The Us, Anusha M. Kumar

Dissertations and Theses

South Asian immigrants have experienced a nuanced immigration history in the US while straddling the Black-White racial binary. Despite their growing presence, research on South Asian mental health is relatively limited and often subsumed under the broader category of "Asian Americans," which obscures unique experiences due to the model minority myth and leads to a paucity of targeted studies, particularly in the U.S. Mental health outcomes, specifically depression, self-harm and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent within this community, and are exacerbated after large-scale sociopolitical events due to increased discrimination. Limited studies examine the intersection of racism and mental health outcomes …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Psychodynamic Therapist's Experiences When Working With Parents In Child And Adolescent Psychotherapy, Marie-Clair Siegman

Dissertations and Theses

A Qualitative Exploration of Psychodynamic Therapist's Experiences of Working with Parents in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.

By

Clair Siegman, MA

Advisor: Steve Tuber, PhD

The aim of this study was to identify how therapists incorporate parent-work into their practices and explore the experiences related to this. The literature on engaging parents during child treatment suggests that it is a central to improving outcomes. Research about the treatment alliance that develops between the therapist and parent is limited, especially when considering the therapist perspective. Literature within the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic fields, suggests therapists have a hesitance to working with parents either …

Performance Management Through Service Quality Perspective, Tanaporn Supanichrattana

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This research report examines performance management in educational facilities through a service quality framework. Drawing on the SERVQUAL model, it conceptualizes service quality across five dimensions: reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibles. The report identifies performance measures associated with each dimension and demonstrates how these measures can inform the assessment of facilities operations and service delivery. The research emphasizes the strategic selection of performance measures that align with organizational priorities and goals rather than the adoption of standardized measures across institutional contexts. Through this framework, the research positions service quality as a foundational lens for data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and …

Viewers' Attitudes Towards Analytical And Traditional Commentary Styles In Baseball Broadcasts: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Michael Menhart

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the attitudes of college and non-college athletes on analytical and traditional commentary styles during baseball broadcasts. The attitudes tested were satisfaction and likelihood to watch again (retention). The experiment had two data collection sessions for the athletes and non-athletes where they were exposed to either analytical or traditional commentary. The exposure came through the reading of a fictional scrip based on each style and then the participants were asked to answer questions to test their satisfaction and retention. Through a comprehensive analysis, including independent sample t-tests and two-way ANOVA, the findings revealed a significant main effect for …

"But Why Facebook?" Why And How Local Nonprofit Organizations Use Facebook Compared To Other Social Media, Tyisha S. Landers

Theses and Dissertations

Social media marketing has proven to be immensely beneficial in providing a mostly free, accessible way to inform people and carry out campaigns. For nonprofits, social media platforms provide a channel to reach large audiences quickly, efficiently, and engagingly. How social media is used by nonprofit organizations – especially medium to small-scale organizations – plays a huge factor in their social media success. This factor can affect followers’ attitudes, perceptions, knowledge, and behavior toward the brand, which consequently affects the engagement level. To better understand how nonprofits use social media, in this study, the researcher will interview social media managers …

The Effects Of Spending-Focused Fiscal Policy On Italian Output And Stock Market Performance, Filippo Salvatico

CMC Senior Theses

This paper studies the effects of Italy’s expenditure-focused fiscal policy on (1) economic output, measured with real GDP growth, and (2) stock market performance, measured with FTSE MIB period returns, using ordinary least squares and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity models. To the first end, a quarterly (time series) data base of fiscal indicators—Budget Balance, Government Debt, and Government Expenditure—as well as other macroeconomic series is constructed to test their effects on output. To the second end, a monthly (time series) data base of the same indicators, as well as period returns for seven other benchmark stock exchanges across Europe, is …

What Are We Most Curious About? Understanding The Relationship Between Curiosity And Marginal Knowledge, Alexis Lee

CMC Senior Theses

There are several competing theories about the relationship between curiosity and metacognitive judgment, or one’s assessment of their own knowledge. Novelty theories say that curiosity is highest for wholly unknown information; complexity theories say that curiosity is highest for moderately unknown information; and the Region of Proximal Learning (RPL) theory says that curiosity is highest for almost-known information. The present study aimed to address how curiosity differs within marginal knowledge (MK), memory content that is available but not accessible, across two experiments. In both experiments, participants responded to 100 short-answer general knowledge questions, selecting a phenomenological category to represent their …

Leadership In Startups: How Founder Personality And Leadership Behaviors Impact Startup Success And Psychological Safety, Ria Passi, Ronald Riggio

CMC Senior Theses

New ventures created by entrepreneurs are crucial to the economy and to the diffusion of innovative technologies. However, startups often operate in highly uncertain environments characterized by constrained resources, lack of established processes, and complex market dynamics. Despite surges in startup investment, the failure rate for new ventures remains high, making it crucial to understand the factors that can contribute to their success. This thesis explores how founder personalities, leadership styles, and cultivating psychological safety impact startup performance and growth trajectories. Founder personality traits like openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are positively associated with securing funding, achieving exit opportunities, and overall …

Redefining Rehabilitation: Evaluating The Washtenaw County Pre-Plea Diversion Program, William Ellsworth

CMC Senior Theses

The Washtenaw County (MI) Prosecutor’s Office’s Pre-Plea Diversion Program (PPDP) aims to divert eligible misdemeanor defendants from the criminal justice system, offering rehabilitative programming to reduce reoffending and minimize the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction with case dismissal. This research assessed whether PPDP participants were less likely to be re-arrested in the six months following program completion compared to a sample of defendants facing similar charges within the same court. It was hypothesized that the PPDP would effectively reduce re-arrest, with community service and mental health counseling proving particularly impactful. Employing a quasi-experimental design, data from 90 successfully diverted …

The Efficacy Of Insider Trading Regulation: An Analysis Of The 1942 Introduction Of Sec Rule 10b-5, Kamila Melikova, Eric Hughson

CMC Senior Theses

Existing research has thoroughly examined the impact of insider trading regulations, finding mixed results regarding the effectiveness of new law introductions. Although this topic has received considerable attention, there is still a notable lack of research on the first regulation of insider trading: the 1942 introduction of Section 10(b), an amendment to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This paper uses a newly compiled dataset of earnings announcements from large public companies between 1937 and 1946, combined with event study methodology, to investigate the effectiveness of the very first ban on insider trading. Through the application of t-tests and regression …

Serving With Pride: Analyzing Lgbtq+ Personnel Policy In The U.S. Military, Sonja Woolley

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines the evolution of LGBTQ+ personnel policies in the U.S. military, analyzing how these changes reflect broader social transformations and the military’s role as both a mirror and catalyst in societal shifts. It traces the historical roots of discriminatory practices against queer and transgender servicemembers, identifying key periods of reform and resistance. Using institutional theory to dissect the mechanisms of policy adaptation, this paper focuses on coercive, mimetic, and normative isomorphism, which illustrate the complex interplay between external societal pressures, internal demands for legitimacy, and the professionalization of the military. Through detailed case studies, the thesis highlights how …

Democratic Decay: Public Deliberation And Nuclear Weapons, Frank Applebaum

CMC Senior Theses

Many modern nations that consider themselves democracies rely on strategy of national defense involving nuclear weapons. These weapons, however, almost always require a compromise of many of the values these democracies typically claim to value and uphold in the world. Most importantly, the deliberative process that is required for democracy is removed from the decision to either launch or not launch nuclear weapons. Even if policies were changed to attempt to make the process for democratic, research shows that there is reason to believe nuclear weapons would be incompatible with democracy practically as well as theoretically. Nuclear weapons and nuclear …

Pathways For Recognition: Indigenous Land Rights In Panamá, Caruna Gillespie, William Ascher

CMC Senior Theses

Indigenous communities in Panamá face the same challenge that many Indigenous communities experience around the globe: a lack of recognition of their land rights. Over the last several decades, the Panamanian government has developed policies and ratified international agreements that recognize Indigenous rights. The comarcas that institutionalize these rights have had some success. However, despite a seemingly progressive framework for recognition, Indigenous communities across the country continuously have their rights violated by conservation projects and resource extraction efforts in the name of economic development. The Panamanian government crafts recognition policies using loopholes, exceptions, and ambiguous language that allow for them …

The Collegiate Tennis Effect: Measuring The Impact Of College Attendance On A Tennis Player’S Professional Career, Ian Freer

CMC Senior Theses

Our study examines the influence of college attendance on the professional tennis careers of the 502 American male players who earned a ranking point between 2014 and 2023. Initial analysis suggests that attending college may lower a player’s career-high ranking by 159 spots. However, after controlling for career length, we observe a significant improvement of 214 spots among players with similar junior rankings. Our analysis of career trajectories reveals that college players often start their professional careers at higher rankings and achieve their career-high rankings earlier than non-college players. Additionally, the career-high rankings of the most promising juniors tend to …

Investigating The Novel Effects Of First-Time Wim Hof Breathing: An Experimental Study, Yuhan Kong

CMC Senior Theses

Breathwork, or voluntary controlled breathing exercise, is central around the world for spiritual and well-being purposes. Most extant research has focused on slow breathing techniques and has found a range of benefitsin physiological (e.g., increase in parasympathetic tone) and psychological (e.g., reduction in depression, anxiety, stress) outcomes. Less explored is fast-paced breathwork, which may also be beneficial for mental and physical health. Wim Hof Breathing (WHB), a novel breathing technique that gained popularity in recent years, has been claimed to have a range of health benefits, including improving mental health, autonomic regulation and cardiovascular functioning. However, very limited scientific studies …

Analyzing The Effects Of 2018 Bank Reclassifications On Individual Balance Sheet Compositions, Hiyab Abraha

CMC Senior Theses

The March 2023 collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) marked the second largest bank failure in United States history and the largest bank failure since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This paper analyzes the mechanisms underlying SVB’s downfall and explores the specific systemic vulnerabilities that March 2023 revealed. To study the impact of systemic risk reclassification on individual bank balance sheets, I construct a quarterly panel dataset of the largest US chartered banks and track their regulatory classification and financial reports from 2009 to 2023. The 2018 Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) changed the Federal …

The Politics Of Criminalization: Examining The Complex Legacy Of The 1994 Violence Against Women Act, Genevieve Mccloy

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis explores the interconnected issues of violence against women, patriarchy, and criminalization to understand the 1994 Violence Against Women Act and the factors that shaped it. Using Johns Kingond’s multiple streams framework, this paper investigates how the Act was constructed by the battered women’s movement and the United States’ shift towards tough-on-crime policies. Ultimately, this paper seeks to understand how the issue of domestic violence became rooted in criminalization and if that framework has helped deter violence against women in the United States or if it caused more problems than it solved.

Effects Of Priming Independent And Interdependent Self-Construals On Personal And Collective Future Thought, Claire Hou

CMC Senior Theses

Personal and collective future thought refer to the way people conceptualize and think about their own personal futures, and the futures of groups they are affiliated with, such as one’s nation or cultural community, respectively. Previous research has indicated that there are key cultural differences in how American and Chinese individuals think about their personal future and the collective future of their nation. The present study investigated the impact of cultural constructs of self-construal, namely individualism/independence and collectivism/interdependence, on personal and collective future thought. We attempted to experimentally manipulate participants’ self-construals with a priming task, and participants were asked to …

Do Inclusionary Zoning Ordinances Restrict Housing Supply: An Instrumental Variable Approach Using Evidence From California, Liam James

CMC Senior Theses

Do inclusionary zoning (IZ) ordinances restrict the supply of housing, putting undue upward pressure on prices? Using an improved version of the California Coalition of Rural Housing database, we use OLS and 2SLS methods to estimate the effect of IZ policies on supply. In demonstrating the endogeneity of OLS, we address this concern through the use of differences in two-party voter registration as an instrument for the presence of an inclusionary zoning ordinance. We find no evidence consistent with a clear restrictive effect of these policies.

Happy Teams: Utilizing Remote Data Entry Work To Understand The Relationship Between Team Gender Composition, Team Performance, And Worker Satisfaction, Laura Zimmer

CMC Senior Theses

The following study contributes to existing scholarship surrounding the relationship between gender and teamwork. My experiment aims to build on how gender impacts team members' success, emotions, and overall experience by randomly pairing individuals in two-person remote teams, to complete data entry tasks together. Teams work together remotely to complete tasks rating Chicago roads. Pre and post-teamwork surveys were completed by individuals surrounding their emotions and experience working with their partner. My results demonstrate that single-gender female teams report the highest increases in happiness while working in teams. Individuals were found to rate partners of their same gender more highly …