Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Examining The Cross-Cultural Competence Of United States Christian Missionaries Engaged In Developing Indigenous Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study, Craig W. Goodman

Dissertations

For the past two millennia, missionaries have crossed from one culture to another to bring the Christian message to all cultures of the world. Questions about the effectiveness of these mission efforts have been asked and researched by many; however, one key question remains unanswered: what personal attributes help a person to be more competent at crossing cultures as they interact with people from other cultures? Although cross-cultural competence has been studied in a variety of fields over the past 50 years, the models and assessments used have never been applied to Christian missionaries.

To address this deficiency, this parallel …

Understanding Food Waste Behavior And Ways To Influence Positive Change And Waste Reduction, David Hubinger

Dissertations

Environmental problems such as pollution, climate change, and food waste can be influenced by social attitudes and human behavior. Solutions to address environmental problems involve a series of actions by society and individuals, which can prove difficult to implement because changes induced by pro-environmental behavior often cannot be seen immediately by individuals or may not generate appreciable, direct benefits. The purposes of the quantitative correlational study are threefold: first, examine environmental attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and overall behavioral intent to reduce household consumer food waste among a sample of consumers; second, to examine the extent to which select …

Improving The Retention Of United States (U.S.) Government Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Employees, Jeffrey Myers

Dissertations

The U.S. government workforce has been consistently shrinking since a peak in the 1990s. At the same time, the need for technologically-savvy government workers has dramatically risen in this same period. This divergence in the demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) employees challenges government leaders to retain these highly demanded workers in the public sector.

Decades of psychological research across many industries has investigated what motivates workers and how best to incentivize them to increase productivity. Maslow and Herzberg, among others, theorized that adult workers have both intrinsic and extrinsic needs that drive their behaviors and resultant productivity. …

Helmets Off: An Exploratory Investigation Into The Philanthropic Activity Of Black Nfl Players, Eugena Anderson

Dissertations

The term philanthropist typically conjures up images of older, wealthy White males. When taking account of a more diverse population, the term generosity provides a more inclusive framework to understanding the experiences of those marginalized from the study and practice of philanthropy. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, this qualitative investigation explored one of several groups of individuals engaging in acts of generosity and brought the Black athlete experience into academic and philanthropic conversations. This research provided knowledge from real-life experiences of current and former Black NFL Players (BNPs) to inform various stakeholders who seek to support their activities. …

Yearly Changes In Education Expenditure And Changes In Student Performance, Dale A. Manzo

Undergraduate Economic Review

Using data from the state of Florida in the 2000s, we dispute the findings of the Coleman report. We find that there is a positive relationship between changes in expenditure per pupil and changes in academic performance. This study takes advantage of changes in expenditure resulting from the Great Recession to formulate a quasi-experimental analysis of the relationship between expenditure per pupil and academic performance. Our conclusion is consistent with the theory of decreasing marginal returns to expenditure on education.

Convergence Of Gdp Per Capita Levels Within The Countries Of The European Union, Hayk Mardanyan

Undergraduate Economic Review

The process of economic convergence in the EU has been a hotly debated issue since the formation of this organization. In fact, one of the main “operational priorities” of the EU is to “[promote] sustained convergence of the economic performance” of its Member States. This paper examines how effective the EU has been in ensuring upward economic convergence among its member countries: more specifically, the paper uses linear regression analysis to check whether poorer EU member countries, concentrated in Eastern Europe, have been growing at faster rates than their richer counterparts, which are concentrated in Western and Southern Europe.

Stress And Retrieval-Enhanced Suggestibility, Amanda Capriglione

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Research has demonstrated that when witnesses are immediately questioned following an event, they can become even more susceptible to later presented misinformation and false memory production. This test-enhanced memory impairment is known as retrieval-enhanced suggestibility (RES; Chan, Thomas, & Bulevich, 2009). Research has also demonstrated that the experience of stress produces a reduced misinformation effect and better ability to discriminate accurate from inaccurate information (Nitschke et al., 2019). The primary goal of the current study was to explore the effects of stress and repeated testing on misinformation susceptibility in the RES paradigm. Participants engaged in an eyewitness memory paradigm in …

Music As A Tool To Help Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Develop Social Skills, Taylor Burnett

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty verbally communicating to others in their community. Due to high levels of engagement, music therapy has been proven to be a more effective method in enhancing verbal and non-verbal communication skills for children diagnosed with ASD. This literature review examines various research studies that seek to improve the social skills of children diagnosed with ASD through methods such as music therapy and speech pathology. In addition to this, it explores the clinical definition and standards of social skills society believe individuals need. Though more research needs to be conducted, the current …

Trauma-Informed Expressive Therapies Continuum: A Literature Review And Discussion Of A Guide For Art Therapists Working With Veterans Experiencing Complex Trauma, Dina-Marie Gorynski

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review aimed to integrate the expressive therapies continuum (ETC) framework and the posttraumatic growth (PTG) theory for veterans with complex trauma. The PTG theory was reviewed and referenced to understand growth after traumatic events. There are five identified domains to measure and understand positive psychological development following a traumatic event. The PTG theory has a quantitative assessment called 'posttraumtic growth inventory' (PTGI). The PTGI was referenced as a guide for questions art therapists can use to treat each domain. The ETC was used to integrate art therapy alongside the PTGI to guide future treatment. The ETC is challenging …

Examining Resilience In Women Living With Hiv/Aids Through A Photo Narrative Lens, Mary Bell

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLH) and poverty face numerous challenges to survival. Typically, WLH in the United States have been exposed to more than just a deadly virus; they have often experienced or witnessed drug addiction, poverty, abuse, mental health disorders, homelessness, abandonment, involvement in the sex industry, racism, sexism, prejudice, social injustice, chronic hunger, generational trauma, and violence – community, domestic, cultural, police enforced, etc. The literature reviewed suggests that treating HIV/AIDS requires a holistic approach that pays close attention to the biopsychosocial needs of the individual. In addition to the physical and economic toll the disease takes on …

Art Therapy And Parts Work With Survivors Of Sexual Violence: Development Of A Method, Maddie Gerig Shelly

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Trauma-focused approaches to psychotherapy continue to gather attention as a growing body of research demonstrates the pervasiveness of traumatic experiences and trauma-related disorders across the lifespan. Art therapy, a relatively young field within the mental health landscape, utilizes the creation of images in therapy through a variety of art media as a tool for intra and interpersonal communication in the therapeutic space. Parts work, a collection of trauma-informed theoretical methods that includes Internal Family Systems therapy, Structural Dissociation and Ego-State therapy, is a systemic framework that proposes that each person is comprised of various parts (or distinct inner voices), under …

Letters To Your Future Self And Reducing Anxiety: Development Of A Method, Molly Cowan

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Anxiety is a very common phenomenon in the world, whether it be diagnosed or not. With how detrimentally it can affect any given individual, it is important that the expressive arts therapies develop methods of aiding in reducing anxiety in people. This thesis explored the development of a method for reducing anxiety in individuals on an inpatient unit through writing and decorating a letter to their future self. The intervention was conducted four times, twice on two independent units, with between two to five participants in each group. Participants were instructed to write a letter to their future selves reminding …

Feeling Timeline: A Threshold Ritual To Anchor Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions With Children And Adolescents In Partial Hospitalization Programs, Mackenzie Ward

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Expressive arts therapy provides a useful modality for enhancing the scope of interdisciplinary treatment services for children and adolescents within partial hospitalization programs. The use of threshold rituals within sessions addresses several specific needs of this population, including structure, consistency, self-expression, and trauma-informed practices. The Feeling Timeline method, a threshold ritual developed for the opening and closing of expressive arts therapy sessions, was conducted at a large pediatric hospital within three day treatment psychiatric units. From November 2021 through April 2022, six participants between the ages of nine through sixteen engaged with the Feeling Timeline as a bridge into session, …

The Traumatology Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In High Risk Youth: Examining The Healing Potential Of The Neurobiological Processes In Art Therapy- Option 1: Development Of A Method, Marisa Massaro

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Examining the healing potential of neurobiological processes in art therapy with high risk youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) vitally needs to consider the neuroscience perspective of trauma. Practicing through a trauma-informed approach, there is a need to further investigate the impacts of art therapy for this population within the field of traumatology. Existing literature provides an understanding of ACEs, the neurobiological changes in functionality of the brain from toxic stress, the impacts on the brain, neurobiological processes in art therapy, prevalence of ACEs in high risk youth, and studies of art therapy with adverse childhood experiences in …

Literature Review: Foundations Of Self-Care Practice Utilizing Expressive Arts For Counselors In Training, Wendy Chambers Brown

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In this thesis I explore the concept of self-care for graduate students in the field of mental health counseling through their pre-licensure period, who I refer to as counselors-in-training. The thesis begins with a description of the existing literature on what challenges are unique to this field and population and how self-care may mediate the impact of such stressors as burnout, secondary or vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue, all of which can lead to impaired competence and/or leaving the profession. I have identified three foundational components to approach self-care: self-awareness/self-reflection, self-compassion, and balance. I believe these foundational elements are best …

Building Connections Through Community Art With Middle School Students: A Community Engagement Project, Amber Raguckas

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Middle school students are faced with many challenges related to their mental health and school. During the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, additional mental health concerns and challenges related to school were escalated. In a population that is pre-occupied with peer interactions and perceptions, being in quarantine left students without a sense of connection to their peers. The goal of the community engagement project presented was to utilize the creative arts to aid in building a sense of community and connection amongst 15 middle school students. During a creative arts enrichment course, the students were asked to select two art …

The Road To Reparations A Comparison Between The United States And South Africa, Ikonii Chiabi

Senior Theses

This thesis paper is designed to be an analysis of potential methods on how to achieve reparations in the United States and South Africa. Both nations’ Black demographics have been victims of white supremacy and enslavement, pushing the white masses to excel while the rest are left to parish. The oppression of these groups have been acknowledged and as opposed to a simple verbal apology, I will write on how compensation in the forms of money, education, and land can be used to undo the wrongdoings of the past. The point of this paper is to present my newfound perspective …

Economics Serving Politics: China’S Belt And Road Initiative In Latin America And The Caribbean, Mariyyah Aqelah Sulaiman

Senior Theses

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious program for development across the world. The BRI was rolled out in 2013 and includes bilateral trade agreements, infrastructure projects, and loan programs among other forms of investment and aid. While the examination of the economic success of the BRI is crucial, critically analyzing the larger implications of this initiative is pressing as well. Foreign policy is intricately tied to foreign investment and economic goals. China’s involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) over the past two decades has been noteworthy for the rapid development of economic and diplomatic relations. …

Consequences Of U.S. Intervention In Socialist Latin America, William Chao

Senior Theses

This thesis seeks to show the harmful effects of contemporary interventionist attempts by the United States on socialist Latin American countries such as Cuba and Venezuela. The United States continues to meddle with the politics and economies of various countries with the goal of establishing a new government that is favorable to the capitalist practices of the United States. By looking at two key moments: the Covid-19 outbreak in Cuba and the aftermath of the 2018 Venezuelan presidential elections, it becomes clear to see the damage done by harsh embargoes and U.S. support of use for military violence against the …

The Violence Induced By Climate Change: An Evolving Controversy, Josephine Kurdziel

Senior Theses

Climate-induced violence has become more prominent and scrutinized in research, media, and discussion in the last decade with the emergence of new patterns of violence. Conflicts have been scrutinized particularly in key regions and countries such as West Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, which are the focus of the three case studies in this paper. The research is centered on several types of violence such as civil war and terrorism, and then further expanded to how climate change may or may not influence their patterns. Correspondingly, there is also an analysis on the importance of state stability and …

Influencers, Cognitive Goods, And Labor Conditions In The Platform Economy: Delving Into The Careers Of Influencers In North America And South Asia, Saiba Dilnaz Haque

Senior Theses

Social Media is one of the most significant agents of influence on minds, thus it is not surprising that many individuals are becoming entrepreneurial by becoming Influencers to monetize the seemingly easy job. I focus on the evolving labor conditions related to influencers while expanding on Maurizio Lazzarato’s Marxist framework of immaterial labor to investigate connotations of the platform economy. I expand upon a concise literature review on the link between the acceleration of entrepreneurial endeavors and Social Media, the concepts of influencing as labor coined by Crystal Abidin, micro-celebrities, self-branding, and a discussion of immaterial labor to provide a …

Journalists Vs. Authoritarians: The State Of Press Freedoms In Hungary, Turkey, And Egypt, Allison Lecce

Senior Theses

The 21st century has been partly defined by the regression of liberal democracies paired with the rise of modern authoritarian regimes. This phenomenon is marked by a decrease in civil liberties and an erosion of democratic institutions and practices. A free and independent press is often one of the first institutions targeted by rising authoritarian leaders, due to its nature as a government watchdog. This thesis analyzes the state of press freedoms in different authoritarian and illiberal regimes. It aims to answer the question: what is the correlation between the type of government and the way the government treats the …

A Qualitative Study On Nurse Facilitators Of Mind-Body Skills Groups, Paula D. Blake-Beckford

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), founded by Dr. James Gordon, provides communities with evidence-based Mind-Body Skills Groups (MBSGs) that foster self-care, self-awareness, and self-expression. MBSGs range from 8 to 12-week series on various mind-body practices wherein group members meet, practice, and reflect on the impact of mind-body skills in their lives. Research has demonstrated that participants in MBSGs have positive outcomes. Healthcare professionals (HCPs), especially nurses, gain resiliency from MBSGs. As facilitators of MBSGs, nurses develop essential skills transferable to clinical and educational settings. MBSGs are therapeutic for adult participants with chronic stress. Prior to this thesis, only one …

Teacher Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy Before And After Engaging In Hevruta Or Psychodrama-Based Online Workshops, Merav Berger

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Teacher self-efficacy is a construct that continues to be extensively researched. With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the learning environment has shifted dramatically and has had an impact on Jewish educators’ sense of efficacy. This study examined the pre- and post-test scores for self-efficacy of Jewish educators who engaged in either an online psychodrama-based professional development workshop, a hevruta-based workshop, or an integrated session using both psychodrama and hevruta study. The participants were 28 Jewish educators from around the United States who were split into one of six groups. Two psychodrama-based groups and two integrated groups met online for …

Integrating Expressive Arts Therapies Into Facilitated Online Therapy Groups For Adults: A Review Of The Literature, Lora Williams

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In early 2020, COVID-19 infections soared throughout the world, driving most group interactions online. Online adult Expressive Arts Therapy (EAT) groups faced unique challenges and opportunities, as the arts interventions did not always translate directly online without adaptations. In this literature review, this thesis focuses on how the specialization of Expressive Arts has been applied to these online adult therapy groups. Where the literature lacked references to the Expressive Arts specifically, the individual arts of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), Expressive Writing (EW), Art Therapy, and Music Therapy were considered. This capstone thesis offers suggestions for areas of future research to …

Playing The Roles Of The Eating Disorder: Suggestions For The Use Of Drama Therapy In Adolescent Residential Eating Disorder Treatment, Olivia Cosby

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescents with eating disorders are faced with a variety of medical and psychological complications. This literature review examines these complications and the treatments available to adolescents with eating disorders, as well as factors influencing treatment resistance and dropout, specifically at the residential level of care. Additionally, the use of drama therapy as a treatment option for adolescents with eating disorders is explored. The use of role theory and role based work is proposed as a way of tackling treatment resistance in adolescents. Through role-based work, a client is given the opportunity to explore the functional aspects they attribute to their …

Where I’M From: Internal Manifestations Among Cambodian Women Using The Expressive Arts A Literature Review, Noeun Chhim

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Chronic mental illness has affected many Cambodian people, but, culturally, Cambodians aren’t accustomed to opening up and discussing their feelings, rather defining mental illness to craziness and seeking help is presumed taboo. Thus, Cambodians are often reluctant to talk about their experiences and/or their related illnesses. Though Cambodians have experienced inconceivable suffering and violence during the Khmer Rouge era, for the purpose of this thesis, I will be discussing the role of Cambodian women and investigate the extent of what they’ve witnessed and experienced. Cambodian women have suffered through many years of trauma and grief, during and after the Khmer …

The Role Of Community Music Therapy In Building Social Connections And Reducing Stigma For People With Substance Use Disorders: A Literature Review, Sarah Sacala

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis investigates the benefits of Community Music Therapy (CoMT) in creating social connections and reducing stigma for people suffering from substance use disorders. For the purpose of this paper, substance use disorders (SUD), substance use, and addiction are framed as part of an umbrella construct, and they are used interchangeably. Stigma towards drug users is a social phenomenon all over the world. According to Mora-Ríos, Ortega-Ortega, and Medina-Mora (2017) social rejection is more experienced in drug users than any other diagnosable condition. This literature review is theoretically grounded in the notion that substance use disorder stems from biological …

Interoception And Expressive Writing In Expressive Arts Therapies: A Trauma-Informed Approach – Literature Review, Julianne Corey

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Journal writing is a popular intervention to bring into therapeutic work with groups and individual clients, particularly within applications of expressive arts therapies. Yet often participants become resistant when encouraged to explore more challenging episodes of their lives through writing, even though studies have shown that excavating these events is precisely what benefits health and wellbeing through expressive writing applications. This literature review provides a deeper understanding of the role of interoception and mindful, contemplative movement on unlocking the stories our bodies hold. An arts-based, autoethnographic practice informed the selection of literature. This paper investigates the theoretical connections to similar …

The Role Of Community Music Therapy In Building Social Connections And Reducing Stigma For People With Substance Use Disorders: A Literature Review, Sarah Sacala

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis investigates the benefits of Community Music Therapy (CoMT) in creating social connections and reducing stigma for people suffering from substance use disorders. For the purpose of this paper, substance use disorders (SUD), substance use, and addiction are framed as part of an umbrella construct, and they are used interchangeably. Stigma towards drug users is a social phenomenon all over the world. According to Mora-Ríos, Ortega-Ortega, and Medina-Mora (2017) social rejection is more experienced in drug users than any other diagnosable condition. This literature review is theoretically grounded in the notion that substance use disorder stems from biological …