Psychology Commons^™

Differential Diagnosis Of Late Onset Psychosis Using Neuropsychological Assessment And Neuroimaging Techniques, Susan Fralick Ball

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Few references in the literature have been made with respect to the diagnosis of late onset psychosis by the use of behavioral observations coupled with neuropsychological and neuroimaging techniques. This is a report of the case of a 68-year-old woman who experienced a sudden onset of psychotic illness characterized by delusions and confabulation. As part of her neurobehavioral evaluation, a SPECT scan revealed right frontal and left anterior temporal lobe hypoperfusion. Serial neuropsychological evaluations demonstrated decline on tests of executive control (monitoring, allocation of attention, perseveration) and visuospatial abilities, whereas performance in other areas of cognitive functioning remained close to …

The Relationship Between Family Environment And Proneness To Shame And Guilt, Ericka N. Hamilton

Masters Theses

This study examines shame- and guilt-proneness and family environment factors that predict these two affective experiences. One-hundred and ninety undergraduates completed the Test of Self-Conscious Affect and the Family Environment Scale. The results indicated that a family emphasis on moral and religious issues and values was most predictive of shame. An emphasis on moral and religious issues and values as well as an interest in social and political activities was most predictive of guilt. The findings in this study differ from the theoretical literature which has suggested that the relationship between family environment and an individual's proneness to guilt and …

A Longitudinal Study Of Moral, Religious, And Identity Development In A Christian Liberal Arts Environment, James D. Foster, Beth Laforce

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Moral, religious, and identity development were assessed in a longitudinal study by sampling students enrolled at a Christian liberal arts college during their first semester, and again 3 1/2 years later. Those who continued enrollment to their senior year (persisters) were found to make greater gains in moral reasoning and greater movement toward identity achievement than those who did not continue enrollment (nonpersisters). Persisters were also found to decline significandy in religious well-being, particularly females, and extrinsic religiosity, while not changing in Shepherd scores or in intrinsic religiosity. Nonpersisters were found to increase significantly in intrinsic religiosity. Significant differences were …

Disruptive Behaviour In Nursing Home Residents: A Study Of Some Predisposing Factors, Ian F. Johnston

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Behaviour disorders are common among nursing home residents and the management of these problems is difficult and emotionally taxing for caregivers. Although widespread acknowledgment of the problem exists amongst those caring for the elderly, there has, until recently, been little formal investigation of these disorders in any systematic degree. This study investigated 63 nursing home residents (22 males and 41 females) in two primary diagnostic categories; those with vascular dementia and those with dementia due to other causes, primarily Alzheimer's disease. A review of the literature suggested that the nature and frequency of disruptive behaviour differed across these two prevalent …

Affect Intensity And Affect Regulation In Prisoners With A History Of Self-Harm, Christina J. Kozar

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Prisoners with a history of self-harm have reported experiencing more anger (e.g., Hilbrand, Krystal, Sharpe, & Foster, 1994 ), and despair (e.g., Shea, 1993 ), and less ability to cope (e.g., Shea, 1993; Liebling, 1992) than prisoners with no history of self-harm. This suggests that intense negative affective experiences and less control over these states might be pervasive characteristics in individuals vulnerable to self-harm. The present study tested the hypotheses that high affect intensity, the tendency to experience both positive and negative emotional states intensely (Larsen & Diener, 1987), and deficits in negative affect regulation would be associated with self-harm …

The Effect Of Employment And Workers' Compensation Litigation On The Pain, Psychological State And Disability Of Chronic Back Pain Sufferers, P. B. Suter

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Previous research exploring the relationship between litigation status and the symptoms of the plaintiff has been inconsistent and limited by methodological dlfficulties. While Mendelson (1984, 1986, 1988) argued there was no difference In symptoms and rates of work return between litigating chronic pain patients and those not involved in the compensation system, others argued that work related injuries were maintained either by the plaintiffs' wish for monetary compensation (compensation neurosis), or by their involvement in the medico-legal process with the stress of the litigation slowing down the recuperative process (nomogenic influences). Dworkin and colleagues (1985) highlighted the importance of including …

The Psychological Impact Of Long-Term Unemployment In Mature-Aged Men : Volunteer Work As A Moderating Variable, Ming Yeu

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Previous research has recognised the negative psychological distress associated with unemployment for older workers aged over 40 years, as they are considered to be more at risk of being unemployed for a longer duration than other age groups. Several moderating variables of the negative effects of unemployment such as age, length of unemployment and leisure participation have also been identified. In examining the experiences of unemployment with an Australian mature-aged group of men, this study also investigated the potential moderating effect of volunteer work participation that had been noted previously but had never been explored. One-hundred and eighteen men aged …

What Sexuality? : An Exploratory Study Examining Sexual Activity And Affectionate Sexual Expression In A Western Australian Sample Of Older Adults, Christina M. Petz

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Sexuality later in life has been receiving increased research interest, however, a large majority of research investigates a narrow range of sexual behaviours, primarily frequency of sexual intercourse. There is limited information regarding other forms of sexual expression, specifically affectionate sexual expression that are relevant to older adults. The present day study explores what affectionate sexual behaviours constitute affectionate sexual expression and compares sexual intercourse with affectionate expression. The sample consisted of 77 married men (n=35) and women (n=42) aged 60-89 years who came from various senior groups and organisations in the Perth metropolitan area. A survey was developed that …

Specific Domains Of Self-Esteem In Adolescents : Differences Between Suicide Ideated, Depressed And Non-Depressed Samples, Wendy J. Nicholls

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A 1997 West Australian Child Health Survey (Zubrick et al., 1997) highlighted the need to explore issues regarding problems leading to emotional distress in adolescents. Adolescent self-esteem and suicidal ideation emerged as issues that required further research. The need to understand adolescent issues from a developmental perspective was also evident, due to the difficulties teenagers typically face during their adolescent years. This study builds on previous research by S. Harter and her colleagues, which identified different domains of self-esteem in young adolescents from a general population. Domains of self-esteem according to Harter's Self perception Profile for Adolescents (1988) and Social …

Social Support In Marriage: Translating Research Into Practical Applications For Clinicians, Kieran T. Sullivan, Lauri A. Pasch, Kathleen A. Eldridge, Thomas N. Bradbury

Psychology

How spouses support one another may be important in understanding and preventing marital distress, but has received relatively little attention. Instead, the behavioral model of marriage and corresponding treatment protocols have focused on the importance of good conflict management skills in preventing and treating marital distress. This paper outlines recent research indicating that couples social support skills predict marital outcome two years later, above and beyond conflict management skills. These results indicate that successful prevention and treatment programs may need to incorporate support skills training as well as conflict management training. Practical implications of this research are outlined, and specific …

Christian Participants Responses To Counselor Disclosure Of Personal Values, Rodger K. Bufford, James Thomas, W Brad Johnson, Katherine Ecklund

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

In a systematic replication of Lewis and Epperson (1991), 195 students randomly received Secular/humanist, Traditional, or Christian pretherapy value information. Participants reported their perceptions of the counselor’s values and willingness to see the counselor for a variety of personal problems. Participants perceived a significant difference in personal values among the counselors. Both main and interaction effects were significant for willingness to see the counselor: Evangelicals generally expressed more willingness to see the Christian counselor, while Others’ willingness was problem-specific. Epperson (Epperson & Lewis, 1987; Lewis and Epperson, 1991) found traditional counselors preferred over Christian or feminist counselors. In contrast, the …

Cognitive-Behavioral Theory And Therapy, And Postmodernism, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Factor Analysis Of The Mmpi-A Content Scales: Item-Level And Scale-Level Analyses, Lisa Kay Mccarthy

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This investigation identified and interpreted the overall factor structure of the MMPI-A content scales through the use of scale-level analyses, and examined the factor structure of each individual content scale through item-level analyses. The MMPI-A normative sample (805 males, 815 females) and a clinical sample (266 males, 92 females) were used in the analyses. Scale-level analyses yielded a two factor solution for the normative male and clinical groups and a one factor solution for the normative sample and normative female group. The factors were labeled General Maladjustment and Externalizing Tendencies. Item-level analyses provided one factor solutions for the majority of …

A Proposed Psychological Assessment Protocol For Applicants To Religious Life In The Roman Catholic Church, Thomas G. Plante, Marcus T. Boccaccini

Psychology

This paper proposes a psychological assessment protocol for applicants to religious life in the Roman Catholic church. While most Catholic religious orders, seminaries, and dioceses require applicants to complete some type of psychological evaluation prior to entrance into seminary, there is no established standard or protocol suggested for conducting these evaluations. The current proposed assessment protocol provides those conducting or receiving these evaluations with a comprehensive foundation from which they can add or delete components to meet their specific needs. Furthermore, the utilization of a standard clergy assessment protocol creates the opportunity for the establishment of a national database useful …

Effects Of Chronic Cocaine Abuse On Verbal Learning And Memory, Elizabeth A. Kamin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the existence and nature of verbal memory deficits in a group of chronic cocaine abusers. Functional impairment in a control group of recovering alcoholics was also examined. Participants were selected from groups of volunteers enrolled in various drug treatment programs at the Veterans' Hospital in Hampton, Virginia. All participants were at least 30 days abstinent at the time of testing. Twelve cocaine abusers with a mean use time of 10 years served as the experimental group. Ten alcoholics with a mean use time of 25 years served as the control group. Participants …

Men Who Batter: Personality Variables, Relationship Variables, And Treatment Outcome, Lisa M. Petrica

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between the personality characteristics of male batterers and treatment outcome. It also examined a pattern of communication found in violent couples where the male pursues the female and the female withdraws in an argument. The study also compared alcohol use with treatment outcome.

Twenty-one men who attended a group psychoeducational treatment program for batterers completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). The men were divided into three groups based on their scores: non-pathological (normal profile), narcissistic/antisocial (elevated psychopathic deviate scale), and severely disordered (elevations on several scales). Pre and post-test measures were completed: Dyadic Adjustment …

Parental Stress, Personal Authority, And Family Environment Of Puerto Rican Women, Eduvigis Cruz-Arrieta

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The experience of parental stress (stress related to maternal characteristics such as sense of competence, isolation, and perceived restrictions imposed by the role of mother,its relation to the degree of personal authority within the families of origin —being connected and a part of the family of origin while acting from a differentiated position within it and the discrepancies in perception of the families of procreation vs. the families of origin of 126 Mainland and Island-born Puerto Rican women was examined. The participants' perceptions of three specific family characteristics: cohesion (the degree of commitment, help, and support family members provide for …

Concurrent Validity Of The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Kathryn L. Ingles

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) is a brief, comprehensive screening instrument for neurological impairment. The DRS has a low floor and enables progressive levels of dementia to be measured. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the DRS. Eighteen subjects from nursing homes and personal care homes diagnosed with mild to moderate Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type were involved in the research. The score on the DRS was correlated with the raw scores on the Block Design and Vocabulary subtests of the WAIS-III. Research indicates that the performance on the Block Design subtest is a …

The Effects Of Perspective-Taking Training On Empathy Development In Adult Male Sex Offenders, Randall E. Haugen

Dissertations

Problem. Empathy training is considered a critical part of a sex offender program. Research has revealed that sex offenders are deficient in empathy, which may be a factor that contributes to their abusive behaviors. There is a surprising lack of research on empathy program outcomes, and there is a need to determine whether program formats are producing the desired outcomes. Research supports that sex offenders are deficient in perspective-taking, which is considered a critical part of the empathy process. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the inclusion of perspective-taking training in a traditional empathy-training module.

Method. …

The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity, Self-Esteem, Emotional Well-Being And Depression Among Lakota/Dakota Sioux Adolescents, Susan M. Pittenger

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Despite conceptual support linking ethnic identity and psychological adjustment among Native Americans, empirical research examining this relationship remains limited. In light of recent developments in the area of ethnic identity research, including alternative conceptual models, improved methodologies, and more sophisticated measures, this study examined the relationship between ethnic identity, self-esteem, emotional well-being, and depression among Native American reservation youth.

The relationship between the predictor variables of American Indian ethnic identity, White-American identity and bicultural identity, and the criterion measures of self-esteem, emotional well-being, and depression were examined for 137 Lakota/Dakota Sioux reservation youth. Participants completed surveys including the Multigroup Ethnic …

The Relationship Between Parental Conflict And Marital Satisfaction, Sheri Ann Tonioli

Theses

This study examined the relationship between perceived parental conflict and marital satisfaction. Fifty subjects participated in this study. These participants were from the graduate counseling classes at Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri and from a business office in Earth City, Missouri. These individuals were married at least one year and were between the ages of 25-40. Most of the individuals in the study were white, middle class, and college graduates. Each individual completed a demographic questionnaire, the Family Environment Scale, and the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. The results found that there is no significant relationship between perceived parental conflict …

The Female Sport Experience: History, Development, And Psychological Implications, Dawn A. Whittington

Masters Theses

This paper reviews the literature related to women in athletics with a focus on the psychological perspective. The paper is divided into three major parts.

Chapter I traces the historical antecedents with specific emphasis on the development of sports psychology and women's gradual integration into amateur and professional athletics. Chapter II reviews literature devoted to the psychosocial issues related to the female athlete. These issues include personality traits and patterns, psychosocial problems associated with women entering and maintaining status in athletics, stereotypes, homophobia, socialization issues and the incidence and etiology of eating disorders among female athletes. Chapter III addresses the …

A Case Of "Loving Hate", Michelle C. Loris

Psychology Faculty Publications

The case, "Loving Hate," clarifies the complicated dynamics of the eroticization of hate. These dynamics were forged for the adult sexual abuse survivor in the early abusive relationship where love was always accompanied by hate. In the therapeutic relationship, these dynamics are reenacted and experienced in the countertransference where the therapist feels the patient's unconscious pressure to turn this relationship into a kind of "hating mating." This case vignette is used to illustrate how the therapist's countertransference impasse impeded treatment. Explanation and analysis are offered in this case to suggest how by using the paradigm of Abuser, Victim, Bystander to …

A Test Of The Ecological Validity Of The Test Of Variables Of Attention In Screening For Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Kenneth L. Hoffman

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic disorder of childhood. The essential are developmentally inappropriate degrees of tures of it ttention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The current study tested the ecological validity of a continuous rformance test (CPT) that is commonly used to assess ADHD. Forty-·eiqht children between the ages of 6 and 14 were administered lhc Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.). The partic ' parents completed The Attention Deficit Di Evaluation Scale-Home Version (ADDES-HV) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The children's teacher completed The Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation ScaleSchool Version (ADDES-SV) and the Teacher's Repo Form (TRF). Pearson …

Ethical Dilemmas Faced By Independent Practitioners As A Result Of Managed Care, Caren Renee Debernardo

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study surveyed licensed psychologists in private practice regarding their perceptions of ethical issues associated with managed care. Surveys addressing ethical issues were mailed to 1,000 members of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Division oflndependent Practice (Division 42). Forty-two percent of the surveys were returned. The responses were summarized using descriptive statistics and analyzed to compare opinions of psychologists as a function of theoretical orientation, geographical location, specialty, population of location area, years in practice, and level of state and national organizational involvement. The results of the study identified a number of ethical concerns including compromised confidentiality, inadequate diagnosis and …

Subsystem Variables Associated With Positive Foster Mother-Foster Child Relationships, Meg Sandow

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Many researchers have explored variables that appear to influence a foster child's placement, and both researchers and theorists have noted the need for an overarching understanding of the variables that may affect a foster child's care and progress. This study examined four interlinking subsystems of foster care: the foster child, the family of origin, the foster parent, and the social worker. Data regarding relevant variables for each of these subsystems were analyzed by means of canonical correlations, factor analyses, a multiple regression, and zero-order correlations. Participants in the study were 42 foster children from the Chesapeake and Suffolk Departments of …

Death Anxiety As A Moderation Factor On Sexual Behavior Related To The Risk Of Hiv Infection In Young Adults, John Hawes Jones

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine whether there is a relationship between level of death anxiety and risky sexual behavior that may lead to HIV/AIDS. It was hypothesized that the higher one's death anxiety level the less an individual would engage in high risk behavior. A sample of 151 young adult college students with a mean age of 22.6 years completed the Revised Death Anxiety Scale (RDAS). The survey also asked the participants to list the extent that they have engaged in six sexual behaviors known to increase one's risk of HIV infection. The participants also completed a 12 question …

The Relationship Between Family Health And Concept Of God, Rodger K. Bufford, Doug Crawford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

The relationship between general family health and personal beliefs about God was investigated among undergraduate psychology students from a small Christian liberal arts college (N = 77; ages 18-65, M = 22.1; 65% female). Family health was measured by the Health/Competence factor of the Self-Report Family Inventory - Version II (SFI; Beavers, Hampson, & Hulgus, 1990). God concepts were measured by the 11 factors of the 75 item Concept of God scale (COG; Brinkman, 1989; Gorsuch, 1968). COG factors were grouped into healthy/positive, unhealthy/negative, and doctrinal/neutral. Results revealed significant positive correlations between family health and healthy/positive concepts of God and …

A Comparison Of Coping Styles And Body Image Of Abused And Non-Abused Women, Laura Elizabeth Brown

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study compared body image, patterns of coping, and the relationship between these factors in subjects with and without a reported background of childhood incest. Self-report measures of personal experience (Relevant Variable Questionnaire and the Assessment of Coping Interview), body image (the Human Figure Drawing Test (HFDT) and the Body Image Assessment (BIA)), and coping (the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) Coping Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R)) were administered individually to twenty-two women with reported incest histories and an equal number of women with no reported history of sexual or physical abuse. Significant …

The Political Psychology Of Deception Research, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes some substantive and ethical complexities in research on the psychology of deception.