Psychology Commons^™

Can Neural Networks Reach Human Vision Levels On Object Recognition Tasks?, Luke D. Baumel, Mikayla Cutler, Matt Hyatt, Joseph Tocco, William Friebel, Nicholas Baker Dr., George K. Thiruvathukal Dr.

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Object recognition is a crucial function of biological vision; it allows us to draw conclusions about a visual scene that transcends the image formed by the retina. However, the task of object recognition quickly becomes a challenge when hindrances such as viewing angle, object distance from observer, illuminant qualities, and potential occlusions become active variables. Additionally, the diversity of visual features within the same category of object, coupled with the numerous contexts in which an object may be observed is demonstrative of the formidable task that is object recognition. Previous research showed a significant texture bias in Convolutional Neural Networks’ …

A Fair Share: Effects Of Disparity, Allocation Strategy And System Justification On Perceptions Of Policy Support In The Education Domain, David Igliozzi, Yael Granot Ph.D., Victor C. Ottati

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Inequality in the United States has been rising for decades. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, as of 2023, the top 10% of wealthiest households hold 69% of all wealth while the bottom 50% of households only hold 2.5% of all wealth (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2023). Recently, such disparities have been put into stark relief, as the COVID-19 pandemic increased objective inequality within the United States; those low in socioeconomic status (SES) have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, are more likely to have their housing and employment situations completely upended and have limited access …

Emoji Use In Social Media Posts: Relationships With Personality Traits And Word Usage, Shelia Kennison, Kameryn Fritz, Maria Andrea Hurtado Morales, Eric Chan-Tin

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Prior research has demonstrated relationships between personality traits of social media users and the language used in their posts. Few studies have examined whether there are relationships between personality traits of users and how they use emojis in their social media posts. Emojis are digital pictographs used to express ideas and emotions. There are thousands of emojis, which depict faces with expressions, objects, animals, and activities. We conducted a study with two samples (n = 76 and n = 245) in which we examined how emoji use on X (formerly Twitter) related to users’ personality traits and language use …

Guilty As Charged: The Role Of Judge Instructions On Metaphor Produced Biases In Jury Decision Making, Gina N. Rita

Master's Theses

In this study, we hope to determine if the placement of judge instructions mitigates our previous study’s effect of metaphors on memory and verdict decisions. Our previous study showed in the metaphor condition, participants were more likely to vote guilty and remember more metaphor-related evidence compared to those in the control group. In addition to replicating the previous study’s results, we hypothesize judge instructions stated at the beginning of the trial will have little influence on the metaphor effects, and judge instructions at the end of the trial will weaken these effects. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of …

The Importance Of Caregivers, Family, And Context For Child Welfare Involved Youth And A National Child Sample: A Structural Equation Modeling Perspective, Nathan Michael Lutz

Dissertations

This bundled, three-study dissertation examines how the relationships that children have with adult family members impact mental health outcomes, including internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors. The first study examines the moderating effect of relationship satisfaction on the relationship between kin involvement and child psychopathology. The second study uses data from the 2017 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), examining the mediating effect of the parent-child relationship on the associations across various systems in which children are embedded and mental health diagnoses. The third paper examined the interactions between both family strengths and caregiver involvement with the parent child relationship and …

The Effectiveness Of A Camp-Based Intervention To Promote Health-Related And Social Functioning In First Time Campers With Spina Bifida, Elicia C. Wartman

Dissertations

Objective: Previous research suggests that tailored summer camp programs for youth with specific medical conditions, such as spina bifida (SB), may help campers improve independence and medical self-management skills. The evidence-based Independence Intervention at Camp Independence is geared towards enhancing the medical self-management skills and social skills of youth with SB, with the goal of improving their independence (O'Mahar et al., 2010). The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Independence Intervention at Camp Independence on first-time and veteran campers. This study aimed to (1) explore similarities and differences in first-time and veteran campers on demographics, health-related self-management …

Examining The Bidirectional Associations Between Parenting And Adolescent Coping In The Context Of Exposure To Community Violence, Jenny Phan

Dissertations

Coping refers to all the strategies and processes that an individual uses to eliminate, reduce or tolerate stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Rosario et al., 2003). Within the general coping literature, research has observed that use of approach-oriented coping strategies is associated with positive psychosocial outcomes, and avoidant-oriented coping strategies is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes (e.g., Compas et al., 2001; Wadsworth & Compas, 2002). However, most of these studies have focused exclusively or predominantly on middle-class White participants (e.g., Compas et al., 2001; Wadsworth & Compas, 2002) which may limit the generalizability of these findings to other groups. Further, …

Institutional Experiences Of Justice-Involved Adolescents: Profiles, Predictors, And Post-Release Associations, Elizabeth Sargent

Dissertations

Experiences within juvenile justice placements have long been a topic of concern amongst researchers and policy makers, with institutional violence exposure and harsh treatment being two such reasons for concern. The majority of adolescents who enter the justice system already have extensive violence exposure, which can continue while they are detained through victimization and witnessed violence. One’s adjustment to justice settings is influenced by characteristics and experiences prior to placement, and institutional experiences may also have influences on mental health and behavior after release. In the current study, reports from justice-involved adolescents were used to 1) identify profiles of institutional …

Warmth And Support: The Importance Of Parenting Behaviors On Child Symptoms Among Mexican Immigrant Families, Yvita Bustos

Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to expand research regarding warmth and support among low-income, Latino immigrant families, specifically families of Mexican-origin, and how these parenting behaviors impact child internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors. The first study titled, “Effects of Familism, Parenting, and Family Cohesion on Child Internalizing Symptoms among Mexican Immigrant Families” explored how familism may promote warmth and support, in addition to family cohesion, and how these factors may impact child internalizing symptoms during middle childhood among Mexican immigrant families. The second study, titled “Stress and Child Internalizing Symptoms: Examining the Moderating Role of Latino Fathers' Warmth and Support using Mixed …

Parenting And Psychosocial Functioning In Youth With Spina Bifida: Making Connections With Other Cns-Related Chronic Health Conditions, Adrien M. Winning

Dissertations

Parenting practices have been linked to psychosocial outcomes in children who have chronic health conditions that affect the central nervous system (CNS), such as spina bifida (SB). However, there remains a need for (1) more evidence-based assessments that capture parenting in SB, (2) additional research focused on parenting in early childhood in SB, as this is a critical developmental period that has been understudied, and (3) systematic reviews that synthesize parenting research across CNS-related conditions to guide future work. This dissertation includes three papers that aim to address each of these gaps in the current literature. Specifically, the first study …

Academic Motivation Decreases Across Adolescence For Youth With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Effects Of Motivation On Academic Success, Zoe Smith, Marcus Flax, Stephen P. Becker, Joshua Langberg

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This longitudinal study examined growth trajectories of academic motivation in youth with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the important developmental transition from middle school to high school, and associations with academic success. Consistent with self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation, trajectories of amotivation, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation were modeled.

Dating During The Time Of Covid-19: Risk Perceptions And Political Ideology, Danielle L. Kellogg, Tracy Dehart, Julie Longua Peterson, Hannah R. Hamilton

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This study examined predictors of single people's beliefs about COVID prevention behaviors, intentions to engage in COVID prevention behaviors while dating, and actual dating behavior during the pandemic. Results revealed that single participants engaged in “riskier” dating behaviors (i.e., in-person unmasked) more frequently than “safer” dating behaviors (i.e., remote, or in-person masked/distanced). Individuals who perceived greater (vs. lesser) risk associated with COVID more strongly endorsed beliefs about social distancing (self and other) and were more likely to personally (or request others) engage in COVID prevention behaviors while dating. However, perceived risk did not predict actual dating behaviors. Conservatives (vs. liberals) …

Does The Peer-Led Honest, Open, Proud Program Reduce Stigma’S Impact For Everyone? An Individual Participant Data Meta-Regression Analysis, Thomas Klein, Markus Kösters, Patrick W. Corrigan, Winnie W.S. Mak, Lindsay Sheehan, Colleen Conley, Nathalie Oexle, Nicolas Rüsch

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Purpose

Many people with mental illness experience self-stigma and stigma-related stress and struggle with decisions whether to disclose their condition to others. The peer-led Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) group program supports them in their disclosure decisions. In randomized controlled trials, HOP has shown positive effects on self-stigma and stigma stress on average. This study examined individual predictors of HOP outcomes and tested the hypothesis that stigma stress reduction at the end of HOP mediates positive HOP effects at follow-up.

Methods

Six RCTs were included with data at baseline, post (after the HOP program) and at 3- or 4-week follow-up. Baseline …

Editorial: Emotion Processing In Autism Spectrum Disorders, Denise Davidson, Nicole Russo-Ponsaran, Maaike Marijn Van Rest, Angela Scarpa

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication and restrictive and repetitive interests. Although progress has been made in understanding its phenomenology, underlying mechanisms for core and co-occurring difficulties remain elusive. Emerging evidence suggests that emotion processing and regulation play a critical role in the challenges experienced by autistic individuals. This special issue provides current thinking related to methods, research, and practice in the field of emotion processing and regulation in ASD, and to integrate study findings to elucidate underlying mechanisms. With a global perspective, article coverage includes (1) explorations of the neurological underpinnings …

Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices Of Dominican Mothers With Their Young Children: Understanding Practices With A Sociohistorical Context Framework, Sabrina Altagracia Mendez-Escobar

Dissertations

Parents who self-identify as members of a community of color engage in practices aimed at teaching their children what it means to be a member of their ethnic-racial group which are called ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) practices. Promoting a positive sense of ethnic-racial identity through ERS contributes to balancing the negative effects of discrimination which can be helpful to children who are part of a marginalized group in the US including Latinx children. However, when the family practices of Latinx families are explored in the literature, various Latinx groups are lumped together. When studying ERS, research should aim to consider Latinx …

Establishing A Health-Based Social Hierarchy, Akila Salaam Raoul

Dissertations

Social dominance theory (SDT) proposes a basic human nature to form social hierarchies based on social group membership with dominant and subordinate social groups. These social hierarchies are maintained through legitimizing myths, or beliefs that work to frame the existing social system as fair by suggesting that individuals receive the social status they deserve based on their actions and contributions to society as opposed to their group membership. The level at which an individual wants to maintain social hierarchies is indicated by their Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). SDT has been extensively studied in the context of race, gender, and age …

Development Of Inattention And Executive Dysfunction In Youth With Spina Bifida: Condition Severity Variables As Predictors, Allison D. Payne

Master's Theses

Spina bifida (SB) is associated with neurologic impairments that increase individuals’ risk for neuropsychological deficits, particularly inattention and executive dysfunction. While extant literature has yet to examine the development of inattention in youth with SB, some research suggests that these youth may not experience the age-related improvements in executive dysfunction seen in the general population. SB is a heterogeneous condition; thus, it is important to consider variability in condition severity when examining outcomes over time in youth with SB. Lesion level and shunt status are commonly used as indicators of SB severity and have been significantly associated with variability in …

Physical Activity, Self-Determination, And Self-Conscious Emotions In Adolescents And Young Adults With And Without Autism Symptomatology, Dakota Morales

Master's Theses

Previous literature suggests that autistic individuals engage in physical activity less frequently compared to typically developing peers (Bandini et al., 2013; Jones et al., 2017). This is noteworthy because exercise interventions for autistic individuals have found that engaging in physical activity can improve motor, social, and behavioral skills (Anderson-Hanley et al., 2011; Duffy et al., 2017; Nicholson et al., 2011; Oriel et al., 2011). Thus, the present study seeks to understand what factors may promote physical activity engagement, such as self-determination motivation regulations and body-related self-conscious emotions, in adolescents and young adults with and without autism symptomatology. Participants included 51 …

The Effect Of Intrafamilial Racism On Biracial Identity Conflict, Lauren Tan

Master's Theses

This study aimed to describe the relation between experiences of intrafamilial racism (i.e., racism perpetrated by family members against other family members), caregiver support, and identity conflict in biracial individuals. Identity conflict is defined as perceived incompatibility with two or more aspects of one’s identity (Sarno et. al., 2015) and is an experience likely to be common among biracial individuals. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relation between intrafamilial racism, caregiver support, and identity conflict. Moderation analyses were performed to determine the impact of intrafamilial racism on identity conflict at different levels of caregiver support. We hypothesized that intrafamilial …

Changing Vaccine Hesitant Attitudes Of Parents Using Moral Persuasion, Max Vitro

Master's Theses

In the fight against Covid-19, overt, science-based messaging is not enough to persuade everyone to get vaccinated no matter how encouraging the data. Recent studies on attitudes toward vaccines and other health-promoting measures have provided clues as to why so many are still opposed, suggesting many who were resistant had reasons that were rooted along moral grounds. This process of moralization occurs when a belief becomes a moral matter of ‘right and wrong’ rather than a means to an end. Because moral beliefs are more entrenched, they’ve proven much more difficult to change. There is one approach that could increase …

Parental Autonomy Support And Children’S Stem Engagement During An At-Home Tinkering Activity, Bianca Martins Aldrich

Master's Theses

Parents play an important role guiding children’s learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in informal educational contexts. In this project, we considered the ways in which parents use autonomy supportive or controlling language to encourage or discourage children's independence in problem solving, as well as their feedback to children’s ideas and behaviors. We looked at the association between autonomy support and children’s behavioral, STEM, story, and emotional engagement during an at-home tinkering and storytelling activity. Parents and their 4- to 10- year old children were observed at home via Zoom. We coded parents’ and children’s behaviors using a …

Therapist Broaching Behavior In Cross-Racial Therapy: Exploring Affective Responses To Racism And Cultural Humility As Predictors, Sarah C. Galvin

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Individual Differences And Neural Correlates Of Emotion Reactivity And Regulation: Potential Intervention Targets In Depression, Ian James Kahrilas

Dissertations

Depression, Electroencephalography, Emotion reactivity, Emotion regulation

Consistency Of Sleep Across Development And Relations To Executive Functions; Applications To Emerging Adults Transitioning To College And Adolescents With Spina Bifida, Laura Nicholson

Dissertations

College Students, Development, Executive Functioning, Inhibition, Sleep consistency, Spina Bifida

The Impact Of Peer Supportive Accountability On Use Of A Mindfulness App In Depressed College Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Carol Hundert Gonzales

Dissertations

Depression, Mental Health App, Mindfulness, Supportive Accountability

A Longitudinal Study Of Pain In Youth And Young Adults With Spina Bifida: Three Studies Based On The Bio-Neuropsychosocial Model, Diana Margaret Ohanian

Dissertations

Family Functioning, Neuropsychology, Pain, Pain Coping, Psychological Adjustment, Spina Bifida

Predicting Asian American College Women’S Leadership Intention Using Social Cognitive Career Theory, Jeong-Eun Suh

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Pupils Of The Pipeline: Exploring The Role Of School Discipline And Disciplinary Actors On Adolescent Psychosocial Functioning, Ogechi Onyeka

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Taking It Too Far? Examining Derogation In Sexism Confrontations, Bayleigh Smith

Master's Theses

Sexism continues to be prevalent within today’s society (Bates, 2012; Crandall et al., 2018; World Health Organization, 2021), creating the need for methods to respond to such bias. Confrontation is one method that allows targets of sexism to stand up for themselves (Haslett & Lipman, 1997; Hyers, 2007; Kaiser & Miller, 2004), but often comes with social costs (e.g., being disliked, Czopp & Monteith, 2003; Dodd et al., 2001; Gulker et al., 2013; Kaiser & Miller, 2001). However, researchers have not dissected the factors that affect the social costs associated with confrontation (i.e., being labeled as a “sexist”, humor, or …

The War-Zone Mentality — Mental Health Effects Of Gun Violence In U.S. Children And Adolescents, James Garbarino

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Does gun violence affect the mental health of U.S. children? That question has the same answer as most inquiries about child and adolescent development: it depends. Rarely does a simple cause–effect relationship apply to the same degree to all children, and the same exposures may even have opposite effects on different children. Such variability is an essential truth of the “ecological perspective” on child and adolescent development. But from this perspective, consideration of gun violence’s effects on the mental health of young people highlights two issues among the many facing U.S. society: traumatic responses in children directly exposed to gun …