Psychology Commons^™

Does Preschool Executive Control Mediate The Impact Of Early Environmental Unpredictability And Deprivation On The General Factor Of Psychopathology A Decade Later?, Eric Phillips, Rebecca L. Brock, Tiffany D. James, Jennifer Nelson, W. Alex Mason, Kimberly Andrews Espy, Timothy D. Nelson

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: Although deprivation has been consistently shown to increase risk for psychopathology through impaired executive control, the unique effects of other dimensions of early adversity, such as unpredictability, on executive control development are poorly understood. The current study evaluated whether deprivation and/or unpredictability early in life have unique effects on the general factor of psychopathology through impaired preschool executive control. Methods: Participants included 312 children (51% female) oversampled for greater sociodemographic risk. Preschool executive control was measured using a battery of nine developmentally appropriate executive control tasks. Dimensions of adversity were measured with observational and caregiver assessments, and …

Artificial Intelligence & Creativity: A Manifesto For Collaboration, Florent Vinchon, Todd Lubart, Sabrina Bartolotta, Valentin Gironnay, Marion Botella, Samira Bourgeois-Bougrine, Jean-Marie Burkhardt, Nathalie Bonnardel, Giovanni Emanuele Corazza, Vlad Glăveanu, Michael Hanchett Hanson, Zorana Ivcevic, Maciej Karwowski, James C. Kaufman, Takeshi Okada, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Andrea Gaggioli

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the field of creativity faces new opportunities and challenges. This manifesto explores several scenarios of human–machine collaboration on creative tasks and proposes “fundamental laws of generative AI” to reinforce the responsible and ethical use of AI in the creativity field. Four scenarios are proposed and discussed: “Co-Cre-AI-tion,” “Organic,” “Plagiarism 3.0,” and “Shut down,” each illustrating different possible futures based on the collaboration between humans and machines. In addition, we have incorporated an AI-generated manifesto that also highlights important themes, ranging from accessibility and ethics to cultural sensitivity. The fundamental laws proposed aim to …

Face Coverings Differentially Alter Valence Judgments Of Emotional Expressions, Nicholas R. Harp, Andrew T. Langbehn, Jeff T. Larsen, Paula M. Niedenthal, Maital Neta

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Face masks that prevent disease transmission obscure facial expressions, impairing nonverbal communication. We assessed the impact of lower (masks) and upper (sunglasses) face coverings on emotional valence judgments of clearly valenced (fearful, happy) and ambiguously valenced (surprised) expressions, the latter of which have both positive and negative meanings. Masks, but not sunglasses, impaired judgments of clearly valenced expressions compared to faces without coverings. Drift diffusion models revealed that lower, but not upper, face coverings slowed evidence accumulation and affected differences in non-judgment processes (i.e., stimulus encoding, response execution time) for all expressions. Our results confirm mask-interference effects in nonverbal communication. …

An Integrated Conceptual Framework Linking Attachment Insecurity To Increased Risk For Both Enacting And Experiencing Objectification, Frances C. Calkins, Sarah Gervais, Gemma Sáez, Meredith J. Martin, M. Meghan Davidson, Rebecca L. Brock

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Sexual objectification (i.e., reducing a person to their appearance, body, or sex appeal and functions) is a significant risk factor for negative health outcomes. In the present investigation, we examined multiple manifestations of objectification (i.e., objectification of others, objectification of self, and objectification by others) in an interpersonal context. We merged objectification theory with attachment theory, one of the most prominent theories of close relationships, and propose that sexual objectification can shed light on attachment processes (and vice versa). To bolster this conceptual overlap, we tested this novel, integrated framework across two independent samples of women and men including (a) …

A Laboratory Test Of Alcohol-Related Intimate Partner Aggression: Expectancies Are Not To Blame, Laura E. Watkins, Samantha C. Patton, David Dilillo

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: The role of alcohol expectancies and evaluations (i.e., perceived outcomes of drinking and whether these outcomes are desirable) in alcohol-related intimate partner aggression (IPA) has been debated, with some researchers arguing that expectancies fully account for the alcohol-IPA relationship and others suggesting they play a minimal if any role in alcohol-related IPA. In the current study, we examine the impact of expectancies and evaluations on alcohol-related IPA observed in the lab, in order to clarify what impact, if any, alcohol expectancies have on alcohol-related IPA. Consistent with findings from laboratory studies examining general aggression, we expected that individuals …

Abortion Decisions As Humanizing Acts: The Application Of Ambivalent Sexism And Objectification To Women-Centered Anti-Abortion Rhetoric, Rachel L. Dyer, Olivia R. Checkalski, Sarah Gervais

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Women-centered anti-abortion rhetoric, grounded in ostensibly positive beliefs that pregnant people are precious objects who must be protected from having abortions, has proliferated anti-abortion activism and legislation. However, abortion stigma, marked by negative perceptions of people who terminate pregnancies, is the most widely used theoretical tool for understanding the social and psychological implications of abortion. In this article, we first integrate these two seemingly contradictory perspectives on abortion through the lens of ambivalent sexism theory. We then argue that ambivalent sexism paves the way for objectifying perceptions and treatment of pregnant people; specifically, our typology of reproductive objectification provides a …

Of Dogs And Bonds, Jeffrey R. Stevens

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

In four of Charles Darwin’s classic works (Darwin, 1859, 1868, 1871, 1872), the domestic dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris)¹ featured prominently, offering key examples to illustrate his ideas about evolution, domestication, comparative behavior and cognition, and emotional expression. Darwin held a clear fondness for dogs, and when replying to letters detailing the “sagacity” of dogs, he remarked “I can believe almost anything about them” (Darwin, 2014). Despite the early interest in their behavior and cognition by a number of leading scientists, dogs were rarely subject to serious investigation as a study species for 150 years. …

Student Experiences Reporting Sexual And Gender-Based Misconduct To The Title Ix Office At A Public State University, Aliya R. Webermann, Kathryn Holland, Christopher M. Murphy

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Twenty-five survivors completed anonymous surveys about reporting sexual and gender-based misconduct to their public university’s Title IX office, including case characteristics, perceptions of the reporting and response process (e.g., helpfulness, respect), and experiences of institutional betrayal and support. Measures and open-ended responses described varied misconduct incidents, reporting behaviors, case outcomes, process issues, and negative process consequences. Additionally, process perceptions correlated with institutional betrayal and support. Findings illuminate how survivors’ Title IX process perceptions relate to experiencing harm or support from larger institutions, and offer insights into developing a Title IX process which maintains student rights and dignity regardless of outcome.

Preschool Executive Control, Temperament, And Adolescent Dietary Behaviors, Katherine M. Kidwell, Tiffany D. James, Rebecca L. Brock, Amy L. Yaroch, Jennie L. Hill, Jennifer Mize Nelson, W. Alex Mason, Kimberly Andrews Espy, Timothy D. Nelson

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background Child temperament styles characterized by increased emotionality or pleasure seeking may increase risk for less healthful eating patterns, while strong executive control (EC) may be protective. The interaction of these characteristics with longitudinal outcomes has not yet been examined.

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the association of preschool temperament and EC, as well as their interaction with adolescent eating.

Methods Preschoolers (N = 313) were recruited into a longitudinal study, with behavioral measurement of EC at age 5.25 years, temperament assessed multiple times across preschool, and eating outcomes assessed in adolescence (mean age = …

Sexual Decision Making When Intoxicated: Women’S Reasons For And Against Having Sex In A Laboratory-Based Scenario, Anna E. Jaffe, Jessica A. Blayney, Harper R. Jones, Cynthia A. Stappenbeck, William H. George, Kelly Cue Davis

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Young adult women report high condom use intentions, but inconsistent condom use. Cognitive appraisals during sexual encounters are important determinants of condom use decisions, but a nuanced understanding of what cognitions emerge during women’s “hot states” (e.g., sexual arousal, alcohol intoxication) remains lacking. To address this gap, we examined women’s heat of the moment cognitions in their own words using mixed methods. Young adult women (N = 503; M_age = 25.01, SD_age = 2.66) were randomized to a beverage condition (alcohol or control), then read and responded to questions about an eroticized sexual scenario. The nature and …

Correlates Of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among U.S. College Students, Julia N. Soulakova, Lisa Crockett, Mary Schmidt-Owens, Eric W. Schrimshaw

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Hesitance toward COVID-19 vaccination has greatly decreased over the course of the pandemic in the U.S. However, some populations have lower vaccination rates than the general population. This study was conducted to identify correlates of being fully vaccinated (i.e., having received all doses required to be fully vaccinated) among college students using students’ responses to the 2022 Spring American College Health Association—National College Health Assessment. The surveys were administered in March of 2022. The sample (n=617) included 18-to-30-year-old students. Firth logistic regression models were performed that controlled for age, sex assigned at birth, and food security (at a 5% significance …

Place Conditioning In Humans: Opportunities For Translational Research, Seetha Krishnan, Rick A. Bevins, Harriet De Wit

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Rationale Translational research, especially research that bridges studies with humans and nonhuman species, is critical to advancing our understanding of human disorders such as addiction. This advancement requires reliable and rigorous models to study the underlying constructs contributing to the maladaptive behavior.

Objective In this commentary, we address some of the challenges of conducting translational research by examining a single procedure, place conditioning. Place conditioning is commonly used with laboratory animals to study the conditioned rewarding effects of drugs, and recent studies indicate that a similar procedure can be used in humans.

Results We discuss the opportunities and challenges of …

Using A Stakeholder-Engaged, Iterative, And Systematic Approach To Adapting Collaborative Decision Skills Training For Implementation In Va Psychosocial Rehabilitation And Recovery Centers, Emily B. H. Treichler, Robert Mercado, David Oakes, Dimitri Perivoliotis, Yuliana Gallegos‑Rodriguez, Elijah Sosa, Erin Cisneros, William D. Spaulding, Eric Granholm, Gregory A. Light, Borsika Rabin5,6

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: Adaptation of interventions is inevitable during translation to new populations or settings. Systematic approach to adaptation can ensure that fidelity to core functions of the intervention are preserved while optimizing implementation feasibility and effectiveness for the local context. In this study, we used an iterative, mixed methods, and stakeholder-engaged process to systematically adapt Collaborative Decision Skills Training for Veterans with psychosis currently participating in VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers.

Methods: A modified approach to Intervention Mapping (IM-Adapt) guided the adaptation process. An Adaptation Resource Team of five Veterans, two VA clinicians, and four researchers was formed. …

Cognitive Processing Therapy Or Relapse Prevention For Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Tracy L. Simpson, Debra L. Kaysen, Charles B. Fleming, Isaac C. Rhew, Anna E. Jaffe, Sruti Desai, Denise A. Hien, Lucy Berliner, Dennis Donovan, Patricia A. Resick

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective

To compare a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment (Cognitive Processing Therapy; CPT), an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment (Relapse Prevention; RP), and assessment-only (AO) for those meeting diagnostic criteria for both PTSD and AUD.

Method

Participants with current PTSD/AUD (N = 101; mean age = 42.10; 56% female) were initially randomized to CPT, RP, or AO and assessed post-treatment or 6-weeks post-randomization (AO). AO participants were then re-randomized to CPT or RP. Follow-ups were at immediate post-treatment, 3-, and 12-months. Mixed effects intent-to-treat models compared conditions on changes in PTSD symptom severity, drinking days, and heavy drinking days.

Results …

A Triangulation Study Of Young Women’S Motivations For Sending Nudes To Men, Olivia R. Checkalski, Sarah Gervais, Kathryn Holland

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Women frequently send sexualized nude images to men (i.e., nudes), but women’s motivations for sending nudes are unclear because there are methodological limitations in the ways that cyber sexual activity has been defined and measured. To address these gaps in the literature, we employed a mixed method triangulation design to assess young women’s motivations for sending nudes to men, and how motivations compare when measured qualitatively and quantitatively. Across our qualitative and quantitative data, we found that women endorsed a plethora of motivations for sending nudes to men—far more than any one approach captured. The open-ended responses revealed positive sexual …

Inconsistency Is The Consistency: The Title Ix Reporting Process For Sexual And Gender-Based Misconduct Within Maryland Public Universities, Aliya R. Webermann, Kathryn Holland

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Title IX is a primary federal legal approach to address campus sexual and gender-based misconduct, yet few students utilize Title IX reporting as a formal campus support, and those that do frequently report negative experiences. In this study, we interviewed 11 student survivors at four Maryland public universities who engaged with the Title IX reporting and response process. Our aims were to (a) examine how Title IX functions in a state public education system with a robust Title IX policy; (b) describe commonalities and differences in experiences; and (c) use theories of institutional betrayal and support to understand aspects of …

Social Connectedness In Schizotypy: The Role Of Cognitive And Affective Empathy, Jessica Stinson, Rebecca Wolfe, Will Spaulding

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Social connectedness is increasingly understood to be a resilience factor that moderates vulnerability to poor physical and mental health. This study examines cognitive and affective processes that support normal socialization and social connectedness, and the impact of schizotypy, in well-functioning college students. In this study, a total of 824 college students completed a series of self-report questionnaires, and structural equation modeling was then employed to identify relationships between cognitive and affective empathy, alexithymia, distress tolerance, social connectedness, and schizotypy. Schizotypy is a trait-like condition, presumed to be genetic in origin, associated with the risk for schizophrenia. Like schizophrenia, schizotypy is …

The Role Of Parental Health And Distress In Assessing Children’S Health Status, Sherrie H. Kaplan, Marilou Shaughnessy, Michelle A. Fortier, Marla Vivero‑Montemayor, Sergio Gago Masague, Dylan Hayes, Hal Stern, Maozhu Dai, Lauren Heim, Zeev Kain

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine the contributions of parents’ health and distress to parent’s and children’s assessments of children’s health.

Methods We used baseline data from a longitudinal study of 364 children (ages 4–12) about to undergo surgery and their parents in a Southern California pediatric hospital. We used the 20-item child self-reported CHRIS 2.0 general health and the parallel parent-reported measure of the child’s health, along with a measure of parental distress about the child’s health were administered in the perioperative period. Other measures included parents’ physical and mental health, quality of life, distress over …

Implicit Trauma Identity Associations In Treatment-Seeking U.S. Military Personnel Do Not Predict Or Change In Response To Cognitive Processing Therapy For Ptsd, Kristen P. Lindgren, Anna E. Jaffe, Debra Kaysen, Bethany A. Teachman, Stacey Young-Mccaughan, Alan L. Peterson, Patricia A. Resick, Jennifer Schuster Wachen

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective: This study evaluated implicit associations (i.e., associations in memory that are automatically activated and difficult to control consciously) related to trauma and one’s self in the context of a clinical trial for active duty service members seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous studies with nontreatment-seeking community samples found that implicit trauma identity associations were associated with PTSD symptoms even after controlling for amount of trauma exposure and self-reported negative cognitions about the self. This study extended prior work by evaluating whether trauma-related implicit associations were associated with PTSD and depressive symptoms in a clinical sample seeking …

Domains Of Vulnerability, Resilience, Health Habits, And Mental And Physical Health For Health Disparities Research, Rebecca M. Wolfe, Katie Beck-Felts, Brianna Speakar, William D. Spaulding

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Health disparities associated with severe mental illness (SMI) have become a major public health concern. The disparities are not directly due to the SMI. They involve the same leading causes of premature death as in the general population. The causes of the disparities are therefore suspected to reflect differences in health-related behavior and resilience. As with other problems associated with SMI, studying non-clinical populations at risk for future onset provides important clues about pathways, from vulnerability to unhealthy behavior and compromised resilience, to poor health and reduced quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify possible pathways …

Development Of Stresscheck: A Telehealth Motivational Enhancement Therapy To Improve Voluntary Engagement For Ptsd Treatment Among Active-Duty Service Members, Debra Kaysen, Thomas O. Walton, Issac C. Rhew, Anna E. Jaffe, Adam R. Pierce, Denise D. Walker

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: Rates of PTSD in active-duty military are high relative to the general population. Although efficacious treatments exist, they are underutilized. Many service members with PTSD do not present for treatment and, of those who do, many do not receive sufficient doses of the interventions to receive full benefits. Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) “check-ups”, are brief interventions designed to elicit treatment engagement for those who are not treatment-seeking.

Methods: StressCheck is an MET for nontreatment seeking Army and Air Force personnel. StressCheck aims to improve PTSD and increase treatment engagement, especially around evidence-based interventions, as well as to …

Sexual Compulsivity, Erectile Dysfunction, And Suicidality Among Male Survivors Of Military Sexual Violence, Rebecca K. Blais, Bingyu Xu, Tim Hoyt, Tierney K. Lorenz, Lindsey L. Monteith

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Although military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with an increased risk of suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation among service members and veterans, there is limited knowledge regarding the mechanisms of MST and suicidality among men. The current study examined whether MST was associated with sexual compulsivity and/or erectile dysfunction and if these, in turn, explained elevated suicidal thoughts and the likelihood of engaging in future suicidal behavior after accounting for mental health, military, and demographic characteristics. Servicemembers and veteranswho reported their gender as male (N = 508) were recruited via social media and completed online self-report measures assessing …

Friends-Based Protective Strategies And Unwanted Sexual Experiences: A Daily Diary Examination Of First Year College Women, Jessica A. Blayney, Tiffany Jenzer, Anna E. Jaffe, Quinn Carroll, Jennifer P. Read

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Risk for unwanted sexual experiences can emerge in social contexts—the same contexts that early college women navigate with their friends. Though friends naturally engage in prevention strategies, less is known about how capable guardianship influences risk. Using multilevel structural equation modeling, the present study examined guardianship at the person- and situation-level. First year college women (N = 132) completed eight weekends of daily surveys. We examined whether guardianship (e.g., more friends present, greater proportion of female friends, no intoxicated friends) would reduce unwanted sexual experience risk and if this relation was mediated by friends-based strategy use. An alternative model …

Covid‑Specific Coercive Control Among Emerging Adults Attending College: A Brief Note, Heather Littleton, Katie Edwards, Kayla E. Sall, Stephanie Lim, Victoria Mauer

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a “perfect storm” with regards to risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Abusive partners may engage in novel forms of coercive control, such as pressuring their partner to engage in activities associated with COVID-19 infection risk (e.g., attend a large gathering). However, no empirical research has focused on COVIDspecific coercive control. The current study sought to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-specific coercive control in a large sample of U.S. college students, as well as its association with other forms of IPV and depression and anxiety. A total of 2,289 undergraduate students attending eight U.S. universities who …

Auditory Experience Modulates Frontoparietal Theta Activity Serving Fluid Intelligence, Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham, Elizabeth A. Walker, Brittany K. Taylor, Sophia C. Menting

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Children who are hard of hearing are at risk for developmental language and academic delays compared with children with normal hearing. Some work suggests that high-order cognitive function, including fluid intelligence, may relate to language and academic outcomes in children with hearing loss, but findings in these studies have been mixed and to date, there have been no studies of the wholebrain neural dynamics serving fluid intelligence in the context of hearing loss. To this end, this study sought to identify the impact of hearing loss and subsequent hearing aid use on the neural dynamics serving abstract reasoning in children …

A Qualitative Analysis Of How Individuals Utilized The Twitter Hashtags #Notokay And #Metoo To Comment On The Perpetration Of Interpersonal Violence, Katherine W. Bogen, Prachi H. Bhuptani, Michelle Haikalis, Lindsay M. Orchowski

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The present study examined how individuals describe the nature of interpersonal violence perpetrated against them using the Twitter hashtags #NotOkay and #MeToo. Iterative qualitative coding of 437 tweets resulted in four major themes (i.e., the nature of violence and tactics utilized, the identity of the perpetrator, the location of the assault, and whether the perpetrator was held accountable). Subthemes nested beneath perpetrator identity included whether the perpetrator was known, as well as perpetrator gender identity. Subthemes nested beneath perpetrator tactic included the presence of multiple perpetrators, whether the assault was a crime of opportunity, engagement in physical aggression, utilization of …

Harm Reduction In The Heartland: Public Knowledge And Beliefs About Naloxone In Nebraska, Usa, Allison Schlosser, Patrick Habecker, Rick A. Bevins

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: Opioid-related overdose deaths have been increasing in the United States (U.S.) in the last twenty years, creating a public health challenge. Take-home naloxone is an effective strategy for preventing opioid-related overdose death, but its widespread use is particularly challenging in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas where it may be stigmatized and/or poorly understood.

Methods: We analyzed data on knowledge and beliefs about drug use and naloxone among the general public in Nebraska, a largely rural state in the Great Plains region of the U.S., drawing on the 2020 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey.

Results: Respondents reported negative beliefs …

Self-Compassion Mediates The Link Between Attachment Security And Intimate Relationship Quality For Couples Navigating Pregnancy, Tuyen Huynh, Eric Phillips, Rebecca L. Brock

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Millions of couples navigate the transition from pregnancy to postpartum in a given year, and this period of change and adjustment in the family is associated with elevated risk for intimate relationship dysfunction. Self-compassion has the potential to promote skills that are essential for healthy adaptation (e.g., emotion regulation, greater openness and flexibility, more awareness of the needs of oneself and one’s partner). The overarching goal of the present study was to investigate the role of self-compassion in intimate relationship quality during pregnancy. A sample of 159 couples completed semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Parents engaging in more compassionate self-responding during …

Does The Affirmative Consent Standard Increase The Accuracy Of Sexual Assault Perceptions? It Depends On How You Learn About The Standard, Abigail R. Riemer, Kathryn Holland, Evan Mccracken, Amanda Dale, Sarah Gervais

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective: Colleges and universities are increasingly adopting affirmative consent standards of sexual assault, in which consent is defined as conscious and voluntary “yeses” given throughout a sexual interaction. We examined the impact of affirmative consent standards on perceptions of assault and consent.

Hypotheses: We hypothesized that in sexual assault scenarios involving physical force or verbal coercion, exposure to the consent standard would increase perceptions of assault and decrease perceptions of consent relative to not being exposed to the standard. We then explored whether dehumanization of the perpetrator or the victim mediates the association between assault type and sexual assault perceptions …

Friends-Based Protective Strategies And Unwanted Sexual Experiences: A Daily Diary Examination Of First Year College Women, Jessica A. Blayney, Tiffany Jenzer, Anna E. Jaffe, Quinn Carroll, Jennifer P. Read

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Risk for unwanted sexual experiences can emerge in social contexts—the same contexts that early college women navigate with their friends. Though friends naturally engage in prevention strategies, less is known about how capable guardianship influences risk. Using multilevel structural equation modeling, the present study examined guardianship at the person and situation levels. First-year college women (N = 132) completed eight weekends of daily surveys. We examined whether guardianship (e.g., more friends present, greater proportion of female friends, no intoxicated friends) would reduce unwanted sexual experience risk and if this relation was mediated by friends-based strategy use. An alternative model …