Psychology Commons^™

Personality And Risk-Taking Behaviors In Emerging Adulthood, Agnes Ward

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

PERSONALITY AND RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS IN EMERGING ADULTHOOD

by

AGNES WARD

December 2010

Advisor: Dr. Stephen B. Hillman

Major: Educational Psychology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Much theory and research has focused on adolescent risk-taking behavior. Common theories include Zuckerman's (1971) perspective on sensation seeking, the problem behavior perspective identified by Jessor and Jessor (1977), and the causal model of risk-taking behavior by Irwin and Millstein (1986). While beneficial to understanding risky behaviors, these perspectives do not take into account specific personality traits that contribute to risk-taking or cognitive appraisals of risky behaviors. Further, most research has focused on the adolescent …

The Effects Of Gestalt And Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Group Interventions On The Assertiveness And Self-Esteem Of Women With Physical Disabilities Facing Abuse, Cilene Susan Adam Rita

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differential effects of Gestalt and Cognitive-Behavioral group therapy interventions on assertiveness and self-esteem among women with physical disabilities facing abuse. The eleven women, who met the study criteria, were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions, Gestalt Therapy (GT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) group interventions. The Demographic Questionnaire (Adam Rita, 2009) documented personal characteristics of the participants. The criterion instruments were: a) RAS (Rathus, 1973), and b) CFSEI-2 (Form AD, Battle, 1992) measuring assertiveness and self-esteem respectively and were administered pre-and-post treatment. The research was conducted over a period of …

From Infanticide To Activism: The Transformation Of Emotions And Identity In Self-Help Movements, Verta Taylor, Lisa A. Leitz

Peace Studies Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Taylor and Leitz trace processes of collective identity construction and politicization among women suffering from postpartum psychiatric illness who have been convicted of infanticide. Joining a growing body of research suggesting that self‐help and consumer health movements can be a significant force for change in both the cultural and political arenas, Taylor and Lietz examine one such movement, a pen‐pal network of women incarcerated for committing infanticide. Taylor and Leitz show how a sense of collective identity fostered by the pen‐pal network triggered a profound emotional transformation in participants, allowing them to convert shame and loneliness into pride and solidarity, …

Priming God-Related Concepts Increases Anxiety And Task Persistence, Tina M. Toburen, Brian P. Meier

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research on the relationship between religiosity and anxiety has been mixed, with some studies revealing a positive relation and other studies revealing a negative relation. The current research used an experimental design, perhaps for the first time, to examine anxiety and task persistence during a stressful situation. Christians and Atheists/Agnostics/Others were primed with God-related or neutral (non-God related) concepts before completing an unsolvable anagram task described as a measure of verbal intelligence. The results revealed that the God-related primes increased both task persistence and anxiousness, which suggests that experimentally induced God-related thoughts caused participants to persist longer on a stressful …

School, Community And Clinical Psychology Training And Working Together In The Interdisciplinary School Mental Health Field, Mark D. Weist, C. Mills, S. Huebner, B. Smith, A. Wandersman

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Virtual Environments And Sensory Integration: Effects Of Aging And Stroke, Nicoleta L. Bugnariu, Joyce Fung

All Faculty Scholarship

Research was carried out on the effects of aging and sensory motor defi cits following strokes with respect to the capacity of the central nervous system to resolve sensory confl icts created by Virtual Reality (VR). The results of this research demonstrate that VR can be a valuable tool for therapeutic interventions that require an adaptation to complex, multimodal environments. The rehabilitation protocols include balancing training in virtual environments.

Les études qui ont été menées sur les effets du vieillissement et des défi cits sensori-moteurs consé-cutivement aux accidents vasculaires cérébraux concernent la capacité du système nerveux cen-tral à résoudre les …

The Experiences Of First Time Fathers In Western Australia: A Qualitative Analysis Into The Transition To Fatherhood, Ian D. Clayton-Smith

Theses : Honours

According to critical life events framework, the transition to parenthood can be filled with anticipation and excitement, yet it can be extremely difficult for some. The transition to parenthood begins during pregnancy when the parents begin to form emotional bonds with the unborn child, and continues for some time after the birth of the baby, ending when the infant reaches two years of age. There exists a vast amount of research on the experiences of the female transition, but there is little in comparison about the experiences of the male transition to becoming a father for the first time. The …

Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour To Career Choice: The Role Of An Improved Measure Of Emotion, Saveta Tegova

Theses : Honours

Adherents of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) propose that intention to perform behaviour can be predicted by attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Recent studies, however, have indicated that the standard TPB predictor variables account for 28% to 40% of the variance in intention, leaving a considerable percentage of the variance in intentions to be explained. Attitude is traditionally measured by the valence associated with the intention. The present study employed an improved measure of attitude, including both emotional dimensions of valence and arousal (Bradley & Lang, 1999), rather than using valence alone, and tested whether this enhanced …

Stress And Anxiety Reduction Due To Writing Diaries, Journals, E-Mail, And Weblogs, Briana Murnahan

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Stress and anxiety are very common factors in the everyday lives of college students. Although some students have found ways to reduce them, others have not. Student participants (N = 165) indicated whether they used one or more of four different mediums for personal writing, and, if so, when and why they started to use them, how frequently they used them, and whether the use relieved their stress and reduced their anxiety. These four mediums included two traditional styles of writing (diary and journal) and two newer styles of writing (e-mail and weblogs). Results showed that e-mail was used …

Components Of Religious Beliefs, Religious Maturity, And Religious History As Predictors Of Proscribed And Non-Proscribed Explicit And Implicit Prejudices, Luke Fiedorowicz

Dissertations

Many theorists propose a link between religiosity and prejudice; however, many studies show contradictory results. Recently, there has also been a growing interest in the differences between implicit and explicit prejudices. Current literature suggests that explicit and implicit attitudes are linked and one can influence the other. However, it is possible there are different sets of predictors of each attitude type. African-Americans have historically been the most openly targeted minority in America. Recently, gay men and lesbians have also faced increased prejudice. The purpose of this project was to examine several aspects of religiosity (involvement, intrinsic/extrinsic, fundamentalism, quest, history, and …

I Love You (But I Can't Look You In The Eyes): Explicit And Implicit Self-Esteem Predict Verbal And Nonverbal Response To Relationship Threat, Julie Longua Peterson

Dissertations

Research has revealed the value of studying communication patterns, both verbal and nonverbal, in couple conflict discussions (Gottman & Levenson, 2000; Noller, Feeney, Bonnell, & Callan, 1994). In fact, the study of behavioral reactions to relationship conflict has been central to predicting important relationship outcomes, such as relationship satisfaction and breakup (e.g. see Gottman, 1998 for a review). The goal of the current dissertation was to explore how explicit (i.e., conscious, deliberate) and implicit (i.e., unconscious, automatic) self-esteem correspond to people's self-reported approach and avoidance verbal and nonverbal behaviors following a relationship threat manipulation (Study 1) and people's observer-rated approach …

Factors Of Body Image Dissatisfaction Among High School Female Athletes, Trisha Margaret Karr

Dissertations

The relation between sport type and body image dissatisfaction was investigated with a sample of high school female athletes living in the Chicago area. In order to assess sport type, gymnastics, cross country, and softball were designated for the comparison of aesthetic, endurance, and ball sports. Low family cohesion and high independence were predictive of body image concerns among gymnasts, whereas high cohesion and infrequent conversations about sport participation with mothers were associated with body dissatisfaction among runners. Although body mass index was a risk factor for body image concerns across all sports, athletic self-efficacy was protective against body dissatisfaction …

Reliability And Validity Analyses Of The Community Service Attitudes Scale, Brian Perry

Online Theses and Dissertations

A study of the reliability and validity of the Community Service Attitudes Scale which was developed by Shiarella, McCarthy, and Tucker (2000) and based on Schwartz's (1977) model of helping behaviors was conducted. Scores on each of the subscales of the Community Service Attitudes Scale showed strong reliability with coefficient alpha scores ranging from .80 to .93. The factor analysis confirmed the findings of the original authors with eight factors having eigenvales greater than one indentified. Validity analyses confirmed that the measure can distinguish between groups expected to differ. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

Family Communication Predicts The Decisions Of Adolescents To Engage In Sexual Behaviors, Keyanna R. Turner, Connie Tang, Jessica F. Jablonski, Sara Martino

Modern Psychological Studies

This study investigated whether family communication predicted adolescent decision-making about sexual behaviors, as well as gender differences in whether adolescents prefer talking with their mother or father about sex. Male and female college students (n =148) retrospectively answered questions on a survey pertaining to their family communication about sex when they were going through puberty. Results demonstrated that females reported better communication with their mothers about sex than males, and males reported better communication with their fathers about sex than females. It also was found that the better the communication with mothers, the more informed about sex the adolescents reported …

Para-Romantic Love And Para-Friendships: Development And Assessment Of A Multiple-Parasocial Relationships Scale, Riva Tukachinsky

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Parasocial-relationships (PSR) are viewers' imaginary relationships with media personae. Despite the growing body of research on PSR, the field is still lacking a clear conceptualization and precise measure of this phenomenon. The present study suggests a novel theorization of PSR as para-friendship and para-love. Study 1 demonstrates construct validity of a new Multiple-PSR scale using the logic of a multi-trait multi-method approach. Study 2 replicates the factorial solution using confirmatory factor analysis. Finally, Study 3 provides evidence for the criterion validity of the scales. Together, these findings suggest that PSR encompass several types of relationships that might mediate different media …

Cognitive Dissonance: Effects Of Perceived Choice On Attitude Change, Jessica C. Miklosovic

Modern Psychological Studies

The hypothesis that greater perceived choice would induce attitude change as a method of cognitive dissonance reduction was investigated in a between-groups design. Twenty first and second year students at an undergraduate college were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: high-choice and no-choice. Participants in the high-choice condition were predicted to evaluate the possibility of a 10% tuition increase at an undergraduate college more favorably than participants in the no-choice condition upon writing essays in favor of a possible tuition increase. A one-way analysis of variance yielded results supporting the hypothesis that greater perceived choice induces attitude change as …

Is There A Relationship Between Participation In Athletics And Eating Disorders?, Jamie L. Constantz, Susan E. Mason

Modern Psychological Studies

Many of the psychological risk characteristics associated with eating disorders are also associated with participation in athletics. In athletics, for example, a certain kind of physique is expected. Often, there is pressure put on the athlete to have this perfect physique. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that athletes are more likely than non-athletes to be at risk of developing eating disorder characteristics. Unexpectedly, non-athletes were found to be at greater risk than athletes. As expected, women were at greater risk than men, and the type of sport did not have a significant effect on athletes' risk.

Dangerous Obscurity: A Study Of The Female Suicide Combatants Of Sri Lanka, Jessica Santala

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Since 1991 the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have used female suicide operatives in their civil war with the Sri Lankan government. Gaps in research about these phenomena suggest that it’s not seen as a gender specific problem and that female suicide bombers can be compared toe to toe with their male counterparts. I contend that the situation surrounding female suicide terrorism is unique and that certain discernable socioeconomic indicators can explain the reasons behind why some women of Sri Lanka become more active in suicide terrorism. I have compiled a suicide terrorism dataset out of terrorist acts perpetrated by …

Attitudes And Intentional Markers For Behavioral Change In Smokers: Examining The Effects Of Intention On Behavior Change, Michael Shaun Culwell

Psychology Dissertations - Archive

In 2009, the American Cancer Society (ACS) predicted that, of the 219,440 expected new cases of lung cancer, approximately 169,000 cancer-related deaths would be attributable to the use of some form of tobacco products. The ACS further suggests that all cancers caused by cigarette smoking are completely preventable. The source of prevention may be in an individual's behavior patterns. If researchers can better understand the thought processes behind harmful behavior patterns (such as smoking), then perhaps effective strategies for decreasing the influence of negative thought patterns (and subsequent behaviors) are within reach. This study found that possessing intent to cut …

What About The Other Core Evaluations? The Development And Validation Of A Measure Of Core Other-Evaluations And Its Relevance For Organizational Teams, Chloe J. Lemelle

Psychology Dissertations - Archive

The construct of core self-evaluations has garnered a great deal of attention in the organizational psychology literature and has been hailed as one of the strongest predictors of job satisfaction. However, the construct of core self-evaluations is only one of the three core evaluations that Judge and colleagues originally described in their seminal work (Judge, Locke, & Durham, 1997). It is predicted that much can be explained about the dynamics of teams and the propensity to excel in a team environment through the study of core other-evaluations. With that objective, the current study developed and validated a comprehensive measure of …

Some Bullied Adolescents More Susceptible To Depression, Priya Anapurna Iyer

Psychology Theses - Archive

Prior research has documented long-term detrimental effects (e.g. emotional distress, anxiety, and depression; Kochenderfer-Ladd & Wardrop, 2001) experienced as a result of being bullied as an adolescent. Although being a recipient of chronic peer victimization is clearly related to a myriad of psychological problems, not all bullied children react to these experiences in the same way. That is, some children may be more predisposed to internalizing problems, specifically depression, when bullied than are other children. This study examined the influence of genetic polymorphism in the serotonin transport gene (5HTTLPR) on the victimization-depression link. A total of 125 adolescents (Mage = …

Content, Values, And Environment: Applicant Reactions To Job Descriptions, Adria D. Toliver

Psychology Theses - Archive

The research on job descriptions is limited and information regarding applicant reactions to job descriptions is even scarcer. The current research hypothesized that after reading job content information, an applicant's decision to apply or not apply for a job rests on the organizational values and work environment information included in the job description. Participants were presented with four job descriptions with varying levels of job content, organizational values, and work environment information and were asked to indicate which description would make them most and least likely to apply for the job and why. The results showed that the job description …

False And Veridical Memories And Stereotype Threat: A Cognitive Understanding Of A Social Phenomenon, John R. Biggan

Psychology Theses - Archive

In 1995, Steele and Aronson found that when asked to simply indicate their race prior to a memory test (Study 4) black participants performed significantly worse on a memory test than when not asked to indicate their race. However, their white counterparts did not show a decrease in performance. This effect is often referred to as stereotype threat. The effect has been replicated using various tests of general memory and even sporting performance (Beilock & McConnell, 2004). In the cognitive literature memory processes are often broken down into two processes, referred to as recollection and familiarity. Recollection is best understood …

A Conceptual Guide To Natural History Museum Visitors’ Understanding Of Evolution, E. Margaret Evans, Amy N. Spiegel, Wendy Gram, Brandy N. Frazier, Medha Tare, Sarah Thompson, Judy Diamond

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Museum visitors are an ideal population for assessing the persistence of the conceptual barriers that make it difficult to grasp Darwinian evolutionary theory. In comparison with other members of the public, they are more likely to be interested in natural history, have higher education levels, and be exposed to the relevant content. If museum visitors do not grasp evolutionary principles, it seems unlikely that other members of the general public would do so. In the current study, 32 systematically selected visitors to three Midwest museums of natural history provided detailed open-ended explanations of biological change in seven diverse organisms. They …

Grounded Theory As A “Family Of Methods”: A Genealogical Analysis To Guide Research, Wayne A. Babchuk

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

This inquiry traces the evolution of grounded theory from a nuclear to an extended family of methods and considers the implications that decision-making based on informed choices throughout all phases of the research process has for realizing the potential of grounded theory for advancing adult education theory and practice.

Book Review: Psychoanalyzing Prejudice, David Moshman

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

The classic psychological work on prejudice is Gordon Allport’s 1954 The Nature of Prejudice. Half a century later, its definitive modern counterpart must surely be On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years after Allport (2005). Systematically reconsidering Allport’s work in light of subsequent research and theorizing, On the Nature of Prejudice provides, in one carefully edited volume, the most comprehensive statement on the psychology of prejudice currently available. The Future of Prejudice: Psychoanalysis and the Prevention of Prejudice, in contrast, is simply a collection of sixteen chapters that, although generally psychoanalytic in orientation, vary greatly in form, content, …

Effects Of Mindfulness Training On Stress, Mood And Coping In College Students, Lily Preer

Psychology Honors Papers

The present study examined the stress-reducing effects of a mindfulness meditation (MM) intervention in college students compared with a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercise and a control group. The participants were 43 Connecticut College students high in interpersonal sensitivity. In the two experimental sessions, participants learned the stress-reduction techniques. Perceived stress, mood, coping and cortisol levels were assessed pre-and post-intervention. Participants completed a follow-up four weeks after the second session. Repeated measures MANOVAS were used to assess changes in stress, mood and coping. There were no changes in perceived stress. Though avoidant coping, cortisol levels, and negative mood decreased in …

Psychographic Segmentation Of The Self-Employed: An Exploratory Study, Matthew G. Kenney, Art Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Although it is well established in the academic literature that entrepreneurs share common traits, there has been limited research dedicated to evaluating psychographic profiles of the self-employed. Using the Nominal Group Technique, the authors gleaned insight from a panel of experts in an effort to segment the self-employed based on personality traits and the benefits they receive from an entrepreneurial career. The findings show that self-employed individuals can be classified into four distinct segments: Exemplars, Generals, Moms and Dads, and Altruists. Each group derives different benefits from self-employment. Understanding these benefits can greatly assist entrepreneurship educators and marketers of small …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Selected Demographic Variables And Dual Enrollment Participation On Postsecondary Success For First Time Freshmen, Marby S. Barker

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between dual enrollment participation in high school and successful transition to post-secondary institutions for first year students. The sample consisted of a random sample of first-time students enrolled at four-year, two-year, and technical colleges in North Louisiana.

Participants completed the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships First Year Out Student Survey. The results were analyzed based on characteristics such as ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, School Performance Scores (SPS) of high school attended, ACT scores, high school cumulative grade point average, first term postsecondary grade point average, and type of postsecondary institutions selected by dual enrollment …

Experiencing Emotional Abuse During Childhood And Witnessing Interparental Verbal Aggression As Related To Emotional Aggression In Undergraduate Dating Relationships, Robert J. Milletich, Michelle Kelley

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The present study examined whether witnessing interparental verbal aggression and/or experiencing emotional abuse during childhood were associated with emotional abuse in current or recent dating relationships in college students (M = 19.51 years; SD = 2.02). Participants (N = 715) completed the Conflicts Tactics 2-CA Scale (Straus & Donnelly, 2001), the Exposure to Abusive and Supportive Environments Parenting Inventory (Nicholas & Bieber, 1997), and the Emotional Abuse Scale (Murphy & Hoover, 1999). Results showed that witnessing interparental verbal aggression predicted males‟ self-use of Restrictive Engulfment and their partners‟ use of Restrictive Engulfment. For females, witnessing interparental verbal aggression predicted self-use …