Psychology Commons^™

Benefits And Applications Of Journaling: Exploring The Lower Boundary For Effective Dosage In Non-Clinical Populations, Ryan Hunsaker, Patrick Steffen

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Written expressions of emotion have been shown to produce favorable outcomes in both spheres of physicalhealth and mentalhealth (Murray, 2009; Pennebaker, 2000). Although scientists have identified to some degree what the effects of journaling are, much less is known regarding exactly whenthis impact is most likely to occur (Pennebaker, 2000). Several studies have shown clinically significant benefits for brief journaling interventions (e.g., Greenberg, Wortman, & Stone, 1996; Burton and King, 2008), but the long-term benefits and the lowest dosages necessary for these benefits are debatable. The current study provides an opportunity to assay the therapeutic effects of a brief journaling …

Classical Music And Its Effects On Verbal And Nonverbal Memory Performance, Clarence Holbrook, Emily Hadlock, Jentri Rasmussen, Erin D. Bigler

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

The purpose of this study was to test the effect that music has on memory. To date there have been several studies done that fail to agree on the question of whether music affects memory. The fairly well-known phenomenon called the Mozart effect found that spatial-temporal memory increased due to exposure to classical music. This research is intended to determine whether the Mozart effect in fact increases verbal and nonverbal memory, employing the Rey-Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT).

Consistency Of Temperament Of In Group-Housed Infant Rhesus Monkeys (Macacamulatta) During The First Months Of Life, Joshua W. Kirton, Daniel Blocker, Kfir Orgad, James D. Higley

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

While a wide number of studies have assessed temperament as a predictor of future personality or behavior, few studies have assessed its interindividual stability over the first few months of life in nonhuman primates. This laboratory study examined temperament in group-housed infant rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) assessing interindividual consistency from the second through fifth months of life using objective behavioral measures. Stability of temperament was measured by correlating (Pearson Product-Moment tests) individual differences in the frequency of 25 behaviors over months 2-5 of life in 88 mother-reared subjects. Two 5-minute sessions were recorded for subjects each week and the mean …

Lgbt Community, Ocariza

Service-Learning Program

Service Project: As a group we conducted research on 5 different areas that each addressed a different social issue relevant to the LGBT population. Our hope is that the research we have done will significantly help The Community Center in several different ways like educating the mass population, use our research as “talking points” within the LGBT population, and also for future funding through gathering more memberships or possible grant proposals. Learning goals: To gain specific experiences relevant to supporting the understanding and appreciation of civic engagement as well as bridging the gap between psychology (theory and research) from the …

Functional Resting State Connectivity In Individuals At-Risk For Alzheimer's Disease, Alissa M. Butts

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have examined the connectivity between the hippocampus (HIPP) and the posterior cingulate (PC) in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and younger individuals at risk for AD. The present study aimed to examine the functional connectivity between these two memory structures and targets of AD neurodegeneration in cognitively intact elders at risk for AD (positive for ApolipoE protein (ε4) and family history of dementia), MCI, and healthy controls. Seeds and regions of interest were defined in the bilateral hippocampus and posterior cingulate, and the time courses were cross-correlated to generate …

Especially In This Economy : The Effect Of Personal And Situational Factors On Charitable Intentions And Attitudes Toward The Homeless, Eric M. Vanepps

Honors Theses

In response to tough economic times and difficulty meeting the need of homeless populations, many charities could use an improved understanding of what predicts and contributes to charitable intentions. The current studies sought to empirically address this issue. Study 1 results revealed that positive attitudes toward the homeless and charitable intentions predicted actual donation behavior. Study 2 results suggested that morality dimensions focused on fairness and harm predicted positive attitudes and charitable intentions. Additionally, a combination of moral commitment and interdependent self-construal predicted higher donation intentions. Study 3 examined how political affiliations and media coverage regarding the current state of …

Pornography Addiction: Shedding Light On Internet Help Resources, Joshua Ruchty, Sam Hardy

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

The purpose of this pilot study is to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of the Candeo Program by collecting self-reported improvement data from Candeo subscribers. Candeo is an online, subscription-based recovery program for pornography addiction. Candeo guides subscribers through 10 levels of instruction --including text, video, and interactive exercises –all aimed toward reshaping thought processes in order alter addictive behaviors.

Evidence Of Opinion: A Critical Analysis Of The Use Of Empirical Literature In Controversial Topics, David Erekson, Sasha Mondragon, Kiley Delange, Amelia Leetham

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

The American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) use the same empirical sources as supporting evidence for differing views on the psychological treatment of sexual minorities. Given this discrepancy, we undertook a critical analysis of all sources commonly cited by APA and NARTH. We conclude that the sources have not been used consistently, and that this may be a product of differing beliefs surrounding a controversial issue.

Competence To Stand Trial: Special Challenges For The Population Diagnosed With Intellectual Disabilities And Borderline Intellectual Functioning, Diomaris E. Jurecska

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study contributes to the psychometric validity of the psychological tests most frequently used to determine competency to stand trial for people with intellectual disabilities. First, the relationship between The MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool (MacCAT-CA) and the Competence Assessment to Stand Trial for Defendants with Intellectual Disabilities (CAST-MR) was analyzed, including their respective determination of competency for currently adjudicated adults with intellectual disabilities. Second, the relationship between performance on the Malingered Incompetence Legal Knowledge test (MILK), a new measure designed to evaluate malingering by people with intellectual disabilities in a legal context, and the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) was …

Facebook And Self-Worth, Dallin Bywater, Chelsey Tautkus, Paul Moss, Dana Kearnes

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

It is already known that self-worth can be easily manipulated and diminished by disparagement. In response to this disparagement, one will then seek social gratification from their peers, which will work to bolster their damaged self-worth. One of the easiest ways for these disparaged people to seek social gratification is through Facebook use. However, it is not yet known if a decrease of self-worth leads to an increase in Facebook usage; if this relationship indeed exists, then we may be able to understand more about the link between self-worth and social networking. For example, it is possible that poor mental …

Drama, Drama, Drama, Trace W. Lund, Mckenzie Gibson, Megan Pixton, Brandon Chandler

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Gender roles are set early in life (Condry & Ross, 1985). Boys are often encouraged in their rough-and-tumble play while girls are discouraged from it (Condry, 1985). Girls are treated as more fragile and are encouraged to act ladylike, including not inflicting physical harm upon others. Much of how we act in society, including aggression, is based on these social norms. The media is full of physically aggressive acts. School shootings, war, terrorism, assaults; the list goes on and on. Who do we imagine performing these tasks? Men or women? Research has shown it to be men (Zeichner, Parrott, & …

Effects Of Relationship Status On Gpa, Emily Albright, Chanel Carlile, Janae Kirkendall, Allyson Webber

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Research on the effect of Relationship Status on GPA is very limited. Some studies find that individuals who date more frequently tend to have lower grades than those who don’t. Other studies have found that relationships can have a positive or a negative effect on GPA depending on other factors. However, most studies find that Relationship status doesn’t have an effect on GPA. We hypothesize that Single and Married individuals will have higher GPA’s than their dating counterparts. We further hypothesize that Single and Married people will also be more consistent in their academic achievement and that those who are …

Does Gender And Marital Status Affect Student Anxiety In School?, Christian Briggs, Zachary Elison, Monica Gonzalez, Scott C. Steffensen

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

School related anxiety and stress is a common psychiatric issue for college students. In recent years, heart rate variability (HRV) has been utilized as a noninvasive and informative way to evaluate autonomic activity by recording electrocardiogram or pulse waves.In past studies, decreased autonomic responsiveness in correlation with task performance has served as a sign of psychological dysfunction (Shinba, 2008). Gender studies have indicated that women are substantially more likely to develop stress disorders and exhibit higher levels of anxiety in clinical testing (McLean, 2009; MacSwain, 2009). Despite these various studies in gender, little research has been done to indicate differences …

Effects Of Mood On Error Processing, Alexander Gray, Michael J. Larson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

In mood-induced states, anxious participants were most attentive, happy and calm participants were intermediately attentive, and sad participants least attentive. This study investigates if participants in mood-induced states will demonstrate ERN amplitudes that correspond to the outcomes demonstrated in the above study in which greater attentiveness should correspond to larger ERN amplitudes and visa versa.

Moral Conceptions And Parent-Adolescent Congruence: What Does It Mean To Be A Moral Person?, Ryan J. Funk, Sam Hardy

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

In recent years scholars have argued for the importance of greater understanding naturalistic conceptions of moral maturity (Walker & Pitts, 1998). However, given the limited work done thus far in this area, we still know very little about how these conceptions of morality develop. Further, most prior studies of lay conceptions of morality have involved adults (e.g., Smith, Smith, & Christopher, 2007; Walker & Pitts, 1998). Thus, the purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between adolescent’s conceptions of morality and how it relates to their parents’.

Parent-Adolescent Attachment As A Mediator Of Relations Between Parenting And Adolescent Social Behavior And Well-Being In China, Mengfei Cai, Blake Hudson, Ashley Maag, Sam Hardy

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

The study of adolescents’ attachment to parents and its relation to adolescents' well-being has received increasing attention in recent years. But the mechanic in this relation and even in the whole working pattern is still not very clear---not only in western background, but also in eastern culture. This study examined how parenting dimensions (authoritative, psychological control, and over-protecting) relate to adolescent outcomes (self-esteem, autonomy, and peer relationships) by way of parent-teen attachment, among Chinese families.

Marital Quality And Risk Factors For Chd, Rebecca Wallace, Nicole Barber, Bryan J. Jensen, Paige Vella

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Epidemiological research indicates that marriage may significantly protect individuals from various causes of morbidity and mortality including cardiovascular disease6,7. There is also growing evidence that marital quality may be equally if not more important than marital status. While married individuals have greater health benefits relative to unmarried individuals, unhappily married individuals may be worse off than unmarried8-10. For instance, marital distress has been associated with a 2 to 3 fold increase in the risk of heart disease11and for recurrent coronary events12.

Predictors Of Performance Monitoring Abilities Following Traumatic Brain Injury: The Influence Of Negative Affect, Cognitive Dysfunction, And Injury Severity, Joseph E. Fair, Michael J. Larson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Survivors of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often demonstrate impairments in cognitive control and performance monitoring. Performance monitoring is a cognitive control process modulated by both cognitive and affective variables. Performance monitoring functions can be evaluated using the error-related negativity (ERN) and post-error positivity (Pe) components of the event-related potential (ERP).

Is Catherine Crazy? The Role Of Schizophrenia And The Character Catherine In David Auburn's Play Proof: Exploring The Script From Research To Performance, Karin M. Lorenz

Theses

Unavailable.

Parental Bonding In Father-Son Relationships, Lauren B. Childers

Senior Honors Theses

The father-son relationship is an influential part of any boy’s development. It is hypothesized that there is a generational difference in this relationship between the older and younger generation. The Father Form of the Parental Bonding Instrument was used to assess this hypothesis. This questionnaire utilized 25 items, separated into the care and protection scales, to categorize parenting into four quadrants: affectionate constraint, optimal parenting, affectionless control and neglectful parenting. The results were compared between two groups, one of which consisted of males ages 25 to 45, representing the older generation, and the other consisted of males ages 18 to …

Cognitive And Psychiatric Predictors To Psychosis In Velocardiofacial Syndrome: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study, Kevin M. Antshel, Robert J. Shprintzen, Wanda Fremont, Anne Marie Higgins, Stephen V. Faraone, Wendy R. Kates

Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Objective: To predict prodromal psychosis in adolescents with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS). Method: 70 youth with VCFS, 27 siblings of youth with VCFS and 25 community controls were followed from childhood (Mean age = 11.8 years) into mid-adolescence (mean age 15.0 years). Psychological tests measuring intelligence, academic achievement, learning/memory, attention and executive functioning as well as measures of parent and clinician ratings of child psychiatric functioning were completed at both time point. Results: Major depressive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder diagnoses increased in the VCFS sample. With very low false positive rates, the best predictor of adolescent prodromal …

What Counts? : Legitimizing Female Role Models, Audrey N. Innella

Honors Theses

The effect of exposure to female role models with gender specific attributes was examined in two studies. In Study 1 both women and men were presented with one of eight stimuli (role model gender: male or female; role model legitimacy attributes: organizational high, organizational low, social high, or social low). Results demonstrated women’s higher preference for female role models and vis‐à‐vis. Regression analyses demonstrated women’s preference for role models in general while men only preferred socially legitimate role models. In Study 2 both participants and role model exposure were limited to only women. Additionally a stereotype threat manipulation was added. …

Neuropsychological Functioning And Attrition Rates In Outpatient Substance Dependence Treatment, Sandra M. Adams

Dissertations (1934 -)

Numerous neuropsychological factors have been associated with substance dependence, however, very few studies have evaluated the relationship of the neuropsychological functioning and attrition rates in substance dependence treatment. This study examined the relationship of neuropsychological functioning and attrition rates in 68 homeless, substance dependent men participating in outpatient treatment at the 7C's Community Counseling Clinic located in the Guesthouse of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A neuropsychological battery including the Delis Kaplan Executive Functioning System, the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II, the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading was given to all participants to evaluate neuropsychological …

Detection Of Response Bias And Noncredible Performance In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, John Christopher Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development and utilization of indices to detect noncredible assessment performance is an area of increasing importance as recent prevalence estimates of malingering regularly exceed 30% in specific samples (Larrabee, 2007). Assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults presents clinicians with a variety of challenges given changes in the symptoms across ages and limitations in the diagnostic criteria and clinical measures. In an effort to address clinical symptoms, adults diagnosed with ADHD are frequently prescribed stimulant medication or receive a variety of accommodations at work or school. These benefits serve as potent incentives for individuals to feign ADHD. The purpose …

The Instructional And Emotional Quality Of Parent–Child Book Reading And Early Head Start Children’S Learning Outcomes, Keely D. Cline

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The primary objective of this study was to understand how two dimensions of parent-child book-reading quality – instructional and emotional –interact and relate to learning in a sample of linguistically and culturally diverse, low-income children. Participants included 81 parents and their children who took part in home-based Early Head Start programs in rural counties in the Midwest. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test two hypotheses: (1) the instructional and emotional qualities of parent behavior during shared book reading interact and relate to infants’ and toddlers’ cognitive scores (as measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development Second …

Neural Dedifferentiation In Relation To Risk For Alzheimer's Disease, Nathan C. Hantke

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research indicates that as an individual's age increases, the task-related spatial extent of neural activation increases. This decrease in neural specificity, or dedifferentiation, is often demonstrated by older adults during challenging cognitive tasks. Cognitively intact individuals at-risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), as deemed by having an apolipoprotein-E ε4 allele or a family history of AD, demonstrate increased fMRI activation as compared to individuals at lower risk. Using a low effort, high accuracy event-related semantic memory task involving the presentation of famous and non-famous names, we examined spatial neural specificity through a measure of dedifferentiation using …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between The Hypersexual Environment Of Las Vegas And Forcible Rape, Lisa Ann Dooley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine whether rates of forcible rape in Nevada are high, possibly a side effect of living in a hypersexual city. The study will explore whether these rates compare to other cities of the same size that are tourism focused and whether rates of forcible rapes are higher in counties without prostitution than with prostitution. This paper will also consider rates of sexual victimization among undergraduate students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University. Lastly, the study will consider whether the hypersexual nature of the city …

Social Support, Problem Solving, And The Longitudinal Course Of Newlywed Marriage, Kieran T. Sullivan, Lauri A. Pasch, Matthew D. Johnson, Thomas N. Bradbury

Psychology

Married couples (N = 172) were observed as newlyweds and again one year later while engaging in 2 problem-solving and 2 personal support discussions. Microanalytic coding of these conversations was used to examine associations between problem-solving and social support behaviors over one year and their relative contributions to 10-year trajectories of self-reported relationship satisfaction and dissolution. Results demonstrated that initially lower levels of positive support behaviors and higher levels of negative support behaviors predicted 1-year increases in negative emotion displayed during problem-solving conversations. Emotions coded from the initial problem-solving conversations did not predict 1-year changes in social support behaviors. Controlling …

Whose Opinion Matters? The Relationship Between Injunctive Norms And Alcohol Consequences In College Students, Joseph W. Labrie, Justin F. Hummer, Clayton Neighbors, Mary E. Larimer

Heads Up!

Harm reduction approaches may benefit from research extending the exploration of predictors of alcohol use per se to those components most directly related to alcohol-related harm. This investigation evaluated the relationship between perceived injunctive norms of alcohol use (level of approval of drinking behaviors in specific situations) and the experience of alcohol-related consequences as a function of typical student reference groups at increasing levels of similarity to the respondent: based on race, gender, Greek status, and combinations of these dimensions, as well as parents, close friends, and the students' own attitudes. Participants were 3753 students (61% female) from two campuses …

Narratives From Non-Profit Workers: The Journey Of Helping Women Leave Prostitution, Rachel D. Collins

Senior Honors Theses

Prostitution is connected with several factors–abuse, low self-esteem, drugs, and homelessness. Many negative emotions are experienced while prostituting. The emotional and physical effects of prostitution can remain years after the woman has left prostitution. The process of leaving prostitution can be strenuous, and necessitates a strong support group. The narratives of service providers from organizations reaching out to prostitutes are examined. Through interviews, the journey of helping prostitutes were studied to find themes associated with supporting the prostitute’s exit from her previous life to the acclamation of a new lifestyle.