Psychology Commons^™

Romantic Relationship Quality And Technological Communication: Examining The Roles Of Attachment Representations And Rejection Sensitivity, Ron C. Bean

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is important to understand normal developmental patterns in romantic relationships, which develop within historical and cultural contexts and are influenced by social and technological advancement. One of the core features of developing attachment in romantic relationships is proximity to the attachment figure, for which technology may be a substitute. This study described patterns of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in young adult relationships. We hypothesized that core relational and personality features were linked to participants’ interpretations of CMC.

For this study, 97 college students provided overall scores for rejection sensitivity, insecure attachment styles, relationship satisfaction, and data about CMC with their …

House Of Compensation: Predictors Of Compensation-Based Psrs, Phillip Madison, Al Greule

Bright Ideas Conference

In America, socializing with friends is now a functional alternative to watching television. This study draws from research on intrapersonal communication and media effects to ask “What functions and characteristics of parasociability predict parasocial compensation for real-life interaction?” We combined data from two surveys, arguing that parasocial thinking, when functioning for purposes of internal rehearsal and self-understanding, is characterized by rehearsal, variety and self-dominance -- all of which predict parasociability as compensation for human interaction. Retroactive parasocial thinking negatively predicted compensation.

Theories Of Victim Blame, Megan Crippen

Senior Honors Projects

Sexual assault is a serious, traumatic incident that is all too common on college campuses. Following the ordeal, those who are assaulted are often blamed. Victim blame occurs when the victim, rather than the perpetrator of a crime, is held at least partially responsible for the crime. This study seeks to determine the values that lead to victim-blaming behavior. After responding to the Ambivalent Sexism Scale, Belief in a Just World Measure, Sexual Script Scale, and Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, participants read a vignette depicting an encounter where an individual was not physically able to consent to a …

The Impact Of Parental Tough Love On Children, Morgan Spina

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Electrophysiological Changes In P200 Latency And Amplitude Of Jittered Orientation Visual Integration Task In Healthy Participants: A Multi-Block Design Eeg Study, Monika M. Rozynski, Chi-Ming Chen

Honors Scholar Theses

Visual integration, the ability to fuse environmental information such as light, color, shades, and motion to form a representation of a whole cohesive higher-order visual image, is impaired in persons with schizophrenia. Little is known how the P200 component, an event-related potential (ERP) in the parieto-occipital region, is affected in persons with schizophrenia while they perform visual integration tasks, when compared to healthy persons. This study administered Gabor contours that varied in high and low degrees of orientational jitter through the Jitter Orientation Visual Integration (JOVI) task to investigate visual integration by analyzing latency and amplitude of the P200 component. …

Evidence Consistent With The Multiple-Bearings Hypothesis From Human Virtual Landmark-Based Navigation, Martha R. Forloines, Kent D. Bodily, Bradley R. Sturz

Psychology: Faculty Publications

One approach to explaining the conditions under which additional landmarks will be learned or ignored relates to the nature of the information provided by the landmarks (i.e., distance versus bearings). In the current experiment, we tested the ability of such an approach to explain the search behavior of human participants in a virtual landmark-based navigation task by manipulating whether landmarks provided stable distance, stable direction, or both stable distance and stable direction information. First, we incrementally shaped human participants’ search behavior in the presence of two ambiguous landmarks. Next, participants experienced one additional landmark that disambiguated the location of the …

Become A Future-Focused Leader: Use Three Megatrends To Grow Your Rural Business, Connie Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative

No one can predict the future; however, rural entrepreneurs and business owners can use a future-focused leadership approach, which includes examining megatrends, to shape the future of their businesses. Megatrends are global shifts that influence society, the economy and the environment. This article discusses three megatrends shaping the future of rural businesses:

1) The Rise of the #GigEconomy

2) Living with Purpose and Meaning

3) The Decentralized Marketplace

The article also provides coaching tips for rural entrepreneurs on how to use megatrends to grow their businesses.

While many companies are struggling to keep up with the rapid rate of change, …

Training Tutors To Use A Time Delay Procedure To Increase Vocal Manding In Children With Autism, Chelsea Roberts

Honors Theses

Learning how to spontaneously mand, or request without prompting, can be difficult for children diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Previous research has shown that the implementation of a time-delay procedure aids in increasing spontaneous mands with these children (Charlop, Shreibman, & Thibodeau, 1985). The goal of this study was to increase vocal mands in children with developmental disabilities with a time-delay procedure by training their undergraduate tutors, using Behavioral Skills Training (BST), how to implement the procedure in naturally occurring opportunities. The study used a multiple baseline across participants design. The intervention used in this study can help children with developmental …

Self-Esteem Issues In Facebook Users, Derry E. Gutierrez

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Social networking sites (SNS) like Facebook provide several social comparison opportunities. College students use several methods of social media to communicate and stay in touch with friends and family around the world. Although Facebook allows its users to post pictures, plan social events, meet new people, sustain relationships, and observe others’ lives, it also traps its users into a world where they (consciously and unconsciously) compare their lives to those of others. Facebook users self-evaluate and self-enhance their lives by socially comparing themselves with the detailed information they receive from other users. This frequent comparison indicates that social network sites …

The Rise Of Adhd And Effects Of Alternative Treatment In Adolescents, Jennifer Villarina

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome that makes it difficult for people to focus, control behavior and regulate activity. Many with ADHD move constantly and are impulsive. They cannot seem to follow directions and are easily bored or frustrated with tasks. Although these behaviors are normally observed in children, they are more severe in those with ADHD. The symptoms of ADHD make it difficult for children to function at school and home. Exposure to toxins, injury to the brain and imbalance of neurotransmitters can affect the development of the brain (LeFever, Arcona & Antonuccio, 2003). The most common …

Can Motivated Cognition Exacerbate A Bias?, Luis O. Camacho, Saera R. Khan

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

This study examined the relationship between the need for cognition and impression formation, particularly with common biases. Upon listening to a speaker with either a heavy Japanese or Los Angeles accent, participants rated the speaker on how well-informed they believed she appeared to be on the subject she spoke about and on intelligence. Despite the need for cognition, speakers with a Los Angeles accent were rated less favorably on intelligence, compared to Japanese accented speakers. However, the high need for cognition participants utilized a stereotype in impression formation, as their ratings for both speakers resonated with the speaker’s respective stereotype. …

The Importance Of Treatment For Foster Youth, Lyl T. Cartagena

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

This presentation provides an overview of mental health interventions including highlights of their outcomes.The summary of the extant findings helps identify the strengths and deficits of what has been done, and supports a call for further research in order to change current methods of care provided along with developing an improved method of treatment for foster care youth.

Visitor Behavior In The Living Treehouse At Zoo Atlanta, Montana Holland, Rena Roberson, Cassandra Teal, Krystal Bailey, Suma Mallavarapu, Lauren Taglialatela

Symposium of Student Scholars

The aim of this project was to determine whether visitors utilize conservation and education displays in the Living Treehouse at Zoo Atlanta. Approximately 34% of visitors read displays and watched animals on exhibit. This subset of visitors spent significantly more time watching animals than reading displays [F(1, 44) = 15.62, p < 0.001, ƞ2 = 0.26]. Limited interaction with relatively static displays may not lead to the intended change in knowledge and conservation attitudes among zoo visitors. Interactive displays (instead of static signage) separated from animal exhibits may be more effective in attracting and holding attention and delivering conservation and …

Anxiety Sensitivity, Stress, And Problematic Drinking Behaviors Among College Students, Kathryn V. Bulandr

Honors Projects

The current study examined whether the combination of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and stress affected college students’ urge and motive to drink alcohol. Participants (n= 95, 44.2% male, 55.8% female, M_age= 18.82 years) included undergraduate students from Illinois Wesleyan University. Participants were asked to fill out a series of questionnaires, in addition to a short anagram task, which was used to induce stress in half of the sample. A multivariate factorial analysis was used to examine two main effects (AS and stress levels) and one interaction effect. Our hypothesis was partially supported, in that there was only …

Effects Of 17Β-Estradiol On Learning And Memory And Strategy Use During A Hole Board Spatial Navigation Task In Aged Male Rats, Megan Berthiaume

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Treatment with 17β- estradiol has been shown to ameliorate age related deficits in spatial learning and memory as well as to promote the use of an allocentric strategy during spatial navigation. While the majority of research using 17β- estradiol has been done using females rodents, there have been studies showing an improvement in spatial learning and memory and promoted use of allocentric strategies in spatial navigation in males as well. In males testosterone (T) is metabolized into estradiol by aromatase. As circulating levels of T decline with aging there is less available T to be metabolized into estradiol. The current …

The Relationship Between Emotional Contagion And Mood State, Kayleigh-Farrell Crow

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Emotions can often be transferred from one person to another. It has been assumed that the strength and impact of contagious emotions can depend largely on the susceptibility of the individual. This concept has led to the idea of emotional contagion, or “the tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize facial expressions, vocalizations, postures and movements with those of another person, and consequently, to converge emotionally”, as defined by Hatfield, Cacioppo & Rapson (1992). The present study will examine the influence of certain emotions and the increased probability for contagion to occur. Specifically, this study will explore the emotional strengths of …

The Political Personality Of 2016 Presidential Candidate Rand Paul, Katherine A. (Katie) Stelzner, Anh Doan, Natalie J. Gannon, Katie Miller

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

We conducted a psychodiagnostic case study of Kentucky senator and declared 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul. The purpose of the study was to construct a Millon-based personality profile of Dr. Paul.

P300 Latency In Alzheimer’S Disease: A Meta-Analysis And Meta-Regression, David Payne Bennett, Dawson Hedges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Developing a biomarker for accurate assessment and detection of Alzheimer’s disease was the goal of our research. The P300 component of the event-­‐related potential has been indicated to apparently change with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. As measuring the P300 is non-­‐invasive and relatively easy, we sought to investigate abnormalities in the latency of the P300 in probable Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy controls. Should such abnormalities be present, they would constitute a strong foundation for clinically significant biomarkers.

Domestic Dogs ' (Canis Lupus Familiaris) Evaluation Of Moral And Immoral Actors, Katherine E. Ford

Honors Projects

A sense of morality, or values predisposing what is right (fair, just, kind) and what is wrong (unfair, cruel, dishonest), appears universally across all humankind. All major cultures share support for some values, such as self-respect, respect for others, and 'the golden rule'treat others how you wish to be treated-and disdain for some sins, such as murder, theft and dishonesty (Kinnier, Kernes & Dautheribes, 2000). Some moral behaviors, such as inequity aversion, the tendency to do no hann and cooperation are found to exist in virtually all human adults. But where does morality come from? Is it uniquely human or …

A Behavior Analytic Conceptualization Of The Assessment And Treatment Of Delusional Speech, Rebecca Braginton

Honors Theses

This case conceptualization looks at past treatments for schizophrenia and then introduces a behavioral approach to assessing and treating delusional speech in a hypothetical client with schizophrenia. The treatment assessment would consist of five treatment conditions and a control condition. The delusional speech would be triggered by specific conversational themes. The results of the treatment assessment would inform the protocol that would be written for the client's delusional speech. After a protocol is written, there would need to be staff training. Behavioral skills training (BST) has been proven to be an effective form of training that provides trainees with opportunities …

Humour In Power-Differentiated Intergroup Wage Negotiation, Mendiola Teng-Calleja, Cristina J. Montiel, Marshaley J. Baquiano

Psychology Department Faculty Publications

This research examined the role of humour in power-differentiated wage bargaining conversations. We collected transcripts of wage bargaining between the local labour union and management negotiators of a multinational beverage company operating in the Philippines. Through conversation analysis, we determined how both parties utilised humor to challenge or maintain power relations even as both labour and management worked towards a wage bargaining agreement. Findings show that humour was used to maintain intergroup harmony, subvert authority and control the negotiation. Our findings may be useful for labour organisations and multinational corporations that operate in Southeast Asian countries with historically tumultuous labour …

Lutheran Social Services Service Learning Project, Timothy D. Immelman, Cullen T. Mcanally, Dino V. Saracco

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Background: Lutheran Social Services (LSS) is an organization whose mission is to “express the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community.” A significant part of what they do involves leading afterschool activities that promote the learning of specific academic and life skills. Those learning objectives are as stated as follows: (1) working together, (2) communication, (3) following instructions, and (4) personal boundaries. As liberal arts students, we provide external perspectives regarding ways to enhance their four learning objectives.

Because they have our help in developing new leisure activities for their students, …

Feminist Identification, Actions, Beliefs And Commitments At Csb/Sju, Allison A. Fischbach, Anna M. Hueg, Allison M. (Allie) Rudnickas, Atarah V. Pinder, Hannah A. Salto, Ha H. Pham, Hanna M. Pioske, Hannah O. Kangas, Hope P. Mueller, Kenea M. Andrews, Laura L. Rhude, Madeline A. (Maddie) Rainey, Marina I. Campbell-Vargas, Megan J. Myers, Molly K. Heller, Sarah J. Berry

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Does self-identification as a feminist, non-feminist, or non-labeler, affect actions, beliefs, and commitments regarding feminist ideals? Is there any dissonance between identifying with feminist beliefs and identifying with the feminist label? Will our data give us insight into education about feminist ideas at CSB/SJU (College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University)? Is the “feminist” label stigmatized on our campuses?

Happiness & Accounting/Finance Careers, Jacob Shrode

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

The research question I chose was "Do happiness levels vary among graduates with accounting majors who have chosen different career paths?" The method I used to get my data was a survey. Overall, the average happiness score from my survey was 4.72/6 (see table 4). The average happiness score in the U.S. is only 4.30. I did a t-test for this and got a p value of .00. With this, I can say that there is substantial evidence to suggest that people who graduate with accounting/finance majors tend to be significantly happier than the average U.S. person.

Autism And Its Effects On Students, Shane Fitzsimmons

Honors Theses

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both disorders characterized by difficulties with socialization and communication as well as repetitive behaviors (“Autism Spectrum Disorder” Handout). Difficulties in identifying feelings, hypersensitivities, and not accepting affection well are all common in people with autism spectrum disorder (Volkmar “Autism” and Horwood 39-42, 45, 47, 53-55, 57-59). The current rate of autism is 1 in 68, affecting 4 to 5 times as many males as females (“Autism Spectrum Disorder” Handout). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) mentioned that both genes and the environment play a role in causing autism, and no study has …

Adaptation Of D2 Dopamine Receptors Following Acute Ethanol, Brian Behnke, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my experiment was To study the effects that ethanol (EtOH) has on the D2 receptors (D2R) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), in order to determine if D2 is a key contributor to an alcohol addictive state.

Cross-Cultural Comparison For Treatments Of Autism Between Germany And The United States, Jenna Hicken

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to compare perceptions of interventions for children with Autism between Germany and the United States. As the rate of Autism continually rises, more questions are asked about what are the most effective methods of treatment, and how children with Autism can be integrated into society together with children without disabilities (Newschaffer, Falb, & Gurney, 2005). A survey was developed and sent to teachers, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists in the United States and Germany. There were 9 participants from the United States and 3 participants from Germany. The majority of participants from both countries were …

Dyslexia And Configural Perception Of Character Sequences, Joseph W. Houpt, Bethany L. Sussman, James T. Townsend, Sharlene D. Newman

Psychology Faculty Publications

Developmental dyslexia is a complex and heterogeneous disorder characterized by unexpected difficulty in learning to read. Although it is considered to be biologically based, the degree of variation has made the nature and locus of dyslexia difficult to ascertain. Hypotheses regarding the cause have ranged from low-level perceptual deficits to higher order cognitive deficits, such as phonological processing and visual-spatial attention. We applied the capacity coefficient, a measure obtained from a mathematical cognitive model of response times to measure how efficiently participants processed different classes of stimuli. The capacity coefficient was used to test the extent to which individuals with …

The Effect Of Education On Compassion Fatigue As Experienced By Staff Nurses, Kathryn L. Zehr

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Historically, nursing has been perceived as a highly rewarding profession. Yet, due to the increasing complexity of today’s healthcare, nurses are faced with greater challenges in their work environments. Registered nurses who work in tertiary care settings are exposed to disturbing patient situations including trauma, death, abuse, or chronic disease. Joinson (1992) described this experience as compassion fatigue and symptoms include headaches, short attention span, or fatigue. A review of literature has identified that nurses should be educated about risk factors and coping strategies to combat compassion fatigue. Guided by the Model for Evidence-Based Practice Change and Jean Watson’s Theory …

Memory Processes In Autism, Storm Atwood, Dr. C Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The prevalence of autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder impairing social interaction, communication, and behavior, has risen from 1 in 110 affected to 1 in 88 affected (Centers for Disease Control, 2012). The rise in prevalence of autism has increased the awareness of autism and increased the desire and need for more research. In general, it has been found that memory performance remains largely unchanged in autism. For example, a recent study on recognition memory in autism found that there was no difference in the ability of an autistic participant versus a control participant in identifying whether a stimulus was old or …