Psychology Commons^™

Adult Human Perception Of Distress In The Cries Of Bonobo, Chimpanzee And Human Infants, Taylor Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

Adult human listeners rated their perceived distress based on the recorded vocalizations of bonobo, chimpanzee and human infants. Results found that bonobos were rated highest, chimpanzee and human infants in the high arousal context were rated as lower distress, and human babies in low arousal rated lowest.

The Association Of Feline Behavior To Acoustical Features Of Kitten Directed Speech, Daniela Acevedo

Theses and Dissertations

This study observed responses of cats to kitten and adult human directed speech. Human vocalization analysis showed significant variation in harmonicity for kitten directed speech. Playback experiments analyzing feline responses to owners and strangers using kitten and human directed speech showed higher attentiveness to a stranger’s kitten directed speech.

Relationship Quality As A Predictor Of Eating Disorder Symptoms And Body Image Perception In Women, Jordan Sgro, Dr. Wendy Birmingham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Eating Disorders (ED) are recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in adolescents and adults and are much more common in women than in men. Women may exhibit ED symptoms but not be clinically diagnosed. Research has shown that individuals who exhibit sub-clinical eating disorder symptoms may eventually develop full syndrome. Thus, sub-threshold ED women are at increased risk but remain undiagnosed. Our culture often values women for their appearance, and this message is continually sent via media and other social institutions (e.g., religion), but having a supportive spouse can help buffer the negative messages women receive. While …

Self-Efficacy In Offspring Of Mentally Ill Parents, Craig M. Motsenbocker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The subjective experiences of offspring of mentally ill parents have resulted in the development and absence of various components of well-being. However, there are very few studies examining levels of self-efficacy as a component of well-being within offspring of mentally ill parents. Given the evidence of lower levels of resiliency among offspring of mentally ill parents, this study proposed to evaluate the relationship between self-efficacy and offspring of mentally ill parents. Two-hundred and fifty-seven students in an introductory psychology course completed two measures assessing self-efficacy and resiliency. Among the 257 students, 27 identified with a mentally ill parent. It was …

Unreplicable: The Unscientific Nature Of Science Journals, Ernest M. Oleksy

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

Academia shapes the way our species looks at veracity and defines what is deemed as well-founded science. The platform for researchers to make their work known is academic journals. The prerogative of these journals is to disseminate technically sound work so that the public may be informed of up-to-date advances in scientific fields. However, these journals are products on the market whose ultimate purpose is to garner a following that will make the producers money. This results in research that does not have statistically significant findings, or replications of past experiments which are integral to supporting the findings of the …

Style Semiotics: The Influence Of Levels Of Professional Style Of Dress On Perceived Competency, Brianna Esparza

Psychology

In a consumerist world, where people are regularly bombarded with advertisements promoting products and lifestyles, the public is often convinced that they need to buy a certain product, wear specific clothes, and live a particular life in order to be happy and feel accepted by peers and strangers. The media convinces young girls and women that they need to show off and enhance their feminine features to be well-liked (Goodin, Van Demburg, Murnen, & Smolak, 2001). More and more clothing stores for girls and teens, sell provocative clothing (Goodin, Van Demburg, Murnen, & Smolak, 2001). Although some girls and women …

Curiosity: Emergent Behavior Through Interacting Multi-Level Predictions, Douglas S. Blank, Lisa Meeden, James Marshall

Computer Science Faculty Research and Scholarship

Over the past 15 years our research group has been exploring models of developmental robotics and curiosity. Our research is based on the premise that intelligent behavior arises through emergent interactions between opposing forces in an open-ended, task-independent environment. In an initial experiment we constructed a recurrent neural network model where self-motivation was "an emergent property generated by the competing pressures that arise in attempting to balance predictability and novelty". The system first focused on its error, then learned to successfully predict its error, and finally became habituated to what caused the error. This process of focusing, learning, and habituating …

Representation Of Multiple Body Parts In The Missing-Hand Territory Of Congenital One-Handers., Avital Hahamy, Scott N Macdonald, Fiona Van Den Heiligenberg, Paullina Kieliba, Uzay Emir, Rafael Malach, Heidi Johansen-Berg, Peter Brugger, Jody C Culham, Tamar R Makin

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Individuals born without one hand (congenital one-handers) provide a unique model for understanding the relationship between focal reorganization in the sensorimotor cortex and everyday behavior. We previously reported that the missing hand's territory of one-handers becomes utilized by its cortical neighbor (residual arm representation), depending on residual arm usage in daily life to substitute for the missing hand's function [1, 2]. However, the repertoire of compensatory behaviors may involve utilization of other body parts that do not cortically neighbor the hand territory. Accordingly, the pattern of brain reorganization may be more extensive [3]. Here we studied unconstrained compensatory strategies under …

Alcohol Flushing Social Reactions Survey Data 2011, Ian Newman, Lanyan Ding, Duane F. Shell, Lida Lin

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Format: XLSX file

Brief description of the data set:

Tab 1 of the Excel file contains the variable codes.

Tab 2 of the Excel file contains the de-identified survey responses from 2912 undergraduate students attending universities in southwestern, central, and northeastern China (People’s Republic of China). The survey was conducted in the spring university term of 2011.

Spreadsheet data file is attached below as an "Additional file".

(The "Download button retrieves a copy of this metadata.)

Style Semiotics: The Influence Of Levels Of Professional Style Of Dress On Perceived Competency, Brianna Esparza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Professional styles of dress in relation to perceptions of the public, have been assessed when comparing men and women, though little research exists to examine the spectrum of professional styles offered to women. This study involves the analysis of two different styles of dress, both on a spectrum of professional styles that are offered to women. A photo of a model in a sheath dress and a photo of a model in a pantsuit were used in separate experimental conditions, accompanied by the same job description for Senior Strategy Consultant, as well as the same resume. Participants were then asked …

Benefits Of Expressive Dance Classes In Women Experiencing Homelessness, Ashley J. Runnells

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This project represents multiple layers of a therapeutic dance experience intended to assist homeless women in increasing their sense of social connectedness, happiness, and self-esteem. Therapeutic dance classes were conducted at Mercy House in Harrisonburg, VA, illuminating the benefits to participants as well as the challenges of engaging this population. Further exploration occurred during the January dance therapy intensive workshop regarding developing of therapeutic dance interventions. The project concluded with a choreographed site-specific dance work exploring the stories of the participants, and a tangible creative response by way of a tea bag dress. Lessons learned included the rich opportunities present …

The Effect Of Dog Interaction Through Therapy Trained Animals Or Harrisonburg-Rockingham Spca Volunteering On High Achieving First Year College Student Adjustment Period, Kamille L. Aiello

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Transitioning to college is a big change. A change that can be life altering for some students, especially when they realize that transitioning to college also means leaving their beloved companion at home. This research study proposes an Animal Assisted Activity intervention for high achieving first year college students through the Honors College as a way to lower their anxiety and increase their happiness as they adjust to their new environment. The research compared an intervention using therapy dogs from the university counseling center to an intervention using SPCA dogs and a control group to see where the largest difference …

Girls Are Us: A Collection Of Oral Histories From The Jmu Community, Anne M. Sherman

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

On a campus where women make up a majority of the student population, it is especially important that female voices are heard and given a platform on which they can control their own narrative. I wanted to give those female-identifying voices that platform. I conducted a series of interviews to examine how college-aged female-identifying students feel about their identity and how they construct that identity within the climate of the JMU community. I was particularly interested in the intersections of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual preference, and ability. I asked each person to share their stories of times when they …

Be Careful What You Say: The Relationship Between Prosecutorial Language In Closing Statements And Sentencing Outcomes In Real Capital Cases, Megan J. Parker

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Moral disengagement refers to how individuals rationalize the decisions they make, especially if they may be immoral or difficult. Individuals can be primed to engage in moral disengagement through the use of specific language. The current study analyzed language strategies used in closing statements of real capital murder cases to investigate which are correlated with a death penalty sentence. Because jurors are responsible for sentencing another individual to death, they may have some difficulty making such a decision. The current study found that future dangerousness and empathetic language were significantly correlated to jurors sentencing the death to the death penalty. …

Facilitating Transitions Through The Use Of Multimodal Intervention For A Child With Autism, Alexis E. Anderson

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have difficulty adapting to changes in routine, to the extent that they can struggle while transitioning out of one activity and into another. The inability to transition independently from one activity to the next can lead to negative behaviors, strained teacher-student relationships, and a loss of educational time in the classroom. The present study aimed to increase a six year old child’s independence while decreasing his problem behaviors observed during his transitions throughout the day at an autism clinic. A multimodal intervention along with a modified multimodal intervention was used to increase independence while …

The Attentional Effects Of Peripheral Priming Cues On Reflectance Report, Katie S. Mccullar

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The attentional effects of peripheral priming cues on reflectance report were assessed using a visual perception task. Previous research has demonstrated that peripheral priming cues result in an increase in visual acuity in the primed area of the visual field directly following the cue. Prior studies have looked at this priming effect in controlled laboratory settings in which participants are exposed to basic color primers and cues. This research seeks to extend these results into a more complex driving scene in an attempt to increase the external validity. Specifically this study used road sign cues as primers and a figure …

The Roles Of Race And Empathy On Contagious Yawning, Daroon M. Jalil

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Social Psychologists often consider race to be a marker of in-group or out-group status. When looking at race, implicit bias can take forms that are more subtle than outwards racism. Two research questions were asked in this study to better understand the psychology behind racial issues. The first question was if the number of contagious yawns (CY) a person experiences depends on the race of the stimuli being viewed. Contagiously yawning more to in-group members is a phenomena seen in chimpanzees, but has not been studied in humans in a racial context. Black and white males and females were recruited …

Depression In College Students, Sarah Paynter

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Many studies report the prevalence of depression on campuses and the negative correlation between depression and academic success. However, no studies have previously examined how depressed students seek to succeed despite their illness. The researcher looked to explore how students used unique academic strategies. This researcher intends for the study to serve as a resource for comprehensive, quantitative studies to pose falsifiable hypotheses. All findings are tentative suggestions dependent on the confirmation and exploration of further research. The study suggests that interactive engagement, use of tutoring resources, managing breaks, and promoting positive study attitudes, among other strategies, may help depressed …

Substance Use In College Students In Relation To Adolescent Invulnerability And Distress Tolerance, Jordan Barnes

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Substance use among college students is often regarded as a normal part of the college experience. However, reasons for engaging in substance use are varied and dependent on many factors. The current study examined the relations between adolescent invulnerability, distress tolerance, and alcohol behaviors, marijuana behaviors and smoking frequency. Adolescent invulnerability was positively correlated with alcohol behaviors. Distress tolerance was negatively correlated with marijuana behaviors. Adolescent invulnerability and distress tolerance were found to have a moderately positive, significant correlation. College counseling centers, health professionals in charge of alcohol programs, and campus police could all benefit from understanding factors associated with …

The Relationship Between Coaching Behaviors And Athletic Injury, Olivia L. Kimmel

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The present study sought to expand on past research by examining the relationship between coaching behaviors (i.e., controlling coaching and autonomy-supportive coaching) and athletic injury. One hundred Division I athletes were given a battery of questionnaires, in the form of a single Qualtrics survey to assess the relationship between coaching behaviors and athletic injury. Controlling coaching was found to be positively correlated to the presence of pain and certain perceived causes of injury, as well as negatively correlated to athletes discussing their injury with their coach and the coach being an influence in athletes’ decision to return to their sport. …

Telling The Story: Exploring The Experiences Of Individuals Impacted By The Global Refugee Crisis, Hannah C. Pellegrino

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

As host communities experience shifting demographics and influxes of migrating populations, individuals who work, volunteer, and advocate to serve these populations become increasingly necessary. These individuals have the opportunity to interact with newcomers in unique and meaningful ways. Using a qualitative methodology, this study examined the interview responses of volunteers, aid workers, and advocates who dedicate their time to serve and aid the refugee population. Specifically, this study explored their view of advocacy and service; who or what inspired to pursue this work, what personal characteristics have inspired their work as advocates, and what stories and experiences have inspired them …

Christian Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Lucy C. Phillips

Fidei et Veritatis: The Liberty University Journal of Graduate Research

Albert Ellis was the creator of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Although Ellis opposed organized religion and religious beliefs for most of his life, this type of therapy can be adapted for use with many religious groups, including Christians. This paper will discuss biblical support for REBT as well as incongruences of Christian tenants and REBT. Christian REBT (CREBT) will be explored, including the therapeutic techniques that can be used. The efficacy of CREBT will be covered. Since there is a paucity of randomized clinical trials examining CREBT, Christian cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will also be discussed. This paper will …

Objective Measurement Of Sleep By Smartphone Application: Comparison With Actigraphy And Relation To Cognition, Mood, And Self-Reported Sleep, Taylor R. Maynard

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Over the past six decades, polysomnography, actigraphy, and most recently smartphone technology have created a trifecta of options for measuring sleep. It remains to be seen whether smartphone applications are comparable to actigraphy in objectively monitoring sleep. The present study had 29 healthy adult participants fill out a sleep diary and use the Sleep Time app (Azumio, Inc.) to monitor their sleep for one week. A subset of 19 participants also wore an actigraphy bracelet. Self-report questionnaires characterized sleep habits and psychological profiles of participants, while cognitive assessments were implemented to examine potential correlations between total sleep time (TST) and/or …

Sex Specific Spatial Navigation And Memory Impairment In The Tgf344-Ad Rat Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Laura Elizabeth Berkowitz

Psychology ETDs

Spatial navigation and memory are impaired in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and may be a defining behavioral marker of preclinical AD. Nevertheless, limitations of diagnostic criteria for prodromal AD and within animal models of AD make characterization of preclinical AD difficult. A new rat model (TgF344-AD) of AD overcomes many of these limitations, though spatial navigation and memory has not been comprehensively assessed. This study aimed to characterize. Using three paradigms of the Morris Water Maze, spatial navigation and memory were assessed in TgF344-AD (n=16) and Fischer 344 (n=12) male and female rats over three time points. TgF344-AD …

What Is The Role Of The Community? Examining Minority Stress Processes Among Gay And Bisexual Men, Brian Salfas

Theses and Dissertations

This work examines factors affecting the mental health of gay and bisexual men drawing on minority stress theory. Results indicate that community involvement has a positive effect on the mental health of men impacted by minority stress and show a significant interaction between community involvement and internalized homonegativity.

Peer Rejection And Emotion Development: The Role Of Peer Rejection And Coming Out On Emotional Health Among Gay And Bisexual Men, Joseph A. Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Gay and bisexual men experience a higher prevalence of negative mental health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts. This study examines sexual identity milestone achievement—the age of first coming out to friends—for mediation on the association between childhood experiences of peer rejection and levels of emotion dysregulation in adulthood.

Assessing Behavioral Syndromes In Captive Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) Using An Ethological Approach, Tyler C. Bray

Theses and Dissertations

Animal personality has a significant impact on an animal’s physiology and welfare. Eight captive red pandas were observed to determine if personality can be assessed in this species using an ethological approach. Analysis revealed two behavioral dimensions: 1) Active/Exploratory and 2) Maintenance. Age differences were found in the Active/Exploratory dimension.

Effect Of Activity Trackers And Text Messaging On Exercise, Fitness, And Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Of Middle School Students, Alison F. Pittman

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

A decrease in physical activity as children age is a contributing factor to the U.S. obesity epidemic. Middle school children are particularly vulnerable to sedentary activities. Activity trackers show promise as a means to motivate children and adults to increase physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of a text messaging intervention and use of activity trackers with a companion social website on the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, physical fitness, and PA self-efficacy of middle school children. Children aged 11-14 (n=102) were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 10-week intervention: activity tracker group; …

The Emotional Attentional Blink: A Review And Research Agenda, Jonathan Keefe

Senior Theses

The Emotional Attentional Blink (EAB) refers to a temporary impairment in the ability to identify a single target when that target is preceded by an emotionally salient distractor, such as a disgusting, violent or erotic image (Most, Smith, Cooter, Levy, & Zald, 2007; Ciesielski, Armstrong, Zald, & Olatunji, 2010). The EAB represents a failure to perform an endogenous target discrimination task as a result of exogenous attentional capture by an emotional image, making it an effective medium through which to study the intersection of these two attentional systems. The present review seeks to relate existing models of the EAB to …

Joining Hands: Constructing Childhood Agency In The Context Of Ageism, Brittnay Churchill

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Childhood scholars argue that children’s perspectives are systematically underestimated and silenced (James & James, 2004). Sociocultural constructions of children as fragile beings in need of protection cause youth to have few opportunities to exercise their own agency. In Change 4 Good, a youth Participatory Action Research (yPAR) program, dominant narratives regarding the capabilities of young people were challenged. The purpose of the program was to create an empowering setting where youth and adults partnered to make change, as opposed to hierarchical mentorships. The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze relationships between adults and young people within this program. …