Psychology Commons^™

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Binge Eating Disorder In Adolescence, Rebekah Gohl

Psychology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Eating disorders are among the most prevalent psychological disorders for the adolescent population. The onset of binge eating disorder (BED) occurs in late adolescence to early adulthood and affects numerous individuals who struggle with identity formation and social development. This paper critiques the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating binge eating disorder in adolescence. While evidence on the efficacy of this treatment is limited, all research supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating binge eating disorder. More research on treatment of binge eating disorder must be conducted as adolescence is a crucial time for identity formation.

The Assessment Of Burnout And Resilience In Correctional Officers, Vera A. Klinoff

Theses and Dissertations

Correctional Officers are responsible for responding to emergency/crisis situations in correctional settings. Research shows that their work is characterized by numerous psychological stressors that vary by degree and intensity, which can lead to compromised job performance and, ultimately, job burnout. Despite the increased attention directed to the problem of occupational stress in first responders among other professions over the past several years, virtually no investigations have focused on correctional officer resilience. The purpose of this study was to: (a) identify whether select positive personal variables (i.e., hope, optimism, social support) are associated with increased resilience, (b) determine the extent to …

The Relationship Between Ideology And Disgust Sensitivity, Shaina C. Fieldstone

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the current paper is to examine the association between ideology and disgust sensitivity. Studying disgust offers an to assess how judgments have evolved over time due to a “gut” sense of danger. This emotion also plays a role in moral judgment: individuals label moral wrongdoings as disgusting which elicits a specific facial expression. For this reason, disgust has recently been found to be a plausible emotion involved in political decision-making. Studies indicate that liberals and conservatives rely on respective moral foundations that influence their choices. Haidt et al. (2009) argue that liberals’ views on morality are based …

"Youn Ede Lòt”: Help-Seeking Among Haitians, Josie A. Augustin

Theses and Dissertations

Migration is on the rise as Haitians seek economic and educational opportunities for their progeny in the U.S. Though migration to a new country often introduces a new set of immigration and acculturation-related stressors that can lead to mental health problems, Haitians remain underrepresented in clinical mental health settings. Previous studies with ethnic minority populations have enumerated several barriers to seeking mental health services. However, research on barriers to help-seeking is sorely lacking for specific migrant groups, including Haitians. Thus, this study examined barriers to seeking help for mental health problems among Haitians. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball …

Predicting Cardiovascular Fitness In Ethnic Minority Youth: A Comparison Of Demographic, Body Composition, And Physical Activity Variables, Steven Arcidiacono

Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of obesity, low physical activity, and poor physical fitness of youth in the United States are increasingly poor and in need of intervention to prevent later concerns like hypertension. The overall goal of this dissertation was to examine which factors weigh heaviest in predicting cardiovascular fitness in diverse youth, and how we might measure those factors by maximizing clinical utility and psychometric properties. The sample was gathered from a larger study examining physical activity in youth from Miami-Dade county enrolled in out-of-school programs. Participants (N = 58) were aged 6-17 and comprised exclusively of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black children …

Moral Reasoning And Moral Emotions Linking Hoarding And Scrupulosity, Keith Lit

Theses and Dissertations

Hoarding and scrupulous OCD are part of the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, which are characterized by obsessional preoccupation and ritualistic behavior. Prior research has found a statistical relationship between hoarding and scrupulosity after controlling for these common factors, suggesting the existence of other features shared by these two disorders. Clinical accounts and empirical research of hoarding and scrupulosity suggest three such shared factors: a tendency to experience intense guilt and shame, rigid moralistic thinking, and general cognitive rigidity. However, results of the current study show that, although both hoarding and scrupulosity were related to cognitive rigidity and a tendency to …

The Influence Of Trauma, Locus Of Control, And Health-Related Quality Of Life On A Child’S Self-Worth, Anita Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature has shown that childhood trauma and adverse experiences are related to a wide range of negative outcomes that can span into adulthood (e.g., low self-worth, poor physical health, and increased likelihood of co-morbid psychological symptoms). However, a gap remains in the existing literature regarding early interventions that may target complicated outcomes (i.e., self-esteem and self-worth) while the survivor is still in childhood. This paper attempts to elucidate the impact that traumatic childhood experiences may have on self-worth, and the importance of implementing targeted intervention before the child reaches adulthood. Therefore, an extensive review was first conducted to gain …

Ptsd Subtypes, Depressive Presentation, Dissociation, And Cognitive Appraisals And Their Impact On Cardiovascular Reactivity Responses To Stress, Dyona Augustin

Theses and Dissertations

Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are related to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), with links to ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac mortality, and other cardiac conditions. Given that these disorders are associated with increased medical costs, disability, and employer burden, research has investigated which factors increase the likelihood that one will develop CVD. While one hypothesis suggests that individuals who exhibit exaggerated responses to stress are at greater risk of developing CVD, individuals with PTSD/depression have been shown to exhibit both exaggerated and blunted stress responses. The purpose of the present study …

Exploring Mediators And Moderators In The Relationship Of Acculturative Stress And Internalizing Symptoms In Hispanic Youth, Victoria A. Schlaudt

Theses and Dissertations

The population of Hispanic children is quickly growing in the United States. Unfortunately, this group has a significant risk of developing internalizing symptoms. The present study examined the complex relationships of cultural and cognitive factors with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Literature suggests that acculturative stress, or the difficulty experienced when adjusting to a new culture, is related to depression and anxiety in Hispanic youth. However, the mechanisms by which acculturative stress relates to anxiety and depression in this population are unknown. Thus, this study attempted to fill these gaps in the current literature by examining potential mediators and/or moderators. …

Effect Of Negotiator Active Listening Skills On Crisis (Hostage) Negotiations, Karen Guszkowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of active listening skills on perpetrator response style in crisis negotiations. The extant literature boasts the utility of negotiations in crisis situations for law enforcement that came about in response to cataclysmic events such as the Attica Prison Riots (1971), Munich Massacre (1972), and the Williamsburg incident (1973). Various crisis negotiation models assert the importance of active listening skills in crisis negotiations; given the recent and voluminous media attention on police, this research aimed to provide further support for a cultural shift in police departments around the country to provide …

Error Correction In Older And Younger Adults, Sreenath Panchagnula

2017 Symposium

Previous research suggests that prior knowledge plays an important role in error correction for younger adults. When younger adults have high levels of prior knowledge of a question, but answer that question incorrectly, they are more likely to correct that error on a later test than questions where they have little prior knowledge. Older adults tend to remember information consistent with their prior knowledge. Thus, when their prior knowledge is incorrect, they may have difficultly updating their memory to the correct information. Across several experiments, older and younger adults answered 120 general knowledge questions, rated their confidence in the accuracy …

Beauty And Inequality, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

A beautiful body opens doors in almost any society, but what constitutes a beautiful face is a matter of opinion…and racial preference

The 21st Century Woman, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

As gender roles change, organisations and society need to adapt to maximise professional and personal fulfillment for both women and men

Hate Speech And The Freedom To Live, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Drawing the legal line at insult or hurt feelings could do more harm than good at maintaining religious and social tolerance

Bling And Brand Recognition: What Your Conspicuous Consumption Says About You, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Makers of luxury goods can charge even more if they play down their famous labels

Ethnic Identity Statuses And Latino/A Mental Health Outcomes, Roselee Ledesma

Maria Dittman Library Research Competition: Student Award Winners

No abstract provided.

Speed Accuracy In Motor Performance And Risk-Taking Characteristics, Morgan Lee Gabbert

ETD Archive

Past research has led to the conclusion, through studies of the speed-accuracy trade-off, that there is a natural covariance between speed and accuracy within individuals on movement tasks (Adam, 1992). In this study, we investigated the relationship between the speed-accuracy continuum and risk-taking personality characteristics. In order to investigate the hypotheses, the study used a Fitts’ cyclical aiming task in which participants moved a mouse between two targets that were at various widths and amplitudes. The various widths and amplitudes included 15 unique combinations of movement measurements, which were compared to two measures of risk-taking. These were the Investment Risk …

Gesture Enhances Learning Of A Complex Statistical Concept, Linda Rueckert, Ruth Breckinridge Church, Andrea Avila, Theresa Trejo

Psychology & Gerontology Faculty Publications

Prior research has shown that gestures that co-occur with speech can improve understanding of abstract concepts by embodying the underlying meaning of those concepts, thereby making them more accessible to the listener. The present study examined the effect of gesture on undergraduate students’ learning of a complex statistical concept (analysis of variance; ANOVA). Students in three classes watched a brief video in which the speaker explained the conceptual background of ANOVA while using gesture and students in three other classes saw a similar video with the same speech, but no gesture. Students who saw the gesture learned significantly more, as …

The Effects Of Community Type And Sexual Orientation On Adolescent Alcohol Abuse: A Retrospective Exploration, Karla Beth Moore

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Considerable research has demonstrated that adolescents, as a whole, are experimenting with alcohol at alarming rates (Biddle, Bank, & Marlin, 1980; Donath, et al., 2011;King, Chassin, & Molina, 2009). However, research is very mixed on findings identifying which groups of adolescents tend to be most at risk for using alcohol, as well as the reasons these groups identify for such experimentation (Carlo, Crockett, Wilkinson, & Beal, 2011; Coomber, Toumbourou, Miller, Staiger, Hemphill, & Catalano, 2011). The current study examined participants from various community types and sexual orientations, in a retrospective manner. Participants (ages 18 and over) answered questions on a …

Familial Attitudes And Behaviors As Predictors Of Transgenderism, Angela Dawn Cockrell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Anonymous, retrospective data from 32 transgender and 3,337 cis-gender control participants were analyzed via logistic regression to examine the potential roles of parental attitudes and behaviors as well as familial status in the etiological chain leading to transgenderism. It was hypothesized that transgenderism may be predicted by negative parental attitudes toward sex and a lack of reciprocal parent-child nudity. Results indicated that transgenderism may be predicted by negative paternal attitudes toward sex, decreased maternal-child nudity, and absent fathers.

School-Based Evaluations For Students With Intellectual Disabilities: Is "Sufficiently Comprehensive" Good Enough?, Elizabeth E. Robinson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Federal special education law affords a child suspected of having a disability a comprehensive evaluation when referred for services under IDEA 2004. The purpose of this study was to examine school psychologists’ procedures, practices, and beliefs in implementing a multi-faceted evaluation for children suspected of having intellectual disability (ID). Record reviews and practitioner interviews were used to assess 135 student records in three West Virginia Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to determine the extent to which sufficiently comprehensive evaluations existed; the percentages of comorbid or secondary disabilities identified; and best practices for comprehensive evaluations of intellectual disability, according to practitioners. The …

Professional Development For The West Virginia School Psychologists Association, Andrea Nunn

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present study evaluated the professional development provided by the West Virginia School Psychologists Association (WVSPA) in 2016. A 2011 survey was revised and distributed to all members of the WVSPA. West Virginia school psychologists rated the overall WVSPA’s professional development for the last few years as ‘good’. Participants rated WVSPA services as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ with the exception of the resources available through the WVSPA website. Most participants rated this area as ‘fair’, showing that it would be a major recommendation for WVSPA revision. In addition, topics suggested as needing more coverage in future conferences include: emotional behavioral disorder, …

Enhancing Creativity Through Multiculturalism, Singapore Management University

Research@SMU: Connecting the Dots

Professor Angela Leung finds that multicultural experience is a useful lens through which to analyse creative performance.

See her papers:

• Multicultural experience, idea receptiveness, and creativity
• Embodied metaphors and creative "acts"
• Being environmentally responsible: Cosmopolitan orientation predicts pro-environmental behaviors

Cyber Violence: What Do We Know And Where Do We Go From Here?, Jillian K. Peterson, James Densley

College of Liberal Arts All Faculty Scholarship

This paper reviews the existing literature on the relationship between social media and violence, including prevalence rates, typologies, and the overlap between cyber and in-person violence. This review explores the individual-level correlates and risk factors associated with cyber violence, the group processes involved in cyber violence, and the macro-level context of online aggression. The paper concludes with a framework for reconciling conflicting levels of explanation and presents an agenda for future research that adopts a selection, facilitation, or enhancement framework for thinking about the causal or contingent role of social media in violent offending. Remaining empirical questions and new directions …

Free Will In Addictive Behaviors: A Matter Of Definition, Eric Klinger

Psychology Publications

Certain people are at risk for using alcohol or other drugs excessively and for developing problemswith their use. Their susceptibilitymight arise froma variety of factors, including their genetic make-up, brain chemistry, family background, personality and other psychological variables, and environmental and sociocultural variables.Moreover, after substance use has become established, there are additional cognitive-motivational variables (e.g., substance- related attentional bias) that contribute to enacting behaviors consistent with the person's motivation to acquire and use the substance. People who are at such risk are likely to choose to use addictive substances even though doing so entails negative consequences. In the sense of …

A Dialectical Approach To Theoretical Integration In Developmental-Contextual Identity Research, Jayson O. Seaman, Erin H. Sharp, Andrew D. Coppens

Kinesiology

Future advances in identity research will depend on integration across major theoretical traditions. Developmental-contextualism has established essential criteria to guide this effort, including specifying the context of identity development, its timing over the life course, and its content. This article assesses four major traditions of identity research - identify status, eudaimonic identity, sociocultural theory, and narrative identity - in light of these criteria, and describes the contribution of each tradition to the broader enterprise of developmental-contextual research. This article proposes dialectical integration of the four traditions, for the purpose of generating new questions when the tensions and contradictions among …

Trauma-Informed Care And The Juvenile Justice System, Sesha Kethineni

Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice

No abstract provided.

Nurturing Constructive Change That Works: A Critical Theory-Informed Model For Transforming Health Service Psychologists' Views Of People With Disabilities, Roy O. Gathercoal, Kathleen Gathercoal, Winston Seegobin, Sarah Hadley

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

We have been developing and refining a disability training exercise for health service psychologists that is ever more effective at encouraging lasting change in the way students regard disabilities and the people who live with those disabilities. Although research suggests that simulation exercises tend to be ineffective at creating long-term attitude change in participants, quantitative and qualitative results indicate our exercise, composed of a simulation followed by debriefing and reflection, helps professionals better understand some of the challenges people with disabilities daily face, and how those challenges can affect their well being. We found this combination is more likely to …

Narrative Skills Predict Peer Adjustment Across Elementary School Years, Alice J. Davidson, Marsha D. Walton, Bhavna Kansal, Robert Cohen

Faculty Publications

The importance of peer adjustment in middle childhood coincides with developing social cognitive and discursive skills that include the ability to make personal narrative accounts. Authoring personal stories promotes attention to the sequence of events, the causal connections between events, the moral significance of what has happened, and the motives that drive human action: these skills may be critical for the establishment and maintenance of satisfying peer relationships during elementary school. The present study extended previous research by considering whether narrative skills in written stories about peer interactions predicted peer adjustment. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, 92 children …

A Current And Increasing Problem Of Anti-Social Behavior Via Anonymity Using Electronic Mediums Demanding Recognition As A Biophsychosocial Disorder That Perpetuates Criminal Behavior Online, Hannah Wood Despres

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Most people who commit crime fall into a classification of criminological, sociological or psychological disorders called biopsychosocial disorders. Cyber-crime is unique in the fact that, cyber criminals can commit crimes behind completely closed doors and they are virtually anonymous. This makes for a varied environment of theory on the causation of cyber-crimes. The proposed disorder theory, computer mediated anonymity asocial disordered theory, is based on the notion that the anonymous nature of electronic mediums in communication has significantly changed people’s interpersonal skills. The change in interpersonal development is therefore affecting social engagement behavior online and has allowed a lack of …