Psychology Commons^™

Learning About Healthy Relationships And Sexuality For Adults With Disabilities, Vanessa Karjack

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities receive little to no sex education; as a result, they often struggle to have fulfilling and healthy relationships, experience limitations in physical interactions, and are at risk of being taken advantage of by others. Sommaro et al. (2019) explained that individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and developmental disabilities (DD) are often placed into one of two categories: they are treated as either eternal children or sexual deviants. These ideas are based on old knowledge and are known to be inaccurate. However, current systems of care struggle to move forward from these notions. A …

Influence Of Cultural Similarities And Differences On Coworker Relationships And Perceived Levels Of Workplace Psychological Stress, Natalie Hidaka

Psychology | Senior Theses

In growing diversity, social interactions between cultures can build psychological strain. Although, people value familiarity in situations such as in the workplace. The more we seek identity economy in the workplace, the more cross-cultural collaboration becomes essential, yet challenging. To evaluate how cultural similarities and differences influence relationships at work, a voluntary survey was conducted including three sets of measurements; Coworker Relationship Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Self-Construal Scale. From 126 self-report, quantitative data showed that relationships between coworkers of different cultural backgrounds (DCB) had greater difficulties than those who share similar cultural backgrounds (SCB). Regardless of one’s psychological stress …

Self-Regulated Learning In A Pandemic: Implementing The See Framework In An Online Teaching Environment, Haley Hand

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a cyclical process that motivates students and facilitates achievement in a variety of domains (Wang, 2013). It entails several processes, such as planning, setting goals, using learning strategies, self-monitoring, reflecting, and holding adaptive motivational beliefs. Moreover, SRL can be developed through interventions and classroom practices. However, there is a shortage of trained interventionists. Teachers can also use a variety of classroom practices to develop students’ SRL skills. A framework of practices, known as the Settings, Events, and Exchanges (SEE) framework, was developed to organize these classroom practices for teachers (Callan et al., 2020).

The practices in …

A Systematic Review Of The Literature On The Assessments Used For Social Communication In The Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rachel E. Kim

Masters Theses

This review of the literature aims to analyze the current assessments available for clinicians, parents, and other professionals to use during the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that specifically addresses social communication. Although ASD can be diagnosed as early as the age of 2, children are often not diagnosed until the age of 4-5 years old. Especially for children who would be diagnosed with ASD and require Level 2 and/or Level 3 supports, early diagnosis can lead to early intervention which can help to provide the necessary support for both the child and family. Early intervention can help to …

Applying Theoretical Explanations For Intimate Partner Violence, Sarah Devyn Trifari

Psychology Theses

In the current study, we examined attributions of betrayal trauma theory, learned helplessness and toxic masculinity within the context of intimate partner violence. Betrayal trauma theory posits that interpersonal violence leads to victim isolation. Learned helplessness describes victim apathy and maladaptive passivity. Toxic masculinity features male aggressiveness, abusiveness, and sexism as a function of internalized gender norms. When examined individually, each theory enhances our understanding of how intimate partner violence unfolds. However, the value of exploring intimate partner violence through a joint theoretical lens, allows us to expand our understanding and interpretation of the merits of each theory. With this …

Profiling Child Molesters: Thematic Differentiation Of Crime Scene Indicators And Correlations To Psychopathology, John P. Santora

Student Theses

Offender profiling has become an increasingly important tool in criminal investigations. The current research took an expansive, multifaceted empirical approach to the profiling of child molesters through investigative psychological methodologies with additional perspectives investigating concomitant clinical implications. In doing this, offenders were thematically differentiated based on their behaviors at the offense. The quality of the differentiation was tested, and the distribution of offenders across the derived themes was developed. Associations between the Massachusetts Treatment Center Child Molester Three, Axis One (MTC:CM3 A1) were assessed. This process was repeated for offender characteristic variables which were also thematically differentiated. Finally, behavioral themes …

Heavy Is The Head, Elizabeth Wiles

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

"Heavy is the Head: how my mental illness made me a writer" is a collection of poetry about a journey in and through mental illness. It engages the social action issue of mental health awareness. "Heavy is the Head" tells a story of mental illness, how it was accepted, how it was used to improve, and how it can pave the road to self-acceptance.

The Effect Of Social Comparison And Fear Of Missing Out On Anxiety Symptoms In Late Adolescents, Olivia Adams

Honors Scholar Theses

Social comparisons between peers are generally adaptive in that they facilitate social learning. However, certain forms of social comparison, especially upward comparison in the form of fear of missing out (FoMO), are posited to relate to both depression and anxiety. Empirical evidence supports that increased FoMO is associated with increased depression in adolescents, both in terms of trait-like aspects as well as in daily fluctuations. However, scant evidence exists for ties to anxiety. This study examined social comparison in the form of FoMO and anxiety in late adolescents to examine potential daily relationships between the two constructs across time. Ninety …

Does Anodal Tdcs Over The Left Prefrontal Cortex Using The F3-Rso Montage Improve Cognitive Control?, Sydney Darling

Honors Scholar Theses

Cognitive control is the ability to focus on relevant stimuli while disregarding irrelevant stimuli and is thought to be supported by the prefrontal cortex (see Miller & Cohen, 2001). Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that modulates the activity of underlying cortex regions through an electric current provided by two or more electrodes on the scalp. This study looks to determine whether anodal tDCS over the left prefrontal cortex can be used to increase cognitive control in healthy participants. Using an F3-RSO montage in a mixed between and within subjects design (with sham vs. anodal …

The Development And Evaluation Of Novel Da Transport Inhibitors And Their Effects On Effort-Related Motivation: A Review, Mukund Desibhatla

Honors Scholar Theses

Depression is a debilitating disorder that can cause motivational deficits such as psychomotor retardation, anergia, apathy, and fatigue. Recent research indicates that these motivational deficits, and potential pathways of therapeutic intervention, can be studied in animal models involving rats and mice. Treatments with the VMAT-2 inhibitor tetrabenazine (TBZ) and cytokine interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) can create a low-effort bias and impair effort-related motivation (Nunes et al. 2013, 2014). A number of high-affinity DA transport inhibitors such as d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, and cocaine can restore extracellular DA, albeit with the cost of undesirable effects such as high abuse liability. These observations have led researchers …

Effects Of Hippocampal Inactivation With Dreadds On Water Maze Performance, Julia Levin

Honors Scholar Theses

The hippocampus is an elongated brain structure related to processing episodic memory and spatial navigation. The dorsal hippocampus plays an important role in spatial tasks (Lee & Kesner, 2003), while the ventral hippocampus is known to be involved with emotion (Fanselow & Dong, 2010). Previous work in our lab has shown that the dorsal and ventral sections within the same hemisphere work together during navigation (Lee et al., 2019). The lab is currently determining how activity in the dorsal hippocampus impacts place cell firing in the ventral hippocampus. To accomplish this the dorsal hippocampus will be inactivated using Designer Receptors …

Exploring Emotion Regulation As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Benefit-Finding And Measures Of Stress In Cancer Survivors, Sarah W. Chen

Honors Scholar Theses

Chronic stressors due to cancer can cause a considerable amount of distress for individuals throughout their treatment process and even months to years after their cancer experience. The psychological health of this population post-treatment can therefore be measured by the presence or absence of distress or negative psychological responses as well as the presence or absence of positive psychological responses. Positive psychological responses include coping efforts that promote resilience and well-being. One such factor is benefit-finding, which could include “positive change in relationships, a greater appreciation of life and a change in life priorities” (Mols, 2009). Identifying positive coping strategies …

Applicant Justice Perceptions Of Machine Learning Algorithms In Personnel Selection, Megan Warrenbrand

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Machine-learning artificial intelligence algorithms provide organizations with the opportunity to quickly and efficiently process information about potential employees while reducing costs associated with selection and turnover. However, any bias or error present in the programming of such algorithms as a result of information drawn from historically biased data is evident in the resulting output (Illingworth, 2015). Recently, applicants have expressed growing fairness and equity concerns about the risks associated with the use of algorithms in selection processes. The present quasi-experiment analyzed applicant reactions to selection processes to understand whether machine learning algorithms or human hiring decision-makers influence perceptions of fairness …

Lying Strategies In Juveniles During Behavior Analysis Interviews, Talley Bettens

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Police officers use the Behavior Analysis Interview (BAI) to detect deceit, but it is based on faulty indicators of lying and may be problematic for juveniles due to developmental immaturities. This study compared juveniles’, young adults’, and adults’ reported willingness to engage in truthful and deceitful responses during a hypothetical BAI. Regardless of guilt condition or age, participants were more willing to engage in truthful, suggesting they can manipulate their behaviors to appear innocent. Guilty participants were more willing to use strategies to manipulate their behaviors to appear truthful, while innocent participants said they would behave naturally. Juveniles were somewhat …

Easing The Return To Normalcy: Reintegrating Victims Of Domestic Violence Into The Workplace, Corrine Wolfe

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The present study aimed to provide actionable solutions to organizations regarding how they can best help reintegrate victims of domestic violence into the workplace following a domestic-related incident. Study one surveyed 59 domestic violence survivors using open-ended questions regarding what their organizations did well and/or could have done better to help reintegrate them. Through directed and conventional content analysis, five key themes emerged for how organizations can demonstrate support: safety, emotional support, resources, work modifications, and general perspectives/additional information. Study two turned the key themes from study one into potential recommendations and then interviewed five Human Resources professionals to assess …

Using The Job Demands-Resources Model To Understand Burnout In Police Officers In The Uk And The Us, Jackie Keaton

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Rates of burnout among police officers vary between countries and types of officers, which necessitates further exploration of the workplace conditions that impact how and why officers experience burnout. I examined data from two samples of police officers from the United Kingdom (N=356) and the United States (N=118). I found support for the general JD-R model of burnout, where high demands and few resources correlate with more burnout. I also looked at the patterns of demands and resources that significantly predicted burnout for each sample separately, and found that there are nuanced differences in which work conditions are salient in …

"Hey, Are You Busy Right Now?" Stressor Appraisals Of Interruptions To Workflow, Camille Wheatley

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The present study explored attributes of work interruptions (duration, domain, and urgency) and their impact on appraisals of threat and changes in perceived energy. Participants (N = 290 Amazon Mechanical Turk workers) read and responded to a series of interruption vignettes, appraising each scenario as a threat to personal resources, and evaluating an anticipated impact on their personal energy. Results from a repeated measures ANOVA indicated main effects of each interruption attribute and interactions on appraisals of threat and changes to personal energy. Interruptions characterized by high urgency or long duration were more likely to deplete personal energy, whereas low …

Increasing Transgender-Inclusive Behaviors Via Self-Monitoring, Abigail Kaylyn Petronelli

Theses and Dissertations

Within behavior analysis there is an increasing demand for research to create inclusive organizational cultures. To create a culture of inclusion, it is necessary to engage in inclusive behaviors towards individuals of varying race, gender, and sexual orientation. Despite the rising social demand and call for diversity in research, there are still few studies which apply an intervention to improve inclusive behaviors. One target of inclusive behaviors is proper pronoun use towards individuals who are transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC). To date, there is only one published article regarding TGNC topics, which explored a TGNC-inclusive tool (Leland & Stockwell, 2019). …

Reconciling Religious And Scientific Epistomologies: Leveraging Mutuality To Enhance Acceptance Of Science And Respect For Religion, Mary Medlin

Dissertations

One prominent factor associated with accepting science as factual includes religiosity, with greater espoused religiosity often associated with less acceptance of scientific facts and greater secularism associated with greater acceptance of science as factual, but often reduced respect of religious beliefs. Such dichotomies exacerbate perceptions that science and religion are mutually exclusive, thereby fostering conflict between individuals with different perspectives and increasing ideological polarization. The current study sought to compare these mutually exclusive articulations of science and religion to a mutualist articulation of science and religion as complementary ways of knowing. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four …

Examining The Effects Of State Anger On Self-Reported Psychopathic Trait Inventories, Olivia C. Preston

Dissertations

Research indicates that experiencing anger is linked to social undesirability and temporarily induces a host of significant changes within an individual, such as hostile attribution bias, lower trust, increased impulsivity, poorer decision-making, and preferential recall. Such changes theoretically may inflate psychopathy scores due to a greater ability or willingness to endorse attitudes, behaviors, cognitions, and emotions that are regarded as reflective of psychopathic traits and may potentially introduce random error variance into measurement. Such distortion due to mood may bear important implications for applied settings where one individual’s scores are measured at a single time point, rather than research where …

Analysis Of A Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno Bredanensis) Introduction In A Human Care Setting, Lindsey Johnson

Dissertations

Rough-toothed dolphins are a rarely studied species of cetaceans found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. These dolphins live in fission-fusion societies and are highly social, swimming in tightly-packed and highly synchronized subgroups consisting of 2-10 individuals. The current study documents the introduction of a stranded calf into an existing population of six rough-toothed dolphins living in a human care setting. Specifically, recordings of vocal and non-vocal behaviors were analyzed across the four phases of the study: baseline, day of introduction, post-introduction, and follow-up. Whistles, a vocal signal associated with social contexts, increased from baseline to post-introduction phases …

Consistent Bedtime Routines Are Linked To Better Sleep Outcomes: Why?, Kristy Larsen

Dissertations

Results from nationwide studies estimate that between 81 and 95% of parents in the United States with young children use bedtime routines. This is auspicious given that the use of a consistent bedtime routine is linked with better sleep quality. Indeed, the use of bedtime routines has been determined to have “strong” empirical support for addressing bedtime behavior problems (e.g., bedtime resistance) and for improving children’s sleep. However, it is unclear how, or through what mechanism(s), that a consistent bedtime routine is associated with positive sleep outcomes. We evaluated compliance near bedtime and anxious distress at bedtime as possible mechanisms …

Black Imposterism: Naming & Combating Imposter Syndrome In Student Government Associations Across The South, Joshua Mannery

Honors Theses

Beginning in 1978 with its coining by Clance and Imes, imposter syndrome (IP) has been used to describe feelings of unfounded fraudulence, low self-esteem, and low self-efficacy in women, minority groups, and underrepresented populations. The phenomenon of imposterism persists not only in academic spaces, but in professional, medical, and any other areas where a feeling of competition can exist. Many empirical studies have observed the factors that contribute to university students and their development of the physiological effect, but one concentration that has received little to no application is how it develops within a student government, and methods in which …

Theory Of Mind Performance Among College Students At Hispanic Serving Institutions, Mauricio Alejandro Yanez

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has yielded mixed findings about relations among sociodemographic variables and Theory of Mind (ToM) performance. The current literature lacks robust studies that utilize multiple types of ToM assessments. Additionally, most ToM research has assessed samples of young, white children and adolescents. The present study addresses these limitations by examining the association between sociodemographic variables and ToM performance among Hispanic emerging adults, utilizing three ToM measures across two sites. Participants included 867 college students from two Hispanic serving institutions who completed questionnaires including an embedded false belief task, Strange Stories, and the Constructivist Theory of Mind (cToM) task. All …

Examining The Mental Health Of Older Hispanic/Latino Adults: Relationship Between Psycho-Social-Cultural Factors And Depressive Symptomatology, Anna Prado

Theses and Dissertations

The most prevalent disorders affecting the older adult population worldwide are dementia and depression. Ethnic minorities are disproportionately more likely to be affected by these two distressing and debilitating conditions. Hispanic/Latino older adults encounter numerous psycho-social-cultural factors that influence health behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs in positive and negative ways. Presently, research on the influence of these factors on Hispanic/Latino mental health is highly inconsistent. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between selected psycho-social-cultural factors and the mental health of older Hispanic/Latino adults. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the association between the Hispanic/Latino …

Narrative Inquiry: Life Experiences Of Elite Athletes, Sarah Elizabeth Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Elite athletes face numerous personal and professional pressures and high-stress experiences; however, there is a gap in the literature connecting identity development with these life experiences. Using narrative inquiry analysis with six emerging adult athletes competing at professional and Olympic levels, this study identified self-narratives they created from life experiences within the context of sport and analyzed when these meanings were formed. Athletes described experiences causing great psychological disturbances as a normal risk within their sport and needing to regulate or compartmentalize their emotions to get through those experiences. Participants discussed various roles they play within their team but lacked …

An Eeg Source-Space Analysis Of The Neural Correlates Underlying Self-Regulation, Stephanie M. Long

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is the cognitive process of controlling our thoughts and behaviors to be aligned with our goals. This process is used in many different contexts and has been associated with contributions from several brain regions. This research aimed to investigate differences in four prefrontal areas of the brain while participants applied four different self-regulation strategies. We recorded EEG while participants (N = 132) performed three tasks which engaged each of the four self-regulation strategies: the AX-CPT task engaged proactive and reactive control, the Go/Nogo task engaged inhibitory control, and the hybrid Flanker Global/Local task engaged the resolution of response conflict. …

Adaptive Video Gaming In The Classroom, Lauren Ferrell, Daniela Mari Recinto, Desarae Finck-Fugazi, Christine Angela Manalang, Noémie Von Kaenel

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Background: Limited resources exist to support adaptive gaming in school programming using Microsoft® Xbox Adaptive Controller for children. On the other hand, there is abundant evidence supporting motor, cognitive, and social benefits to gaming in rehabilitation.

Objectives: The goal of this program development project was to create a virtual gaming toolkit to support the interdisciplinary team’s use of adaptive gaming during school programming.

Methods: Through our needs assessment and collaboration with our community partner, we discussed the parent and caregiver need for guidance in order to use the Microsoft® Xbox Adaptive Controller and facilitate gameplay with peers. Through an extensive …

How The Level Of Job Complexity Impacts The Gender Wage Gap Across Occupations, Zytlaly Magaña Corona

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The present study focused on unpacking the social and structural aspects of job complexity to better understand its effects on the gender wage gap. Previous research on the job complexity-compensation dynamic has primarily focused on cognitive complexity. Job complexity across occupations were examined using work activity data from O*NET and merging it with the Current Population Survey data sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (N=67,003). Results revealed that higher complexity jobs in this study yielded greater wage disparities across different occupations as predicted. Furthermore, physical activities and gaining knowledge from the Generalized Work Activities were the two most …

Mental Health In Child Welfare Social Workers, Sintia Mota Muniz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project focuses on child welfare social workers’ mental health and what mental health services they can benefit from having. For this study, the six participants were recruited from the Southern California area. They all currently work in the child welfare field. The data for this qualitative study was collected through interviews. All interviews were completed telephonically and then transcribed for data analysis. The study findings found the lack of management support in child welfare agencies and a lack of self-care practice have a negative effect on social workers’ mental health and their service delivery. The findings revealed that …