Psychology Commons^™

Don’T Hit Mommy! Associations Between Harsh Parenting And Aggression In Toddlerhood: The Moderating Role Of Temperament, Serah Betancourt

Theses and Dissertations

Physical aggression is known to be particularly common in toddlerhood. Further, harsh parenting practices and certain temperament traits in children have been found to be associated with aggressive behaviors. Recently, aggression has been demonstrated to be differentiated between provoked and unprovoked aggression. The current study examined early aggression and explored the mechanisms by which harsh parenting practices and temperament traits may predict different types of aggression and how that may also change depending on the stage of development in toddlerhood. That is, we proposed that harsh parenting would be more strongly associated with provoked aggression among toddlers with higher negative …

Vulnerable Narcissism In Borderline Personality Disorder: Impact On Emotion Dysregulation, Identity Disturbance, And Rejection Sensitivity In Psychiatric Inpatients, Lauren Baker Lloveras

Theses and Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe personality disorder frequently seen in clinical settings due to high service utilization. It is characterized by emotion dysregulation, identity disturbance, suicidal behavior, fear of abandonment, and impulsive or risky behavior. BPD is categorized as a Cluster B personality disorder, alongside narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which is defined by grandiosity, attention-seeking, and a lack of empathy. NPD can be further conceptualized across two subtypes: grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism (VN). Unlike grandiose narcissism, VN has been largely neglected in research – despite overlapping features with personality and mood disorders, especially BPD. These shared features …

Public Image Vs. Patient Experience: A Comparative Study Of Children's Hospitals, Abigail M. Giles

Program in Community Action (PICA)

This study examines the divergence between the curated digital brand identities of children’s hospitals and the lived experiences of their patients. Focusing on how institutions carry out their marketing objectives whilst navigating a “manipulated public sphere” on social media to maintain institutional viability and gain philanthropic support, a qualitative content analysis of 1,618 social media posts from Instagram and Facebook and 239 Google Reviews from 2023-2025 was performed. The analysis compares the difference in content curation of urban children’s hospitals and rural children’s hospitals, collecting posts from Boston Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth. Key findings include the use …

I’M A Sucker For You: The Role Of Parasocial Relationships And Celebrity Worship In Predicting Loneliness Among Fans Of The Jonas Brothers, Samantha Lynn D'Anna

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The current study sought to better understand the dynamics between parasocial relationships and celebrity worship in predicting loneliness among the Jonas Brothers fan community. A comprehensive review of existing literature positioned this dissertation within the context of current research. A quantitative, survey-based methodology was used to examine associations between variables through correlational analyses, and a qualitative component invited participants to share written narratives about the impact the Jonas Brothers have had on their lives. Quantitative findings showed that although parasocial relationships did not directly relate to loneliness, they were strongly linked to celebrity worship, which then mediated the connection between …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Counselor Traits And Wellness Practices, Emily Velidow

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study is a qualitative thematic analysis of counselor wellness practices as well as how selfidentified personal traits are part of how a counselor practices and prioritizes wellness. Theoretical underpinnings of the study integrate trait activation theory (Tett & Burnett, 2003), Martin Seligman’s wellbeing theory (Seligman, 2011), and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1977). Participants included nineteen licensed counselors (N=19). Analyzed responses lead to four main themes, each with two to four subthemes. Resulting themes included (1) intentional caseload and workday structure, (2) deliberately emphasizing physical wellness, (3) setting boundaries attending to mental and emotional energy, and (4) the …

Hiding In Plain Sight, Gayle M. Perreault

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Some autistic individuals reach adulthood without receiving a diagnosis, and the processes contributing to delayed recognition are not yet fully understood. This study explored how contextual conditions across development related to the emergence and use of camouflaging behaviors in late-diagnosed autistic adults from groups historically underrepresented in autism research. Using an inductive collective case study design, narrative interviews were conducted with seven autistic adults diagnosed after age 15. The analysis examined how participants described learning, maintaining, and interpreting camouflaging behaviors across childhood through early adulthood within social, environmental, and institutional contexts, with attention to how participants experienced environmental expectations and …

Predicting The Effectiveness Of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Using Personality Assessmente, Seth Sizemore

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Depression, a pervasive and historically stigmatized disorder, has been treated through various paradigms over centuries, from spiritual to medical frameworks. Despite advances, Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) remains a significant clinical challenge, affecting a substantial proportion of patients. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) offers a promising approach for those unresponsive to conventional treatments. This study aims to assess the efficacy of TMS in treating TRD and its broader psychological effects using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3). Participants undergoing TMS at Lexington Forensic Psychiatry were invited to partake in the study. The treatment regimen consisted of 36 TMS sessions over nine weeks. Psychological …

Assessment Of Risk Factors In Sexual Offenders, Jennifer Bulin

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the importance and historical development of sex offender risk assessment, highlighting its critical role in managing public safety and guiding treatment interventions. This project traces the evolution of these assessments, from early methods focused on static risk factors to contemporary approaches that incorporate dynamic elements. The review discusses the most commonly used risk assessment tools for both adults and juveniles, evaluating their methodologies, strengths, and limitations. Assessments reviewed to be used with adults include the Static-99, Static-2002, Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool Revised (MNSOST-R), Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offence Recidivism (RRASOR), Sex …

Turning ‘Meh’ Into ‘Yeah!’: Modifying Motivational Interviewing For The Collegiate Experience, Mahala M. Saylor

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

This doctoral specialty project titled Turning 'Meh' into 'Yeah!': Modifying Motivational Interviewing for the Collegiate Experience explores the adaptation of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to better engage college students in mental health services. Traditional MI is highly effective in resolving ambivalence and fostering behavior change, yet its structure does not always align with the brief, solution-focused counseling models used in university settings. This project examines how MI can be tailored for time-limited interventions while enhancing student autonomy, self-efficacy, and retention in care. It integrates core MI principles—including empathy, ambivalence resolution, and self-efficacy—with developmental psychology and neurobiological research. The final product is …

The Underdiagnosis Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Women: Recognizing A Spectrum Of Symptoms, Taylor D. Bloomhuff

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have long been viewed as predominantly male diagnoses. Based on foundational studies for these disorders, not only are they more prevalent in male children, but symptom severity is also higher in male children. In attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in particular, it has become a common assumption that hyperactive/impulsive and combined types are ‘male’ ADHD presentations, while the inattentive type corresponds to the few female children who meet diagnostic criteria. However, emerging research looking at the decrease in autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prevalence rates between gender in adulthood suggests that these neurodevelopmental disorders …

Resilient Voices: A Proposed Support Group For Latina Middle Schoolers, Vanessa G. Leon

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

The transition to middle school represents a critical developmental period characterized by significant social, emotional, physical, and cognitive changes. For Latina adolescents, this transition may be further complicated by cultural, environmental, and systemic stressors that increase vulnerability to mental health concerns. This doctoral specialization project addresses the need for culturally responsive mental health interventions designed to support the well-being of Latina middle school students during this developmental stage. The project presents Juntas Podemos, a school-based support group intervention that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills within a culturally responsive framework to promote emotional well-being, …

Associations Between College Students' Belonging, Classroom-Based Relationships, And Mental Health Outcomes, Ella Grace Will

Honors Theses

Humans have a fundamental need to belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). A lack of belonging is associated with negative mental health outcomes, making it important to study student belonging in higher education (Strayhorn, 2019). Classroom-based relationships with professors and peers positively impact students' belonging (Tinto, 1993). The purpose of this study was to evaluate: the relative contribution of professor trust and peer interactions to classroom and university belonging, and to assess the associations between student belonging and internalizing symptoms. Survey data were collected via Qualtrics in September 2025 (baseline) and December 2025 from students in 32 first-year seminars participating in …

Maladaptive Shame Coping: The Effects Of Parental Emotion Socialization And Mentalization In The Context Of Maltreatment, Ayelet Raya Malinsky

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Among the self-conscious emotions—such as guilt, shame, and embarrassment—shame has increasingly received attention in the clinical literature for its established link to a range of psychopathological outcomes (Paulo et al., 2020). It is a prominent experience for individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment (Herman, 2012) and plays a central role in the development and maintenance of symptoms related to trauma and personality disorders (Lee et al., 2001). Further, maladaptive coping strategies used to manage shame often exacerbate psychological distress (Martin et al., 2021), highlighting a need to identify factors that contribute to the development of chronic shame and related coping …

The Great Divide: The Relationship Between Perceived Immorality And The Work Of Artists, Caelyn R. Anderson

Psychology | Senior Theses

The psychological response one has when viewing art depends heavily on contextual understanding. More specifically, when a viewer learns negative biographical information about perceived immorality of an artist, it can negatively affect their relationship with that artist's work (Kaube et al., 2023). The sample was made up of 134 participants randomly assigned to one of two groups exposed to either positive or negative information about the artist Paul Gauguin. After viewing information, participants were shown three different paintings, before being asked to respond to an intentionality scale, and two art reception scales. An independent samples t-test showed that there is …

An Evidence-Based Imperative To Videorecord Eyewitness Lineups., Nydia T. Ayala, Andrew M. Smith, Rebecca C. Ying, Gary L. Wells, Natalie M. Sommervold

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

DNA-exoneration cases reveal the unreliability of witnesses’ in-court behaviors; despite being mistaken, these witnesses delivered confident and compelling testimonies (Garrett, 2011). But testimonies are retrospective and subject to contamination. The legal system should focus instead on how the witness behaved at the time of the initial lineup. Unfortunately, few law enforcement agencies videorecord lineups, which makes this practice impossible. In a large-scale experiment, we videorecorded witness-participants (N = 1,496) completing lineups, scored them on numerous manifestations of recognition strength and fluency, and used machine learning analyses to determine whether these behaviors discriminated between accurate and inaccurate decisions. Not only did …

Outdoor Recreation And Well-Being: The Effects Of Outdoor Activity From A Positive Psychology Approach, Sophia Watson

Honors Program Theses

Outdoor recreation has been associated with increased well-being in past literature (et al., 2018). This study focuses on well-being from a positive psychology perspective (i.e., flourishing, fulfillment, life satisfaction, etc.). Spending time in nature may increase well-being, due to its sensory properties which reduce stress and rumination (Kaplan, 1995). Physical activity may also be important for well-being due to its health benefits, neurotransmitter release, opportunities for socialization, and increasing self-confidence (Parlakyıldız, 2025). I investigated whether there was correlation between outdoor recreation and well-being and if so, whether it differed depending on the location of the activity and the physical activity …

Trade-Offs In Sustainable Building Design: A Visual Study Of Daylighting, Quality Viewpoints And Energy Efficiency, Paula Cabanas

Honors Program Theses

This thesis explores the trade-offs between daylighting, quality viewpoints, and energy efficiency in sustainable architectural design. The initial goal of the project was to determine if there was a single building design that would optimize the trade-offs between these three design elements. Three buildings on the Rollins College campus were selected as case study sites for detailed analysis (Bush Science Center, Kathleen W. Rollins Hall, and the Rice Family Pavilion). Rollins College was chosen as the primary location for this study because of its accessible public buildings and consistent Mediterranean revival architectural style. Analysis of each building’s design and composition …

Forecasting The Emotional Cost Of Online Dehumanization, Reyhaneh Bagherian Shamir

All Master's Theses

The use of social media platforms to share, view, and communicate information is now ubiquitous (Crockett, 2017). Given the prevalence of problematic content found on social media (e.g., prejudice, misinformation), this research examines how accurately people predict their responses to such content. Kawakami et al. (2009) found that individuals overestimate their emotional distress and behavior in response to discriminatory actions (i.e., racism) in-person predicting they would be more upset, and more likely to reject a racist confederate than individuals who experienced the incident actually were. In the current research, we built upon the work of Kawakami et al. (2009) to …

Childhood Through Motion: Reimagining Everyday Mobility Corridors For Learning, Independence, And Exploration, Olivia Liljegren

City and Regional Planning

This project proposes the Childhood Through Motion (CTM) Framework, which reimagines how everyday mobility corridors can support children’s development through repeated engagement with integrated interventions along key neighborhood routes. Building on existing approaches such as Safe Routes to School and Playful Learning Landscapes, the framework integrates mobility, play, learning, and social interaction into a connected system of corridors and nodes distributed throughout a neighborhood street network. Rather than treating mobility, play, and learning as separate, the framework explores how developmental opportunities can be integrated into the public spaces children use every day.

The framework is organized through five guiding principles …

Paradise Lost And Character Motivation: Sinful Behavior Or Inferiority Complex?, Esperanza Barrios

Honors Theses

Sin is a concept that is always viewed through a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton was able to bring further understanding towards human nature and one’s own sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academics' understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments, but for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships, usually for selfish gains. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, and Eve, fell from grace because all three damaged their relationship …

School Psychologists As Advocates: Addressing Microaggressions Targeting Students In Schools, Brea M. Banks, Lourdes D. Concepcion-Cabas, Farhia A. Osman, Kendell Kelly

Faculty Publications – Psychology

The aim of this conceptual paper surrounds a discussion of school psychologists’ role as advocates who can combat the prevalence of microaggressions in schools. The authors first define microaggressions in the context of Critical Race Theory and discuss the negative impact these transgressions have on students. Advocacy is a foundational role of school psychologists, and combatting microaggressions is one way school psychologists can engage in such efforts. Given the goal of this special issues is to highlight how social justice advocacy can address critical issues in school psychology, we use the NASP Practice Model as a framework to describe how …

Development And Validation Of The Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, And Engagement Scale (Lakes) Among Rural Adults, Anna Morrison

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adults living in rural regions experience mental illness at rates comparable to those in urban areas yet utilize mental health services significantly less. Underutilization of psychotherapy in rural populations has been attributed to structural barriers (e.g., geographic inaccessibility, limited provider availability, reduced anonymity) and sociocultural factors such as stigma. However, rural adults may remain reluctant to initiate treatment due to attitudes toward psychotherapy, limited help-seeking engagement, or inaccurate knowledge about psychotherapy. The present study developed and examined the psychometric properties of the Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, and Engagement Scale (LAKES), a self-report measure designed to assess psychotherapy-related attitudes, knowledge, and engagement …

Expert Validation Of A Professional Development Model For K–2 Emotional Regulation, Mark Simpson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Emotional regulation (ER) is foundational to student learning, behavior, and long-term educational success and well-being; however, many elementary educators report limited formal preparation in explicitly teaching ER skills. The purpose of this study was to design a professional development (PD) program for K–2 teachers focused on ER and to evaluate its content validity through expert review. The framework was grounded in Gross’s process model of ER, Desimone’s core features of effective PD, and Sims’s dynamic IMTP framework. A researcher-developed rubric was used to evaluate alignment, clarity, theoretical grounding, and feasibility. Five experts in various roles within the field of education …

Applied Psychophysiology: Evaluating The Feasibility Of A Digital Breathing Tool, Jessica Pavelka

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Mental health in the United States is a growing public health concern, with one in five adults living with a diagnosed mental health disorder. The prevalence of mental health concerns among adults in the U.S. has not changed significantly from 2021 to 2024 (Reinert et al., 2025). This study examined how mental health providers can leverage technology to support symptom reduction for their patients during and beyond treatment. Biofeedback has demonstrated lasting health benefits, is cost-effective, and holds promise for novel interventions for conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, usability, engagement, …

Music To Move You: Comparing Effects Of Music Genre On Subjective Performance Of Football Players In A Practice Setting, Devin Deturk

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Optimizing athletic performance has increasingly extended beyond conditioning to include psychological, health-related, and environmental interventions aimed at enhancing peak mental and physical fitness. However, advanced training mechanisms targeting these factors may not be readily available to all programs, necessitating cost-effective, accessible, and ethically sound adjuncts. Thus, music emerges as a potential solution that remains underutilized in applied sport settings but may be leveraged to address pervasive challenges such as fear of failure, burnout, and over-professionalization. The present dissertation investigated the effects of music in a practice setting, with particular emphasis on its capacity to enhance subjective performance, motivation, and positive …

Camouflaging And Autism: An Examination Of Camouflaging’S Potential Association With The Clinical Assessment Of Autism And Subject Demographic Characteristics, James George Modico

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restrictive/repetitive behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The clinical assessment of ASD requires behavioral observation of the participant. Within the context of ASD, camouflaging refers to cognitive and behavioral strategies that a person with ASD can utilize to adapt to a non-autistic world (Cook et al., 2021). Camouflaging may influence an autistic person’s behavioral presentation to a more “neurotypical” state. Behaving in a less atypical manner may contribute to not being referred for testing, having a clinician assign lower ratings on diagnostic measures, and preventing issuance of …

Women’S Marital Surname Change: Adjustment & The Novel Concept Of Name Decision Match, Sarah E. Fox

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Marriage is a significant, complex life event that most international and U.S. adults experience. Marriage offers numerous opportunities for decision-making, including the marital surname change choice. A woman may choose to adopt her husband’s surname (i.e., Changers), keep her birth surname (i.e., Keepers), or an alternative (i.e., Creatives). Enduring societal norms and traditions are reflected in most women who are Changers. Conversations surrounding marital surname change choice may offer insight into the couple’s agreement on the ultimate decision, referred to in this study as name decision match (NDM), a novel concept. The purpose of the study was to analyze women’s …

Body Dissatisfaction Among Sexual Minority Men: Examining Associations With Health Behaviors, Gay Identity Centrality, Physical Appearance Comparison, And Conformity To Masculinity Norms, Ithan Sokol

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Introduction: Body image disturbance (BID), or poor body image encompasses dissatisfaction with one’s physical appearance, and is linked closely with disordered eating, depression, low self-esteem, and a compromised health-related quality of life. Although most research on BID has focused on women, this study examined its impact on men, specifically sexual minority men (SMM; cisgender men who identify as non-heterosexual). This subgroup notably exhibits heightened rates of BID compared to heterosexual men, shaped by sociocultural pressures and internalized appearance ideals.

Objectives: This study intends to examine potential determinants of BID in SMM as well as build upon existing insights that connect …

Navigating Motherhood: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences And Challenges Of Non-Birthing Mothers In Queer Cisgender-Relationships, Anna Caravaggio

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study explored the psychological experiences of non-birthing mothers in queer cisgender female relationships, a population that remains underrepresented in the parenting literature. Existing research has focused primarily on birthing mothers or same-sex couples as a unit, leaving the unique perspectives of non-birthing mothers insufficiently examined. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, eight non-birthing mothers participated in semi-structured interviews examining their transition to parenthood, maternal identity development, and experiences within relational, social, and systemic contexts. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in five primary themes: pathways to parenthood and conception decision making; constructing maternal identity; bonding and attachment processes; …

The Covid-19 Pandemic: Predictors Of Inpatient Admission For People With Severe Mental Illnesses, Ashley Killoren

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify differences in patterns of demographic and psychiatric symptoms among individuals with severe mental illnesses admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital 1 year before the quarantine shelter-in-place restriction order issued by a governor in the Northeastern United States, during the restriction order, and 1 year starting when all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. A second goal of the study was to determine whether psychiatric admission rates changed by comparing admission rates before and during the quarantine order, and 1 year after all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. This quantitative, retrospective, observational study was achieved by …