Psychology Commons^™

Location Tracking Applications And Emerging Adult Relationship Quality: Moderated By Rejection Sensitivity, Michelle Lee Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Location-tracking applications promise increased connection, safety, and closeness among romantic partners. However, persistent monitoring in romantic relationships has been associated with heightened feelings of intrusion and mistrust, particularly among individuals with insecure attachment. Such surveillance can exacerbate rejection sensitivity, leading to jealousy, conflict, and deteriorating relationship quality, or monitoring may alleviate fears of rejection and enhance relationship satisfaction. From the lens of attachment theory, this quantitative research study examined whether rejection sensitivity moderates the relationship between the use of location-tracking applications and relationship quality among emerging adults. I collected information from an online survey using four instruments to collect data …

Self-Reported Sarcasm Use And The Hexaco Model Of Personality, Kayleb S. Starnes

ATU Scholars Symposium

In the present study, we examined the relationship between self-reported sarcasm use and the six trait domains of the HEXACO model of personality (honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience). We administered an online survey to collect data from participants about their general tendencies in using sarcasm. We also administered the HEXACO Personality Inventory to assess participants on each major factor and facet of the personality model. We then tested for correlations between each HEXACO factor and sarcasm use, as well as for any demographic differences in sarcasm use. We found a negative correlation between sarcasm use and …

Gardens Through The Ages: How Public Gardens Impact The Growth Of Society, Abby J. Cutsinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

Throughout history, gardens held a vital role in the development of civilizations, often serving as spaces for food, reflection, and community. The aim of this study was to explore the progression of gardens parallel to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether gardens help fulfill those needs and, in doing so, influence human morality. To examine these possibilities, the researcher conducted a literature review of historical and contemporary accounts of gardening and its effects on physical and psychological well-being, analyzing these findings through the lens of Maslow’s framework. Additionally, crime rate data were compared across several …

Empowering Mental Support Health Through Ai Chatbot, Anish Ilapaka

ATU Scholars Symposium

The growing prevalence of mental health concerns worldwide underscores the urgent need for accessible, scalable, and supportive solutions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool in this domain, capable of delivering immediate and empathetic interactions to complement traditional methods of mental health care. This project introduces a conversational AI system to assist individuals experiencing mental health challenges. The proposed system is built on a LLaMA model fine-tuned with a dataset of 10,000 mental health-related dialogues; the system leverages advanced natural language processing and machine learning techniques for meaningful engagement. The core functionality of this tool lies in its …

Impact Of Community Gardening On Neighborhood Crime Rates: Research Proposal, Abby J. Cutsinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

Gardening has been a part of human existence from the beginning of time, but people have become distanced from gardening as civilization has grown and urbanized. As this distance has grown, so has the disconnect between people and the basic needs which shape their views of themselves and of society. It is possible that, in the drift away from gardening as communities, humans have become less moral.

The purpose of this study is to determine if community gardening lowers violent crime rates.

This relationship will be gauged by answering the following questions:

• Which type of community gardening benefits community relationships …

How Does Music Therapy Affect Pain Management And Emotional Health In Pediatric Cancer Patients?, Isabella Arceneau

Psychology Student Publications

This paper explores the effectiveness of music therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for pediatric cancer patients. It highlights how music therapy can reduce pain, anxiety, and depression, while also improving emotional well-being and coping skills during treatment.

Academic And Cerebrovascular Outcomes After Neurodevelopmental Screening In Sickle Cell Disease: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Sarah E. Bills, Jeffrey Schatz, Elizabeth Gillooly, Julia D. Johnston, A. Lauren Waters, Alyssa M. Schlenz

Faculty Publications

Aim

To assess the predictive validity of neurodevelopmental screening in toddlers and preschool children with sickle cell disease (SCD) using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). We expected screening in preschool children to predict academic problems in elementary school and future stroke risk.

Method

Using a longitudinal cohort design, academic problems (e.g. grade retention, failing a subject) and increases in stroke risk (e.g. abnormal transcranial Doppler exam) were assessed for a 6-year period after neurodevelopmental screening in 2-year-olds (‘toddlers’) and 4-year-olds (‘preschool children’) using medical record review, which included annual information from parents about school functioning. Biopsychosocial variables were examined …

Social Identity And Belongingness: College Students’ Happiness, Life Satisfaction, And Personal Growth, Julia Gallo

Psychology Honors Papers

This study examines how a mixture of psychological, social, and developmental factors influences processes by which individuals develop their identities throughout college. It was hypothesized that these processes would be different for first-generation college students compared to non-first-generation college students, for transfer students compared to non-transfer students, and for commuter students compared to non-commuter, residential students. To measure this, an online survey was constructed using established measures of happiness, life satisfaction, personal growth, affective forecasting as well as other psychological, social and developmental measures (e.g. psychological- contingencies of self-worth, e.g. social- university belongingness, e.g. developmental- emerging adulthood). Data was collected …

Redefining Strength: Male Sexual Assault Survivors & The Challenges They Face, Sophia Wolla

Psychology Student Publications

This paper discusses the challenges faced by male survivors of sexual assault. Other topics explored are what makes the experiences of male survivors unique, how these challenges affect male survivors reporting their assault, self-blame, and recovery after being assaulted.

Expediting Tool-Use Learning: Effects Of Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Of The Left Anterior Supramarginal Gyrus, Kamila Haliru

Honors Thesis

The left anterior supramarginal gyrus (aSMG) has been implicated as an important brain region in tool use. While anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (atDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has been shown to facilitate skilled tool use, the effects of aSMG stimulation remain largely unexplored. Using a chopstick-marble paradigm, this thesis examined whether atDCS to the left aSMG would enhance tool-use learning. Electroencephalography (EEG) was concurrently recorded to assess atDCS-dependent changes to the beta and gamma frequency bands. Our results demonstrated that atDCS over the left aSMG significantly expedited tool-use learning and was associated with increased gamma band activity …

Peer Victimization And Nonsuicidal Self Injury: Social Support As A Potential Protective Factor For Adolescents, Nursita Afifah, Sali Rahadi Asih, Ike Anggraika Kuntoro

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a high-risk behavior that increases the desire and likelihood of attempting to commit suicide. Peer victimization has been found to precede NSSI. Both phenomena are prevalent among adolescents living in urban areas. This cross-sectional study investigated the role of social support in the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI. A total of 449 adolescents who lived in urban areas completed the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI), Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale (MVPS), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to assess NSSI frequency, peer victimization, and perceived social support. The results found that NSSI is higher in …

Exposing The Truth Behind The Stanford Prison Experiment, Leo Novack

Young Historians Conference

In 1971 Philiip Zimbardo, a Stanford University professor, designed an experiment to study human behaviors in the prison system. He sought to understand the effectiveness of the prison system, however, the experiment ended early due to the ethical concerns toward participants. It is considered one of the most important psychological experiments, not for what it helped reform, but for what it pointed out about the importance of safety for research participants. Calling upon primary sources from participants and the researchers’ findings, as well as secondary sources primarily from psychologists and research ethics, the research reveals that this study was unreliable …

Addressing Violent Extremism And Implicit Bias: Mindbridge’S Neuroscientific And Psychological Approach, Adriana Lovric, Sarah Lockridge

Thinking Matters Symposium

Violence has long been embedded in American culture and history, often linked to ideological struggles, racial oppression, and religious conflicts (Mayer et al.,2024). In recent years, violent extremism—characterized by the use or threat of violence to advance ideological, political, or social agendas—has surged, particularly in attacks on government institutions, infrastructure, and marginalized communities (Mayer et al.,2024). At the same time, implicit biases—unconscious prejudices—continue to reinforce societal inequalities across race, gender, and class, often manifesting as micro-inequities that have a cumulative impact (Brennan,2014). According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program (2020), 138 law enforcement agencies reported 8,263 hate crime …

Understanding The Needs Of The Intellectually And Developmentally Disabled And Autistic Population In The Criminal Justice System, Emily Sateary

Master of Arts in Human Services

This paper explores the inequitable treatment of the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled and Autistic (IDD/A) population in the criminal justice system. Although progress has been made over the past century with understanding the unique needs of this population, they still face challenges at all stages of the criminal justice system. Behavioral, social skills, and sensory challenges make it difficult for the IDD/A population to avoid criminal justice contact and to understand the criminal justice process. Insufficient training for police and attorneys harms both persons with IDD/A and criminal justice professionals. This paper examines current practices in place that are barriers …

"Treat Others Based On How Your Parents Treated You": A Longitudinal Study On Parenting Style Experienced In Adolescence And Prosocial Attitudes Later In Life, Chelsea Ward

Honors Projects

The parenting style one grows up with has been found to influence a variety of outcomes later in a person’s life, including prosocial behaviors. However, the attitudes behind these behaviors remained understudied, especially for permissive and uninvolved parenting styles. The present study uses The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), a nationally representative longitudinal dataset conducted in the United States from 1997 to the present year, to clarify the relationship between parenting style experienced in adolescence and prosocial attitudes in early adulthood. Results indicate that being parented with an authoritative parenting style in adolescence leads to higher levels of …

Bedtime Or Game Time: The Impact Of Chronotype Matching On Spectators Moods, Callie Hart

Honors College Theses

Chronotypes have been shown to affect various aspects of life including health and day to day activities such as eating and exercising (Pacheco & Rehman, 2022). Research also indicates that chronotypes can have a direct impact on a person’s mood (Kim et al., 2021). The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between peoples’ chronotype and their mood at a sporting event. It was hypothesized that participants who attend the game at their preferred chronotype time will report being in a better mood and have higher levels of energy than if they attend a game that starts …

Task Demands Influence Search Strategy Selection In Otoconia-Deficient Mice, Ryan M. Yoder, Lucas C. Carstensen, Keshav Jagannathan

Psychology

Introduction: The vestibular system plays a crucial role in visual and non-visual navigation. Our recent study found that signals from the otolith organs are necessary for mice’s use of distal visual cues to guide navigation to an invisible goal. Somewhat surprisingly, however, performance was not significantly impaired on some spatial tasks (e.g., Barnes maze reference memory task), questioning the role of otolith signals in visual navigation.

Methods: We report the results of several additional tests of reference memory performance and search strategy use on two versions of the Barnes maze, in an attempt to establish further understanding of the otolithic …

Protective And Risk-Related Factors Associated With College Student Burnout, Dominic X. Chavez

Honors Theses

Burnout is an occupational phenomenon commonly defined by the exhaustion, cynicism, and lack of efficacy a person experiences with regard to their role (i.e., educator, healthcare worker, student, etc.). Despite the prevalence of burnout in academia, very few research studies have attempted to examine the variables associated with burnout’s severity in the case of American college and university students. Thus, the current study sought to analyze the protective and risk-related factors previously determined to be associated with academic burnout within a college population. Specifically, burnout self-ratings were compared to perceived burnout stigma, resilience, perceived social support, help-seeking attitudes, and perceived …

Design Solutions For Common Problems In Senior Living Facilities, Mary Schmidt

Senior Honors Theses

With the aging population of the United States, the prevalence of dementia rises along with its challenges for individuals in long-term care facilities. As cognitive function deteriorates, dementia patients face growing difficulties in performing daily activities. Common issues such as wayfinding, wandering, exit attempts, agitation, and a generally low quality of life plague most dementia patients at long-term care facilities. Design features can improve quality of life, safety, and coherence for residents with dementia at assisted living facilities. This paper examines existing research to present various design strategies that can enhance daily life for dementia patients in long-term care facilities. …

How Biophilic Design Impacts Office Spaces, Addison Carter

Honors Projects

Many working individuals experience burnout and dissatisfaction in their jobs. Although is this a result of individual mental strain, or are there other environmental factors contributing to the problem? This study investigates the impact of design on well-being and examines how biophilic design can serve as a solution to the negative effects certain architectural features may have on occupants. A literature review was conducted; it analyzed existing research on topics such as office design, biophilic design, and the influence of architecture on comfort and wellness. To explore how biophilic design can be applied in all settings, not just new construction, …

Humans Are Animals: A Review Of Animals Are People, Matthew R. Jamnik

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

The Animals are People (AAP) story reflects a philosophical inquiry into the nature of sentience, what it means to cultivate community, and the ethical and moral considerations behind “sanctuary.”It gifts a heartwarming journey about growing up, rooting down, and falling in love with life. “We save the animals, then the animals save us,” and so the story goes.

Effects Of Acute Exercise On Cognition: Consideration Of Potential Moderators, Elizabeth G. Gaines, Mckenzie M. Cotten, Elizabeth Reese Carwile, Mary Griffin Jackson, Marascalco Liston, Lucy Wilson

Honors Theses

The present thesis aims to determine the effects, if any, of six potential moderators on the effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on cognitive functioning. The modes of exercise undertaken by the participants included treadmill (Experiment 1) and stationary bike (Experiment 2) exercise. Participants in each experiment either exercised or rested for twenty minutes and then participated in either a memory recall task or cognitive functioning (“Stroop”) task. The bouts of either exercise or rest on the stationary bike were followed by a rest period during which the participant would be exposed to either standard air oxygen levels (normoxia) or hypoxic …

Dissolving Sand Into Fog - Portraying Long Term Temporal Illusions Through Music, Kyle Bergler

Honors Projects

Long-term temporal illusions permeate our day-to-day lives, but due to their highly subjective nature, few are familiar with them. To help introduce these topics in a way that lets a wider audience connect individually with them, I composed three works for percussion ensembles, each in a different style, and each portraying one or multiple long-term temporal illusions. All of these pieces were composed and rehearsed throughout the spring 2025 semester and premiered at my senior recital on April 19, 2025.

Life In Dance: Relationship To Self And Dance Environment, Emily Barz

Undergraduate Theses

Dance is an athletic art form in which the body is trained repetitively to perfect sequences of movement. The training regimen for dance requires a lot of time and dedication; this training can have an impact on self-esteem, especially when aspects of dance become detrimental to the dancer.

Maintaining a high level of self-esteem is important for dancers because self-esteem impacts a dancer's ability to grow in their artistry as well as life outcomes outside of dance.

Current research on dancer self-esteem highlights a very specific issue: body image. Dancers are expected to execute technique and fulfill high standards; oftentimes, …

Attachment Theory In Adult Romantic Relationships: The Influence Of Childhood Trauma On Adult Attachment Styles And Romantic Relationship Satisfaction, Shelby Bock

Senior Honors Theses

Attachment theory provides a key framework for understanding adult romantic relationships, especially for individuals with a history of childhood trauma. Early adverse experiences, such as emotional abuse and neglect, as well as broader categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), can disrupt attachment development, contributing to insecure attachment styles—anxious or avoidant—that influence relationship dynamics in adulthood. This review synthesizes current literature on how childhood trauma contributes to attachment patterns and emotional intimacy, trust, and relationship satisfaction in adult romantic relationships. It also highlights the role of attachment in mediating the effects of childhood trauma on romantic relationships. Finally, the review proposes …

Table Of Contents Vol 10(1) May 2025

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.

Living And Dying With Rats (Essay), Trent Mcfury

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

It is unlikely that a dystopian work would begin with, “Rats have not been seen for centuries, even in Venice.” [...]

Although many species disturb our peace, destroy our crops, and/or are outright dangerous, the eco-existential scaling of a rat (and mice), broonie or pixie-like, makes it a convenient analogical and projective emblem of invasion and subsequent extermination. That which abundantly reproduces, keenly clusters, transforms our bodies, challenges our wits, follows and then remains, travels and then stays, is also a psyche-mirror.

Blerds Of A Feather, Nerd Out Together: Exploring Sociological Intersections Of Black Identity And Nerd Culture, Nikki Keating

Research Symposium

Black nerds, or “Blerds,” exist at the intersection of nerd identity and Black racial identity. In recent years, however, Blerds have built communities and events that celebrate both aspects of their identity. However, mainstream (predominantly white) nerd culture and societal stereotypes of Blackness often position these identities as conflicting, leaving Blerds to navigate a unique middle ground. This study explores how Blerds embrace both identities despite these tensions. Based on semi-structured interviews with 18 self-identified Blerds, the research examines how they negotiate their racial and nerd identities, how other identities intersect, and how they challenge norms around race and nerd …

Introversion And Friendship Preferences, Iris Archibald

Research Symposium

How are friendships formed, and how do we decide which people will become our friends? This study examined if friendship preferences differ based on personality traits, such as introversion, and the consequences that these preferences may have for the formation and maintenance of our social networks.

To test this idea, participants were asked to choose if their friends consisted of people who were involved in a singular/few aspects of their lives or people who were involved in many aspects of their lives. Participants were also asked to indicate how important it would be for them to have many friends, how …

From Perception To Policy: Integrated Threat, Anti-Transgender Stereotypes, And Political Orientation As Predictors Of Anti-Transgender Voting, Ali Eppinga, Rebecca Totton

Research Symposium

Prejudiced reactions to the growing number of transgender individuals in the United States have motivated the support and proposal of much legislation that targets and restricts these individuals. Indeed, in the first six months of 2024, already 619 such anti-transgender bills have been proposed in the U.S. (translegislation.com). Integrated threat theory offers a partial explanation for this prejudice, positing that prejudice toward a group is forecasted by a perception of that group as threatening. Within integrated threat theory, this threat is either symbolic (threatening to cultural values, social norms, or personal beliefs) or realistic (threatening to physical safety, financial security, …