Psychology Commons^™

Mathematical Skills, Rhonda Douglas Brown

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Mathematical Skills are essential for understanding how the world works and for solving problems that are important to human survival and prosperity.  They are used in everyday living in societies across the world.  The most basic mathematical skills involve estimating the amount of small sets of items without using symbols, called number sense, and tracking a small number of individual objects through space and time, called parallel individuation.  These skills are thought to be present at birth or early in life and to increase in precision into adulthood.

David F. Bjorklund, Rhonda Douglas Brown

Essays in Developmental Psychology

David F. Bjorklund is an eminent scholar in the field of developmental psychology.  He was born on June 13, 1949 in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He received his bachelor’s degree cum laude in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1971.  His graduate degrees include a master’s in psychology from the University of Dayton in 1973 and a doctorate in developmental psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2002.  He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bern, Switzerland in 2015.  Bjorklund is currently a Professor of …

Lifespan Perspective, Leila Eikevik

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Psychologists who study human development have adopted the lifespan perspective, which maintains that important changes occur during every period of development and that these changes must be interpreted in terms of the culture and context in which they occur (Boyd and Bee, 2009). Prior to this understanding, the subject of development was limited to childhood. This view has shifted because it is evident adults continue to experience major life changes and there has been a significant increase in age expectancy. Therefore, all stages of life are equally important. Lifespan development begins at the time of conception and continues up until …

Marriage, Kim Fitzgibbon

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Official legislation on the touted “fundamental right” of marriage dates back to the 1800s in the United States, showing the prominence and important that the concept of marriage has on society. Changes in laws and policy have increased the opportunity for marriage to a larger population and as such, research on the construct, its benefits, challenges and statistics has become an area of significant interest. The legal and financial implications of a marriage contract have also encouraged researchers due to the serious and long-lasting implications such a contract can have. Reasons to marry are endless, are highly individualized and can …

Naïve Theories, Ethan Fleuchaus, Heidi Kloos

Essays in Developmental Psychology

While the idea of the mind as a blank slate has long been abandoned, the question of what exactly a “non-blank slate” might look like is still debated. In this entry we discuss the claim that children are equipped with naïve theories—primitive, incomplete, or otherwise ill-formed, but nevertheless systematic, mental representations of cause-effect relations. Other terms that reflect this idea include ‘misconceptions’, ‘naïve beliefs’, ‘prior theories’, ‘alternative conceptions’, or ‘intuitive theories’. Their main characteristic is that they interfere with an open-minded exploration of the surrounding. The unfortunate result of such biased exploration is that children ignore evidence that conflicts with …

Heinz Werner, Ethan Fleuchaus, Katie Cunningham, Heidi Kloos

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Heinz Werner (February 11, 1890 – May 14, 1964) was an Austrian psychologist who played an active role in defining the field of developmental psychology at the start of the 20th century. While initially seeking to become a composer and music historian, he changed his mind after listening to a lecture on Immanuel Kant at the University of Vienna. Werner became engrossed in topics of philosophy and psychology (which were combined at the time), and he wrote his dissertation on the psychology of aesthetic experiences. Subsequently he worked at the University of Hamburg, where he published the first edition of …

Patriarchal Violence, Fallon Flowers, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Patriarchal violence has been described as a pattern of behavior by men perpetuated against women in order to maintain control over women and their behavior. Ultimately, it is meant to oppress them; resulting in women being relegated to a lower position in society. The need for men to exert control over women via Patriarchal violence has roots in one’s cultural, societal, and moral beliefs. Such beliefs pertain to what is considered appropriate and what is considered inappropriate in a cultural context.  One of the burgeoning examples of this form of violence against women is the “honor killing”, the killing of …

Anxiety In Old Age, Kim Fitzgibbon, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Andrew N. Meltzoff was born on February 9, 1950 in the United States.  He studied psychology at Harvard University and did graduate work at the University of Oxford, in England, with Jerome Bruner, earning his doctorate there in 1976.  Meltzoff began his professional career at the University of Washington in 1977, serving as a Professor of Psychology since 1988. He is currently co-director of the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, an interdisciplinary research center.

Adolescent Death, Kim Fitzgibbon, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

According to recent statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 9,500 adolescent deaths per year in the United States, as defined by mortality rates for individuals aged 15-19. CDC statistics also show that the leading causes of death for American adolescents were unintentional accidents and injuries, suicide and homicide. Furthermore, according to David Balk’s Handbook of Adolescent Death and Bereavement, gender and racial differences contribute to disproportionate mortality rates, with African American and Hispanic males finding themselves significantly more likely to be killed by homicide than Caucasian counterparts.

Secondary Mental Abilities, Kim Fitzgibbon, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Mental abilities have commonly been broken down into two main categories; primary and secondary. Primary mental abilities are thought to be large scale groups with similar abilities. Secondary mental ability builds off foundational primary mental abilities of intelligence. Research has suggested that there are six main secondary mental abilities, with the potential for additional abilities to be named or discovered as more research emerges. Expanding research on these abilities has also suggested that they can morph and evolve with age, just as primary abilities related to intelligence.

Brain Study Techniques, Rhonda Douglas Brown

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Brain study techniques are used to understand how the brain processes information and manages behavior.  They can establish which parts of the brain are responsible for different types of cognition and behavior.  One technique, called lesion studies, involves conducting case studies of patients with brain injury and associating damage in specific regions or structures with loss or impairment of specific cognitive processes and behaviors.  For example, in the mid1800s, using post-mortem autopsy, Paul Broca observed that patients who had lost the ability to speak, but could understand language, had damage in the posterior sections of the inferior frontal gyrus; whereas, …

Marriage In Old Age, Nicole M. Fornalski, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

As closely interactive cohorts throughout their adult lives, husbands and wives have been seen to become even closer confidants and partners in older age.  These changes may predominate after retirement and the loss of daily work practices and professional systems.  Older couples have frequently shared a considerable quantity of time with one another, and subsequently are able to call forth collective memories and years of intercommunications.  In addition, older adult couples usually report less conflicts, and appear to acquire more meaning out of their spousal relationships.  They also report less psychological distress and rates of illness than older singles.  These …

Role Transitions, Nicole M. Fornalski, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

A role can be defined as one’s position in a relationship or social structure, whereas a role identity consists of the behavioral expectations that are included in that role. While some individuals may view their roles through a fixed set of social standards, others rely on their own subjective perceptions and interpretations of these positions through flexible guidelines.  Through the process of a role transition, the literature identifies two types defined as a macro role transition or micro role transition.  A macro role transition consists of a psychological or physical change between consecutively held roles.  Examples can include career transitions, …

Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Fallon Flowers, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are diseases that can be passed from one person to another via sexual contact. Some STDs can be treated and cured, while others, once contracted, remain for a lifetime. Chlamydia is one of the more common STDs that both women and men are susceptible to. It is the result of exposure to a bacteria called Chlamydia Trachomatis. In women, the infection can occur in the cervix, throat, or rectum, while men who are infected experience the infection inside the penis (urethra), throat, and rectum. With regard to transmission, Chlamydia can be transmitted from one person to …

Social Exchange Theory, William Goulart, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Exchange theory originated in the field of sociology in the 1920s. However, since the late 1950s and early 1960s, social exchange theory has been a major school of thought in the field of both social psychology and sociology. This is largely due to the work of George Homans, John Thibaut, Harold Kelley, and Peter Blau. Social exchange theory describes all human interactions as a series of trades or exchanges of rewards between actors.

Lifespan Construct, Meghan Gilmore, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Susan K. Whitbourne’s (1985) lifespan construct derives from her identity theory. Lifespan construct is a combined sense of past, present, and future events that are connected by their common occurrence to the individual. Cognitive-affective schemata are part of building this construct and shape the way adults approach identity-discrepant experiences.  Cognition is the organizer of the experiences, and all events are measured against these experiences. The affective aspect is the individual’s evaluation of events that lead to positive or negative feeling-states.

Ipar Internship, Steven R. Goodnow

Research & Creative Achievement Day

One focus of this poster presentation will be focused on how I used Power BI to visualize institutional data from here at WSU. Another focus point will be how we used data of other institutions from IPEDS to find similar schools to WSU. This internship is a part of my 120 credits toward graduating.

The Role Of Self-As-Doer Identity In The Relationship Between Intentions And Healthy Eating, Hannah G. Casselman, Esther A. Gauerke, Madeline R. Bersch, Ava N. Krolnik, Megan L. Ekern

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Introduction: Proper nutrition is critical for a healthy lifestyle. Inadequate nutrition and sedentary lifestyles contribute to high obesity and health concerns, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. Two-thirds of U.S. adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. Reducing disease rates and improving health can be achieved through a nutritious diet, including consuming more fruits and vegetables. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors, like healthy eating, when they have strong intentions, positive attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Research suggests perceived behavioral control and …

The Power Of Authority: Can White Individuals Detect Racial Microaggressions From High Authority Figures?, Vivian Cavallin

Research & Creative Achievement Day

A microaggression is a subtle, brief remark that communicates a hostile or derogatory impression towards a specific group, often associated with race. Microaggressions are often overlooked by those who do not experience their effects firsthand, which may lead to desensitization to racism. However, some external aspects may cause microaggressions to be noticed more or less by White individuals, such as the authority level of the person saying the microaggression. Because individuals often feel prone to obeying authority, the power or status that an authority figure holds may cause an individual to ignore or disregard racial microaggressions said by authority figures. …

Internship With The Winona School District And Project Compass And What I Have Taken From It, Jasmine L. Odegard

Research & Creative Achievement Day

There are two parts to my current internship; I work with the enrichment events coordinator at the Winona School District, and I also help with project compass events. Both are very fulfilling in different ways. With the school district side of my internship I am constantly working with children or planning events for the children, and project compass works directly with adults that have various disabilities. The bulk of my internship is with the school district, and particularly the elementary school, so we will start from there. As I stated above, I am interning for the school district and for …

Sign Tracking Behavior In Long Evans And Sprague-Dawley Rats, Ryan J. Sleypen, Liam K. Kubitschek

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The purpose of the study was to evaluate differences in sign tracking behavior between Sprague Dawley and Long Evans lab rats. Sign tracking ultimately reflects the degree of impulsivity often modeled in addiction related research. Data collection for sign tracking included three types of data, total number of signtracking behaviors observed, latency scores for sign tracking behaviors, and sign tracking probability scores. Sign tracking latency times and probability scores displayed statistically significant results when comparing the two strains. However, the data regarding the total number of sign tracking interactions with the conditioned stimulus did not come back as statistically significant. …

Perceptions Of Psychological Distress By Target Gender And Disorder Type: Preliminary Findings, Alanna Hartman, Amelie H. Pflamminger, Isabelle A. Anderson, Molly Marston, Gabriella Becker

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Previous studies demonstrate that mental health issues are often under-recognized in males, and there are barriers to seeking help that may prevent men from getting necessary mental health treatment. Therefore, this study aims to examine how people perceive psychological distress in those with different genders and mental health disorders. Our sample consisted of around 250 participants who are attending Winona State University at the undergraduate level. In our survey, participants were presented with multiple vignettes of individuals showing symptoms of different mental health disorders, e.g. substance use disorder or social anxiety, for which the character gender was randomized. Following this, …

The Impact Of Physical Activity On Mental Health Disorders In Children, Brianna E. Ryan

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose - The purpose of this project is to highlight the effects physical activity has on children's mental health and to provide evidence-based insights on ways physical activity can and should be incorporated into the developmental stages of children's lives. Ultimately, the goal being to promote healthier and improved mental health statuses for the younger populations.

Introduction - The mental health crises among children are on the rise as more children each year are diagnosed with mental health conditions. It has been found that around 20% of children ages five through seventeen regularly experience symptoms of mental health disorders and …

Romance Scam Victimization: A Survey-Based Examination Of Financial, Psychological, And Reporting Factors, Ld Herrera

Research & Publications

Romance scams are a growing type of cybercrime in which perpetrators develop and exploit fraudulent romantic relationships with victims to obtain financial resources. These schemes cause substantial economic and psychological damage, yet they are significantly underreported. Official 2022 reports indicate only \$1.3 billion lost to romance scams in the US, but the true financial toll is likely much higher.

Using survey data from 366 victims, this study examines the financial and psychological toll of romance scams, reporting patterns, obstacles to seeking help, and victims' perceptions of received help. Most of the victims (60.9\%) did not seek help from any source, …

Paper Or Digital? Comparing Vocabulary Learning From Internet Search To A Physical Dictionary, Olivia L. Hamilton

Honors Theses

There is an increasing presence of technology found in the educational environment. With that there are many questions about the effectiveness of learning when information can be re-accessed with the click of a mouse. Information is more accessible than ever online but expecting to be able to rely on the internet may make learning less effective than other learning methods, such as paper. Continuing research has shown deficits, which could imply a digital presence is harming the learning environment. 125 students completed this study which compared differences between paper versus online learning platforms. The study tested peoples word translation accuracy …

Work-Life Balance Conflicts Parents Of Early Adolescents Faced During Covid-19 Lockdowns, Rodney Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Measures such as social distancing and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic meant parents balanced their roles as educators, tech support, and employees in shared home offices. This qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the work-life balance conflicts parents of early adolescents faced during the COVID-19 lockdowns, focusing on how parents managed the challenges of pandemic restrictions and their strategies for coping with cognitive, emotional, and physical fatigue for themselves and their families. This study was guided by the transactional theory of stress and coping. Twelve female parents were virtually interviewed, selected based on their having early adolescent children at home, …

Imagining Differences: An Exploration Of The Visual Imagery Spectrum, Kay Dekock

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Mental imagery, or more specifically, visual imagery, plays a significant role in human life. For this reason, this paper aims to examine the many aspects of visual imagery with a special focus on inherent differences between individuals. This paper explores the idea of what visual imagery is and how it is represented, from the in-between of the spectrum of visual imagery, to the extreme ends, where lies the conditions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia. This paper covers the core cognitive processes involved in visual imagery and the parts of the brain responsible for them. The idea of measurement and assessment is …

Stuffed Animals And Adults, Anna R. Reed

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Recently, stuffed animals have resurged in interest among children and adults. For example, in 2023, Squishmallows won Plush Toy of the Year at the annual Toy Association Awards. We surveyed 184 adult participants (18 or older) to identify who owns stuffed animals. We were interested in whether certain personality variables predict who has these toys and why adults retain interest in these toys. Among our participants, 71.7% owned stuffed animals. We hypothesized that adults with higher stress/anxiety would report increased likelihood of owning stuffed animals. This hypothesis was supported. An independent samples t-test showed that participants with stuffed animals reported …

Why People Play Foddian/Rage Games, David Kruse

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Many different video game genres capture and engage consumers by offering fun and engaging experiences. The fairly new genre of Foddian or rage games that are designed to make the player angry with clunky controls or unfair challenges. This genre has found a large audience despite seemingly subverting the usual game experience. This study will examine why Foddian players actively seek out experiences that are designed to be clunky and aggravating. This study would be to understand what needs Foddian games fulfill as outlined in the uses in gratification theory such as gaining knowledge, social interaction, or stress release. This …

Early Birds Or Night Owls: Who Is Getting The Best Sleep?, Josie Davis

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Chronotyping is categorizing individuals based on their sleep schedules. The two chronotypes are morning-types (M-type) and eveningtypes (E-types; Montralu et al., 2021). Heinrich et al. (2021) found that M-type individuals experienced better sleep quality than E-type individuals. Approximately 200 full time working individuals aged 20+ will be surveyed on their chronotype, sleep quality, and preferred exercise time. We hypothesize that M-type individuals will report better sleep quality than E-type individuals and will use an independent samples t-test to assess this. Additionally, we will categorize participants on matching or non-matching of chronotype and preferred exercise timing. The expectation is that the …