Psychology Commons^™

Toxic Leadership In Media: The Brash Bully And The Egocentric Pretender, Ayanna L. Journey

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project features a comparative analysis of two characters who demonstrate toxic leadership in unique ways. Sue Sylvester is the cheerleading coach from the show Glee. She is cruel, dominating, and paranoid. Ava Coleman is an elementary school principal on the show Abbott Elementary. Ava is incompetent, self-absorbed, and exhibits various inappropriate behaviors. In efforts to analyze their behaviors that contrast with those of an ideal leader, I view the characters through a scope of influence, power, identity, and follower relations, based on modern leadership concepts from “The New Psychology of Leadership” (Haslam et al., 2020). Sue’s style …

Power And Influence: A Media Analysis Of Toxic Leadership In Michael Scott & Jordan Belfort, Lily M. Garrison, Aidan Hammond

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

For our SACAD presentation, we were given the task of looking at and analyzing two toxic leaders from various types of media, this could be from books, movies, television shows, or video games. The purpose of this was to look at the various traits these people have that make them classified as toxic leaders. For our examples, we chose to analyze Jordan Belfort, specifically from the movie, “The Wolf of Wall Street”(M. Scorsese, 2013). As well as Michael Scott from “The Office”(A. Greene, 2005). The theme that connects these two is as simple as being business people, they are each …

Manipulation And Power: A Comparative Analysis Of Toxic Leadership In Mean Girls And The Hunger Games, Madeline G. Schlyer, Kerstin R. Brown

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project employs a qualitative media analysis to compare two toxic leaders, Regina George from Mean Girls (2004) and President Snow from The Hunger Games series. Both characters exhibit manipulative leadership tactics to maintain control in different social contexts. Regina, the dominant queen bee of her high school, leads The Plastics through emotional manipulation and fear tactics. She employs a transactional leadership style, offering social rewards for compliance and punishing lack of agreement with exclusion. Her leadership is rooted in a need for validation, using her followers to reinforce her own status. In contrast, President Snow rules through violence and …

Corrupted Kings And Heroes: Toxic Leadership Of Scar And Homelander, Brandon Mckenna

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project uses a qualitative media analysis to look at toxic leadership through a comparative study of two characters: Scar, villainous usurper from “The Lion King,” and Homelander, publicly revered leader of superheroes and private psychopath from “The Boys.” These characters, despite their distinct contexts, exhibit toxic leadership styles. Drawing upon Haslam et al.’s (2020) "The New Psychology of Leadership," this analysis examines the context of their rule, their manipulation of identity, and their impact on followers. Scar’s thirst for power by any means necessary demonstrates a leader who manipulates others for personal gain. Meanwhile, Homelander’s narcissism and greed for …

Workshop Series: Reflections On An Emerging Leadership Journey, Sanjay D. Paul

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Defense Date

April 1, 2025

Candidate Name

Sanjay Paul

Personal Email Address

[email protected]

First Advisor

Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor

Dr. Debra Dean

DSL Final Project Abstract

Project Type

Global Conference Presentation

Project Overview

Reflections on an Emerging Leadership Journey is a PowerPoint presentation (of approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes) which designed to connect glo al interests in a way that can share best practices across an interdisciplinary front. Sanjay Paul shares ideas, observations, educational, volunteer, and professional experiences, along with his growth in the leadership journey. This journey can serve as a catalyst for others who are on …

Understanding The Wellness Needs Of Black Men Student Athletes, Sephora Abigail Wawa-Egbuche

Dissertations (1934 -)

Race, ethnicity, and gender significantly impact the wellness of Black collegiate athletes, particularly males. However, the literature on the wellness of collegiate-level student-athletes highlights a lack of diversity in gender and racial/ethnic representation, often overlooking Black student-athletes, who form the second largest group in college sports (Boyd et al., 2017; Elder et al., 2014; NCAA, 2012). Notably, there is an underrepresentation of males (Hinton et al., 2004; Stickler et al., 2022). Additionally, the dearth of qualitative research on this issue is troubling, as such studies can provide deeper insights into these experiences (Biggerstaff, 2012). This qualitative, reflexive thematic analysis aimed …

Differences In Performance In Mental Rotation And Short-Term Free Recall In Gender Minorities, Katheryne Renee Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study examined mental rotation, short-term free recall, state anxiety, and gender expression through masculinity and femininity. This study addressed gaps in literature examining gender differences in gender minority groups by investigating gender differences in two tasks: mental rotation and short-term recall. Participants are categorized into four gender groups: cisgender men, cisgender women, non-binary, and binary transgender. In accordance with previous literature, it was hypothesized that men would outperform women in mental rotation, women would outperform men in short-term free recall performance, and that non-binary individuals would operate separately from other groups. Anxiety was recorded as a possible covariate, but …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Mitigation Through Education: A Brain-Based Learning Approach, Marisa S. Paglino

PhD in Education

Prior research has indicated a noteworthy relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), working memory (WM) function, and quality of life (QOL) among individuals who have experienced traumatic events within their lifetime. Despite much prior research focusing primarily on adult combat veterans of war, minimal data exists evaluating the effects of traumatic events in civilians who have yet to pass the age of complete neurological development (25 years or age). The present study aimed to evaluate the differences in trauma perception, perception of WM function, and perception of QOL among college students in Florida. Using descriptive statistics, based on the type …

Do Systems Exist?: A Conversation, Adam Walls, John M. Flach

Books Authored by Wright State Faculty/Staff

“Do Systems Exist? A conversation” is a refreshing and ambitious exploration of systems thinking, framed as a cross-disciplinary dialogue between Adam Walls, a business consultant, and John Flach, a cognitive systems theorist. The book resists the conventions of both academic textbooks and business manuals, opting instead for a conversational format that invites readers to think alongside the authors, rather than simply absorb pre-packaged conclusions.

This strength, however, may also be a limitation for some readers. Those expecting a structured framework or a step-by-step methodology for applying systems thinking in organizations may find themselves adrift in what feels more like a …

Examining Mental Health In Mass Shooters, Christina K. Robison, Brooke Mann

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Mass shootings are defined as shootings that cause 4 or more deaths not including the shooter (excluding those committed in connection to underlying criminal activity, such as gangs or drugs); examples include workplace shootings, school shootings, public shootings, shootings at places of worship, etc. There have been 195 mass shootings since 1966, with 1,398 reported deaths. While several factors influence mass shootings, research points to psychological, sociological, and economic influences. This analysis is over 3 separate studies, having between 172-177 shooters each with the same basic demographics, but separate focuses. Overall, the main focus is looking for patterns that could …

Supervisees’ Responsiveness In Supervision With Doctoral Student Supervisors, Zübeyde Akpakır

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the factors that influence the responsiveness of master’s-level counselors-in-training (CITs) to university-based supervision with doctoral student supervisors. Supervision is an important element and the requirement of CITs' professional development (Bernard & Goodyear, 2019; CACREP, 2024), and many counselor education programs educate their doctoral student to supervise master’s-level CITs (Luke, 2019). Despite its significance, there is no empirical data on how CITs engage with feedback and guidance, particularly in supervision led by novice doctoral supervisors. The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, Q methodology (McKeown & Thomas, 2013), to analyze CITs' subjective perspectives and identify factors …

Route 420: An Examination Of Cannabis Knowledge, Attitudes, And Use Behaviors Among Young Adults By Primary Route Of Administration, Samantha A. Fitzer

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Cannabis use among young adults in the United States has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. Previous research suggests that the escalating legalization of cannabis across the U.S. has made cannabis use more socially acceptable as well as accessible (e.g., expanding routes of administration) to young adults. However, less is known about how combined individual-level factors (i.e., knowledge and attitudes) may predict cannabis use patterns among young adult college students. Using the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB) model, the current study examined a) the mediating effect of cannabis beliefs on the association between cannabis knowledge and cannabis use behaviors (frequency and typical intoxication …

Fostering Cognitive Complexity In Behavioral Health Providers: Perspectives From Supervisors In Integrated Primary Care, Katherina Nako

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The integration of behavioral health into primary care settings, known as Integrated Primary Care (IPC), offers a holistic approach to addressing both physical and mental health needs (Ramanuj et al., 2019). Efforts to expand access to mental healthcare have contributed to the growing presence of IPC settings (Martin 2017), with mental health providers, such as mental health counselors, joining these teams as Behavioral Health Providers (BHPs; Blount, 2017). However, the unique complexities of IPC often leave BHPs feeling underprepared, largely due to the traditional training frameworks emphasized in many graduate counseling programs. The need for BHPs to adapt to the …

Intimate Partner Violence Among College Students: The Influence Of Gender, Sexual Orientation, Race/Ethnicity On Bystander Intention, Brooke M. Puharic

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students is an issue across gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. The present study highlights the sociodemographic characteristics that influence physical IPV involvement among college students by reporting past year prevalence and frequency rates of physical IPV involvement by gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, the current study builds on research about bystander intention to intervene by exploring the influence of these sociodemographic characteristics on participants intentions to intervene, as well as their preferred type of intervention.

Participants were 525 university students recruited from the psychology research pool. They were presented with eight hypothetical vignettes …

Inked Insight: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study Exploring The Perspectives Of Visibly Tattooed Counselors, Megan Ashley Lalonde-Pittman

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of visibly tattooed mental health counselors (VTMHC) through consensual qualitative research (CQR), examining how visible tattoos were perceived to have impacted the participants (N=14) professional experiences, development, and relationships within the counseling field. Seven domains arose from the data: Prejudices experienced by VTMHC, VTMHC Interactions with others, Culture experienced by VTMHC, Appearances of the VTMHC, Professional therapeutic work of the VTMHC, Workplace environment of the VTMHC, Processing the experience of being a VTMHC The implications for multicultural education and future research are explored.

Medical Professionals' Perceptions Of Healthcare Artificial Intelligence, Falon M. Costigan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether medical professionals across different levels of expertise show differences in their perceptions of healthcare artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, the researcher hypothesized that participants with more expertise and experience would have greater negative perceptions associated with AI in healthcare compared to participants with a lower expertise level. Participants completed a questionnaire evaluating their perceptions of healthcare AI across four components: long-term negative consequences of AI, need for AI safeguards, positive perceptions of AI, and AI control. Participants also completed demographic questions evaluating participants' age, sex, ethnicity, years working in a healthcare setting, medical …

From Theory To Practice: A True-Crime Podcast, Lauren V. Peckham

Senior Honors Projects

The Criminal Element is an innovative, victim-centered podcast that bridges the gap between criminological theory and real-world criminal cases. The podcast is designed as an educational resource for undergraduate Criminology and Criminal Justice students, alongside general audience members interested in learning more about criminological theory. Through the lens of true crime, this podcast is an engaging exploration of foundational and advanced theories while avoiding sensationalism and exploitation, a prevalent problem among true crime media. Each episode connects criminological theoretical concepts – such as strain, social learning, and social disorganization – to contemporary and historical cases, providing listeners with accessible and …

Food For Thought: The Impact Of The Gut-Brain Axis On Mental Health, Emily S. Miiller

Honors Thesis

Research regarding the role of the human microbiome has grown over the years as professionals develop a better understanding of the gut-brain axis. New studies and expanding knowledge on the relationship between the nervous system and gut microbiome promote a deeper understanding of the impact of diet on mental health. Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy balance between the gut and the brain. Incorporating nutritional modulators, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamins, is crucial for supporting the gut-brain axis by influencing neurotransmitter production, managing inflammation, and promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. On the other hand, …

Let's Grow: Investigating The Relationship Between Houseplants And Mental Health In College Students, Makia G. Adler

Honors Thesis

This literature review explores the potential mental health benefits of houseplants for college students, a population increasingly affected by anxiety and depression. With traditional mental health services strained and often inaccessible, simple and low-cost alternatives are urgently needed. This review examines whether the presence and interaction with houseplants can improve psychological well-being, specifically symptoms of anxiety and depression. Drawing from ten peer-reviewed studies, this review finds a generally positive association between houseplants and mental health, though results vary. Notably, the duration of exposure appears to have little effect, while setting and autonomy in plant interaction are more influential. Interactions in …

Using Musical Interventions As A Non-Pharmacological Strategy To Improve Chronic Pain Levels And Satisfaction Among Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Fredeline Metellus

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Background

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a chronic, inherited blood disorder characterized by severe pain episodes that are often poorly managed with standard pharmacological treatments. In response to patient dissatisfaction with pain control and the desire for holistic alternatives, this quality improvement project explored music therapy as a non-pharmacological pain management strategy.

Purpose

The primary aim was to reduce chronic pain by at least 20% and improve patient satisfaction with pain management among adults with SCD using a structured musical intervention.

Methodology

This project was implemented at a comprehensive outpatient SCD clinic using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model. Five adult patients …

Expanding The Framework Of Childhood Adversity: Structural Violence And Aggression In Childhood, L. Petrovic, C.N. Baker, Samantha Francois, M. Wallace, S. Overstreet

Psychology

Background: Structural violence harms youth by preventing them from meeting basic needs for safety, belonging, dignity, and agency, leading to negative outcomes like increased aggression. Such behaviors harm children's social and emotional well-being and academic success, particularly affecting Black youth who disproportionately experience structural violence. Although predictors of student aggression have been explored, the specific influence of structural violence—as measured through socioeconomic and racial disparities—remains under examined in the literature. This gap highlights the need for further investigation into how these external factors contribute to aggressive behaviors in school settings, Objective: This study sought to examine the relationship between structural …

Research On The Influencing Factors Of Dropout Behavior Among Users Of Ancient Language Models From The Perspective Of Resilience Theory, Hai Zhang, Jiping Fang, Dongbo Wang

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]The deep integration of ancient book digitization and large language models is the future development trend. In order to clarify the influence factors and formation mechanisms of dropout behavior among users of domain ancient book large language models, mobilize the willingness of users to use large language models, achieve high-quality user retention, and promote the non-human high-quality development of domain large language models. [Method/process]This study takes users in the field of ancient books as an example, based on resilience theory, and draws on grounded theory research methods to code and deconstruct first-hand data obtained from in-depth interviews with 30 users …

Navigating Food Insecurity: Families’ Coping Strategies, Challenges, And Insights For Educators, Ndũcũ Ngũgĩ

Theses & Dissertations

Food is essential for life. It fuels growth, well-being, and stability. Yet, food insecurity -uncertain or inadequate access to sufficient food- remains a jarring reality for millions. In the U.S. alone, 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity despite government efforts. Addressing this crisis is essential for public health, socioeconomic progress, and societal welfare. This narrative study’s main objective was to understand the lived experiences of food-insecure families by examining how they navigate the challenges they face, their inventive coping mechanisms, and the insights they can provide for educators. While research has shown the adverse effects of …

Examining The Features Of Former Research Regarding Substance Abuse Treatment, Autumn Gonzales

Posters - 2025

“Drug misuse is one of the major social, legal, and publichealth challenges in the modern world” (Nutt et al., 2007). This study explored the characteristics of former research on substance abuse treatment approaches and treatment settings. Past literature showed short-term treatment can be beneficial depending on what works best for the individual and studies have shown short-term treatment has helped individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). However, long-term treatment is the preferred method for individuals as it has a lower chance of relapse. A small systematic review was conducted from which data were coded of former published articles. A frequency …

The Role Of Asd On The Reality Television Dating Show, "Love On The Spectrum", Priscilla Muñoz

Posters - 2025

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that is determined by early challenges in social and communicative behaviors (Taddei et al., 2024), has been studied widely in all stages of life, from toddlers to the elderly (Heijnen-Kohl et al, 2017; Debodinance et al., 2017). • Every case of ASD is unique in that each can present different behaviors, however, there are three behaviors that are prevalent in many cases of ASD. The behaviors that are found and studied often include repetitive behavior (Martinez-Gonzalez, 2022), emotional meltdowns (Lewis & Stevens, 2023), and restricted interests (Jasim & Perry, 2023).

• Specifically, …

The Silent Pandemic: Link Between Depression, Marijuana Usage And Mental Health Services After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elias Ciudad, Lori Boies

Posters - 2025

The National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) measure substance use, mental illness, and treatment in the civilian noninstitutionalized population 12 or older. Depression is a public health epidemic that disproportionately affects young adult populations aged 18-25. At the same time, the consumption of marihuana is on the rise and more popular in this demographic group.

This statistical study aims to identify and model predictors of major depressive disorders (MDE) and marijuana abuse among populations older than 18 via standard tests, modeling, odds ratios, and epidemiological approaches for 2023 NSDUH data.

A Research Proposal: Morality As A Social Construct, Samantha Gonzales

Posters - 2025

Separating our minds from the constraints of our social constructs allows us to analyze problems from a place somewhere remotely close to unbiased. However, it is only after we understand that our sense of morale [i.e. right and wrong] originated as social constructs—that is to say, right and wrong have no reason to exist in an objective world. The very concept of right and wrong have been socially constructed from the beginning; they are, in their most simplistic nature, entirely subjective. Subjective in this sense means outside of the very people who speak of the words right and wrong in …

Discrimination At Work: Recognizing And Addressing Systemic Bias, Briana Heggy

Posters - 2025

Race-based workforce discrimination remains a significant issue in the U.S., particularly affecting African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups. In 2021, the EEOC received over 60,000 workplace discrimination charges, with race discrimination being the most common complaint. Discrimination levels vary by state, influenced by factors like education, minority population size, and political affiliation. Higher education levels can increase awareness of discrimination laws, but also affect job opportunities and earnings. States with larger minority populations may experience different forms of racial discrimination, while political party influence can impact the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. This research examines how these factors interact to …

The Presence Of Substance Use In Individuals From A Non-Traditional Family Structure, Manuel Lastra-Cruz, Isac Perez, Mariana Torres, Cayla Travers

Posters - 2025

This study will analyze the relationship between family structure and substance use behaviors among young adults aged 18 to 25. The aim is to compare substance use between participants raised in nontraditional family structures (foster care or adoptive families) and those raised in biological families. The study will use a cross-sectional design where 200 participants will be recruited (100 from each family structure group). Data collection included the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), an Intake Form Assessment, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The participants will complete these surveys that will be used to measure the relationship between substance …

The Masculine Way, Jessica Asuquo

be Still

This painting was conceptualized after a particularly impactful patient visit. During the visit, the patient described a traumatic event in greater detail, stating that the doctor and I were the first people he had ever spoken to about the event.

I felt both honored and disheartened by this statement. I was honored that this man trusted us with this knowledge. Still, I was immensely sad that he dealt with the trauma of this event alone for decades. I believe he released some of the grief, pain, anger, fear, and hurt when he shared his burden with us, and I will …