Psychology Commons^™

Visual Attention In Remote Vehicle Supervision: Examining The Effects Of Mental Models And Information Bandwidth, Michael Stanley Politowicz

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Advances in automation and aviation technologies have been catalysts for the emerging market of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), an ecosystem of novel aircraft concepts including package delivery drones and passenger carrying air-taxis. Future aircraft operators in this environment will be tasked with remotely supervising multiple highly automated aircraft on a visual interface while receiving less training than traditional pilots. More research should explore how an operator’s potentially limited understanding of an automated system affects visual performance and interactions between human operators and AAM technologies. This study examined the influence of mental models of an autopilot system on visual attention allocation …

Comparing The Effects Of Task Experience And Interruption Source On Resumption Performance, Sarah Anastazia Powers

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The timing of an interruption can be disruptive to task performance; however, the effect of participant control over when interruptions occur is not well understood. Further, it is unclear how participants’ experience with the primary task influences when they decide to address interruptions. Utilizing a 2 (task experience, between subjects) X 3 (interruption source, within subjects) mixed design, undergraduate students who had different amounts of experience with a computer-based medication dosage calculation task completed three trials of the task: once with the experimenter scheduling interruptions to occur at coarse breakpoints within the task, once with the participants deciding when to …

Partners In Crisis: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Collaboration Between Crisis Intervention Team Officers And Mental Health Professionals, Jessica L. Huffman

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are often the first responders to crisis situations, which increasingly include mental health crises. Collaborating with mental health professionals and organizations increases the likelihood that individuals will receive a response that is contextually and culturally informed by an understanding of mental health needs and considerations. For this reason, Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) have been established to train LEOs and to unite efforts with mental health professionals, advocates, and community constituents. While there is existing and ongoing literature exploring the responses provided by CIT, there is limited research on the experiences of CITs related to their unique …

No, You Can't Just Peek In Their Brain To See Their Future, Alia Barcus

Tredway Library Prize for First-Year Research

This paper argues against the use of predictive cognitive neuroscience research in judicial processes. Barcus argues that, because predictive models do not adequately address the “whys” of behavior and are better suited to macro-scale processes rather than individual-level predictions, they can only provide “a crude idea of future behavior” at best and will be bias-laden and inaccurate at worst. Meanwhile, neuroscience brain imaging is a newly-developing field and relies on small-scale studies, a combination that creates little replicability and presents deeply-flawed outcomes when this research is used as a basis for criminal prosecution. Barcus concludes that this scholarship, while holding …

Process Evaluation And Investigation Of Cultural Adaptations For An Online Parent-Based Intervention Using A Mixed-Method Approach, Reed M. Morgan, Bradley M. Trager, Sarah C. Boyle, Joseph W. Labrie, Constanza Trejo, Ina M. Koning

Heads Up!

Abstract Most alcohol intervention research focuses on program efficacy, yet few studies have investigated the acceptability of a program’s design and implementation to the target population or adapting existing alcohol interventions to different populations. To address these gaps in the literature, we (1) examined participant responsiveness to and implementation quality of FITSTART+, a web-app delivered parent-based alcohol intervention designed for incoming first-year college students in the United States, and (2) gathered feedback on how this intervention could be adapted to other populations of parents. A sample of U.S. parents of 17–20-year-old first-year college students (N=109) participated in FITSTART+during their child’s …

Investigating The Relationship Between Preferred Learning Styles And Individual Characteristics, Carla Canales, Makalah Macias, Helena S. Svilberg

Posters - 2024

An individual’s ability to learn is important especially for thriving in a learning environment. Many people have a false understanding of learning styles. Individuals are influenced by many different factors on an everyday basis. While there are many limitations that influence an individual’s learning style, this study was conducted to investigate academic demographics and learning styles. A comparison was made between an individual’s prior education, age, gender, and course history with the Barsch Learning Style Inventory score. A survey was used to snowball to different participants around the St. Mary’s University campus and other campuses. The survey collected demographic questions, …

Examining The Effects Of Social Group Persecution And Traumatic Humiliation In Survivors Of Torture, Tilda Cvrkel

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Refugees and asylum seekers account for 34.4 million people worldwide (UNHCR, 2021), and up to 40% of this population are survivors of torture (UNHCR, 2017). The Istanbul Protocol (United Nations, 2022) describes one of the explicit ends of torture as the severing of a person from their community, a breaking of their dignity and humanity. This may be done explicitly, through acts of traumatic humiliation. Traumatic humiliation includes acts such as forcing victims to eat religiously forbidden food, forced posing or touching others in culturally taboo sexual ways, forced nudity or clothing that reflects misgendering (such as “emasculating” clothing), widespread …

Everyone Deserves A Dental Home, Loren C. Baim Dds

The New York State Dental Journal

With knowledge and preparation, dental practices should be able to accommodate the growing population of people on the autism spectrum.

Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel

Senior Theses

Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …

”To Be Or Not To Be – It’S Good”: Actor And Student Experiences In A Drama Club For People With Aphasia, Jade K. Hannan

Senior Theses

Individuals with aphasia, a disorder caused by damage to the brain’s language network, confront a variety of social and emotional struggles. While leaving their cognition largely intact, aphasia tremendously impacts a person’s ability to communicate confidently, fracturing their social network and contributing to feelings of loneliness and frustration. To address this persistent need in the chronic aphasia population, the Play on Words drama club at the University of South Carolina provides a forum for people with aphasia (PWA) to engage in dramatic exercises focused on non-verbal communication of emotions, ideas, and stories, culminating the production of an original devised play. …

Focus Group And Survey Responses To Postural Feedback During Creative Movement Exploration, Mary C. Matthews

Senior Theses

John H. Riskind’s “appropriateness hypothesis” states that posture, positions, and gestures can be emotionally self-regulating if an individual holds a posture that is appropriate for its context. A litany of studies on power posing suggests expansive postures could increase Feelings of Power. One meta-analytic review demonstrates the “robust” significance for evidence of “power feelings, emotion, or self-esteem” due to postural feedback while cautioning researchers on the empirical invalidity of evidence for behavioral and physiological variables. A qualitative description of individuals’ experiences as they change posture, gesture, and position would direct future research on postural feedback. The current project qualitatively examines …

The Influence Of Texting On Perceived Warmth: The Role Of Punctuation And Emoji, Elizabeth Mathews

Senior Honors Theses

Technology Mediated Communication (TMC) has become an essential part of interpersonal communication. Punctuation and emoji are major vessels of nonverbal communication in texting. The impact of punctuation and emoji use on perceptions of warmth was tested with 291 residential undergraduate students at Liberty University who were at least 18 years old. Through an online questionnaire, participants read a series of text messages with a randomly assigned condition of having either punctuation and emoji, punctuation and no emoji, no punctuation and emoji, or no punctuation and no emoji. Results indicated a significant main effect for the presence of emoji on perceived …

Christian Code Of Silence: The Church’S Current Response To Clergy Sexual Misconduct And Potential Improvements Utilizing Principles Of Restorative Justice, Skya Lau

Senior Honors Theses

The prevalent and pervasive issue of clergy sexual misconduct within the Christian church has been perpetuated under a code of silence through the use of perverted Scripture to support its tactics. By departing from biblically aligned principles, and silencing the victims and protecting the offenders, the church’s current response has detrimental effects, calling into question the moral standing of the church. However, by practically implementing the principles of community, accountability, and forgiveness found in restorative justice and interpreting them through a biblical lens, the church can begin to improve their response. In dismantling the code of silence, the church can …

The Perception Of Children As Reliable Eyewitnesses, Shelby Mcdonald

Psychology Student Papers and Posters

Eyewitness accounts have been integral to the criminal justice system. However, given that not every criminal case has forensic evidence that is available or admissible, the reliance on eyewitness accounts conjures questions about believability. This is an important area of research because the over-belief of witnesses may lead to wrongful convictions, yet under-belief may leave the victim without justice. The current study investigated how child-witness age, race, role as a witness (bystander versus victim), and the gender of the juror influenced the perception of child eyewitnesses through the lens of the Witness Credibility Model. Participants were presented with the testimony …

Adolescent Marijuana Use And The Contribution To The Development Of Schizophrenia, Jocelyn Spandikow

Psychology Student Papers and Posters

Schizophrenia is an often debilitating mental condition that has become a popular topic of psychological research in recent years. Current research examines the correlation between drug use, genetics, and environment on the development of schizophrenia. Research looks at the structure of the brain in individuals with and without schizophrenia. However, research has failed to look at the specific correlation between marijuana use in adolescent youth and the developmental impact on the brain, including in the development of schizophrenia. The legalization of many recreational drugs, including marijuana, has come to fruition in recent years. This has raised concerns over adolescent access …

Adhd And Lifetime Behavior: The Relationship Between Adhd And Negative Behavioral Patterns, Mattie F. Harris

Psychology Student Papers and Posters

Despite more recent recognition, those with ADHD are till often left behind by their peers as they enter a world that is not built to accommodate them. They’re often left with less preparation for their entrance into adulthood which may lead to behavioral issues as they grow older. The current study examined neurotypical individuals as well as those diagnosed with ADHD and their behavioral issues in their adult life under the guidance of Agnew’s General Strain Theory (2002). Agnew’s theory posits that relationships that put strain on individuals may lead to these same individuals committing negative, and often criminal, behaviors. …

The Impact Of Modernization On Mating Strategies In Iran: A Comparison Across Cities Versus Small Towns, Saeed Koohgard, Kai Lin Lynn Tan, Norman P. Li, Marzie Hashemi

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The mating market in Iran has shown an increased rate of relationship formation. In such relationships, the most important pillar is physical attractiveness. We adopt an evolutionary perspective to understand this trend. Through comparing districts with different levels of modernization, this study explores the effects of modernization on mate preferences in Iran. We propose that rapid modernization reduces the preference for long-term relationships and has led to a rise in short-term mating strategies. We predict that the rise of short-term mating strategies will be reflected in higher frequencies of relationships and prioritizing physical attraction in mateseeking in modern versus non-modern …

Motivations Matter: Moral And Health-Related Motives Indirectly Relate To Differential Psychological Health Indicators Among Vegetarians, Xiaoyu Dai, Angela K. Y. Leung

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Due to rising popularity of vegetarianism in recent years, research interest has surged in examining the relationship between vegetarianism and psychological health. However, given inconsistent findings in prior research, the answer to whether practicing vegetarianism is associated with better or worse psychological health is still elusive. The present investigation aimed to demonstrate that vegetarians are not homogeneous in terms of psychological experiences, such that it is crucial to consider the motives behind vegetarians’ dietary choice when examining their psychological health. In a survey study with 266 vegetarians and 104 omnivores, it was shown that health vegetarians displayed higher levels of …

A Four-Level Meta-Analytic Review Of The Relationship Between Social Media And Well-Being: A Fresh Perspective In The Context Of Covid-19, Joax Wong, Xin Yi Poh, Frosch Quek, Verity Lua, Nadyannam M. Majeed, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Social media, one of the most pervasive forms of technology, has been widely studied in relation to the mental health and well-being of individuals. However, the current literature on social media and well-being has provided mixed and inconclusive findings, thus creating a polarizing view of social media. These mixed findings continue to extend into the pandemic, with researchers debating over the effects of social media in the new norms of social isolation. In light of these inconclusive findings, the aim of our meta-analysis was to synthesize previous research data in order to have a holistic understanding of the association between …

Efficacy Of Digital Mental Health Interventions For Ptsd Symptoms: A Systematic Review Of Meta-Analyses, Yue Qi Germaine Tng, Xun Ci Soh, Xun Ci Soh, Andree Hartanto, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Background: The present systematic review aimed to synthesize the results of meta-analyses which examine the effects of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and investigate whether intervention characteristics (i.e., technique, timeframe, and therapeutic guidance) and methodological characteristics including outcome measures and sample inclusion criteria (age, gender, socioeconomic status, country, comorbidity) moderate the efficacy of digital interventions. Methods: A systematic search of various sources (ECSCOhost PsycInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCOhost ERIC, Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses) including five peer-reviewed journals was conducted to identify relevant meta-analyses up to December 2023, and 11 meta-analyses …

The Association Between Mental Health Disorders And Glycemic Control In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Marcella Pietrzyk

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Adolescence is a very challenging period in a person's life as it is often filled with hormonal changes, emotional turmoil, and time for development socially, emotionally, and mentally. The addition of a chronic illness on top of the transition from child to adult creates a large burden on quality of life. The most common chronic illness diagnosed in adolescence is type 1 diabetes. This is an illness with a significant medical burden as it requires close monitoring of blood glucose levels, constant insulin injections, and diet control. The combination of adolescence and a chronic illness leads to higher rates of …

Navigating Intersectional Identities: Mental Health Challenges And Accessibility To Mental Health Care Among Sub-Saharan Migrant Women In Morocco, Soraya Babahaji

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Since the beginning of the 21st century, as Morocco transitions from solely being a transit point to Europe to becoming a destination country for Sub-Saharan migrants, policies have been implemented to improve migrant integration. Morocco launched the National Strategy on Immigration and Asylum in 2015 which strives to ensure accessibility to essential services for migrants, such as education, healthcare, and integration into the workforce. In addition, through the 2013 New Migration Policy framework, King Mohammed VI aims to “include avenues for regularization” to help migrants integrate into Moroccan society.

This paper addresses how intersecting factors of identity can lead to …

The Impact Of Asian American Cultural Centers On Sense Of Belongingness For Asian American Undergraduate Students, Malina B. Maladore

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

This dissertation examines the role of cultural centers and experiences of microaggressions in shaping the ethnic identity of Asian American undergraduates in U.S. higher education institutions. Utilizing Phinney’s model of ethnic identity development, a study with 175 participants revealed a positive correlation between reported microaggressions and sense of ethnic belonging in students attending universities with cultural centers. The findings highlight the complexities of belongingness and the potential impact of cultural centers on ethnic identity and experiences of microaggressions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of Asian American students’ experiences in higher education. This dissertation is available in open access …

In And Through The Body: A Quantitative Exploration Of Embodiment In Eating Disorders, Lauren Zaniboni

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

The field of clinical psychology has long privileged cognitive and affective experience and information over that which is stored in, and communicated by, the body (Caldwell, 2018; Young, 2006). Despite the profound and complex web of interactions between mind and body in EDs, this subspecialty has been no exception. The need for improvements in eating disorder (ED) treatment outcomes is well documented and transtheoretically accepted. Current practice guidelines for the treatment of adult EDs recommend the utilization of cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal strategies to target problematic thinking and deficits in emotion regulation that are thought to fuel ED behaviors (American …

Engaging In Art To Support Social-Emotional Learning (Eassel): A Classroom-Based Approach, Hailey Mcafee-Scimone

PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Dissertations (New England)

This dissertation describes a project to develop an art-based curriculum to teach young elementary school-age children social and emotional skills in the classroom based on the experiences of experts in the field of elementary education. Social-emotional learning (SEL) focuses on several key concepts including skills in interpersonal relationships, emotion regulation, and mindfulness (McClelland et al., 2017). By addressing SEL early within the education curriculum, children are exposed to resources that will help them to develop strong regulation skills, engage in identity exploration, and practice healthy relationship skills (Jones et al., 2017). The integration of SEL and art creates a learning …

Cold Medicine Abuse And Increased Odds Of Recreational Drug Use, Luis Barco

Posters - 2024

Over the counter (OTC) medications are frequently used to address the symptoms associated with common illnesses that affect the public. (SOURCE) Of these OTC medications, cold and cough medications are some of the most widely used. However, cold medications pose a risk in exhibiting different effects depending on which active ingredient is the most prevalent. Dextromethorphan (DXM), one of the most common ingredients in cough medicine, can lead to the development of symptoms that mirror psychosis associated with phencyclidine abuse (1). Though less common, abuse of codeine can also result in the formation of gastric ulcers, internal bleeding, and inflammation …

A Longitudinal Study Of The Development Of Social Anxiety In Young Autistic Children, Gillian K. Marshall

Senior Theses

Social anxiety is a prevalent anxiety disorder marked by fear and discomfort in social situations where scrutiny or evaluation by others is anticipated. This thesis investigates the interplay between social anxiety and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and communication challenges. Individuals with ASD often face heightened levels of anxiety, intensifying their social difficulties and impeding their social development. Early identification of social anxiety symptoms, particularly in ASD children, is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes. However, diagnosing social anxiety in preschool-aged children, especially those with ASD, presents challenges due to the complexity of symptoms …

Reciprocal Relationships Between Stress And Depressive Symptoms: The Essential Role Of The Nucleus Accumbens, Yizhou Ma, Peter Kochunov, Mark D Kvarta, Tara Legates, Bhim M Adhikari, Joshua Chiappelli, Andrew Van Der Vaart, Eric L Goldwaser, Heather Bruce, Kathryn S Hatch, Si Gao, Shuo Chen, Ann Summerfelt, Thomas E Nichols, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Stress and depression have a reciprocal relationship, but the neural underpinnings of this reciprocity are unclear. We investigated neuroimaging phenotypes that facilitate the reciprocity between stress and depressive symptoms.

METHODS: In total, 22 195 participants (52.0% females) from the population-based UK Biobank study completed two visits (initial visit: 2006-2010, age = 55.0 ± 7.5 [40-70] years; second visit: 2014-2019; age = 62.7 ± 7.5 [44-80] years). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between self-report stressful life events (SLEs) and depressive symptoms. Cross-sectional data were used to examine the overlap between neuroimaging correlates of SLEs and …

Harnessing The Power Of Cliftonstrengths®: How Multinational Corporations Can Use Deep-Level Diversity To Enhance Organizational Inclusion, Trapper Kay Pace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explicitly investigated how multinational corporations can enhance workplace inclusion through the novel use of the CliftonStrengths® assessment as a dimension of deep-level diversity. The study gleaned insights from employees’ perspectives, employing a constructivist grounded theory approach to explicate their experiences in rich qualitative narratives. Through open-ended surveys and intensive interviews, participants were selected using purposeful sampling to ensure meaningful data collection from the study organizations’ three global regions. The researcher conducted the analysis systematically through the constant comparison of data utilizing the NVivo14 software to assist in constructing codes, themes, and a theoretical schema. Results highlighted the significance …

Readiness Of Nociceptor Cell Bodies To Generate Spontaneous Activity Results From Background Activity Of Diverse Ion Channels And High Input Resistance, Jinbin Tian, Alexis G Bavencoffe, Michael X Zhu, Edgar T Walters

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Nociceptor cell bodies generate "spontaneous" discharge that can promote ongoing pain in persistent pain conditions. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Recordings from nociceptor cell bodies (somata) dissociated from rodent and human dorsal root ganglia have shown that previous pain in vivo is associated with low-frequency discharge controlled by irregular depolarizing spontaneous fluctuations of membrane potential (DSFs), likely produced by transient inward currents across the somal input resistance. Using mouse nociceptors, we show that DSFs are associated with high somal input resistance over a wide range of membrane potentials, including depolarized levels where DSFs approach action potential (AP) threshold. …