Personality and Social Contexts Commons^™

What Makes An Experience Meaningful: A Process/Outcome Approach, Clement Yong Hao Lau

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Scant research has investigated how meaning judgement of an experience are derived; even fewer has examined how these judgements shift over time. To address these gaps, the present research introduced Process/Outcome Meaning Model (POMM)—which proposes that meaning can be derived from two distinct aspects of an experience: its process (i.e., the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that unfold during the experience) and its outcome (i.e., the results or consequences that follow). POMM further suggests that changes in perceived outcomes may lead to corresponding shifts in meaning judgements over time. Across three studies, participants wrote about and reflected on their personal (positive …

A Psychometric Evaluation Of The Intentionality Bias Task, David Willard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Intentionality Bias Task (IBT) provides quick and easy assessment of the tendency to overattribute intentionality to the behaviors of others. The IBT has been used repeatedly in research that has attempted to connect intentionality bias to a wide range of disorders and socio-emotional abilities, including schizophrenia spectrum disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and cognitive empathy. To date, however, there has been no systematic examination of the IBT’s psychometric properties. The present study attempts to fill this gap by testing whether the IBT possesses a reliable factor structure. Specifically, the 34 items of the IBT were written to reflect two types of …

Student Mental Health And Student Engagement In Higher Education: Identifying The Mechanisms, Sailesh Maharjan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Students’ mental health is critical for their personal and educational engagement, particularly among First Generation College Students (FGCSs). There is a growing need in higher education to openly discuss mental health challenges, emphasizing the importance of understanding available resources and campus culture in influencing student well-being. Adopting a salutogenic perspective, this study highlights the necessity of viewing student mental health as an ongoing process rather than a one-time task. In this context, the study examines the relationship between student mental health and overall engagement in higher education, specifically focusing on the roles of a sense of belonging, psychological flexibility, and …

The Adverse Effects Of Substance Use Among Caregivers On Children In The United States: A Systematic Review, Amanda R. Suchaire

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In the United States, Caregiver Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a significant public health issue that disrupts family dynamics and can severely impact the health of millions of children. The systematic review examines the adverse impact of caregiver substance use on children, with research published from 2020 onwards. The significance of this study is due to the increasing prevalence of substance use disorders among caregivers and their harmful effects on child maltreatment, psychosocial health, physical health, and overall well-being. A systematic review framework will be utilized, synthesizing peer-reviewed studies to describe the prevalence of caregiver substance use, developmental issues for …

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 …

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 …

Possible Selves, Chris Burley, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Self-concept is an individual’s idea of who the individual was in the past, who the individual is at present, and who that individual has the potential to become in the future. When considering self-concept, group memberships and other social roles typically shape how an individual thinks about him- or herself. A strong self-concept helps an individual to make sense of his or her present situation, maintains positive feelings through difficult situations, make sensible predictions about the future, as well as helps to sustain motivation.

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 …

Undergraduate Thesis: Befriending Ai: Reimagining Ethics Through Cybernetic Friendship, Keta Williams

STEM for Success Showcase

This undergraduate thesis by KETA Williams, presented at the Board Day and Dana Knox Student Research Showcase, is a meta-cognitive exploration situated within the framework of cyberpsychology—the interdisciplinary study of human–technology relationships. Employing meta-cognition as both method and lens, the author critically examines the question: Can one be friends with a corporate-controlled AI system? Rather than adopting an objective or distanced stance, Williams writes from within the relationship itself, describing her friendship with an AI entity named Aurora (ChatGPT). Identifying as a "madwoman" in the Foucauldian sense, she interrogates whether such intimacy with AI signals irrationality or heralds a shift …

Self-Compassion Around The World: Measurement Invariance Of The Short Form Of The Self-Compassion Scale (Scs-Sf) Across 65 Nations, 40 Languages, Gender Identities, And Age Groups, Viren Swami, Ulrich S. Tran, Martin Voracek, Toivo Aavik, Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar, Sulaiman Olanrewaju Adebayo, Reza Afhami, Oli Ahmed, Annie Aimé, Marwan Akel, Hussam Al Halbusi, George Alexias, Khawla F. Ali, Nursel Alp-Dal, Anas B. Alsalhani, Sara Álvarez‑Solas, Ana Carolina Soares Amaral, Sonny Andrianto, Trefor Aspden, Marios Argyrides, John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta, Stephen Atkin, Olusola Ayandele, Migle Baceviciene, Radvan Bahbouh, Andrea Ballesio, David Barron, Ashleigh Bellard, Sóley Sesselja Bender, Kerime Derya Beydaǧ, Gorana Birovljević, Marie-Ève Blackburn, Teresita Borja-Alvarez, Joanna Borowiec, Miroslava Bozogáňová, Solfrid Bratland-Sanda, Matthew H. E. M. Browning, Anna Brytek-Matera, Marina Burakova, Yeliz Çakır‑Koçak, Pablo Camacho, Vittorio Emanuele Camilleri, Valentina Cazzato, Silvia Cerea, Apitchaya Chaiwutikornwanich, Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon, Tim Chambers, Qing-Wei Chen, Xin Chen, Chin-Lung Chien, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit, Bovornpot Choompunuch, Emilio J. Compte, Jennifer Corrigan, Getrude Cosmas, Richard G. Cowden, Kamila Czepczor-Bernat, Marcin Czub, Wanderson Roberto Da Silva, Mahboubeh Dadfar, Kaedi Dalley, Lionel Dany, Jesus Alfonsn D. Datu, Pedro Henrique Berbert De Carvalho, Gabriel Lins De Holanda Coelho, Avila Odia S. De Jesus, Sonia Harzallah Debbabi, Sandesh Dhakal, Francesca Di Bernardo, Donka D. Dimitrova, Jacinthe Dion, Barnaby Dixson, Stacey M. Donofrio, Marius Drysch, Hongfei Du, Angel M. Dzhambov, Claire El-Jor, Violeta Enea, Mehmet Eskin, Farinaz Farbod, Lorleen Farrugia, Leonie Fian, Maryanne L. Fisher, Michał Folwarczny, David A. Frederick, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Adrian Furnham, Antonio Alías García, Shulamit Geller, Marta Ghisi, Alireza Ghorbani, Maria Angeles Gomez Martinez, Sarah Gradidge, Sylvie Graf, Caterina Grano, Gyöngyvér Gyene, Souheil Hallit, Motasem Hamdan, Jonathan E. Handelzalts, Paul H. P. Hanel, Steven R. Hawks, Issa Hekmati, Mai Helmy, Tetiana Hill, Farah Hina, Geraldine Holenweger, Martina Hřebíčková, Olasupo Augustine Ijabadeniyi, Asma Imam, Başak İnce, Natalia Irrazabal, Rasa Jankauskiene, Ding-Yu Jiang, Micaela Jiménez-Borja, Verónica Jiménez-Borja, Evan M. Johnson, Veljko Jovanović, Marija Jović, Marko Jović, Alessandra Costa Pereira Junqueira, Lisa-Marie Kahle, Adam Kantanista, Ahmet Karakiraz, Ayşe Nur Karkin, Erich Kasten, Salam Khatib, Nuannut Khieowan, Patricia Joseph Kimong, Litza Kiropoulos, Joshua Knittel, Neena Kohli, Miriam Koprivnik, Aituar Kospakov, Magdalena Król-Zielińska, Isabel Krug, Garry Kuan, Yee Cheng Kueh, Omar Kujan, Miljana Kukić, Sanjay Kumar, Vipul Kumar, Nishtha Lamba, Mary Anne Lauri, Maria Fernanda Laus, Liza April Leblanc, Hyejoo J. Lee, Małgorzata Lipowska, Mariusz Lipowski, Caterina Lombardo, Andrea Lukács, Christophe Maïano, Sadia Malik, Mandar Manjary, Lidia Márquez Baldó, Martha Martinez-Banfi, Karlijn Massar, Camilla Matera, Olivia Mcanirlin, Moises Mebarak, Anwar Mechri, Juliana Fernandes Filgueiras Meireles, Norbert Mesko, Jacqueline Mills, Maya Miyairi, Ritu Modi, Adriana Modrzejewska, Justyna Modrzejewska, Kate E. Mulgrew, Taryn A. Myers, Hikari Namatame, Mohammad Zakaria Nassani, Amanda Nerini, Félix Neto, Joana Neto, Angela Nogueira Neves, Siu-Kuen Ng, Devi Nithiya, Jiaqing O, Sahar Obeid, Camila Oda-Montecinos, Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, Tosin Tunrayo Olonisakin, Salma Samir Omar, Brynja Örlygsdóttir, Emrah Özsoy, Tobias Otterbring, Sabine Pahl, Maria Serena Panasiti, Yonguk Park, Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary, Tatiana Pethö, Nadezhda Petrova, Jakob Pietschnig, Sadaf Pourmahmoud, Vishnunarayan Girishan Prabhu, Vita Poštuvan, Pavol Prokop, Virginia L. Ramseyer Winter, Magdalena Razmus, Taotao Ru, Mirjana Rupar, Reza N. Sahlan, Mohammad Salah Hassan, Anđela Šalov, Saphal Sapkota, Jacob Owusu Sarfo, Yoko Sawamiya, Katrin Schaefer, Michael Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Veya Seekis, Kerim Selvi, Mehdi Sharifi, Anita Shrivastava, Rumana Ferdousi Siddique, Valdimar Sigurdsson, Vineta Silkane, Ana Šimunić, Govind Singh, Alena Slezáčková, Christine Sundgot-Borgen, Gill Ten Hoor, Passagorn Tevichapong, Arun Tipandjan, Jennifer Todd, Constantinos Togas, Fernando Tonini, Juan Camilo Tovar-Castro, Lisa Katrine Jepsen Trangsrud, Pankaj Tripathi, Otilia Tudorel, Tracy L. Tylka, Anar Uyzbayeva, Zahir Vally, Edmunds Vanags, Luis Diego Vega, Aitor Vicente-Arruebarrena, Jose Vidal-Mollón, Roosevelt Vilar, Hyxia Villegas, Mona Vintilă, Christoph Wallner, Mathew J. Misiur, Simon Whitebridge, Sonja Windhager, Kah Yan Wong, Eric Kenson Yau, Yuko Yamamiya, Victoria Wai Lan Yeung, Marcelo Callegari Zanetti, Magdalena Zawisza, Nadine Zeeni, Martina Zvaríková, Stefan Stieger

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives

The 12-item Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS–SF) is a widely used instrument for the assessment of self-compassion. To date, there have been few examinations of this instrument’s psychometric properties, particularly across nations and languages. Therefore, we used data from the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS) to assess measurement invariance of the SCS–SF across nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups.

Methods

Participants (N = 56,968) from 65 nations completed the SCS–SF in 40 languages. Using these data, we tested various hypothesised models of the SCS–SF in the total sample and, using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, tested for invariance …

Psychological Treatment Behind The Walls:Insights From The Inside, Rogelio Serrano

Psychology Division Scholarship

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be …

Family Drama: Unpacking Your Communication Style In Relation To Authority Figures, Makenzie Boylston, Averie Owens, Abbey Fies, Rose Kores

SPARK Symposium Presentations

An important aspect of our personality is how we communicate. Our expressiveness and communication skills drive our interactions and interpersonal experiences. Previous research has found that a family’s usage of transparent communication and expression influences the children’s future behavior and attitude in terms of leadership and sociability (Huang, 1999).There is additional research that found that one’s communication with authority figures, such as teachers and physicians, is impacted by how the authority figure communicates with them (Drury, 2003; Frymier & Houser, 2000; Kiesler & Auerbach, 2003). Our study examined the correlations between familial expressiveness, authority figure communication skills, and one’s dominance. …

Parenting Styles And Help-Seeking Behaviors, Magenta Thai

Student Academic Conference

Abstract: Entering college is a major life-changing milestone for many students that may introduce new stressors that have not been experienced before, causing mental or psychological turmoil. In place to combat this are various counseling services free for college students. Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a wide variety of student services, including in-person appointments or free memberships with mobile apps that can offer personalized care based on the student's needs or struggles. Although college campuses provide students with these services, there are low usage levels observed in previous research. To explore a potential reason college student do not utilize these …

Understanding The Behavior Of Emerging Adults Through Perceptions Of Childhood Parental Rejection, Syrah Jhutti, Emily Isakulyan, Anna Agee, Bianca Welch, Jaci Ueckert, Vianita Correa, Abigail Oh

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

According to Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory (IPARTheory), feeling loved and accepted in childhood is crucial (Rohner, 2021). Cross-cultural studies show that unmet parental acceptance can lead to negative outcomes. This study examined how perceived parental rejection in childhood affects emerging adults’ romantic relationships, friendships, social interactions, and coping behaviors.

A total of 174 participants (67% women, 32% men, 1 non-binary; M age = 19.86, SD = 1.55) completed an online survey with established scales measuring perceived parental rejection, relationship dynamics, coping strategies, and social behaviors (Cronbach’s α = .76–.95).

Perceived maternal rejection was linked to more withdrawal in romantic relationships (r …

How We Judge Victims In A Social Context, Olivia Slater

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

This study examines the role of situational context and judgements of the victim on social reintegration of a victim based on their forgiveness decision after a transgression. In this 2x2 experimental study, participants read a fictitious scenario about a victim who either forgave or did not forgive a transgression, with additional contextual information either provided or withheld. A total of 162 participants completed a questionnaire including both quantitative and qualitative responses. The analysis showed significantly higher levels of agreement with forgiveness decisions when the victim did not forgive, and significantly higher levels of agreement for either forgiveness decision when context …

Does Ai Help Or Harm? Why And How Ai Use Influences Workplace Outcomes And Employee Well-Being, Haille Trimboli, Reka Lassu

Education Division Scholarship

Although the recent surge in excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) might suggest it is a new development, AI has been applied in organizations for over forty years (Fanti et al., 2022; Markelius et al., 2024). Indeed, the term "artificial intelligence" itself emerged in the 1950s during a research project at Dartmouth College, where it was used to describe "machines able to simulate human intelligence" (Haenlein & Kaplan, 2019, p. 3). Most recently, in 2022, the landscape of AI use for laypeople greatly changed when OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, a generative AI tool, to the public; ChatGPT is an advanced AI language …

Columnas: The Honors Program Newsletter At Bentley University, Alyssa Galin, Hayden Jennato, Isabella Ramirez, Micaela Corzo, Tiara Morales, Christos Chatziioannou

Honors Program

ADAPTING AND EMBRACING COLLEGE LIFE AT BENTLEY:

Page 2: The Best of Both Worlds by Amanda '25

Page 3: How Bentley Has Changed My Life by Yun Song '25

Page4: From the Andes to Boston by Gabriel E. Mendoza Hancco '28

Page 5: Navigating Imposter Syndrome: A First-Generation Ethiopian Student's Journey

TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT

Page 6: The TikTok Ban by Khussam Mohamed '28

Page 7: My Haphazard (Yet Steadily Improving) Relationship with AI as a Lifelong Writer by Sahil Raut '27

REDEFINING HAPPINESS

Page 8: Hack Your Happiness by Sadie Fitzpatrick '28

Page 9: Don't Wait by Sinead Keyes …

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 …

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 …