Social Psychology Commons^™

An Experimental Evaluation Of A Gamified Learning Approach To Address Bullying Knowledge, Perceptions, And Self-Efficacy Among Elementary Students: Playing Yozgoo In Albania, Sashen Rexhepaj

All Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Yozgoo's web-based gamified educational intervention in enhancing elementary school students’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to bullying prevention in Albania. Utilizing a true experimental pre-test and post-test control group design, the study involved 120 students (ages 10-12) equally divided by gender and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 60) or a control group (n = 60). The experimental group participated in Yozgoo gameplay sessions over six to eight weeks, while the control group engaged in standard activities without exposure to the intervention.

Three validated measures were administered to assess outcomes: …

Entre La Sombra Y El Lienzo: Clea Dessendre Como Modelo De Personaje Secundario Complejo, Lydia Huijbregts Jaen, Antonio Horno López

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

Introducción: Este artículo analiza a Clea Dessendre en Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, explorando su versión real y la pintada en el lienzo, y su impacto en la narrativa del juego. Metodología: Se aplicó un análisis narrativo, psicológico y ludológico, integrando teorías de duelo (Kübler-Ross), socialización (Baumrind) y comunicación (DiSC) vinculadas con la jugabilidad. Resultados: Clea-Real encarna disciplina y perfeccionismo; Clea-Pintada, una proyección maternal. El gameplay conecta su psicología con la experiencia del jugador. Discusión: Las identidades paralelas muestran cómo traumas y expectativas moldean personajes complejos. Conclusiones: Clea evidencia cómo la narrativa y la mecánica se fusionan para crear …

John Henryism And The African American Experience: An Exploration Of Risk And Protective Factors And Health Outcomes, Joseph L. Twitdy

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial discrimination has been tied to adverse mental and physical health outcomes among African Americans. In the face of this adversity, African Americans have developed strategies for coping with everyday experiences of discrimination. One such coping method is based on the concept of John Henryism. The folktale of John Henry tells the story of an African American steel-driver racing against a steam-powered drill to clear a path for trains through a mountain. Although John Henry wins the race, he later dies due to exhaustion, ultimately passing with his hammer in his hand. The psychological concept of John Henryism (JH) refers …

Educating For Impact: A Prosocial Marketing Approach To Foster Altruism Among Young Consumers, Bela Florenthal

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This study explores how a prosocial marketing intervention in a dual-enrollment course fosters altruistic values and emotional development among young consumers while deepening their understanding of cause-related and social marketing. Grounded in holistic and experiential learning, the project required students to engage in weekly acts of kindness, reflect on their experiences, and share their actions on social media to amplify impact. Thematic analysis of qualitative data collected over two academic years revealed personal growth driven by intrinsic motivation (e.g., belonging, self-esteem) and positive emotions (e.g., joy, pride). Students demonstrated greater social awareness and practical application of marketing principles through volunteering, …

Attachment To Artificial Intelligence: Development Of The Ai Attachment Scale, Construct Validation, And The Psychological Mechanisms Of Human-Ai Attachment, K Tennakoon Appuhamillage Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly integrated into daily life, not only as tools but also as social partners that people may turn to for interaction and support. This raises important questions about whether, how, and why individuals form attachment-like bonds with AI, and the psychological implications of such attachments. Across five studies involving 1259 unique participants from Singapore and the U.S., the current work developed and validated the 15-item AI Attachment Scale and investigated the dispositional and motivational factors associated with attachment to AI, as well as its emotional and social outcomes. The AI Attachment Scale displayed strong psychometric …

Effectiveness Of Cognitive And Behavioral Interventions In The Treatment Of Schizophrenia: An Umbrella Review Of Meta-Analyses, Gabriel Xing Da Tan, Andree Hartanto, Zoey Khai Yee Eun, Meilan Hu, Kean J. Hsu, Nadyanna M. Majeed

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Background: Cognitive and behavioral interventions have risen in popularity both as an adjunctive treatment to antipsychotic medication and as an alternative treatment for schizophrenia. With the growing number of such interventions, we performed an umbrella review to provide a comprehensive summary comparing the effectiveness of the different interventions among populations with schizophrenia. Methods: This umbrella review included meta-analyses evaluating cognitive and behavioral interventions for schizophrenia. Following PRISMA guidelines, the initial search yielded 4888 records, and after a three-stage screening procedure, 33 meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis. Results: Our findings from the 33 meta-analyses support the efficacy …

Motivation And Productivity Of Female Employees In China With Scoliosis Pain, Shauna-Kay Reeves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A scoliosis diagnosis can impact an individual’s work performance, particularly if there is a lack of proper ergonomics or workplace accommodations that might lead to increased pain and discomfort. Organizational leaders must understand this impact as an indicator of employee motivation and productivity. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore the lived experience of female employees in China with scoliosis pain and its impact on their motivation and productivity. The theoretical foundations used in this study were the job demands-resources model and the self-determination theory. The participants consisted of eight female employees with scoliosis pain working …

How Human Personality Will Change With The Use Of Artificial Intelligence, John Mayer

UNH Personality Lab

INTRODUCTION: Human personality changes in response to new habits, situations, and maturation, among other causes. As people interact with artificial intelligence (AI), their personalities are likely to change, from their emotional responses to their self-concept.

METHODOLOGY: This theoretical account draws together empirical studies of how personality changed in response to past technological innovations, changes in personal interactions observed in people’s AI usage, changes that arise from the use and disuse of cognitive skills, and works on the self-concept. Research reports in the review were selected according to their relevance and quality.

THEORETICAL STATEMENT: While AI becomes increasingly human-like, humans increasingly …

Divorcees’ Experiences Of Hubristic Pride In Communication In Previous Marital Relationships, Amanda Harms

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor communication practices have significantly strained marital relationships, contributing to increased divorce rates in the United States. As a self-conscious emotion, hubristic pride often leads to poor communication, which in turn exacerbates marital discord and contributes to the breakdown of families. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how divorcees perceive the impact of hubristic pride on communication in their previous marriages. The theoretical framework underpinning this study was Homans’s social exchange theory. Data were obtained from eight divorced participants not actively involved in ongoing custody proceedings through semistructured interviews and analyzed using Saldaña’s descriptive coding methodology. …

Sense Of Belonging And Student Success Among College Students, Sriram Tandri Mr

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Abstract

A sense of belonging and self-efficacy are vital needs of college students, both shown to be significant predictors for student success. Thus, our study will focus on academic performance and the contributing factors that might have a significant influence on overall student success rates. The purpose of the present project is to build upon prior research by developing a new measure in the field of social psychology, investigating the relationship between college students’ sense of belonging, combined with individual factors such as self-efficacy, and how they contribute to student success and academic performance. This study consists of a quantitative, …

Understanding The Lived Experience Of Mental Health Following An Alpha-Gal Syndrome Diagnosis: A Phenomenological Study Grounded In Maslow’S Hierarchy Of Needs, Heather L. Hargis

Dissertations

Alpha-gal syndrome is a tick-borne food allergy that triggers delayed allergic reactions to mammalian products and profoundly alters daily life. While growing research examines the physiological aspects of alpha-gal syndrome, little is known about its psychological impact. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals with alpha-gal syndrome to understand how the condition influences mental health through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Data was collected through semi-structured virtual interviews with adults medically diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges in meeting Maslow’s lower-tier needs—physiological, safety, and love/belonging—due to dietary restrictions, medical uncertainty, social isolation, and …

The Experiences Of African Americans Seeking Health Care Services, Sandy Latreice Sullivan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care experiences are shaped by life events and cultural background, making engagement with providers individualized. African Americans have historically reported distrust of health professionals due to targeted mistreatment. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of middle-aged African American adults receiving care from non-African American health care providers. Rosenstock’s health belief model was the framework for the study. Nine participants were recruited from social media using purposeful sampling. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews held on Zoom. Saldana’s four-step qualitative data analysis process was utilized to analyze the data. The results of the data …

Childhood Events And Counseling Experiences Of Chinese And Korean American Transracial Adoptees, Mele Kramer, Lee Stadtlander

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

From the 1950s through 2024, transracial adoptions—particularly of Korean and Chinese children—have been increasingly prevalent in Western societies. While these adoptions provided children with opportunities to grow up in loving and supportive families, they also introduced unique challenges related to identity, cultural integration, and self-esteem. This basic qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Chinese and Korean transracial adoptees (TRAs) within their adoptive families, in their interactions with counseling, and their perceptions of the effectiveness of counseling interventions. The study was grounded in Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and the Openness to Communication framework to examine the experiences of 19 …

The Lived Experiences Of Imposter Syndrome Among Women Of Color Professors In Higher Education, Adrianna Marie Hooker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the unique challenges faced by women of color professors in higher education, who often experience imposter syndrome due to systemic barriers and underrepresentation. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how these professors experienced and made meaning of imposter syndrome in academic settings. The central research question examined the meaning of imposter syndrome among women of color professors in higher education. This study was grounded in intersectionality and self-determination theory, which provided frameworks for understanding how multiple identities influenced feelings of inadequacy and professional identity. Participants included 12 women of …

“Home.”: A Trauma-Informed Children’S Book Exploring Secure Attachment For Children In Foster Care, Keeli Langford

Undergraduate Theses

Estimates suggest 6% of U.S. children (nearly half a million) will be placed in foster care at any point between their birth and eighteenth birthday (Turney & Wildeman, 2017). This population of children is subject to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; Turney & Wildeman, 2017). Such ACEs include parental divorce, parental incarceration, parental abuse, a household member with a psychological disorder, violence exposure, or a household member grappling with substance use. Exposure to childhood ACEs can negatively affect children behaviorally, emotionally, socially, and academically (Lawrence et al., 2006; McGuire et al., 2021). Research indicates youth in foster care are more …

Understanding The Barriers And Challenges Of Spanish-Speaking Latinos Who Received Calaim Initiative Social Support Services, Jessica De Lara Vallejo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spanish-speaking Latinos continue to face significant barriers when attempting to access social support services through healthcare initiatives such as California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). Despite previous efforts to address this issue, this population continues to encounter barriers such as systemic discrimination, language barriers, and limited access to culturally responsive care. This qualitative study was guided by the consolidated framework for implementation research and used an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to explore the lived experiences of Spanish-speaking Latino parents whose children received CalAIM asthma home remediation (AHR) services. The purpose of this study was to understand the barriers and challenges …

The Impact Of Microaggression Exposure On Emotional Reactivity And Distress Following An Emotionally Provocative Movie Scene, Gwendolyn Jefferson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study explored how past experiences with racial microaggressions affect emotional reactions to racially charged media and whether factors like age and gender influence that response. Using Minority Stress Theory as a guide, 183 African American adults completed the Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after watching a racially provocative film clip. The first analysis found no direct link between microaggression exposure and emotional change. However, further testing with analysis of variance showed that people with higher exposure reported much stronger emotional distress than those with lower exposure, F(1,180) = 38.12, p < .001, η² = .175. When demographic factors were added in a hierarchical regression, the model became significant, F(7,175) = 2.06, p = .036, R² = .076, showing that age (β = .086, p = .009) and gender (β = 1.505, p = .039) influenced emotional responses. Thus, older African American women showed the strongest distress, suggesting that the combined effects of race, gender, and age increase vulnerability to racial stress. These findings support the idea that racial trauma is complex and shaped by overlapping social identities. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive mental health support, inclusive media portrayals, and greater awareness of generational and caregiving stress among African American women. By showing how overlapping identities shape emotional well-being, this research advances social change through empathy, reduced stigma, and institutional accountability, encouraging equity-driven practices that foster racial healing, fairness, and psychological resilience across communities.

The Impact Of Stereotype Threat And Grit On The Experience Of Imposter Syndrome, Lindsey C. Davis

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

In-Progress Research Imposter syndrome (IP) is a psychological phenomenon in which one has an internal experience of intellectual phoniness. This phenomenon is particularly seen within workplaces. Past researchers have found that females tend to report higher levels of IP, with Stereotype Threat (ST) being a cited explanation. A common denominator in much of the literature is how a lack of Belongingness can activate Stereotype Threat in females, especially in male-dominated workplaces. It has been found that individuals high in IP, especially females, tend to experience poor mental health outcomes. Past research has also established a link between IP and Conscientiousness …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Parenting Under Constraint: How Histories Of Abuse And Sexual Violence Shape Mothers' Caregiving In A Homeless Shelter, Kiera P. Irvin

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Background: Mothers experiencing homelessness often carry extensive trauma histories, yet little work examines how abuse and sexual violence shape day-to-day parenting inside communal shelter settings. This study explored how trauma histories intersect with shelter structures to influence caregiving and feelings surrounding parenting among homeless mothers.

Method: Using a qualitative design, four mothers (ages 30–51) residing in a large Midwestern homeless shelter completed approximately 30-minute, semi-structured interviews in a private room onsite. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with inductive reflexive thematic analysis in Dedoose.

Results: Three interrelated themes were identified. (1) Parenting Under Constraint, in which communal living, limited …