Fear Of Crime, Intolerance Of Uncertainty, And Trait Worry: A Mediation Model Of Perceived Risk And Victimization Concerns,
2026
CUNY Hunter College
Fear Of Crime, Intolerance Of Uncertainty, And Trait Worry: A Mediation Model Of Perceived Risk And Victimization Concerns, Nicholai N. Chasseau
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined psychological vulnerability and fear of crime in 538 adults from Trinidad and Tobago. Perceived risk was the strongest predictor of fear, while prospective intolerance of uncertainty predicted fear directly. Mediation was supported among Afro-Trinidadians but not Indo-Trinidadians, suggesting sociocultural differences in cognitive pathways linking vulnerability to fear.
Relationships Between Therapists And Diverse Children's Populations And Their Effects,
2026
University of Northern Colorado
Relationships Between Therapists And Diverse Children's Populations And Their Effects, Brenda Sanchez Vega
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Roughly around 13.8% of children and adolescents in the United States receive some sort of counseling or therapy; the main focus of the research is on racial/ethnic minoritized children. Because APA’s ethical codes don’t address all possible situations, positive client-therapist relationships are bound to develop, including dyads or dual relationships, improving treatment progress. With the United States continuing to grow in diversity, there’s still a big gap in the literature surrounding minority children in therapy. Speculating if therapy approaches are used effectively for all children, including minoritized children. Based on past research already conducted, developing a positive client-therapist dual relationship …
Sex Differences In How Celebrity Crushes Bolster Self-Perceived Mate Value,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Sex Differences In How Celebrity Crushes Bolster Self-Perceived Mate Value, Madyson M. King
Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses
Previous research indicates that parasocial relationships provide surrogate connections for individuals to where they offer various psychological benefits. Some benefits include self-esteem and improved body image, which may be connected by such relationships facilitating attainment of one's ideal self. Given this benefit of social surrogacy, it could be possible that a vicarious romantic connection with a parasocial figure may similarly bolster one's mate value if that relationship were to move an individual closer to a personal ideal. We predicted that engagement with a celebrity crush would be associated with a heightened mate value. A community sample of men and women …
Amusement In The Absence Of Empathy: Psychopathy In Relation To The Use And Appreciation Of Dark Humor,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Amusement In The Absence Of Empathy: Psychopathy In Relation To The Use And Appreciation Of Dark Humor, Jolie A. Brewer
Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses
Although humor functions to foster integration between individuals, not all types of humor are equally appreciated by everyone. Some forms of humor are controversial, which limits their appreciation to specific contexts and potentially to specific people. One form of humor that may meet this definition is dark humor. Production of dark humor could imply that the humorist is disinterested in conventional social situations while similarly conveying an exploitative intention. Given that individuals who exhibit heightened levels of psychopathic personality traits also have a relative disinterest in adhering to social norms, it could be possible that psychopathy is associated with a …
Avoiding Pathogens Or Avoiding People? Pathogen Avoidance, Pathogen-Specific Stereotypes, And Intergroup Bias Toward South Asians,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Avoiding Pathogens Or Avoiding People? Pathogen Avoidance, Pathogen-Specific Stereotypes, And Intergroup Bias Toward South Asians, Aashvi Dahiya
Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses
People are motivated to avoid pathogens because infection poses serious risks (e.g., illness, death). Pathogen avoidance often relies on indirect cues and stereotypes—like appearance or group membership—to identify potential pathogen threats. A large body of literature has linked pathogen avoidance to intergroup bias, but recent work suggests that this link may vary across social groups. In particular, pathogen avoidance may be more strongly associated with intergroup bias toward groups specifically linked to pathogen-specific stereotypes. The present study examined whether pathogen-specific stereotype endorsement moderates the relationship between pathogen avoidance and intergroup bias toward South Asians. A sample of 684 participants completed …
The Effect Of Self-Disclosure To Dogs On Stress, Coping, And Emotional Well-Being,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Effect Of Self-Disclosure To Dogs On Stress, Coping, And Emotional Well-Being, Lilian Crawford
Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses
Self-disclosure has been defined as the voluntary sharing of personal thoughts and experiences with another individual, and in recent years, it has been associated with improvements in psychological and physiological well-being. Recent research into animal-assisted therapy has also demonstrated the emotional benefits of interacting with dogs. However, the current research has not yet explored how the specific act of self-disclosure to dogs affects emotional well-being. The present study explored the effects of self-disclosure to dogs on stress, ability to cope, and emotional well-being. Participants (N = 113) included dog owners who were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: self-disclosure …
The Relationship Between Media Use, Identity, And Attitudes Towards Women,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Relationship Between Media Use, Identity, And Attitudes Towards Women, Kelly A. Summers
Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses
Pornography’s popularity among college men is widespread, with degrading content being common in top-selling pornography (Bridges et al., 2010; Foubert et al., 2011). Research has shown higher consumption of degrading pornography is associated with more negative attitudes towards women, greater acceptance of rape culture, more sexist beliefs, and greater likelihood of engaging in aggressive and dominant behavior during physical intimacy (Bridges et al., 2023). “Incels” (a term meaning involuntarily celibate) are individuals who have not yet had a sexual debut despite an interest. Relatively little research exists on this population, but the little that has been conducted suggests incels have …
The Impact Of Framing Effects And Moral Values On Prosocial Engagement,
2026
The University of Southern Mississippi
The Impact Of Framing Effects And Moral Values On Prosocial Engagement, Olajuwon Olagbegi
Dissertations
Framing effects can shape perceptions, beliefs and behavior, particularly in prosocial contexts. The current study examined how language framing (social justice, social activism, volunteerism) and moral values influence interest in prosocial engagement across low- and high-cost helping scenarios. Participants (N = 219) were randomly assigned to one of three framing conditions and reported willingness to help in both low- and high-cost situations. They also completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. Replicating prior work (Olagbegi and colleagues, 2024), participants were more willing to engage in low- than high-cost helping. Across conditions, social justice framing elicited the greatest willingness to help. Higher fairness …
The Effect Of Facial Adiposity On Hypothetical Medical Treatments As A Function Of Disgust,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Effect Of Facial Adiposity On Hypothetical Medical Treatments As A Function Of Disgust, Lindsey Duran
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses
Perceivers are capable of estimating the health of individuals through cues to facial adiposity, with such inferences having accuracy in recognizing worse chronic health among those exhibiting greater adiposity. Nonetheless, these inferences could extend beyond health assessments into subsequent anti-fat prejudice based on perceptions of such individuals as pathogenically threatening. Although potentially functional in ancestral contexts, modern healthcare settings could render this functional stigmatization a liability that results in worse medical care toward those with higher adiposity. In this study, I tasked medical workers to evaluate male and female hypothetical patients at high and low levels of facial adiposity, particularly …
The Role Of Perceived Perpetrator Centrality In Intentions To Express Or Confront Sexist Behaviors,
2026
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The Role Of Perceived Perpetrator Centrality In Intentions To Express Or Confront Sexist Behaviors, Anna G. Miller
Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects
Confronting sexist acts (e.g., by saying, “That was sexist!”) has been empirically shown to reduce others’ sexist behaviors. However, bystanders are often reluctant to confront sexist acts, particularly when perpetrators of sexism are perceived as high in status. Prior studies have operationalized status in terms of organizational rank. However, individuals may also have status by virtue of their connections to other group members, which I investigate in the present study. Participants with full-time work experience (N = 451) were asked to read a vignette describing a sexist incident in which a male perpetrator of sexism had many (vs. few) …
Volunteer Spotlighting: Costly Signaling To Promote Volunteerism,
2026
University of Southern Mississippi
Volunteer Spotlighting: Costly Signaling To Promote Volunteerism, Clyde A. Raible V
Master's Theses
Prosocial behaviors, because they are initially costly and do not guarantee a direct benefit to the actor, can nonetheless increase social status by signaling a willingness to incur cost on behalf of another. Given this signal value, nonprofit organizations may be able to leverage this knowledge to increase donations, such as through the provisioning of attention to, and recognition of, volunteers through social media. I predicted that the costliness of spotlighted behavior and the target signal clarity (i.e., individual vs. group spotlight) would interact with participants’ dispositional dominance and prestige-based status motives to influence volunteerism interest. To explore these associations, …
Assessing Trauma Competence Among Title Ix Practitioners: Analyzing Self-Perceived Capability And Associated Factors,
2026
Univeristy of Nebraska-Lincoln
Assessing Trauma Competence Among Title Ix Practitioners: Analyzing Self-Perceived Capability And Associated Factors, Aliena Hansen
Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)
Sexual assault remains a persistent issue on college and university campuses, and the way institutions respond to survivors can significantly influence their well-being and willingness to seek support. Title IX Practitioners are often responsible for responding to reports of sexual misconduct, making trauma-informed approaches essential in their work. However, relatively little research has examined how practitioners perceive their own trauma-related capabilities. The present study examined self-perceived trauma competence among Title IX Practitioners and explored factors associated with differences in perceived competence. Participants completed a survey assessing their confidence in applying trauma-informed principles when working with complainants. Results indicated variability in …
Perfectionism And Cognitive Flexibility: Comparing The Impacts Of Perfectionism Vs Excellencism On Cognitive Flexibility,
2026
Murray State University
Perfectionism And Cognitive Flexibility: Comparing The Impacts Of Perfectionism Vs Excellencism On Cognitive Flexibility, Lillian R. Blackburn
Honors College Theses
Perfectionism is often defined as “high standards of performance which are accompanied by tendencies for overly critical evaluations of one’s own behavior” (Frost et al., 1990, p. 450). Although striving for high standards is characteristic of perfectionism, it is also a central concept of the construct of excellencism, that is striving for standards that are both high and attainable. Research has made a distinction between the pursuit of perfection and pursuit of excellence, suggesting perfectionists strive for high unattainable standards, whereas excellencists strive for high yet reasonable standards with more areas of flexibility (Gaudreau et al., 2022). These differences have …
A Meta-Analysis On Joinder Effects: Do They All Have The Same Magnitude?,
2026
CUNY John Jay College
A Meta-Analysis On Joinder Effects: Do They All Have The Same Magnitude?, Amelia M. Tisk
Student Theses
The present meta-analysis examined whether different forms of joinder and procedural consolidation produce varying levels of prejudice in adjudicative decision-making. Although joinder procedures improve judicial efficiency, psychological research has suggested that combining charges, defendants, or plaintiffs within a single proceeding may increase conviction likelihood, liability judgments, and broader perceptions of wrongdoing. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted across 22 independent study effects examining charge joinder, defendant consolidation, plaintiff consolidation, multiple-complainant procedures, and related aggregation paradigms. Effect sizes were converted to Pearson’s r whenever possible. Overall, procedural aggregation produced a moderate effect on adjudicative outcomes, r = .27, 95% CI [.22, .32]. …
Christian-Based Community Engagement And Loneliness Among College Students,
2026
Lipscomb University
Christian-Based Community Engagement And Loneliness Among College Students, Ayodeji Fayemi
Master's Theses & Other Graduate Student Works
Loneliness among college students is a growing public health concern with significant implications for mental and physical well-being. Despite living in highly connected environments, many students report profound feelings of loneliness, which can exacerbate mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Loneliness also influences cognitive and social processes and has been linked to physical health risks, highlighting the need for effective interventions. This study examined whether Christian-based community engagement served as a protective factor against loneliness among college students. Grounded in Social Support Theory, the study assessed associations among loneliness, general social support, church-based support, religious coping, institutional integration, …
Utilizing Self-Determination Theory In Therapy For Veterans With Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders,
2026
California State University - San Bernardino
Utilizing Self-Determination Theory In Therapy For Veterans With Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Carlos A. Tinoc
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
Substance use disorder (SUD) has increasingly affected U.S. veterans, with rising misuse of alcohol and opioids. Many veterans also confront mental health issues, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To explore this issue further, the researcher will investigate the effectiveness of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in addressing substance use and mental health disorders (dual diagnosis) among veterans. Previous research on the implementation of SDT for dual-diagnosis patients has not sufficiently addressed the veteran population. The researcher will review existing systematic literature reviews on the topic of SDT implementation in the treatment of SUDs and mental health disorders among both civilian and veteran …
The Effects Of Excessive Smartphone Use On Interpersonal Relationships,
2026
California State University - San Bernardino
The Effects Of Excessive Smartphone Use On Interpersonal Relationships, Lisa M. Whitesell
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
Smartphones are integral to daily life, generating a propensity for overuse that raises concerns about the potentially adverse effects on social connections and communication. Previous research is primarily quantitative, focused on male subjects outside the United States, and has not explored the impact of smartphone use on relationships from the perspective of close friends and family. This study addresses the gap by applying qualitative methodologies using a more balanced gender sample in the United States. Semi-structured interviews will capture participants’ experiences and perceptions of how excessive smartphone use affects their interpersonal relationships. Open-ended questions will explore smartphone use patterns, the …
Susceptibility To Memory Errors Created By Leading Questions Based On The Perceived Authority Of Interviewer,
2026
University of Northern Colorado
Susceptibility To Memory Errors Created By Leading Questions Based On The Perceived Authority Of Interviewer, Clay K. Wollard
Undergraduate Honors Theses
It has been well established that memory of an event can be modified by introducing misinformation through questioning. This study fills a gap in the research literature by testing the potential relationship between perceived authority and susceptibility to misinformation. This was measured through showing participants a video of a traffic accident and asking them questions about the events they witnessed. Participants were also asked to rate their confidence in the correctness of each answer to determine if there are any correlations between authority, correct answers, misinformation, and confidence. Authority was conveyed through the clothing worn by the researcher during each …
Perception Of Socioeconomic Status: A Meta-Analysis Of Manipulations,
2026
Singapore Management University
Perception Of Socioeconomic Status: A Meta-Analysis Of Manipulations, Jacinth Jia Xin Tan, Yong En Amos Tai
Research Collection School of Social Sciences
The causal effects of one’s socioeconomic status (SES) on outcomes are typically examined by experimentally manipulating SES self-perceptions based on one of three SES dimensions—absolute resource, relative resource, and general social position. We investigated the efficacy of these manipulations by systematically meta-analyzing their effects on SES self-perceptions. Based on 107 eligible samples (N = 26,203), manipulations of SES self-perceptions across the three SES dimensions were effective overall (g = 0.56–0.95). Explicit priming of absolute resource and relative resource manipulations comparing high versus low SES were consistently effective—although bias-corrected effects were attenuated—suggesting the importance of salient SES information and social comparisons. …
Log Off To Level Up: The Effect Of Social Media Hiatus On Goal Pursuit,
2026
Singapore Management University
Log Off To Level Up: The Effect Of Social Media Hiatus On Goal Pursuit, Nekysha L. Y. Jalil, Yong Han Tan, Andree Hartanto, Eddie M. W. Tong
Research Collection School of Social Sciences
Concerns are growing that social media, with its constant notifications and attention-grabbing content, may distract individuals and hinder progress toward important goals. Despite its pervasive presence in our lives, the impact of social media on goal achievement has not been thoroughly studied. This within-subject experimental study aims to investigate the effects of social media hiatus (SMH), a short abstinence from social media usage, on goal pursuit processes. Participants (N= 107) completed daily diaries over three consecutive days of SMH and three days of regular social media use. SMH was manipulated by blocking participants’ access to multiple social media platforms. The …
