Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: JW Heuchert
Assessing The Need For An After-School Program For Adolescent Girls
Based on past research findings suggesting that girls develop lower self-esteem in early adolescence, this study attempted to find the factors in an after-school program that would improve self-esteem in adolescent girls as perceived by adults, college aged females and adolescent girls through focus group discussion and interviews. Consistent with past research, this study found that issues affecting self-esteem in adolescent girls as perceived by adults and female college students were issues of body image, peer relationships and gender bias in the classroom. The study also found a variety of activities adults, female college students and adolescent girls perceived as enjoyable for adolescent girls to do with older mentors in an after-school program.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: JW Heuchert
The Threat Of Being Below Average: Anxiety, Self-Talk, And Perceived Academic Self-Efficacy
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of self-talk and perceived academic self-efficacy on levels of anxiety when in a threatening testing atmosphere. Participants were made up of first and second year Allegheny College students. The Profile of Mood States, the Burnett Self-Talk Inventory, and the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale were administered before an anxiety provoking test, and the Profile of Mood States was given again after the test. No significant results were found, but results might be found if design is altered.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: D. Dickey
Reactive Attachment Disorder: Recommendations For An Educational Program For Parents Looking To Adopt
An attachment is a strong, emotional bond that develops between children and their caregivers (Bowlby, 1988). Not all children, however, develop these healthy, emotional bonds. Many children living in adoptive homes have had multiple changes in caregivers and may have suffered from abuse or neglect at one point in their early lives (Chaffin, 2006). Due to these circumstances, children living in adoptive homes are at risk for developing an attachment disorder (Barth, Crea, John, Thoburn, & Quinton, 2005). This study used observations of a local support group’s sessions about Reactive Attachment Disorder, to obtain information on how attachment disorders affect the family system. Based on scientific research and the results of the support group meetings, recommendations were made as to what information should be included in an educational program for adoptive parents.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: J. Hollerman
The Effect Of Valproic Acid On The Dipsogenic Effects Of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate In Female Sprague Dawley Rats
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) has been shown to have dipsogenic effects in Sprague Dawley rats. This dipsogenic effect has been suppressed by NMDA receptor antagonists to the point at which it was no longer measurable when measuring water consumption. This study was done to determine whether valproic acid (VPA) would suppress the dipsogenic effect of the NMDA and whether valproic acid functions as an NMDA antagonist. Six female Sprague Dawley rats served as the subjects. Each rat was injected with both the NMDA doses and the VPA doses. The drugs served as the independent variable and the water consumption served as the dependent variable and was measured for each trial. It was determined through the course of the study that VPA at 50mg/kg acted antagonistionistically and reduced the water consumption elicited by the NMDA at 30mg/kg. The VPA (50mg/kg) completely suppressed the dipsogenic effect of the NMDA (30mg/kg). Thus, the VPA does act functionally as a NMDA antagonist and suppresses the dipsogenic effects at these dosages.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: A. Wiseman
Hey Baby, Where Have You Been All My Life? A Study Of The Association Between Flirting Behavior, Gender, Sensation Seeking, Relationship Status, And Recognition
This study examined when people said they would exhibit certain flirting behaviors based on their recognition of the person, their gender, level of sensation seeking, and relationship status. A total of 117 college males and females completed sensation seeking and flirting questionnaires. Results were analyzed using a mixed models design. Findings indicated that people report they are more likely to flirt with someone they recognize than with someone they do not recognize. This result was not surprising given that participants may perceive less risk in flirting with someone they know. Those who are in an exclusive relationship were also found to report more flirting than those who are not. When flirting behaviors were analyzed separately, interactions were found with sensation seeking and gender. The discussion section further interprets the specific findings.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
Effects of Water Deprivation as an MO on d-Amphetamine Discrimination
Several past experiments have tested an animal’s ability to discriminate d-amphetamine from saline, using water deprivation as a motivating event. Further, varying doses of d-amphetamine have been found to generalize to the training dose in these discrimination studies. The current study sought to determine the effects of differing levels of water deprivation on d-amphetamine discrimination. Six female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discrimination 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine from saline under 23-hour water deprivation. Subjects were then tested under 23-, 17-, 10-, and 0-hour deprivation, using 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 1.7 mg/kg d-amphetamine and saline. Finally, the D2 antagonist, eticlopride, was administered in conjunction with the training dose of d-amphetamine to test for antagonism. Results indicated an effect of drug dose, with drug appropriate responding being significantly lower in 0.1 mg/kg d-amphetamine conditions than in other drug conditions. Level of water deprivation, as well as the interaction between deprivation level and dose, had no significant effect on drug-appropriate responding. Eticlopride also did not affect discrimination, indicating a need for further research to determine the role of dopamine receptors on drug discrimination.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: A. Knupsky
Understanding Deception: An Analysis Of The Function And Frequency Of Deception Cues In Truthful Vs. Deceptive Statements
The purpose of the present study was to observe how verbal and nonverbal language change across different discourse contexts. Participants watched a video clip and were asked to first lie about the content of the video to one confederate. Next, participants were asked to tell the truth about the content of the video to a second confederate. Finally, participants were asked to one more time tell a story about the video clip, this time in the presence of both confederates, each of whom had heard conflicting accounts, thus simulating the uncomfortable social situation of being caught in a web of lies. Specifically, it was hypothesized that participants would produce more hesitations and discourse markers in deceptive conditions than in truth conditions. Further, it was hypothesized that participants would produce fewer hand gestures in deceptive conditions than in truth conditions. The hypotheses were confirmed, adding to our growing understanding of deceptive discourse.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
Effect Of Nmda, Mefloquine, And Pcp On Schedule Control Responding In Rats
In this study N-Methyl-D-aspartic (NMDA), mefloquine, and phencyclidine (PCP) were studied to determine if mefloquine and PCP have similar behavioral effects and if mefloquine works as an antagonist to the NMDA receptor as PCP does. The subjects were six male Sprague-Dawley rats. The study was conducted under a FI 30 schedule of water presentation. The results showed no significant change in responding when PCP or mefloquine were administered with NMDA in comparison to when NMDA was administered alone. However, the study revealed a significant decrease in responding at 30mg/kg of NMDA compared to baseline and saline. Significant decreases were also apparent for saline and 1.7mg/kg of mefloquine versus the corresponding baseline.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: W. DeLamarter
The Effect Of The Violent Portrayal Of Women In The Media On The Crime And Aggression Rates Of Women As Explained By The General Aggression Model
The following study links the rising female crime rate and female aggression in general to violence in the media, specifically the increasing portrayal of violent women in the media. The study first examines other possible causes and risk factors that could lead to female aggression. Then, the theories of aggression from the past century are explored, including the social learning, cognitive neoassociation, and excitation transfer theories. The general aggression model is finally determined to be the most comprehensive and accurate model of aggression thus far. The link between violent media and real life aggression is then made in the context of the general aggression model, explaining how the portrayal of violent women in the media affects a female’s aggression level and the development of her personality.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Sr. Project Advisor: J. Cross
The Effect Of The Palatability Of Food On An Obesity Model In Sprague-Dawley Rats
Obesity, a world-wide epidemic, adds to the risk of developing many other serious health problems, including hypertension and premature death. Currently, many separate underlying mechanisms for obesity have been proposed-all of which incorporate metabolic processes and energy expenditure. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of obesity. This experiment investigates the effect of the palatability of food (0.5% saccharine food additive [high palatability], normal rat chow [average palatability], and 0.05% quinine food additive [non-palatable]) and bilateral lesions of the arcuate nucleus (at 10o from perpendicular) on the weight gain of Sprague Dawley rats. It was hypothesized that the highly palatable food would enhance the weight gain the most and non-palatable food would influence weight gain the least. Although statistical significance could not be determined from the small sample, the hypothesis was supported by the results obtained from the three subjects with bilateral lesions of the arcuate nucleus (Arc); palatable food group subjects gained the most weight, followed by normal-food subjects, and non-palatable food subjects. The results of this study add to a growing body of information regarding the mechanisms of obesity. Therefore, a cure for obesity is one hope for the future.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: A. Dale
Body Image, Appearance Orientation, And Gender Personality Traits Among College Students.
Body image, appearance orientation, and gender personality traits were evaluated using correlations and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data from 67 Allegheny College students, males (N=22) and females (N=45), were used to examine the effect of grade level on appearance evaluation, appearance orientation, and gender personality traits. It was hypothesized that gender personality traits and appearance evaluation would not be significantly affected by grade level; however, appearance orientation would be negatively correlated with grade level. Female college students would have lower body images and higher appearance orientation as compared to male college students. Results did not support a significant relationship between grade level and appearance orientation. F(66) = 0.715, p>.05. As predicted, gender personality traits and appearance evaluation, F(66)= 0.145, p>.05, were not significantly affected by grade level. F(66)= 0.486, p>.05. Female students’ data supported the trend of having lower body images (M= 3.30) and higher appearance orientation (M=3.42) as compared to male college students (Meval = 3.35, Mort = 3.29); however, these results were not significant. Significant results were found when the Allegheny College sample was compared to the population means. Allegheny students collectively, zobt = -3.10, p<.05, and Allegheny females, zobt = -3.67, p<.05 were less masculine then the population. Allegheny males, zobt = -2.21, p<.05, and females, zobt = -5.44, were significantly less appearance oriented compared to the population. These significant differences may account for the lack of significant results hypothesized.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: G. Kenney-Benson
A Feminist Perspective to the Role of Sex and Gender Identification in Narcissistic Entitlement in the Classroom
This study explored the differences between sex and gender identity on narcissistic entitlement within the classroom. Teachers’ attitudes of gender, perceptions of students’ academic success that view males as more competent than females, and their tendency to separate the sexes are explored as a basis for entitled behavior in males. This study demonstrated the differences in entitled behavior in the classroom between males and females, as well as masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated gender identities. Results indicated that entitled behavior differed across sex. Results also indicated that participants who identified as masculine were more entitled in the classroom than participants who identified as feminine.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: G. Kenney-Benson
Listening To Music While Writing: Does It Help?
This study explored whether listening to music and speed of music affects writing quality. It was hypothesized that writing quality would decline while listening to music, faster music would cause lower quality writing than slower music, and writing quality would be lowest at the extremes for participants’ music rating (i.e. those who love or hate the music). Writing quality was examined across five dimensions: significance, focus, story strength, sentence/word strength, and mechanics. Results showed a decrease in quality for mechanics and sentence/word strength among those who listened to music versus those who did not, and a decrease in writing mechanics for fast music versus no music. No correlation was found between music rating and writing quality.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: A. Knupsky
The Perceptual Representation Of Time: An Analysis Of Embodied Realism
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the theory of embodied realism as it applies to the cognitive and philosophical understanding of time. The first chapter is a brief analysis of the theory of embodied realism. The second chapter applies this theory to the concept of time. Chapter three presents cognitive research into the claim that spatial information is accessed while processing temporal statements. Participants were 30 Allegheny College students who responded to 36 temporal perspective statements by answering true or false to the relative occurrence of a fictitious event. The true/false response required the participants to move their hand either toward or away from their body. Their responses were measured in reaction time (RT). It was hypothesized that when the direction taken to respond and the perspective implied by the statement were incongruent, RT would increase. This hypothesis was not supported by the present study. The fourth and final chapter presents a philosophical critique of the theory of embodied realism.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: JW Heuchert
“Mirror-Looking: A Reflection Of Narcissism, Self-Esteem, Or Both?”
The research question to be examined will investigate narcissistic personality traits and self-esteem levels at a small liberal arts college in Northwestern Pennsylvania. In addition to measuring the relationship of self-esteem with narcissism (using self-report), an observational method will be employed to determine whether mirror-gazing, or frequency of mirror-looking is related to narcissism and self-esteem, as well as whether either variable is affected by current mood state. A correlation design will be used to analyze the relationship between mirror looking and self-esteem/ narcissism. Linear regression and the correlation coefficient R² will be calculated. Significant correlations found between self-esteem and narcissism will then be compared to the amount of times that the participant looks in the mirror. An additional measure of mood state will eliminate a possible extraneous variable affecting self-esteem or narcissism levels.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Sr. Project Advisor: J. Hollerman
The Effects Of Prenatal Fluoxetine (Prozac): A Model For Autism
The current investigation examined the effects of serotonin disruption during development by prenatal exposure to fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The behavioral effects of this prenatal manipulation were analyzed. Pregnant Srague-Dawley rats were given 10mg/kg doses of fluoxetine (Prozac) by peritoneal injections on gestational days 13-19. The behavioral tasks included a social recognition test intended to assess social memory, and an object preference test in order to observe novelty/familiarity preference. Treated subjects showed a constant amount of investigation across all trials, suggesting the presence of a deficit in social recognition and a lack of social memory. Control subjects displayed a significant decrease across the first four trials when exposed to the same stimulus rat, followed by a dramatic increase when a novel stimulus rat was presented. Treated subjects did not show signs of either habituation or recognition of novelty as would be expected in an animal with intact social memory, as in control subjects. On the object preference test, control subjects showed a strongly significant preference for the novel object while treated subjects showed a slight, though not significant, preference for the familiar object. These tests supported prenatal exposure to an SSRI as an animal model for autism.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
Effects Of Non-Contingent Water Delivery On Lever Pressing: Some Economic Implications.
Rats were exposed to a standard 23-hour water deprivation procedure. Following the deprivation period, the rats were trained to lever press for water reinforcement under a fixed ratio 5, (FR5) schedule of water presentation. Once response rates stabilized, the water deprived rats were given periodic presentations of non-contingent water deliveries along with their contingent water deliveries. This study attempts to determine the effect and extent that free water delivery may have on lever pressing. The hypothesis was that the lever pressing would decrease when non-contingent water delivery was presented.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: Heuchert
The Relationship Between Knowledge About Aging, Anxiety About Aging, And Negative Stereotypes About Older Adults
The present study examined the relationship between knowledge about aging, anxiety about aging, and negative stereotypes about older adults. Fifty-seven undergraduate students from introductory psychology courses at Allegheny College completed the Anxiety About Aging Scale (Lasher and Faulkender, 1993), What Do You Know About Aging? A Quiz (Breytspaak, Kendall & Halpert, 2006), and individual items indicating negative stereotypes found in the aging quiz. Four subscales of the AAS were used to measure anxiety about aging including: Fear of Old People, Psychological Concerns, Physical Appearance, and Fear of Losses. Correlations were run between the variables in order to determine any relationships. A significant negative correlation was found between knowledge and negative stereotypes (r=-.644, p<.01). A significant positive correlation was also found between anxiety and negative stereotypes (r=.284, p<.05).
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
Social Recognition Testing On Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure
The effects of prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) on the behavior of Sprague-Dawley rats was accessed in the present study. Rats were exposed to VPA on the 12.5th day of gestation. Two Dams received intraperitoneal injections of VPA in volumes of.1mL/100g at a doses of 367 mg/kg. These dams produced two litters. Social recognition testing was completed twice. In the first test, controls and VPAs failed to show habituation. Control rats were 34 days old. VPA treated rats were 48 days old. Both control rats and VPA treated rats showed decreased frequency of behaviors and increased in duration with each trial. The second test used controls that were 92 days old. Controls showed habituation. Frequency and duration decreased with each trial in controls. Frequency decreased but duration increased with each trial with the VPAs. VPAs did not habituate in this second test. This supported that size and age of rats is a factor in social recognition testing. This test was repeated using a different set of controls that did exhibit habituation after each trial. VPA rats demonstrated significant social deficits. As a result they were unable to discriminate between a novel and familiar stimuli. The third test used socially isolated VPA treated rats and group housed VPA treated rats. Both groups were 73 days old. The socially isolated VPAs were socially isolated for 36 days prior to testing. The group-housed VPAs were group housed for 36 days prior to testing in houses of 4. The socially isolated VPAs showed a slightly higher frequency of behaviors. Neither group showed habituation. Socially isolated VPAs showed a significantly higher duration of behaviors when compared to group housed VPAs. This indicated that the housing conditions normalized some of the social investigative behaviors in the group housed VPAs. The socially isolated VPAs also showed increased aggressive behaviors.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
The Effects Of A Temporally Spaced History On Operant Responding On Rats In A Simple Drug Discrimination Procedure
The purpose of this study was to see how given dosages of a drug would alter (increase or decrease) the response rates of rats on a fixed ratio schedule as time between test sessions increases in a d-amphetamine discrimination. This study sought to examine how history (both drug and response) effect responding when all other variables are controlled. Therefore the present study suggest that, as history (the length of time between training and testing) increases, the rate of responding will remain the same for a greater than usual period of time because drug history will lead to continued responding even under an extinction phase. For this study, there were two independent variables. The first was drug dosage. The rats were trained to respond under the stimulus control of 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine or saline with d-amphetamine being associated with right lever responding and saline associated with left lever responding. The final tests were conducted with dose response curves using: saline, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, and 1.7 mg/kg of d-amphetamine. The second independent variable was time (relating to the end of training and testing). The rats were trained for 40 consecutive days, with 20 sessions conducted on each lever. A period of 5 days was used to “sham” the rats so that they would be used to the handling associated with conducting research using cumulative dosing. The dose response curves were then conducted 1, 3, 6, 10, and 20 days post-training and shamming with no other training in between. The final showed no significant data in terms of the relationship between responding and the amount of time post training. These results suggest that drug history has a stronger effect on responding than does response history alone, although further research should be done to clarify the exact relationship between drug and response histories.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: G. Kenney-Benson
The Potential Benefits Of Arts Education On Adolescent Self-Concept
The present research study was designed to assess whether or not participation in and exposure to the arts were associated with adolescent self-concept, with specific respect to the self-concept facets of academics, self-esteem, and creativity. A sample of 227 college students participated in the study. Three different measures were used to examine arts-experience, arts self-perceptions, and the facets of self-concept. Results suggested that while experience in the arts significantly correlated with artistic interest and ability, the examined components of self-concept were not significantly associated.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
Effects Of Mefloquine Hydrochloride On N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (Nmda) Induced Drinking Behavior In Sprague-Dawley Rats
Mefloquine is an under-researched, controversial antimalarial drug speculated to cause psychotic and violent behaviors similar to those caused by Phencyclidine (PCP). As PCP induced psychotic behaviors are often attributed to its antagonism of NMDA, the present study investigated whether mefloquine would also antagonize NMDA. Using six Sprague-Dawley rats, the drugs’ effects on NMDA induced drinking behavior were examined. At pretreatment time 1 hour, drinking behaviors significantly increased after 17.0 mg/kg and 30.0 mg/kg NMDA doses compared to baseline. Water consumption following 1.0 mg/kg PCP + 17.0 mg/kg NMDA concomitant administration was significantly less than isolated 17.0 mg/kg NMDA administration, suggesting PCP’s antagonism of NMDA. Though not statistically significant, drinking behaviors after 1.7 mg/kg mefloquine + 17.0 mg/kg NMDA concomitant administration were also considerably less than isolated 17.0 mg/kg NMDA administration, providing support for mefloquine’s antagonism of NMDA as well. If mefloquine does, in fact, antagonize NMDA, this mechanism may contribute to mefloquine induced psychotic behaviors. Furthermore, given NMDA’s role in causing excitotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders, the antagonism may imply potential neuronal protective properties of mefloquine.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: R. Clark
Behavioral Intervention Strategies To Decrease “Hands In Pants” And “Inappropriate Genital Touching” Behavior In An Adolescent Male With Autism
The present paper addresses the issue of whether the use of a token economy or other types of behavioral intervention strategies can decrease the frequency of unwanted behaviors such as “hands in pants” and “inappropriate genital touching.” This is done by considering different approaches to treating these behaviors in a 17 year old Caucasian male diagnosed with autism. Strategies include using a differential reinforcement of low rates of behavior schedule of reinforcement (DRL) that utilizes positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and extinction. This study also includes alternative strategies and techniques such as prompt hierarchies, response blocking, limiting staff, and identifying and controlling potential discriminative stimuli.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: JW Heuchert
The Reentry Experiences Of Allegheny College Study Abroad Students
The purpose of this study was to examine the specific reentry experiences of undergraduate study abroad students at Allegheny College, as well as to analyze the effectiveness of formal reentry training programs. Twenty-eight students (22 women and 6 men) were studied using the Student Reentry Experiences Inventory (SREI), a self-designed questionnaire created for the specific purpose of this research. Through a series of short statements that have been commonly associated with reentry shock (Gaw, 2000; Martin, 1984; Uehara, 1986), this survey analyzed the participants’ total reported reentry shock symptoms. Also, this survey examined the number of coping strategies individuals may have utilized to deal with their readjustment back into their home culture as well as the perceived helpfulness of these strategies. The participants completed the SREI upon their return to their home campus. The results of this study indicate that overall, participants reported low levels of reentry shock. Also, participants reported statistically significantly more reentry problems associated with personal issues and readjusting back to life in the U.S. than with friends and family. The results also illustrate that duration of stay and the amount of coping strategies used by participants did not significantly affect their reported total reentry symptoms. Those individuals that participated in the Allegheny College formal reentry program were found to have statistically significantly lower total reentry symptom scores than those who did not participate, indicating that programs such as these may be vital to the successful readjustment of returning study abroad students.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: D. Dickey
Can Pictures Enhance The Keyword Method? The Effect Of Imagery On Acquisition And Retention Of Foreign Vocabulary
The current study investigates the use of pictures as a supplement to the keyword mnemonic technique in foreign vocabulary acquisition, as well as the effect of time on retention. Participants were 40 undergraduate students. One group of participants created their own mental image for the keyword sentence provided by the experimenter. The other group studied a line drawing depicting the keyword sentence. All participants were tested with a cued recall task after a 3-5 minute delay, and again after one week. The picture condition was expected to score higher than the mental imagery condition on the delayed recall task, but the difference was expected to be negligible for immediate recall. An interaction was found between time and condition, suggesting that pictures could be initially more helpful than mental imagery, but that the advantage may not remain long-term. Theoretical rationales and practical applications are discussed.
Major: Psychology
Sr. Project Advisor: JW Heuchert
Social Anxiety In College Students: Avoidance And Response Bias In Instant Messaging
Instant messaging (IM) is an integral part of communication for young adults. It is problematic because it lacks prosodic factors found in spoken language and encourages egocentrism in users. Individuals may use the internet and IM to feel less intimidated in social situations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether higher anxiety levels are related to: using IM more than face-to-face communication in uncomfortable situations and rating ambiguous instant messages more negatively. IM usage and anxiety levels of psychology undergraduates were assessed using an online survey. The results indicated no relationship between anxiety and rating ambiguous IMs negatively, but did show that higher anxiety levels were related to using face to face communication more often than IM.