PSY Theses and Dissertations

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    The impact of extradyadic relationship participation on trust and cooperation
    (Wichita State University, 2023-12) Moroney, Krystal J.; Clark, C. Brendan
    The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between extradyadic behavior (EDB) and its behavioral economic and moral correlates. Literature on extradyadic behavior currently depends on self-report data which may lead to bias in reports. Due to the high prevalence of EDB and EDB’s negative impact on romantic relationships, many mental health professionals have patients who have engaged in or been victims of EDB. No studies to date have evaluated the behavioral economic or moral correlates of EDB. This study selected measures of relationship history, personality, moral beliefs, and behavioral economic games (i.e., The Prisoner’s Dilemma, The Trust Game) which were administered over videoconferencing. Performance on moral belief measures and behavioral economic games were compared between Midwestern University students who reported history of EDB and students who denied history of EDB. This study also explored whether performance on behavioral games differed between students who reported being a victim of EDB compared to students who denied victimhood. The results of this study found that performance on behavioral games did not differ based on history of EDB engagement or victimhood of EDB. There was also no significant relationship between moral beliefs and EDB engagement. Based on these findings, it will be important for future studies to address limitations of this study, including unexpected low self-report of EDB engagement and high levels of cooperation. It will also be important to explore other correlates of EDB engagement
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    An analysis of online law enforcement decision-making training and human performance research practices with law enforcement interactive video-based simulators
    (Wichita State University, 2023-12) Scott, Dakota; Suss, Joel
    This dissertation was based on a larger research effort—comprising a pretest, training intervention, and a posttest—with the main goal of testing a training intervention (i.e., cognitive-skills-training program) designed to develop adaptive expertise in law enforcement. This dissertation focused on several key aspects of the larger research effort—split into three studies. The first study was a scoping review that investigated the challenges and decisions researchers face when using an interactive video-based simulator (e.g., scenario selection, ratio of shoot/don’t-shoot scenarios). Forty-one articles met the inclusion criteria. Researchers often did not report their use of branching scenarios and scenario selection methods, potentially affecting research validity and generalizability, while many studies emphasized shoot scenarios over don’t-shoot scenarios, which may have unintentionally primed officers towards unrealistic use of deadly force. The second study assessed how firearm positioning during spontaneous-style attacks with an interactive video-based simulator—based on data from the pretest phase—impacted officers’ response time and accuracy. Through video analysis, the position of firearm immediately prior to the attack was coded. Officers who had their firearm in a drawn position have the potential to increase their survivability compared to officers who did not have their hand on their holstered firearm. However, there were no differences in accuracy based on firearm position. The third study compared two styles of cognitive-skills-training (i.e., cognitive vs. tactical) through analysis of officers’ responses to common questions, including their thoughts, attention management, perceptions of force, decision-making process, and main takeaways from a series of police–citizen encounters. The asynchronous delivery and the contents of the training intervention did result in successful and complementary mental model development for both training groups.
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    The social-psychological theories of Erich Fromm: The concept of alienation
    (Wichita State University, 1958-06) Berg, Kenneth; Winthrop, Henry
    This paper is a limited exposition of the works of Fromm, with a review of the major books, with attention to the major concepts-giving special attention to the concept of alienation. A number of authors who have written interpretive-empirical books whose contents are “Frommian," are presented, such as David Riesman, Louis Mumford, C. Wright Mills, et al. A portion of the data which supports Fromm's concepts is presented. A few of the authors who disagree with Fromm's social criticism are considered. A questionnaire has been developed for the purpose of measuring what Fromm has called "alienation." His usage of this term is considerably different from its usual definition.
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    Moral disengagement, empathy, and bidirectional intimate partner violence in young adulthood: A short-term longitudinal study
    (Wichita State University, 2023-07) Rosebraugh, Elissa; Slade, Samantha
    Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant issue in the United States, with emerging research emphasizing its bidirectional nature. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that bidirectional intimate partner violence (BIPV) tends to persist or escalate in severity over time, necessitating an understanding of the underlying factors contributing to this phenomenon. Recent research suggests that moral disengagement (MD) and empathy may offer useful insights into the cognitive mechanisms driving BIPV. The main objective of my dissertation is to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between BIPV, empathy, and MD among college students. This study aimed to explore the relationship between these constructs and uncover potential changes over time. Data was collected through a two-wave online survey with a six-month time lag with a sample of 368 undergraduate students at Time 1 and 128 participants at Time 2. Results indicated initial construct validity for the IPV-specific MD measure based on significant convergent and divergent associations. Additionally, BIPV and MD were found to be cross-sectionally related. However, evidence was not found for BIPV at Time 1 leading to increased MD at Time 2. Neither affective nor cognitive empathy moderated the relationship between BIPV and MD, although cognitive empathy was found to be cross-sectionally related to BIPV at Time 1. This study contributes to the growing body of research on MD and IPV by providing initial evidence of the relationship between MD, cognitive empathy, and BIPV. Addressing limitations within this study such as sample homogeneity and recruitment and retention obstacles, future studies should continue to validate the novel MD measure and examine the prospective relationships between BIPV, MD, and empathy. By advancing our understanding of these complex relationships, effective strategies in preventing and intervening in BIPV can be developed, ultimately reducing its prevalence and impact.
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    An exploration of the relationship between figurative language interpretation and cognitive abilities
    (Wichita State University, 2023-07) Skinner, Ryley; Clark, C. Brendan
    Figurative language appears to be a viable method for examining one’s abstract reasoning abilities, as it requires one to make interpretations and inferences based on social context and prior knowledge. Deficits in figurative language have been linked to a variety of clinical conditions and a range of negative psychosocial outcomes. However, in clinical practice there are few measures available to evaluate these language abilities, and the few that do exist are rarely utilized. Previous research indicates that idioms, proverbs, and metaphors are types of figurative language that may prove to be clinically useful in assessing not only abstract reasoning abilities, but also a broader range of cognitive functions. As such, these relationships were examined through two studies. The first study assessed figurative language interpretation in a cognitively-healthy young adult population to describe the range of typical interpretations, and to determine which figurative phrases have the best psychometric utility. Study two utilized the test items identified in study one to examine the relationship between figurative language interpretation and cognitive abilities, including abstract reasoning, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibition.
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