Psychology / Psychologie - Master's theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://laurentian.scholaris.ca/handle/10219/2083

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 101

Are all stereotypes created equal? Examining gender as a moderator of event-related potentials evoked during schema violation
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013-10-08) Schubert, Christopher
Schema violation has been shown to have an impact on cognition. Previous research using reading tasks has shown that the impact is not the same across male and female characters, and research has shown that men and women hold different view of schemas. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) has been used as a method to investigate schema violation, but no study has effectively investigated gender differences. Therefore, this study specifically investigates the factors of participant and character gender on schema violation during the IAT. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate the cognitive impact of schema violation while participants completed gender and sexuality IATs. Significant effects were found for participant gender and character gender in several ERP components (N100, P200, N400, and LPP), but only for the gender-career IAT. This suggests that on a basic cognitive level ERP activity is influenced by gender.
True lies : who can learn to tell?
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013-10-08) Pote, Emma C.
Non-verbal cues can provide behavioural signals of deception to observers. Microexpressions are facial cues that indicate the presence of an emotion being concealed by a deceiver. During deception, deceivers often attempt to conceal an emotion by masking it with an expression of another emotion such as a smile. Despite this, micro-expressions may be leaked during masking to reveal the hidden emotion. Nonetheless, research has shown that the majority of people recognize the occurrence of deception no better than could be expected by chance. Micro-expression detection training has been suggested to improve micro-expression detection skill that is linked to improved deception detection. The present study examined the effectiveness of the Micro-expression Training Tool (METT) in improving students’ and police officers’ skills in detecting masking smiles. The visual attention of trainees and untrained controls was measured via eye tracking during a pre and post test masking smile detection task. Results revealed that training did not have an effect on task performance, but practice did alter task performance. Following practice, all groups showed better detection of true smiles but not for masking smile detection. Participants’ abilities to identify masked emotions and location of microexpressions on the face varied as a function of the emotion present, as did their attention to the relevant regions of the face that contained a micro-expression. These results suggest that traditional micro-expression training is not sufficient to train observers in masking smile detection. This result has significant implications for future training protocols and many professional groups, as masking smiles are often employed during attempts at deception.
Understanding circumscribed interests in individuals with autism-spectrum disorders and how they relate to families.
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013-10-08) Gass, David S.J.
Autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are becoming increasingly more prevalent. A diagnostic criterion for autism is the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviours (RRBs), one of which is the intense fascinations for virtually any topic: circumscribed interests (CIs). CIs have the potential to be used for motivational purposes. This study employed semi-structured interviews using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with individuals with ASDs and their parents. In total, 11 families participated in this study, comprising 33 individuals (16 parents and 17 individuals with ASDs). This study found five themes: He's Very Unique; They Don't Realize that Not Everyone Lives and Thinks the Same Thing All the Time; We Couldn't even Pronounce the Names of These Dinosaurs, and Jason was Telling Us; You Can't Change Them, You Can Only Love Them; and So I Can Do My Job at the Same Time and Observe the Weather at the Same Time.
Memory and attentional biases associated with perfectionism: the impact of mood and threat responsiveness
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013-11-07) Desnoyers, Amanda
Research has argued that perfectionism, as well mood state, can serve to influence the type and amount of information that will be attended to and remembered in one’s surrounding environment. The purpose of the current study was to look at how mood and differing degrees of threat may influence the cognitive processes of individuals higher in perfectionism. Following completion of the perfectionism measures, 121 post-secondary students were exposed to a mood induction as well as a threat condition and then asked to complete three cognitive tasks – d2 test of attention, emotional Stroop, and a recognition task. Results indicated that perfectionism was associated with accuracy and reaction time and this impact differed based on mood and threat. Results also indicated individuals higher in perfectionism had a memory bias towards negative and perfectionistic content, reinforcing the idea that perfectionism has a distinctly cognitive component that impacts how an individual processes incoming information.
Risk and protective factors for criminality among adults with FASD
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013-12-16) Radford-Paz, Elisa
This research explored the risk and protective factors associated with criminality among adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). While previous research has focused on identifying the factors that contribute to legal issues, there is a paucity of research on the protective factors that may lead to more positive outcomes for adults with FASD. The first paper examined the methodological issues encountered while conducting a mixed methods study on the experience of offenders and non-offenders with FASD. Difficulties with participant recruitment, the sample size, the terminology employed, and the appropriateness of psychometric measures were significant challenges that emerged during the research project. The second paper was a qualitative study that investigated the experience of adults with prenatal alcohol exposure and their families to determine the risk and protective factors for criminality. Families reported that neurobehavioural impairments such as difficulty with self-regulation and social skills deficits, combined with environmental demands that exceeded the capabilities of the individual with FASD, were important contributors to criminality. However, structure and supervision, education and employment, social and financial support, and positive peer influence were found to mitigate the risk of criminal behavior among adults with FASD. The findings from this thesis highlight the importance of including families in the research process as well as the need to have more family-centered services.
An investigation for moderators of parental stress in lesbian mothers
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-01-27) Young, Crystal
Everyday demands and hassles can elicit some form of stress upon the child rearing experience (Crnic & Lowe, 2002). Previous research using meta-analysis (Bos, van Balen & van den Boom, 2005) found that lesbian and heterosexual families are similar in nature with one important distinction, the stigmatization attached to their sexual orientation. Lesbian mothers are subjected to sexual stigma that other sexual minority individuals face, but in addition they experience stigma attached to the idealization of the nuclear family. As a consequence of this dual prejudice, moderators should be examined specifically for lesbian mothers to identify shared and possible unique factors for parenting stress. Based on the data collected for the present study, the current research supported the extensive literature documenting moderates of parenting stress in heterosexual mothers (social support, relationship satisfaction and life stressors). Moreover this study highlighted some of the unique and possible moderators of parental stress in the lesbian family dynamic (minority stress, and stigma perception). While doing this, the current research revealed some interesting inter-correlations that were not the primary area of investigation. In addition, the comparison of the respondents when designated into high and low scorers, gave the impression that the current study was heading in the right direction but needed additional participants to ensure that the hypotheses were correctly tested. Future research should aim to recruit a higher number of participants from various areas that may not have LGBT specific support. Moreover while utilizing an online questionnaire; steps should be taken to ensure that respondents do not become uninterested or fatigued while testing (e.g. shorten the survey).
Resilience and attentional biases: what you see may be what you get
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-03-17) Valcheff, Danielle
Research suggests that, during stress, resilient individuals use positive emotion regulation strategies and experience a greater number of positive emotions than those who are less resilient. Therefore, differences could be expected in attentional biases towards emotional stimuli based on resilience. The current study investigated attentional biases towards neutral, negative and positive images in response to varying levels of resilence and mood induction conditions (neutral, negative and positive). Sixty participants viewed a series of pre and post-mood induction slides in order to measure attentional biases to emotional stimuli. The study provided evidence for the presence of trait and state congruent attentional biases. More resilient individuals demonstrated an initial bias towards positive stimuli and once emotion was aroused, the bias was away from negative stimuli. Additionally, mood congruent attentional biases were observed for participants induced into positive and negative mood states. Implications as they apply to research and clinical practice are discussed.
The transition from intensive behavioural intervention programs to the school system: the experiences of the transition team
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-03-19) Price, Stephanie R.
Students with ASD may experience challenges in school; however, literature suggests that they should still have access to public education with appropriate services and supports (Burge, Ouellette-Kuntz, Hutchinson & Box, 2008; Levy & Perry, 2008; Mesibov & Shea, 1996; Odom, 2000; Porter, 2008). The purpose of the current study was to examine the views and perceptions of those involved in the transition of students with ASD from IBI to school in Northern Ontario. Using a mixed-methods approach, members of multiple transition teams were asked to complete The Transition Beliefs Inventory (Levy & Perry, 2008) and the Transition Practices Questionnaire (Levy & Perry, 2008) to assess their transition beliefs and experiences. The results of this study suggest that the transition is occurring as outlined by the North region Autism Intervention Program (AIP) and the Connections for Students model and could be used to inform continuous improvement of service and practices.
Clinical applications of the quantitative electroencephalograph
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-03-19) Corradini, Paula L.
Clinical psychology is a discipline that assesses and treats individuals experiencing a variety of psychological disorders; including brain injuries. Employing neuroimaging tools can reveal biological correlates that have not been previously studied in detail. The quantitative electroencephalograph (QEEG) is a dynamic neuroimaging tool that allows for the measurement of brain activity. QEEG source localization analysis has provided additional construct validity for neuropsychological tests by revealing increased activation in the associated brain regions. In addition, differences in resting brain activity have been found depending on the severity of neuropsychological impairment. Finally, enhancement of memory in normal individuals is shown by applying a weak physiologically-patterned electromagnetic field over the left hemisphere. Therefore, by integrating the QEEG with elements of clinical psychology it is possible to provide construct validity to neuropsychological tests, show differences in brain activation depending on the severity of neuropsychological impairment, and study emerging therapeutic techniques that could enhance memory.
Quantitative differences in participants exposed to patterned, weak-intensity electromagnetic fields: investigating the shiva
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-03-19) Collins, Mark William Glister
Direct and indirect stimulation of the brain have produced a range of perceptual, motor, and cognitive experiences, including experiences historically ascribed to religious or spiritual domains. Weak intensity, extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields patterned after physiological processes have been the subject of much research and controversy. The current study examined the Shiva technology, a unique method of field production that utilizes the same fields used in previous research. Quantitative changes in brain activity were measured using quantitative electroencephalograph and subjective reports of experiences were examined. The investigation included two different configurations of the Shiva technology. Results indicated that individuals exposed to specific patterned fields exhibited different patterns of neural activity and greater reports of unusual experiences compared to a sham condition. The importance of particular enhancement of power in regions of the brain due to the sequence of different patterns of magnetic fields was a key discovery. Personality characteristics, particularly those involved with the Default Mode Network, and their relation to baseline electroencephalographic data were also examined.
Understanding the neurophysiological representation patterns of non-verifiable mental action verbs: an ERP investigation
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-03-19) Thomas, Sean C.
Imaging has revealed that brain activation of verbs with verifiable products (‘throw, kick’) activate language areas as well as the motor cortex responsible for the performance of the action described. An exploratory comparison of eye related verbs with no verifiable products (‘observe’) to mouth related verbs with verifiable products (‘shout’) has revealed a similar activation pattern. Thus in order to further study mental action verbs with no verifiable products, the present two-part study used words that were suitable across two modalities (e.g. you can ‘perceive’ both through vision and audition) and compare them to themselves under differing contexts of auditory and visual verbs so as to eliminate any word characteristics differences, as well as explored the two modalities directly. The primary purpose was to delineate whether associative learning or the mirror systems theory might better account for the acquisition of this unique subclass of verbs. Results suggest that Mirror systems theory more likely accounts for the observed cognitive processing differences between the two verbs. Keywords: Verbs, language, Event-related potentials, abstract, associative learning theory, mirror systems theory.
The confusion of fear/surprise and disgust/anger in children: new evidence from eye movement technology
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-05-16) Young, Cheryl
Research shows that children often confuse facial expressions of fear with surprise and disgust with anger. According to the perceptual-attentional limitations hypothesis, facial expressions are confused because they share action units (Camras, 1980; Wiggers, 1982). Experiment 1 tested this hypothesis for the confusion between fear and surprise and Experiment 2 for the confusion between disgust and anger. Eye movements were monitored in both experiments. In experiment 1, the results showed that children were more accurate when two distinctive action units were presented than when the brow lowerer was the only distinctive action unit differentiating between fear and surprise. Furthermore, the results showed that participants spent more time fixating on the mouth than the eyebrows. They made more saccades when the only distinctive cue was in the eyebrows. In experiment 2, participants identified the emotion as anger when the mouth was open, and disgust when the mouth was closed, spending more time on the mouth when the mouth was open. These findings suggest that facial expressions are confused, not only because of the amount of visual similarities they share, but also because children do not allocate their attention to facial regions equally; they tend to focus on the mouth.
A Multidisciplinary Team versus Single Practitioners: Parental Satisfaction and Wait in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Experience
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-05-16) Laverdière-Ranger, Lynn
This is a mixed-methods study investigating parental satisfaction and wait times as parents inquire about an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis for their child in a Northern Ontario community. Satisfaction and wait times of those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by a single practitioner were compared to satisfaction and wait times of those diagnosed by the multidisciplinary assessment team in the Sudbury/Manitoulin region (the Autism Diagnostic Team; ADT). No significant differences were noted between groups on satisfaction or wait times. However, ADT group received much more consistent service, with less variation in wait times between clients, and more consistent provision of comprehensive services prior to the diagnostic meeting. Points of interest are noted for practitioners including increased wait times for parents of children with milder forms of ASD and for girls. No differences in wait time or satisfaction were noted between language groups. Content analysis of the qualitative interviews representing mainly single practitioners saw the emergence of themes including difficulty activating the assessment process, concerns regarding the wait, and appointment demands. The importance of professional expertise, empathy, and respectful communication also emerged. Parents felt the experience was deeply distressing and they often experienced abandonment following the diagnostic process. Additionally, parents whose children did not receive a diagnosis often felt confusion about what to do next. Reducing wait times, increasing professional expertise, completing comprehensive assessments, and using truly interdisciplinary teams should continue to be the focus of service improvements that may translate into improved satisfaction.
The experiences of parents with children in elementary english programs and french immersion programs JK-G2
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-05-16) Bingley, Jennifer
This study examined the experiences of parents who enrolled their children in the English or French immersion program. Participants included parents of children in junior kindergarten, senior kindergarten and Grade 2. The primary method of data collection was parental interview. Questionnaires were also administered to parents with children in Grade 2. The results indicated that parents have different considerations when deciding to enroll their children in French immersion or English. Among parents with children in French immersion there was a trend of differential literacy practices and self-efficacy regarding homework support based on parental comfort in using the French language. Overall, the results indicate that parents desire more ease of access to information pertaining to enrollment and French immersion parents desire more easily accessible resources to support their children in homework.
Dark embrace: orestes complex, catathymic crisis and method of murder: a study of matricide in a forensic psychiatric sample
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-05-16) O’Brien, Colleen
A study was conducted to investigate and identify differences inherent in two subtypes of psychosis driven or mentally disordered homicide: matricide versus any other biological intrafamilial homicide or attempted homicide. Matricide was further investigated through the exploration of offence specific details, as well as demographic and diagnostic characteristics of persons who had committed (or attempted) homicide against the mother and were subsequently found not criminally responsible and detained by the Ontario Review Board between 1992 and 2012. Matricidal accused were more often diagnosed with childhood disorders and paranoid schizophrenia. As adults, they failed to mature sexually and socially, and continued to live at home, dependent on the mothers that were the ultimate victims of their violence. Attachment theory is offered as a proposed explanation for the matricidal impulse.
The central tendency relationships between earthquakes, quantum fluctuations, and the human brain
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-09-25) Vares, David A. E.
Physical phenomena occur within a complex manifold of interactions from small scale quantum to large scale energies. These random interactions appear to conform to the central limit theorem, however prediction of these events suggest a non-local factor is typically involved. Data were compiled from a random number generator that utilizes quantum electron tunneling, a photomultiplier tube measuring background photon emissions (~10-11 W/m2), earthquakes recorded by USGS Advanced National Seismic System, and from a database of human electroencephalographic recordings. The data indicated temporal and spatial relationships, suggesting the causality of physical phenomena and the associated entropy conforms to the central limit theorem by means of variable distribution of occurrence.
Becoming a guitar hero: does it alter multisensory processing skills?
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-10-09) Berman, Gillian
Three groups of novice gamers were trained for 10 hours using the music-genre game Rock Band©: one group played the game normally, another played using visual cues only, and a third simply listened to music. Pre- and post-test eye-tracking data was collected using a focused attention task in which participants quickly shifted their gaze toward a visual target; on some trials a to-be-ignored auditory tone was also presented. Past research has shown the tone to speed-up saccadic response time (SRT). We hypothesized that training on a music-genre video game would boost this intersensory facilitation effect, defined as the difference between SRTs on unimodal only trials minus SRTs on bimodal trials. There was an overall SRT decrease from pre- to post-test, but, more critically, the magnitude of the facilitation effect was not disproportionally enhanced in the full Rock Band© training group, relative to the controls. Future research avenues are considered.
The analysis of eye-movements in the judgment of enjoyment and non-enjoyment smiles in people with schizophrenia
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-10-10) Ryan, R.J.
Research has consistently shown that people with schizophrenia have impairments in emotional facial recognition. This deficit has been associated with irregular visual scanning patterns of the face. Since people have the ability to control the expression of emotion that they display, the communication process becomes more complex. In fact, in addition to processing the emotion expressed, decoders must pay attention to the subtle details about the sincerity of the expression. The goal of the current study was to conduct a systematic examination of the ability and perceptual-attentional mechanisms used in distinguishing enjoyment and non-enjoyment smiles in individuals with schizophrenia. More specifically, the activation of the orbicularis oculi muscle and symmetry was examined. Sixteen individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and sixteen control (no diagnosis of schizophrenia) were asked to judge the sincerity of smiles while their eye movements were recorded. Individuals with schizophrenia were less accurate than controls in judging the no-cheek smile as a non-enjoyment smile. This difficulty could be explained by their bias towards the mouth. Furthermore, like their healthy counterparts, individuals with schizophrenia showed difficulty with the judgement of asymmetric smiles. However, while perceptual processing can be ruled out as an explanation for the difficulty suggesting interpretation problems in control individuals, the former explanation cannot be discredited for individuals with schizophrenia.
The perceived influence of emotions on clinical decisions and practices in child and adolescent eating disorders
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-11-25) Kosmerly, Stacey
Recently, two theoretical models (the Iatrogenic Maintenance Model for Eating Disorders and the Therapist Drift Model) have identified clinician emotion as a factor that may negatively influence the treatment of eating disorders (ED). However, the role of clinician emotion in the delivery of treatment remains largely unstudied. The present article-based thesis sought to examine clinicians’ perceptions of the negative influence of emotions (clinicians’ own emotions and those of others) on clinical decisions and practices with respect to child and adolescent eating disorders. Two studies were conducted to examine clinicians’ perceptions of whether, and in what ways, emotions play a role in clinical decisions and practices. Overall, clinicians endorsed some degree of negative influence of emotions on clinical decisions. Specific treatment decisions were identified as being perceived to be more vulnerable to the negative influence of emotions (e.g., decisions related to the involvement of a critical or dismissive parent in treatment), and particular client/parent emotional states (anger, flat affect, hopelessness or helplessness) were identified as being perceived to be more likely to lead to a negative influence of emotions on clinical decisions. Clinicians also endorsed specific concerns that they perceive to drive emotion-based decisions, as well as several emotion-driven practices. Finally, clinician characteristics related to the perceived occurrence of this phenomenon were examined. Emotional drain and work setting were factors predictive of the perception of negative emotional influence on decisions and practices. The results are discussed in terms of the implications for clinical practice and future directions.
The effects of stress on eating patterns and the effects of stress and attachment on eating behaviour and food preference in stress under-eaters and stress-eaters
(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2015-02-26) Stillar, Amanda
This article-based thesis examined the effects of stress and attachment style on eating. The first article explored the effects of stress on the eating patterns of undergraduate students. Results demonstrated that stress leads to reported unhealthy changes in eating habits. Specifically, stress led to increased reported preference for take-out food options. Findings showed that gender influenced stress-related snacking and loss of control over eating. The second article examined the influences of stress and attachment on eating in self-reported stress under-eaters and stress-eaters. The results demonstrated that attachment style uniquely influences the eating of these two distinct groups and that stress and attachment have differential effects on eating. These findings add to the paucity of research investigating the effects of stress on eating from a naturalistic approach. These results also identify various idiosyncrasies of these two novel groups and highlight the role of attachment in disordered eating behaviour.

Browse

Browsing Psychology / Psychologie - Master's theses by Issue Date