Psychology
Presenter(s): Rebecca DeAngelis, Akima Connelly, Steven Kolinsky, Jeremiah Ayala, Joanna Pak, Lexi van der Hoeven
Advisor(s): Dr. Aaron Schurger, Dr. Uri Maoz, Elnaz Lashgari
When does the brain start preparing for a voluntary movement, relative to when the movement begins? How early can brain activity be used to accurately predict that a movement is about to occur? Is there any change in pupil size before the voluntary movement? Is breathing coupled with voluntary action and the neural antecedents of movement? Voluntary action is a fundamental element of self-consciousness. The readiness potential (RP), a slow buildup of neural activity preceding self-initiated movement, has been suggested to reflect neural processes underlying the preparation of voluntary action; yet more than fifty years after its discovery, the interpretation of the RP remains controversial. Building on previous research, we investigated the degree to which neural and autonomic signals are predictive of movement onset. To answer these questions, we used a controlled experimental paradigm that yields data epochs that terminate either with or without a voluntary movement. We applied this framework as a basis for experiments in which we recorded electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG), respiration and pupillometry data from human subjects, and then used machine learning in a sliding window to classify data segments as belonging to a movement or non-movement epoch. Initial results suggest that the final neural commitment to initiate a voluntary movement immediately precedes the onset of the movement itself, by as little as 150ms.
Chapman Faculty Perceptions of Hiring Practices to Increase Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Presenter(s): Nicole Williams
Advisor(s): Dr. Brooke Jenkins, Dr. Stephanie Takaragawa, Dr. David Frederick, Dr. Amy Moors, Dr. Quaylan Allen
Historically, higher education has primarily been comprised of white elites, both in terms of student and faculty demographics. While universities have faced backlash for this lack of diversity, it is clear that to this day, not much substantial change has occurred. In particular, research suggests that one contributing factor to the perpetuation of Whiteness is the hiring process through which white elites continue to hire other white elites. As such, the purpose of this study is to better understand how Chapman University can utilize best hiring practices to increase the likelihood of diversifying faculty demographics. Specifically, through the dissemination of a survey, Chapman faculty and/or individuals who served on search committees at Chapman University were asked to provide their perceptions on hiring practices geared toward increasing racial and ethnic diversity. Stages of the hiring process included preparing the search, writing the job description, recruiting candidates, interviewing, evaluating candidates, as well as retention and inclusion strategies. The results of this survey lend themselves to offering empirically-based suggestions that can be implemented at Chapman to enhance the hiring process and ultimately diversify the faculty makeup.
Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Lens on Psychotherapy Process
Presenter(s): Mary Harding
Advisor(s): Dr. David Pincus
Over the past 70 years, there has been an abundance of research indicating that psychotherapy works. However, the question of how therapy works has remained elusive. In fact, a therapist can follow a logical, systematic application of a specific therapy approach, but will still only have a vague sense of what is actually happening in the process over time and how that might relate to outcomes. Given the wide range of effective psychotherapy approaches that produce similar, positive outcomes, it is logical to conclude that there is something happening in the therapy process overtime that is more impactful than the approach itself. The purpose of this literature review is to view the empirical results on psychotherapy process through the lens of nonlinear dynamical systems theory in order to derive a more parsimonious set of processes that may be at work in facilitating positive treatment outcomes. Nonlinear dynamical systems (NDS) theory is a broad approach to science focusing on the potentially complex interactions of multivariate systems unfolding over time. NDS is aimed at understanding complex patterns. Two factors make NDS especially appealing for understanding psychotherapy process: 1) Linear science has been unable identify a set of independent predictors of outcome; 2) The targets of change in psychotherapy are themselves complex patterns of thought thought, behavior, emotion, and social relationships, each of which is interactive with the other and changing over time. The conclusions drawn from the existing research on psychotherapy process will be synthesized and used to form hypotheses that can be empirically tested using analogue and clinical research designs.
Intensity of Trait Measurements: Response Times to the M5-50 as indicators of Personality
Presenter(s): Kiyono McDaniel
Advisor(s): Dr. David Pincus
Personality tests aim to identify key traits that differentiate personality based on answers to questionnaires. Furthermore, it is possible that the intensity of identification with personality traits may be related to response times to the individual questions on the personality test. This current study looks to replicate the research conducted by Pincus et al. (2019) in Fractal Self-Structure and Psychological Resilience. Pincus investigates the hypothesis that the self is fractal and that its fractal structure can be captured within the distribution of response times to the MMPI-2. The current study attempts to replicate the methodology used in Pincus et al. (2019) using the Big Five personality traits as identified in a shorter, fifty item questionnaire (i.e., the M5-50). The same analytic technique will be used, examining the shape of the exponential distribution of response times to the 50 individual items for each participant. This study looks at the individual questions as measured by response time as predictive of fractal personality structure and tests whether the shape of the distribution (relatively steep or shallow) predicts levels of psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms). The significance of this study is to test if this methodology, specifically analysis of the reaction time distributions, can be applied to the M5-50 in a manner that measures fractal self structure and focuses on general personality traits.
The Effects of Breastfeeding on Maternal Psychological Well-Being
Presenter(s): Danielle Liu
Advisor(s): Dr. Laura Glynn
It is well-established that women who experience stress or depression are less likely to initiate and persist in breastfeeding. However, it has also been hypothesized that breastfeeding may confer psychological benefits, including enhanced mood and stress buffering. In this study, we examine the relation between breastfeeding and mood in a prospective longitudinal cohort of 132 women recruited during pregnancy. Prenatally and at two-months postpartum, psychological distress and positive affect were measured using the ecological momentary assessment over three consecutive days with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, and the anxiety subscale of the Profile of Mood States. Breastfeeding status and frequency were assessed through self-report. Women who were breastfeeding reported less perceived stress, fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, and more positive affect at two-months postpartum (all p's < 0.01). Importantly, these group differences held after consideration of potential covariates (including maternal ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, educational level, and cohabitation with baby’s father), as well as after adjusting for prenatal perceived stress and depressive symptoms. In addition, greater frequency of breastfeeding predicted less negative mood. These findings are consistent with bidirectional effects of breastfeeding and maternal mood. The fact that breastfeeding may exert protective effects against maternal postpartum negative mood suggests that it could be a practice with the potential to enhance both maternal and child health.
Childhood Abuse, Generativity, and Familial Obligation
Presenter(s): Gabi Frassenei
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
Approximately 700,000 children are abused and/or neglected annually in the United States. Of these, it is estimated that a majority of victims suffer from abuse by their parents. Typically, as these children grow up and gain independence from their parents they express a motivation to not repeat the abuse they experienced with their own children However, research suggests that childhood abuse experience is associated with later life health and well-being challenges, including impaired trajectories of psychosocial development. Erik Erikson proposed an eight-stage model of psychosocial development, the seventh stage of which is generativity. Generativity refers to the goal of contributing to the welfare and well-being of others, particularly younger generations. Research shows that adults that were victims of childhood abuse are less likely to achieve generativity in adulthood. However, the likelihood of generativity development may be moderated by desires to do well with one’s children as is typically assessed in measures of familial obligation. The present study aims to identify whether abuse experience in childhood is linked to lower levels of adult generativity achievement, and whether levels of familial obligation moderate the association between childhood abuse experience and adult generativity development. These associations will be investigated in secondary analyses of data from the Study of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS). Data analysis is ongoing, but it is expected that the proposed analyses will enhance our understanding of the role of childhood abuse experience in the development of generativity in later adulthood and how feelings of familial obligation might help to mitigate hypothesized negative effects of abuse experience on generativity development. Such findings will help to inform policies and interventions that aim to optimize adult development in the context of childhood adversity experience.
Can Social Support Act to Maintain Optimism for a Better Future for LGBTQ Rights?
Presenter(s): Lynsey Joy
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
Background: Social support is known to play a key role in mental and physical well-being, in part by enhancing individuals’ resilience to life’s stress and challenges. Support is also linked to optimism for positive outcomes. However, the role of these processes in optimism for a positive future within the LGBTQ policy arena remains understudied. Aims: The current study examines whether experimental enhancement of social support availability bolsters optimism for positive future policy changes in the area of LGBTQ civil rights in LGBTQ individuals, their family members, and close allies, when exposed to evidence of negative attitudes towards LGBTQ rights. Method: 254 participants who were either a member of the LGBTQ community, a close family member/friend of someone who identifies as LGBTQ, or an ally of the LGBTQ community were asked to read a news article on the negative state of individuals’ attitudes towards LGBTQ rights, perform a social support enhancement or neutral prime writing task, and then report on their levels of optimism of future LGBTQ policy change. The Brief Resilience Scale was used to identify individuals’ resilience style. Results and Conclusions: Data collection is ongoing but it is expected that the proposed analyses will elucidate whether a social support enhancement intervention can bolster optimism for the future of LGBTQ rights when individuals are exposed to negative attitudes regarding LGBTQ rights. Our study may contribute to mental health research to encourage the importance of social support systems in the lives of LGBTQ individuals.
Calorie Intake and its Effect on the Affect of College Students
Presenter(s): Ivan Penate
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
Research suggests that our affect may be both a cause and consequence of our dietary behavior. For example, distress is often associated with increased intake of comfort foods, such as foods high in sugar and fat. Conversely, caloric deprivation can lead to negative affect. Our affect may also be affected by our food consumption behavior, such as feeling guilty when we consume more calories than our needed or make poor dietary choices. The diet-affect connection may also be altered by level of physical activity and body weight and size which affect individuals’ basal metabolic rates and optimal caloric consumption for maintaining a healthy weight. The aims of the current study are to track the associations between individuals’ daily caloric intake and content (fats, sugars, carbohydrates, fiber) and daily affect, accounting for individuals’ basal metabolic rate. Undergraduate college students will be invited to participate in a 7-day daily survey in which daily caloric intake and nutritional content will be assessed with the MyFitnessPal smartphone app. Participants will also be asked to rate their daily positive and negative affect with a 10-item affect measure. Basal metabolic rate will be calculated from height, weight, and physical activity level. Analyses will examine linear and curvelinear associations between daily caloric intake, as well as deviations from target caloric intake as determined by basal metabolic rate, and daily positive and negative affect. The day-to-day assessments will also allow for analysis of potential lagged associations of diet and affect (i.e., affect affecting next-day diet behavior and vice-versa). Our study may contribute to our understanding of the links between daily diet and daily affect both of which contribute to college students’ mental and physical well-being.
Parents’ Marital Quality and Adult Children’s Marital Attitudes
Presenter(s): Britney Wong
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
Past research has suggested that family relationships and methods of communication could be influential to child and adult development, especially in ways of how adult children deal with conflict, interact with others, and attach to a future partner. While past studies have examined the relationship between parents' marital status and adult children's marriage attitudes, the potential association of parents’ marital quality and adult childrens’ views of marriage remains underexplored as do potential moderating factors (e.g., religiosity, sexual orientation). The current study sought to address this gap by investigating how children’s perceptions of their parents’ marital quality could influence their attitudes, expectations, and optimism toward marriage, and identify possible moderators of these associations. Participants were Chapman University students who completed an online survey measuring parent-child relationship and parental marriage quality, and participants’ marriage attitudes. Data collection is ongoing but it is expected that the proposed analyses will provide new knowledge on the intergenerational transmission of marital attitudes.
College Students and Interpersonal Skills
Presenter(s): Victoria Marohn
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
Research is conflicting regarding the influence of empathy on cyberbullying attitudes. While some research suggests that online bullies are less empathetic than those who do not cyberbully (Steffgen et al., 2011), other research has found higher cognitive empathy in online trolls (Sest & March, 2017). Despite the current research on empathy and bullying, very few studies have yet to explain how sadistic personality traits might be related to cyberbullying attitudes and behavior. The current study sought to examine how sadistic attitudes and gender moderate the relationship between cognitive and affective empathy and cyberbullying behavior and attitudes. It is hypothesized that empathy will decrease endorsement of bullying, except when sadistic attitudes are present. Participants were Chapman undergraduate students who completed an online survey that included measures of cognitive versus affective empathy (QCAE; Reniers, Corcoran, Drake, Shryane, & Völlm, 2011), sadistic attitudes (SSIS; O’Meara, Davies, & Hammond, 2011), and an Instagram task to observe and measure cyberbullying behaviors and attitudes. Data collection is ongoing but it is expected that the proposed analyses will add to our understanding of how empathy and sadism affect cyberbullying in college students, which is a critical developmental period for developing social bonds and relationships.
Implicit Gender Biases and Views of Sexual Encounters
Presenter(s): Lauren Castleton
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
The “Me Too” movement in Hollywood and other highly publicized sexual assault allegations made against celebrities and public figures has drawn attention to the high prevalence of sexual assault in the U.S.. Awareness of sexist attitudes is also on the rise as seen through the latest wave of feminism. Many studies have been conducted examining the relationship between sexual assault and sexist attitudes. Of these studies, many examine the explicit, or more straightforward, expressions of sexist beliefs. However, much less is known regarding the relationship between implicit gender bias and views of sexual assault. The aim of the current study is to explore the potential correlation between implicit gender bias and attitudes towards sexually coercive behavior, measured as variations in the labeling of sexually aggressive and coercive behavior as inappropriate. Participants were young adult college students who completed an online assessment of implicit gender bias and indicated the point in a fictional sexual encounter script in which they felt that a male target engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior Data collection is ongoing but it is hypothesized that individuals who exhibit greater levels of implicit sexism will exhibit greater acceptability of coercive behavior in the sexual encounter script. Knowledge of associations between implicit sexism and sexual behavior attitudes will provide information that may aid policy-makers in decision making when it comes to educating society on sexual assault behaviors and gender biases. This study may, ideally, contribute to a greater awareness of and decrease in sexual assault on college campuses and the wider society.
News Media Exposure and Political Action
Presenter(s): Bryleigh Blaise
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Eunice Choi
Whether repeated exposure to violence in media amplifies or dampens individuals’ emotional and physiological reactivity, the subsequent effects on behavior have long been the subject of debate and to a more modest extent empirical research. These questions are of considerable significance for exposure to forms of violence that require political advocacy in order to decrease violent occurrences, such as gun violence in the forms of shootings. The current study sought to examine whether repeated exposure to gun violence in the media would affect political advocacy intentions related to firearm regulations and whether emotional and physiological habituation to repeated media exposure might play a role in observed effects on political advocacy intentions. Study hypotheses are that: 1) those exposed to violent news media will show greater physiological and emotional arousal compared those exposed to non-violent news media, 2) those exposed to violent news media will show increased intentions for engagement in political advocacy compared to those exposed to non-violent media, and 3) the level of habituation will moderate the hypothesized effects of media exposure on political action. To test these hypotheses, Chapman University undergraduates were randomly assigned to view either violent or non-violent media, self-report affective states, and indicate intentions for political action before and after media viewing. Galvanic skin response was a measure of physiological arousal and videotaped expressions of facial emotion (arousal) were collected during video viewing. Data collection is ongoing, but it is expected that the proposed analyses will indicate that exposure to violent media enhances individuals’ intention to create political change but that these associations will be more muted in individuals who show greater physiological and emotional habituation during violent media exposure. Our study may contribute to our understanding of the role of habituation processes in shaping individuals’ political advocacy in the face of repeated exposure to violence in news media.
Effects of reporting movement and intention timing on neural precursors of action: evidence from pupillometry
Presenter(s): Jake Gavenas, Amber Hopkins, Sabrina Takla, Ruby Moss, Kate Harder, Andy Liang
Advisor(s): Dr. Uri Maoz, Dr. Aaron Schurger
The neuroscience of volition, to a large extent, investigates the neural precursors of conscious decision-making and action. Pupillometry is a powerful tool for investigating conscious and attentional processing, partly because of its connection to the locus coeruleus (Josh et al., 2016). For instance, in an attentional blink paradigm, differences in pupil dilations were associated with conscious versus nonconscious stimuli (Wierda et al., 2012). Nevertheless, this technique has received little attention in the study of conscious volition. We collected pupil data during a spontaneous action paradigm, in which subjects freely pressed a button at a time of their choosing, on some trials reporting the timing of movement onset, intention onset, or a tone using a clock (Libet et al., 1983). Preliminary analysis demonstrated significant differences in baseline pupil size between conditions, potentially indicating cognitive load differences. Furthermore, replicating Richer and Beatty (1985), we found significant dilations before spontaneous movements. There were also indications that larger, pre-movement pupil dilations occur when reporting movement onset compared to reporting onset of intention. These results support arguments that task demands, such as monitoring awareness, may affect the underlying neural activity leading to action and could therefore impact recorded signals—e.g., the readiness potential (Trevana and Miller, 2011). Moreover, these results offer a starting point for the use of pupillometry in studying conscious volition and action production.
Norepinephrine and Global Brain Dynamics: a TMS-EEG-Pupillometry Study
Presenter(s): Joanna Pak, Jake Gavenas, Emma Krivoshein
Advisor(s): Dr. Uri Maoz, Dr. Aaron Schurger
The brain is a dynamic system: many different global activity patterns can emerge from similar underlying network structures (Deco et al., 2015). How shifts between global activity patterns are achieved is not currently known. One candidate is norepinephrine (NE), a neuromodulator that is widely present in the brain. NE affects gain, a network parameter that describes how much regions influence each other’s activity, and has been proposed to be involved in shifts between integration and segregation (e.g. Shine et al., 2019), a central dichotomy in global brain dynamics (Deco et al., 2015). Crucially, the human pupil can reliably index NE release, because the brain’s source of NE (the Locus Coeruleus) projects to pupil dilator muscles (Joshi et al., 2016). In the present project, we investigate global activity patterns are related to NE levels in the brain, indexed by pupil size. We use a perturbation paradigm by administering transcranial magnetic stimulation and recording the brain’s response to stimulation with electroencephalography, a technique that has previously been applied to analyze global brain dynamics (Sarasso et al., 2013). We investigate whether aspects of the brain’s response to stimulation is modulated by pupil size, which would support arguments that norepinephrine is involved in controlling global brain dynamics.