Wednesday, March 21, 2007
9:00A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Tate Student Center
University of Georgia
The Psi Chi Conference was held on the ground floor of the Tate Student Center
on the University of Georgia campus.
Conference Program
General Information
Acknowledgements
Schedule
Keynote Address
Author List and Abstracts
General Information
Welcome to Psi Chi's 30 th Annual Convention for the Behavioral Sciences. The following information will help you plan your day. The staff at the registration desk will be happy to answer any questions.
All activities are on the first floor of the Tate Student Center . Poster sessions are held in Reception Hall. Paper presentations are held in Room 140.
Registration is in the lobby from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The fee is $5 for presenters and $8 for non-presenters. You are eligible to attend all activities.
Breakfast will be served in the Reception Hall from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Lunch will be served from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Room 139. Snacks will be available in the Reception Hall from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The conference includes a Brain Awareness Symposium sponsored by the UGA chapter of the Neuroscience Student Association. Neuroscience- related papers will be presented in Paper Session I and neuroscience- related posters will be displayed in Poster Session II. All are invited to attend.
During the awards ceremony at 4:00 pm, Psi Chi and the Society for Neuroscience will be awarding certificates and cash prizes to the best paper and poster presentations.
We hope you enjoy the Conference!
Psi Chi would like to acknowledge the following for their contributions to this year's conference:
Franklin College Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee
Psi Chi Officers
Elizabeth Rahn, Graduate President
Freya Liu, Graduate Vice President
Jessi Crast, Graduate Secretary
Amy Brunell, Graduate Treasurer
Kathryn Louise Scheffel, Undergraduate President
Laura Aikens, Undergraduate Vice President
Laura Whitlock, Undergraduate Secretary
Katherine Viars, Undergraduate Treasurer
Faculty Contributors
Dr. Dorothy Fragaszy
Dr. Pat Miller
Dr. Victoria Plaut
Dr. David Shaffer
Dr. Rich Suplita
Dr. Josh Miller
Dr. Gary Lautenschlager
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Jonathan Crystal
Thank you to all of our undergraduate volunteers, graduate judges and department staff!
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Dr. Eli J. Finkel Dr. Eli Finkel is an Assistant Professor in Department of Psychology in Northwestern University . His research interest is in five domains: Forgiveness, intimate partner violence, romantic attraction, the interface of relationships and self-regulation, and personality characteristics and relationships. |
Keynote Address:
“Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration: Insights from the Science of Self-Regulation”
3:00 to 4:00 pm
Reception Hall
Abstract:
The huge corpus of research identifying risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration has outpaced theoretical models explaining how these risk factors combine to exert their effects. This talk presents a 3-stage process model investigating how a previously nonviolent interaction between intimate partners escalates to IPV. It also presents results from a series of studies to provide support for various aspects of the process model. These studies employ experimental and longitudinal procedures and emphasize the importance of self-regulation in helping individuals override their violent impulses.
Author List: (click to view abstracts)
Paper Session I Brain Awareness Symposium
P1 Cannabinoids Suppress Chemotherapy-evoked Neuropathic Pain Through Spinal Sites of Action
Elizabeth J Rahn and Andrea G. Hohmann
University of Georgia
The present studies were conducted to evaluate the sites of action of cannabinoids in suppressing mechanical hypersensitivity (tactile allodynia) induced by treatment with the chemotherapeutic agent vincristine in rats. Tactile allodynia developed over the course of ten once-daily injections of vincristine relative to groups receiving saline. Systemic administration of the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 suppressed painful peripheral neuropathy evoked by vincristine administration in rats. Intrathecal administration of WIN55,212-2 induced a dose-dependent suppression of vincristine-evoked tactile allodynia. By contrast, WIN55,212-3, the receptor-inactive enantiomer of WIN55,212-2, failed to alter vincristine-evoked tactile allodynia. Intrathecal co-administration of both the CB1 antagonist SR141716 and the CB2 antagonist SR144528 blocked the cannabinoid-induced suppression of vincristine-evoked tactile allodynia. These data suggest that the anti-allodynic effects of WIN55,212-2 were mediated by both CB1 and CB2 receptors. WIN55,212-2 suppressed vincristine-evoked tactile allodynia following intrathecal administration at doses that did not alter mechanical withdrawal thresholds following local administration into the hindpaw. Our results demonstrate that cannabinoids suppress the maintenance of vincristine-induced tactile allodynia through actions mediated, at least in part, at the level of the spinal cord. Our data further suggest that cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor subtypes may be important therapeutic targets for the treatment of chemotherapeutic neuropathy.
P2 Functional Imaging of the Emotional Learning Circuitry During Cue Presentation in Abstinent Smokers
Jared G. Breyley
University of Georgia
Abnormalities in emotional learning brain circuits are likely to underlie drug addiction. Key among emotional learning structures, the amygdala participates in the attribution of emotional significance to cues associated with positive and negative behavioral outcomes. The endocannabinoid system is likely to be a critical player in drug addiction as well, and pharmacological blockade of CB1 cannabinoid receptors has been demonstrated to enhance nicotine abstinence in humans. Cannabinoid CB1 receptors are detected in the basolateral amygdala, and activation of this receptor population is required to achieve extinction from conditioned fear responses. Based upon recent research evidence linking the amygdala to emotional learning circuits involved in addiction, we reason that CB1 activity in the amygdala may be more generally implicated in the plasticity of emotional learning circuits. Here we propose to examine amygdala activation in response to smoking cues in abstinent smokers and to test the hypothesis that pharmacological blockade of CB1 will suppress the response of the amygdala (assessed using functional brain imaging) to these cues. Empirical support for this hypothesis could suggest combining pharmacological and cognitive therapies aimed at controlling emotional circuit activation to more effectively prevent relapse into habitual smoking.
P3 Blockade of Endocannabinoid Deactivation Differentially Modulates Anxiety-like Behavior in Male Syrian Hamsters
Anna-Marieta Moise and Andrea Hohmann
University of Georgia
We tested the hypothesis that activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors would suppress anxiety-like behavior in Syrian hamsters. Hamsters received an inhibitor of endocannabinoid deactivation (URB597), a CB1 antagonist (rimonabant), a benzodiazepine anxiolytic (diazepam) or vehicle. Inhibition of endocannabinoid metabolism with URB597 induced a CB1-mediated suppression of anxiety in the elevated plus maze. By contrast, blockade of CB1 with rimonabant increased anxiety-like behavior. URB597 and diazepam decreased entries into closed arms of the maze whereas rimonabant decreased entries into open arms. We subsequently used a naturalistic model of social anxiety to identify neurochemical mechanisms mediating social defeat. Following exposure to a larger dominant hamster, subordinate hamsters display submissive behavior even in the presence of a smaller, nonaggressive hamster. We tested the hypothesis that this conditioned defeat would be suppressed by conventional anxiolytics such as diazepam and inhibitors of endocannabinoid deactivation such as URB597. Diazepam suppressed the expression, but not the acquisition, of conditioned defeat. By contrast, URB597 and rimonabant, administered at doses that modulated anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, did not alter conditioned defeat. Our data demonstrate that URB597 and diazepam differentially modulate anxiety-like behavior in male Syrian hamsters. Moreover, conditioned defeat is not dependent upon cannabinoid receptor activation.
P4 Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Regulate Endocannabinoid-mediated Stress-induced Analgesia
L.C. Gregg , N.M. Bolton , R.L. Suplita II, and A.G. Hohmann
University of Georgia
Stress-induced analgesia (SIA) is mediated by mobilization of endogenous marijuana-like compounds such as 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG). These studies established a physiological role for 2-AG in the nervous system. However, mechanisms governing in vivo synthesis of 2-AG remain unknown. We tested the hypothesis that 2-AG may be synthesized on demand to induce SIA through successive activation of two enzymes- phospholipase C (PLC) and diacylglycerol lipase (DGL). The 2-AG precursor diacylglycerol (DAG) is formed in vitro from PLC-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phospholipid precursors. DAG is subsequently hydrolyzed by DGL to generate 2-AG. We examined whether activation of postsynaptic group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) would enhance SIA because of their known coupling to PLC. Microinjection of the group I mGluR agonist DHPG into the dorsolateral PAG (dPAG) enhanced SIA through a CB1-dependent mechanism. Microinjection of the DGL inhibitor tetrahydrolipstatin (THL) into the dPAG suppressed SIA. The DHPG-induced enhancement of SIA was blocked by THL. Our results support the hypothesis that exposure to an environmental stressor stimulates synthesis of 2-AG through the PLC/DGL pathway to induce SIA. Our data further suggest that this process may be initiated by activation of group I mGluRs. (Supported by DA14022, DA14265 (A.G.H.)).
P5 The Relationship Between Pain Tolerance and Human Aggression
Kallio Hunnicutt-Ferguson, Kris Niel, and Dennis Reidy
University of Georgia
Pain has been positively correlated with irritability, hostility, and aggression in research with chronic pain and geriatric patients as well as in animal research. The present investigation examined the relationship between pain tolerance and aggression. Seventy-two men participated in a shock paradigm (RCAP; Zeichner, Frey, Parrott & Butryn, 1999) in which participants were given the opportunity to shock or refrain from shocking an ostensible opponent. Prior to commencement, each participant's subjective pain threshold was assessed. Results indicate a positive relationship between pain tolerance and aggression. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed in terms of sensitivity training for aggressors.
P6 The Effects of Time Pressure on Decision Making from a Prospect Theory Framework
Diana L. Young and Adam S. Goodie
University of Georgia
Studies have shown that decision making behavior changes as a function of various situational characteristics (framing and context effects, temporal discounting, perceived control, time pressure effects, etc.). Concurrently, decision researchers have found ways to model individual decision making behavior to account for and examine these differences. For instance, assessing decision making behavior from Kahneman and Tversky's prospect theory framework (1979, 1992) allows for a direct examination of changes in the value and weighting of prospects, and it most easily incorporates monetary gambles, as utilized in the present study. One of the two key elements of prospect theory, the weighting function, allows researchers to depict the amount of subjective weight that a person attaches to any number of outcomes in a prospect. The results of two previous studies revealed one interesting, yet unanticipated, finding: participants appeared to weight probabilities higher when under pressure than when not under pressure. The following study takes a more direct look at how decision making behavior changes as a function of time pressure, using a prospect theory framework to examine changes in the subjective weighting of probabilities. Implications for applied and natural decisions are discussed.
P7 Metacognitive Awareness of Event-Based Prospective Memory
Joseph T. Meeks
University of Georgia
This study examined people's ability to predict and postdict their performance on an event-based prospective memory task. Using nonfocal cues, one group of participants predicted their success at finding animal words and a different group predicted being able to find words with a particular syllable in it. The author also administered a self-report questionnaire on everyday prospective and retrospective memory failures. Based on the different strategies adopted by the two groups and correlations among the dependent variables, the author concludes that people do have a basic awareness of their prospective memory abilities, but that this awareness is far from accurate. The importance of metamemory concerning one's prospective memory is discussed in terms of how it influences the strategies that people might choose for actually completing their various intentions.
P8 Effects of Abrupt and Gradual Stimulus Onsets and Offsets on Location-based Inhibition of Return
Benjamin A. Guenther and James M. Brown
University of Georgia
Location-based inhibition of return (IOR) is an attentional phenomenon in which reaction times (RTs) are slower to detect a stimulus at a previously attended location. Manipulations examining the relative contributions of the parvocellular (P) and magnocellular (M) visual pathways to location-based IOR have demonstrated an association between increased IOR magnitudes and conditions favoring P activity. To further explore this relationship, manipulations influencing the ability of the M pathway to process stimuli were employed. To achieve this stimuli are presented either abruptly (on/off) or gradually (ramping luminance on/off). If the M pathway is more sensitive to abrupt changes then there should be relatively greater P influence in the gradual conditions which should be manifest in greater magnitudes of IOR.
P9 The Valence of Event-based Prospective Memory Cues Affects Their Detection
Arlo Clark-Foos
University of Georgia
Event-based prospective memory tasks require detecting cues or reminders in our environment related to previously established intentions. If they are detected at an opportune time, then the intention can be fulfilled. In Experiments 1-3, I gave people three different nonfocal intentions (e.g., respond to words denoting animals) and discovered that negatively valenced cues delivered the intention to mind less frequently than positively valenced cues. I propose that valence has the ability to usurp attentional resources that otherwise would have supported successful prospective memory performance.
P10 Reducing Cryptomnesia by Employing Source Monitoring Decision Criteria
Gene Brewer
University of Georgia
Unconscious plagiarism (Cryptomnesia) occurs when individuals come to believe that old ideas are in fact novel and self generated. These plagiarisms are due to participants inadequately engaging source monitoring processes during idea generation. Specifically, individuals do not spontaneously employ source monitoring decision criteria when generating new ideas for a problem set. In one experiment, the demand characteristics of generating ideas in a group setting caused participants to utilize much more stringent decision criteria for gauging how novel their ideas actually were. Results from the experiment support the notion that idea generation is typically conducted free of source monitoring decision processes until some environmental pressure (e.g. group generation) causes participants to use stricter decision criteria and monitor the source of their ideas.
P11 Elucidating the Effects of Transformational Leadership: Person-Organization vs. Person-Supervisor Fit
Ashley Williams
University of Georgia
A great deal of research supports the relationship between transformational leadership and work group effectiveness. Although this relationship has been demonstrated numerous times, the intervening variables remain unidentified. That it, scant empirical evidence exists supporting the variables that explain the transformational effect. It is hypothesized that value congruence (person-organization fit or person-supervisor fit) may mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and work group effectiveness. Participants included 140 target managers enrolled in an Executive MBA program at a large Southeastern University , 420 of their direct reports, and 140 of the target leaders' higher level managers. Participants completed Bass and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, and value congruence items adapted from Cable & DeRue's (2002) subjective fit measure. Results show that while PS fit does not mediate the transformational-work group effectiveness relationship, PO fit fully mediates the impact of transformational leadership on work group effectiveness. Together, these results suggest that the impact of transformational leadership on work group effectiveness is dependant on organizational leaders instilling the organization's values in followers rather than their own values.
P12 Conscious Control over Autonomic Processes
Jeremy Duncan and Jennifer Chapmen
University of West Georgia
A study conducted by the Psychology department at the University of West Georgia examines the causal effects of biofeedback training on autonomic processes such as heart rate variability, respiration, and brain wave activity. The study was comprised of initial and final baseline sessions, with a series of training and observational periods where participants were instructed to achieve a high level of heart rate coherence via interaction with video game software. After the training phase, 27% of participants demonstrated an increase in heart rate variability, while the remaining showed a decrease or no change in variability. 64% of participants showed an increase in heart rate coherence and 55% showed an overall decrease in respiration rate. The results of the study also showed that when comparisons were made between the autonomic processes of the baseline responses to the post relaxation training responses, there was an increase of parasympathetic activity dominance in the subjects. One parameter that did not show any correlation was Brain wave activity. The EEG readings for the participants in this study demonstrated a wide range of dominate EEG activity. This aspect warrants further investigation in understanding the connection between dominant wave activity, and relaxation responses.
I-1 Self-Determination for Sexual Activity in Dating Relationships
Brittany L. Collins, Amy B. Brunell, Julie Bentz, and Ryan Reeves
University of Georgia
The current study investigated sexual motivation in dating relationships. Consistent with Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; 2000), we hypothesized that more self-determined motivation (i.e., intrinsic and identified regulation) would predict greater outcomes such as need satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, well-being, and relationship quality. Less self-determined motivation (i.e., introjected and extrinsic regulation), by contrast, would predict lower outcomes. 42 male and 160 female undergraduate students participated in exchange for partial course credit. 91% of these participants reported being in an exclusive relationship. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires that assessed (a) their general motivation for engaging in sexual activity with their partners, (b) their general need and sexual satisfaction, (c) their psychological well-being, and (d) relationship quality. Results revealed that individuals who engaged in sexual activity for more self-determined reasons were more likely to report that they got their needs met during sexual activity and had higher sexual satisfaction, psychological well-being and relationship quality. Individuals who tended to engage in sexual activity for less self-determined reasons reported lower need and sexual satisfaction and lower outcomes. Additional analyses revealed that sexual satisfaction and need satisfaction served as mediators or suppressors of the association between sexual motivation and outcomes. Implications are discussed.
I-2 How Variations in Job-Ad Information Affect Pre-Entry Socialization
Bethany H. Hoffman
University of Georgia
Organizational socialization is the process by which an individual acquires and appreciates the attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, values, and abilities that are essential to participating as an organizational member. Theoretical research indicates that socialization can occur prior to organizational entry, namely during selection and recruitment, and as a function of the information that is provided. Findings of the current study suggest when applicants are presented with more information about the job and organization, higher levels of socialization result. Specifically, results indicated that participants who receive job-ads with more information about the job and organization reported higher levels of pre-entry socialization than participants who receive job-ads with less information. The results also suggest that job-relevant information was a predictor of pre-entry socialization over and beyond applicants' prior organizational and job knowledge. This indicates that organizations could develop selection and recruitment systems containing more job-relevant information and, as a result, applicants may have higher levels of socialization upon entering as an organizational member.
I-3 Reactions to Diversity Advertisements in Higher Education
Wendy Reynolds-Dobbs, Matthew Harrison, Brian Roote, Pablo Gora, and Kalisha Hudgies-Smith
University of Georgia
Since demographic trends in America are continuously becoming more diverse, recruiting ethnic minority students are imperative for colleges and universities. Therefore, this study examined undergraduate participants' reactions to strategic diversity recruitment advertisements as presented through a series of brochures. More specifically, this research examined the influence of faculty diversity, student racial/ethnic composition, multiculural course requirement, and diversity mission statement. In addition to examining students' attraction to the fictional university, the study also examined how participants' race and gender interacted with the university information presented on participants' attraction. 103 student participants reviewed a total of 32 brochures. A policy capturing methodology was implemented in order to assess how students use this information to make decisions regarding attraction. Implications for advertising and recruitment research are offered.
I-4 Comparing the Predictive Ability of Two Broad Personality Models: A study of Psychopathy
Adam Tant, Kimberly Friend, Eric Gaughan, and Josh Miller
University of Georgia
Extensive research has shown that personality disorders (PDs) can be conceptualized as dimensional constructs that lie on a continuum with “normal” personality functioning. A portion of this research has focused on psychopathy, a particularly virulent PD composed of such traits as a lack of remorse and empathy, manipulativeness, egocentricity, superficiality, and shallow affect. Research has demonstrated that general trait models of personality are quite successful at assessing psychopathy. One such model is the Five-Factor model (FFM), which measures personality using the dimensions of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness and 30 more specific facets. Research has shown that psychopathy is negatively correlated with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness and positively correlated with certain facets of Neuroticism (e.g., angry hostility) and Extraversion (e.g., assertiveness). Recently, an alternative 3-factor model of personality, the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), has been successfully used to study psychopathy. The MPQ is comprised of 3 broad domains (positive and negative emotionality, constraint) and 11 specific trait scales (e.g., aggression). In the current study we plan to use multiple regression analyses to examine the relative predictive validity of each model to account for the variability in the psychopathy scales. We will do this at both the domain and trait level.
I-5 An Exploration of Two Psychological Entitlement Scales
Christopher Beck, Danielle Perrini, Lauren Pryor, and Joshua Miller
University of Georgia
Psychological entitlement can be described as a “stable and pervasive sense that one deserves more” than others (Campbell et al., 2004, p. 31). Considered a core component of narcissism, as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), and narcissistic personality disorder, as measured by the DSM-IV, Campbell et al. (2004) developed a stand alone measure of entitlement (i.e., Psychological Entitlement Scale; PES). In the current study, we examined the correlation between alternative conceptualizations of “entitlement” (PES vs. NPI entitlement) and their convergent and discriminant validity using other individual differences measures. Specifically, we examine the entitlement scales with relation to general personality traits, personality disorders (PDs), and psychological symptoms. The scales were moderately correlated (r = .46, p<.01) and demonstrated similar personality profiles. Both scales were primarily related to an Antagonism (using both self and informant reports), although the relation was stronger for NPI entitlement. Both were related to a number of PDs although the findings were stronger for NPI entitlement for two PDs. The scales did not differ with regard to psychological symptoms except that NPI entitlement was more strongly correlated with hostility. Overall, the entitlement scales are quite similar although the NPI entitlement scale is more maladaptive in nature.
I-6 IOR in Infants: A Study of Attentional Shifting
Krisztina Varga, Leah Kapa, Michael Gower, Amanda Giordano, Melissa Dengler, Ashley Miller, and Janet Frick
University of Georgia
Inhibition of return (IOR) is the tendency to inhibit attention to a previously cued location, and is believed to be an attentional bias to novel locations. Infant studies have found that IOR develops between the ages of three and six months. The methodology used in these infant studies is comparable to those used in studying IOR in adults. However, recent adult research has questioned aspects of the methodology previously used to study IOR (i.e. temporal and spatial factors) that may play a role in observing IOR. The first purpose of this study is to examine the effects of these methodological issues in the observance of IOR in 6-month-old infants. A second purpose addresses the issue of individual differences in infants' abilities to show IOR. Individual differences will be assessed using length of looking at a target. Leading theoretical models show attentional differences in those infants who process information more quickly (short- looking infants) and those who process information slower (long-looking infants). Because IOR is believed to be an attentional bias to novel locations, it is expected that we will find differences in short and long looking infants' performance in the IOR paradigm.
I-7 Testing Joint Attention in Imperative Pointing by Captive Capuchin Monkeys Using a Novel Technological Approach
Brian Stone, Jennifer Benoit, and Dorothy Fragaszy
University of Georgia
Pointing is an effective act of gestural communication that is ubiquitous among humans, both for directing another's attention (declarative pointing) and for directing another's actions (imperative pointing). Humans point with an understanding of the communicatory causal efficacy of their gestures. Our studies test whether non-human primates, specifically captive capuchin monkeys, also point with communicative understanding. Since monkeys do not spontaneously point, we trained them to control a mounted laser pointer using a familiar joystick. The laser device provides a functional point without requiring an unnatural physical arm gesture. Using this setup, we can test for joint attention, which is taken to be crucial for establishing understanding in human children who point. Aspects of joint attention to be tested include whether they can use the laser pointer to direct a human experimenter's attention, whether they take into account the human's attentional state (attending to them, attending to the dot, looking away, or being out of the room), and whether they actively repair broken attentional links. These studies will provide a novel method for work with both animals and special human populations that lack arms or do not normally point.
I-8 Effects of Objects and Spatial Frequency on Location-Based Inhibition of Return
Christy L. Barry, Jared Breyley, Kao-Wei Chua, Benjamin A. Guenther, and James M. Brown
University of Georgia
Location-based inhibition of return (IOR) is an attentional phenomenon where reaction times (RTs) are slowed to detect a stimulus appearing in a previously (> 300 ms) cued location. Manipulations of spatial frequency, objects, and visual field were designed to examine the relative contributions of the parvocellular (P) and magnocellular (M) visual pathways to location-based IOR. Original studies compared IOR differences between conditions in which 3-D objects were either present or absent. In general, stimulus conditions favoring P activity (e.g. the presence of objects, higher spatial frequencies) led to increased IOR. The current work serves as a control for differences in the mean background luminance between the original object and no-object conditions.
I-9*Withdrawn from Conference* Black Enough?: Examining Skin Color Among America 's Fortune 100
Matthew S. Harrison, Wendy Reynolds-Dobbs, Brian Roote, and Pablo Gora
University of Georgia
A common problem among social scientists who group all members of a race/ethnicity together is that they assume that all of the life experiences of those individuals are the same, and thereby, overlook the prevalence of heterogeneity within ethnicities. One such example is a global phenomenon present in all cultures where there is skin tone variation—colorism. This longstanding ideology which suggests preference within ethnic groups is closely linked with skin color is often ignored. Recent research, however, has found that among Blacks, lighter skin has major implications in the job selection process—where one is better off if he/she is lighter-skinned. Due to issues of attractiveness and general levels of comfort, individuals tend to feel a lighter-skinned black is more competent or less threatening, respectively. A look at the past four mayors of Atlanta , Georgia illustrates that politics in America are even guilty of having a disproportionate number of lighter elected officials. This research study intends to look at the executive boards of America 's Fortune 100 companies to investigate if the same “lopsidedness” is present. It is expected that greater numbers of light-skinned Blacks will be found in these positions than there darker-skinned counterparts.
I-10 The Impact of Macular Pigment on Contrast Sensitivity to Mid-wave Light Stimuli
Melissa Dengler , Emily Schmid , Madison Moore, Kelsey Richardson, Amanda Wartner, Benjamin Albert, and Randy Hammond
University of Georgia
Macular pigment is made up of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin and protects the eye through an active antioxidant mechanism and acts as a filter for actinic blue light that causes damage over time. Individuals differ in terms of macular pigment density based largely on the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in their diet. People who have higher optical density may have improved vision compared to those with lower density. Specifically, selective reduction of bluish backgrounds (e.g., sky light or haze) improves contrast when viewing longer-wave targets (situation that occurs often in the environment). To test this hypothesis, adults were tested using a stimulus consisting of a mid-wave grating on a blue background projected on the wall. This procedure takes advantage of the blue light filtering of macular pigment by pairing it with a target (a grating) that is not absorbed by the macular pigment. In our preliminary studies, MP was almost perfectly related (n = 7, r = 0.95) to contrast sensitivity when using these conditions. These results will serve as a model that may be useful for future studies, especially those measuring the effects of deprivation of the carotenoids that compose macular pigment on infant vision.
I-11 Religious Discrimination in Selection Systems
Paul (Pablo) J. Gora
University of Georgia
The proposed study will examine the effects that an applicants religious affiliation will have on selection systems within workplace settings. Participants will review one of three personnel files (each containing one resume and one personnel sheet) that imply the applicants religious affiliation (Christian, Jewish, or Muslim) and will complete a questionnaire designed to asses the participants level of nationalism. It is expected that Christian applicants will be rated the highest, Jewish applicants will be rated less highly, and Muslim applicants the least highly. The participants' level of nationalism is expected to moderate the relationship between religious affiliation and selection ratings such that those high in nationalism will more positively rate Christian applicants and more negatively rate Jews and Muslims, with Muslims receiving the most negative ratings.
I-12 An Examination of Cognitive Inhibition and Executive Functioning
Melanie McMahan, Emily Edwards, and Katherine Kipp
University of Georgia
There are many articles referring to cognitive inhibition and executive functioning, but presently no confirmed and validated test measures these constructs. Fields within psychology, including developmental, cognitive, and clinical, define cognitive inhibition and executive functioning differently. Previous studies utilized tests, such as Stroop , Wisconsin Card Sorting, Trail Making and Connections, to measure different aspects of executive functioning. However, there is no standard test. We are currently reviewing the literature to determine which measures of cognitive inhibition and executive functioning are being used. We will then design a research project to validate the different methods and test adult participants to determine the most conclusive methods.
I-13 An Examination of Cognitive Inhibition in Children with ADHD
Deirdre A. Rudat, Griffin Parrott, Twiggie Lo, and Katherine Kipp
University of Georgia
Cognitive inhibition is the active suppression of information in working memory, which allows for more efficient executive functioning in task performance. Previous research suggests a difference in measures of cognitive inhibition between children with and without Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). There is some preliminary evidence suggesting that children with ADHD perform poorly on tests of cognitive inhibition. The cognitive inhibition tests will be run on undergraduates to determine the validity of the data; following the undergraduate trials, children will be tested. In this study, we expect that children with ADHD will display lower levels of cognitive inhibition on the Stroop, directed forgetting, and picture-naming tasks, suggesting a distinct cognitive deficit. Currently, we are reviewing articles on cognitive inhibition and children with ADHD. We are also modifying the Stroop, directed forgetting, and picture-naming tasks for improved internal validity. We expect to learn more about the cognitive ability of children with ADHD, particularly for cognitive inhibition tasks.
I-14 Sleepy? Hyperactive? Or Maybe Both?
Dana Wagshal, Sine Gov, and Nathalye Gutierrez
University of Georgia
Previous research shows that there is a correlation between Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and sleep disorders, as well as behavior problems. One study found that children with shorter sleep times are more likely to demonstrate behavior problems than children with longer sleep time. In addition, children with ADHD were sleepier during the day despite getting as much sleep as control participants. These studies suggest that sleep disorders may be an important factor for daytime hyperactivity and inattention. Moreover, sleep related disorders may be associated with learning disabilities, as well as ADHD. It is still unknown whether poor sleep causes ADHD or if ADHD causes poor sleep (or even if the two disorders are comorbid). Before this question can be answered, there must be more evidence of sleep disorders prevalent in ADHD cases, particularly in the different subtypes of ADHD: ADHD primarily hyperactive and ADHD primarily inattentive. Therefore, we postulate that children with different subtypes of ADHD will have different sleep disorders. In cooperation with area clinics, parents with children who have recently been diagnosed with ADHD using the DSM-IV will complete a sleep survey. We will use correlational analyses to evaluate the relationships between ADHD and various sleep disorders.
Leader Vision Statements as an Alternate Measure of Leadership: Consequences and Correlates
Sean P. Baldwin, Sara E. Smith, and Brian J. Hoffman
University of Georgia
Extensive research has focused on the meaning and measurement of organizational leadership. The preponderance of this research has used subordinate ratings as the operationalization of choice. However, ratings of leadership have frequently been criticized as being fraught with a variety of information processing biases. Thus, alternate measures of leadership are needed. This study will extend prior leadership research by examining the construct validity of an alternate measure of leadership, the content of vision statements. Specifically, vision statements prepared by managers currently enrolled in an Executive MBA are currently being coded with respect to a variety of constructs (e.g., transformational leadership, instrumentality, strategic focus, etc.). The next step will include an analysis of 1) the overlap between the vision coded leadership variables and more traditional subordinate ratings of leadership, and 2) the extent to which the coded variables explain variance in the effectiveness of the managers' work group beyond more traditional measures of leadership. The results of these analyses will be used to discuss the efficacy of incorporating the content of leader vision statements as alternate measures of leadership.
I-16 Faux Pas Test Validation Study
Amy H. Kasian, Fayeza S. Ahmed, and L. Stephen Miller
University of Georgia
Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to comprehend the mental state of another person. One test of ToM is the Faux Pas Test. This study examined the variance among individual Faux Pas Test scores, as previous research found that normal control participants obtain between 0.95-1.00 percent correct. It is hypothesized that similar results will be found. 54 undergraduate students were recruited from the Psychology Department at the University of Georgia . Participants were administered The Faux Pas Test, which assesses the ability to detect a Faux Pas through the use of vignettes. Descriptive statistics were conducted on the obtained scores of The Faux Pas Test. Unlike previous research, the average score was 0.909. It was hypothesized that the undergraduate mean scores would be similar to the control participants of previous research. Surprisingly, the average score was slightly lower than in past research. Nevertheless, the scores obtained from this sample are still similar to past studies. Therefore, this study further validates previous research that states that normal control participants tend to perform very well on the Faux Pas Test.
I-17 An Investigation of the Effects of Service-learning on Developmental Psychology Students' Knowledge and Attitudes
Elise Baker, Margaret Colpoys, Sarah Beth Holt, and Katherine Kipp
University of Georgia
An emerging area of research in the field of developmental psychology is service-learning. Service-learning requires active involvement in aiding the needs of the community while enhancing academic growth. Past research has investigated the effects of service-learning on participants' knowledge and attitudes regarding the underprivileged. This experiment investigates two hypotheses: 1) Service-learning positively impacts participants' attitudes towards volunteering and Hispanics; 2) Participants gain knowledge about developmental psychology after the completion of the service-learning course. Participants have committed to tutor pre-K children for four hours per week for thirteen weeks at a Hispanic after-school program. Pre-tests were administered to each participant prior to tutoring to assess his or her attitude towards volunteering and Hispanics, as well as his or her general knowledge about developmental psychology. The expectation for the experiment is that service-learning will benefit both the participants and the community.
I-18 Exploring the Role of the Parvocellular and Magnocellular Pathways in Object-based Attention.
Rebecca L. Brown, Benjamin A. Guenther, and James M. Brown
University of Georgia
Recent studies indicate when attention is directed to a location parvocellular (P) processing is emphasized relative to magnocellular (M) with P on M inhibition occurring there too. Object-based attention research finds a greater cost for shifting attention between compared to within objects. This object effect is due, in part, to disengaging object-based attention from one object to shift to another. We explored whether P on M inhibition may contribute to the disadvantage for between object shifts by testing conditions expected to inhibit M activity (i.e., equiluminant and red backgrounds). If the object effect is due, in part, to P on M inhibition related to disengaging attention, then the object effect may be less when M activity is less. Achromatic (white-on-black & white-on-gray), physically equiluminant (black-on-red & black-on-green), and psychophysically equiluminant (red-on-green and green-on-red) conditions were compared. Under achromatic conditions, where P on M inhibition would have been greatest, the object effect was twice that of the equiluminant and red background conditions. Thus, when M activity was less, thereby decreasing the opportunity for P on M inhibition, shifting attention between objects was easier. The results suggest P on M inhibition plays a role in disengaging object-based attention.
I-19 Effects Olfactory Bulbectomy on d-Amphetamine Sensitization
Sarah A. Eisenstein and Andrea G. Hohmann
University of Georgia
The olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) model of depression induces behavioral and neurobiogical alterations reminiscent of affective disorder symptomatology. Recent studies suggest that the dopaminergic system is altered following OBX. First, OBX is associated with a faster rate of acquisition of self-administration of the dopamine agonist amphetamine relative to sham-operated controls. OBX also induces a “presensitized” locomotor state in response to administration of the dopamine reuptake blocker cocaine. To further confirm the enhanced state of vulnerability to the effects of dopaminergic agonists following OBX, rats were subject to either OBX or sham surgery. Following a two week recovery period, OBX and sham-operated groups were administered 1 mg/kg d-amphetamine daily for 8 days, followed by a challenge with amphetamine one week later. Locomotor sensitization, stereotypic behavior, and activity in response to a novel environment were quantified. OBX rats exhibited increased locomotor activity in response to a novel environment and increased locomotion in response to amphetamine. This sensitized state persisted throughout testing whereas sham-operated rats exhibited a slower rate of locomotor sensitization over the same interval. Our results demonstrate that olfactory bulbectomy alters dopaminergic transmission and behaviors related to stress, as evidenced by an increased responsivity to the dopaminergic agonist amphetamine.
I-20 Attention Capture by Change In Speaker Emotion In Women
Qingyang Li 1 and Annett Schirmer 2
1 University of Georgia ; 2 University of Singapore
The present study investigated the processing of unattended and attended vocal emotional expressions in women. To this end, syllables spoken with angry and neutral prosody were presented over headphones and speakers in a passive and in an active oddball paradigm. Deviants elicited an MMN relative to standards and the MMN amplitude was larger for angry as compared to neutral prosody independent of attention. Emotionality also modulated the amplitude of the subsequent N2b and P300/P3a. However, unlike the MMN effect, these latter modulations showed primarily when auditory stimuli were task irrelevant. The spatial location of the auditory stimuli also modulated P3a amplitude. These results suggest that early detection of change in speaker emotion is relatively independent of attentional focus. Task-irrelevant emotional vocalizations can trigger attention capture in women.
II-1 Attitudes, A Possible Risk Factor for Medication Noncompliance in Older Adults
Colin J. Kress 1 , Julie B. Boron 2 , Wendy A. Rogers 2 , and Arthur D. Fisk 2
1 Oglethorpe University ; 2 Georgia Institute of Technology
Medication noncompliance is a significant problem that can lead to an increase in medical complications and is associated with increased mortality. This investigation sought to identify predictors of reported medication noncompliance in older adults aged 60-80 years (N = 330). Based on prior literature, number of medications, social support, education, number of strategies, and attitudes toward medication adherence were considered. Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that number of strategies (p < 0.05), positive medication attitudes (p < 0.01) and perceived control regarding medication-taking behavior (p < 0.05) were associated with better reported medication compliance. This finding was upheld when older adults considered noncompliance both in (R2 = .26) and out (R2 = .30) of their normal routines. Social support, education, and number of medications were not significantly associated with reported adherence. This research highlights the potential importance of attitudes towards medication-taking behavior. Negative or helpless attitudes could be a risk factor for medication noncompliance, whereas, more perceived control over medication-taking behavior may lead to better compliance. This warrants monitoring of adults' attitudes towards adhering to medications. Furthermore, the positive association between number of strategies and reported compliance suggests that use of more strategies results in fewer reported instances of forgetting.
II-2 Racial Differences in Attributions of Blame for Male Rape Victims
Tiffany Trammell, Claire Avery, Heather Edwards, and Vershonda Scott
Thomas University
The majority of past research examining differences in attributions of blame have ignored male victims while focusing on the female victim. Research has also not examined the sexual orientation of the victim. Research suggests that there are a number of variables that increase the tendency of individuals to blame the victim. For example, participants are more likely to blame the victim of a sexual attack if she is dressed suggestively or is sexually experienced. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether or not racial differences exist in blaming a male victim and whether or not any theories of victim blame could be applied to this situation. Results indicated that both males and females blamed the homosexual victim more than the heterosexual victim and that the homosexual victim was held more responsible than the heterosexual victim. In addition, African American males blamed the homosexual victim more than the heterosexual victim and perceived the homosexual victim to be more responsible compared to the heterosexual victim.
II-3 Stress and Job Burnout in Nursing Home Personnel
Claire Avery, Heather Edwards, Tiffany Trammell, Vershonda Scott, Marissa Roberts, Michael Vitello, Jaymi Williams, and Tiffaney DePriest
Thomas University
As the number of older adults has grown and recognition of the problems of aging has increased, researchers have become interested in the ability of nursing staff to provide care for elderly nursing home residents. Little research has been conducted on stress and burnout of nursing staff who work in nursing homes. The central purpose of the present investigation was to assess the relationship between coping, stress, and burnout in a sample of nursing home personnel. One hundred forty-five participnats from three nursing homes took part in the study. Participants completed a battery of measures. An analysis of variance was conducted on all instruments comparing nursing professionals with nursing assistants. Results indicated differences on the burnout scale, with nursing assistants reporting higher levels of burnout compared to nursing professionals. The results also indicated a difference for the Caretaking Experiences Scale, with nursing assistants reporting higher levels of stress compared to nursing professionals. Lastly, the results indicated differences on the Revised Ways of Coping Scale, with nursing assistants using an emotion-focused coping style when compared to nursing professionals.
II-4 Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in Organizations
Elizabeth A. Scharlau, Jaclyn Gresko, and Jessica Fudge
University of Georgia
Recent research suggests that emotional intelligence influences effective interactions in the workplace and may relate to the effectiveness of leaders. Therefore, we plan to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and perceptions of leader effectiveness in the workplace. We predict that leaders with higher scores on a measure of emotional intelligence will also receive higher leadership effectiveness ratings from their peers, subordinates, and superiors. We also expect emotional intelligence to be related to the degree of similarity between leaders' self-ratings and those provided by others. Additionally, gender is expected to moderate the relationship between emotional intelligence and leader effectiveness ratings. As emotional intelligence relates to effective interpersonal interactions, and females are often expected to be more interpersonally-oriented at work, emotional intelligence may be more important for female leaders' effectiveness ratings than it is for male leaders' leader effectiveness ratings. Thus, we predict that the relationship between emotional intelligence and leader effectiveness will be stronger for females than it is for males. By providing information about the relationship between emotional intelligence and leader effectiveness, this research might lead organizations to select and develop more effective leaders.
II-5 Absence of Gender Differences in Reading the Eyes in the Mind Test
Cami N. Godsey, Fayeza S. Ahmed, and L. Stephen Miller
University of Georgia
Gender differences have become a much studied topic over the past several years due to the increasing evidence that males and females are more similar than different. However, females are still believed to possess higher levels of emotional intelligence than males. Therefore, this study hypothesized that females would demonstrate an increased ability in emotion recognition. 61 students from the University of Georgia Psychology Department participated in this study. 33 of these participants were female while 28 were male. Participants were administered the Reading the Mind in Eyes Test (RME). This test presented the participants with a series of photos of actors' eyes and four emotion-based word choices. Participants were to choose the word they thought best described the photo, which required an ability to recognize emotions in others. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to analyze the data of the RME. Surprisingly, there appeared to be no significant group differences between males and females. Although the results of this study did not support our hypothesis, this study was still useful in further validating previous claims that the RME test does not demonstrate gender differences.
II-6 Effects of Ideological Orientations on Intergroup Attitudes: The Medical Model of Deafness
Haley Wood, Amber Tacke, and Victoria Plaut
University of Georgia
Recent research has found that ideological orientations can lead to bias against certain groups, even when the orientations are seemingly designed to benefit those groups (Richeson & Nussbaum, 2004). In the present research, we investigate the relationship between two models of deafness (medical and cultural) and bias against the deaf. The medical model stresses deafness as a disability that can be fixed; the cultural model stresses deafness as a cultural difference. In Study 1, we created items gauging the two models and found correlations between the medical model and protestant work ethic, genetic determinism, perceptions of deaf individuals' competence and capabilities, and feelings toward deaf individuals. In Study 2, we exposed participants to either the medical or cultural model of deafness. The medical model produced significantly more bias against the deaf than the cultural model and the effect was completely mediated by endorsement of the medical model. These findings suggest that provision of a schema by which to comprehend deafness affects the hearing person's evaluation of the deaf individual on a number of dimensions. The research has implications for the creation of an educational environment that aims to better relationships between deaf and hearing individuals and outcomes for the deaf.
II-7 An Examination of Cognitive Inhibition and the Development of Creativity in Elementary School Children
Vinuta P. Naik, Lauren Libero, Mary P. Parham, and Katherine Kipp
University of Georgia
By modifying a previous research project, we are investigating to see if there is a decrease in the development of creativity due to cognitive inhibition around fourth grade. Previous research has examined the possibility of a decline in creativity; however, data has offered no definitive conclusions and we are investigating the validity of the original hypothesis. We hypothesize that a growth in cognitive inhibition strategies may contribute to a reduction in creativity at this developmental stage. Currently, we are finding divergent thinking tests, reviewing relevant literature, and analyzing pilot data. We will administer cognitive tasks to test adults and area elementary children in second, fourth, and sixth grade to determine if our hypothesis is correct. We expect to find that a drop in creativity due to cognitive inhibition will occur at the developmental stage around fourth grade.
II-8 I Want My Mommy, I Want My Daddy: An Empirical Test of Freudian Mate Selection
Stephanie L. Lollis, Crystal B. Johnson, Lori S. Micke, and Jonathan F. Bassett
Lander University
The goal of the present study was to test the Freudian perspective on mate selection, in which individuals purportedly use their opposite sex parent as a template when searching for a romantic partner. Participants were 68 students enrolled in introductory psychology classes at Lander University . Participants described the personality and physical characteristics of self, both parents, and their ideal romantic partner in counterbalanced order. The results revealed only modest support for the Freudian theory of mate selection. Participants were more likely than chance to describe their ideal romantic partner as having the same eye color as their opposite sex parent. However, personality descriptions of ideal romantic partners were more similar to descriptions of same sex parents than opposite sex parents. This similarity persisted when controlling for self-descriptions. The similarity of partner and parent descriptions was positively correlated with self-reported emotional closeness to each parent. Further, the similarity of parent and partner descriptions was higher for those with secure attachment styles than for those with insecure attachment styles. The results indicate that people may use both parents as a template when selecting a mate but that this tendency is moderated by the quality of the relationship with each parent.
II-9 Emotional Reactions to a Romantic Partner's Imagined Homosexual and Heterosexual Infidelity
Taylor Johnston, Zappiuhah C. Pressley, and Jonathan F. Bassett
Lander University
This study tested the evolutionary hypothesis that men would be more jealousy than women of sexual infidelity only when cuckoldry risk was high. A 2 x 2 design was utilized with gender of the participant as a quasi independent variable and gender of the interloper as a within-subjects independent variable. Eleven men and 27 women enrolled in introductory psychology classes at Lander University rated how much they felt angry, betrayed, disgusted, jealous, and upset in response to imaging scenarios depicting their romantic partner's sexual infidelity (Buunk & Dijkstra, 2004) with a person of the same gender and a person of the opposite gender. The order of infidelity scenes was counterbalanced. The results revealed a main effect for participants' gender on only one of the five emotional reactions. Men reported more jealousy than women. There was a main effect for gender of infidelity on three of the five measures with men and women reporting greater anger, upset, and jealousy in response to opposite sex infidelity than same sex infidelity. There was only one interaction effect, with men being more disgusted by opposite sex than by same sex infidelity and women being more disgusted by same sex than by opposite sex infidelity.
II-10 Personifications of Personal and Typical Death as Related to Death Attitudes
Polly A. McCann and Jonathan F. Bassett
Lander University
The goal of the present study was to apply the distinction between attitudes towards personal death and death in general to the area of death personification. Thirteen men and 54 women enrolled in introductory psychology courses were randomly assigned to describe how the character of death would be portrayed in a movie depicting either their own death or the death of the typical person. In addition, participants completed the 32-item Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R, Wong, Reker, & Gesser, 1994). Participants in the personal death condition were more likely to endorse a gentle image when personifying death and more likely to express an emotional reaction of comfort to this image than were participants in the death of other condition. In both conditions, higher scores on the approach acceptance subscale of the DAP-R (viewing death as a passage to a pleasant afterlife) were associated with selecting the comforting image to personify death; whereas, higher scores on the fear of death and death avoidance subscales of the DAP-R were associated with selecting the grim-terrifying image of death. The results offer some support for the distinction between attitudes towards personal death and death in general and link self-reported death attitudes to personifications of death.
II-11 Just Friends? Developing a Scale to Assess Attitudes Toward Opposite-sex Friendships
Laura Aikens, Joel Frost, and Laura E. Buffardi
University of Georgia
The primary goal of these studies was to develop a scale to be used in research about opposite-sex friendship. It was predicted that those who are adept at interpersonal interaction, (i.e. those who are extraverted and narcissistic) will tend to view opposite-sex friends as potential mates, whereas those who are less interpersonally adept will tend to view their opposite-sex friendships as purely platonic. In study 1, a 10-item questionnaire was developed to assess participants' views of their opposite-sex friendships. Participants responded to this scale and the Big-Five Personality Inventory (John & Srivastava, 1999). As predicted, there was an inverse relationship between participants' level of extraversion and the view that their opposite-sex friendships are purely platonic. Study 2 examined the relationship between platonic friendship views and other measures of interpersonal competence, such as narcissism, shyness, attention to attractive alternative partners, and social anxiety. Results showed that attention to attractive alternatives, extraversion, and narcissism were all negatively correlated with the purely platonic view of opposite-sex friendships, whereas social anxiety and shyness were positively correlated with this view. This scale may be useful in future research examining positive (e.g. healthy friendships) and negative (e.g. potential infidelity) outcomes associated with opposite-sex friendships.
II-12 Changes in Mindfulness over Time and Positive Psychological Outcomes
Lauren F. Wilson and Whitney L. Heppner
University of Georgia
The construct of mindfulness, or enhanced attention and awareness to the present moment, has been linked to many positive psychological outcomes. The benefits of a more mindful disposition include lower neuroticism, depression, anxiety, and unpleasant affect, as well as higher self-esteem, vitality, and self-determination (Brown & Ryan, 2003). While previous research has focused on mindfulness as a stable disposition, we were interested in more dynamic processes of mindfulness. Specifically, we were interested in how changes in mindfulness are related to both absolute levels of and concurrent changes in psychological outcomes. We assessed mindfulness, as well as multiple measures of psychological and physical well-being, goal motivation, and core self characteristics, at an initial session of a longitudinal study (time 1), and then again five weeks later (time 2). Results were generally in line with our hypotheses. Reported increases in mindfulness from time 1 to time 2 predicted levels of several outcome measures assessed. In addition, changes in mindfulness also predicted concurrent changes in many outcome measures of interest. Future research should continue to look at mindfulness more dynamically, including changes in reported levels and experimental manipulations to further clarify the role mindfulness plays in healthy psychological outcomes.
II-13 Predicting Interpersonal Success on Facebook.com with Big Five Personality
Ben Porter, Laura E. Buffardi and W. Keith Campbell
University of Georgia
Popular social networking websites, such as Facebook.com and MySpace.com, are different from other online interaction arenas (e.g. newsgroups, chatrooms) in that they are designed for interaction between existing offline friends, not strangers who have never met face-to-face. Previous research has shown that those who frequently use Internet for anonymous interaction tend to possess personality characteristics that hinder face-to-face friendships, such as social anxiety (Mazalin & Moore, 2004) and other socially unacceptable traits (McKenna & Bargh, 1998). This study examined if individuals with socially competent personalities translate their interpersonal success from offline interactions (Jensen-Campbell et al., 2002) to interactions on social networking websites, specifically Facebook.com. It was predicted that higher levels of extraversion and agreeableness would be associated with Facebook profile features that are indicative of interpersonal success. Participants completed the Big Five Inventory and either gave or declined permission to save their Facebook profile pages. Personality scores were then correlated with observable aspects of profile pages (e.g., number of friends, number of wallposts, etc.). As predicted, extraversion and agreeableness were positively associated with these indicators. Results suggest that the patterns of social interaction on the Facebook.com are similar to the patterns formed by social interactions formed offline.
II-14 Am I Free to Be Me? How Strength of Racial Identity and Gender Influence Selection Decisions
Brian. D. Roote
University of Georgia
This study explored the complexity of racial discrimination based on the strength of racial identity of Black job applicants and its influence on hiring decisions. The researcher presented standard resumes with a name (e.g., Latonya or Laurie) and professional affiliation manipulation to 285 students who indicated their intent to hire, collective self-esteem and social class attitude. The data did not support the hypotheses; however, parallel analysis revealed that the perception of racial identity influenced student's intention to hire such that strong racially identified applicants were evaluated more favorably. Moreover, the reported income level of the student's parents served to moderate this relationship. Finally, class attitudes did not mediate the strength of racial identity – intent to hire relationship, providing further support for the discrimination explanation (Bertrand & Mullainathan, 2004).
II-15 Conscious Control over Autonomic Processes
Jeremy Duncan and Jennifer Chapmen
University of West Georgia
A study conducted by the Psychology department at the University of West Georgia examines the causal effects of biofeedback training on autonomic processes such as heart rate variability, respiration, and brain wave activity. The study was comprised of initial and final baseline sessions, with a series of training and observational periods where participants were instructed to achieve a high level of heart rate coherence via interaction with video game software. After the training phase, 27% of participants demonstrated an increase in heart rate variability, while the remaining showed a decrease or no change in variability. 64% of participants showed an increase in heart rate coherence and 55% showed an overall decrease in respiration rate. The results of the study also showed that when comparisons were made between the autonomic processes of the baseline responses to the post relaxation training responses, there was an increase of parasympathetic activity dominance in the subjects. One parameter that did not show any correlation was Brain wave activity. The EEG readings for the participants in this study demonstrated a wide range of dominate EEG activity. This aspect warrants further investigation in understanding the connection between dominante wave activity, and relaxation responses.
II-16 How Well Can a Capuchin Monkey Trace a Line?
Tephillah Jeyaraj 1 , Iver Iversen 2 , Katherine A. Leighty, 3 and Dorothy Fragaszy 4
1 University of Georgia 2 University of North Florida 3 Disney's Animal Kingdom; 4 University of Georgia
The ability to draw or produce symbols is common in humans, but not so in non-human primates. Though a few were able to produce scribbles, reliable data with visual feedback was not obtained until Iversen and Matsuzawa (1996) trained two chimpanzees to draw a line on a touchscreen monitor. In a replication of their study, we trained Leo, an adult male capuchin monkey ( Cebus apella ) to sweep his hand over a line presented on the touchmonitor. The line appeared in four different orientations, vertical, horizontal and diagonals left-to-right and right-to-left. We describe the process of training, of how Leo was initially trained to touch successive dots in a linear array to sweeping his hand through a single straight line. We also analyze his performance on the task, and look at variables such as the extent to which he follows the angle and length of the line presented, his accuracy in maintaining the starting and stopping points of the line and his varying performance on the different line orientations. Finally we compare his overall performance to the chimps and discuss possible reasons for the marked difference in performance.
II-17 Young Capuchin Monkeys ( Cebus libidinosus ) Learn to Crack Nuts: Changes of Action and Object Relations
Ingrid Kaiser, Qing Liu and Dorothy Fragaszy
University of Georgia
Wild capuchin monkeys ( Cebus libidinosus ) in Piaui , Brazil crack palm nuts on hard anvil surfaces using large stones. We analyze video records of three young capuchin monkeys taken at three approximately six-month intervals to describe the development of nut-cracking. From about 6 months of age, young monkeys start manipulating the objects involved in nut cracking at the anvils. The first action they perform is to strike the palm nut on the anvil surface, a stone or another nut using one hand. Next, they change the form of their behavior by using two hands to hold and strike with the nut and act bipedally. Finally, they change the relations among objects, specifically they place the nut on the anvil, release it, and use a stone to strike the nut. Those three different action-object patterns occur sequentially, but overlap. The change of action precedes the change of object relation.
II-18 Social Context of the Acquisition of Foraging Skills in Wild Brown Capuchins (Cebus apella) in Suriname
Noelle Gunst and Dorothy Fragaszy
University of Georgia
How might social context aid young monkeys' learning to forage? Scrounging from others may help immatures (a) learn about characteristics of food items and appropriate foraging substrates, and (b) practice specific foraging actions. We collected joint records of foraging activity and immediate social context, using 661 hours of focal data on a group of 34 brown capuchins. We considered the time-window of actions before and after a scrounging event to assess whether action is affected by the social closeness of the forager, its competence, or the type of food. Monkeys scrounged hard-to-process foods more often than easy foods [Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, alpha=0.05]. Infants spent more time than older individuals scrounging from others [Kruskal Wallis, alpha=0.05]. Monkeys scrounged more often from kin and closer associates than others, and from fully competent mature foragers than from younger, less efficient individuals. Our clearest evidence for socially-mediated learning comes from the behavior of young monkeys towards ripped bamboo stalks left by others. Young monkeys approached and directed foraging actions towards these stalks, even after the original forager had left the site, more often than older monkeys. Thus both scrounging and attraction to remains may support learning. Supported by NSF (BCS-0352035).
II-19 Death Anxiety in African-American Nursing Home Personnel
DeDe Avery, Tiffany Trammell, Jamyi Williams, Vershonda Scott, Marissa Roberts, Michael Vitello, and Jo Tosh
Thomas University
The present project investigated the relationship between death anxiety, attitudes toward the elderly, and personal anxiety toward one's own aging in a group 108 African-American nursing home employees. Participants completed a battery of measures. Death anxiety as measured by the MFODS was correlated with death threat as assessed by the Threat Index such that individuals with higher death threat scored higher on four of the eight subscales of the MFODS. Death threat was modestly but significantly correlated with several aspects of personal death anxiety, fear of dying, and fear of facing the unknown. In addition, death threat was associated with fear for the impact of one's death on significant others. Death threat was positively correlated with anxiety toward one's own aging. A positive relationship was found between personal anxiety about one's own aging and the total score on the MFODS. The results indicated that all of the MFODS subscales were positively correlated with personal anxiety about one's own aging. Lastly, negative view of the elderly was significantly associated with global death anxiety. This study supports the use of a multidimensional definition of death anxiety.
For more convention information, contact psichi@uga.edu