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Empathy facilitates connections between individuals and fluctuates throughout life, affecting emotions, views, and interactions. Research suggests that behaviorism offers the most logical explanation for the current state of empathy in the United States. While the consequences of interactions with one’s environment have shaped covert and overt empathy behaviors in individuals and groups of individuals across civilizations, this paper combines research from three sectors to illustrate how interactions in the school, art museum, and healthcare environments reverberate significantly throughout American society. Although behaviorism is a major contributing theory throughout this paper, and it is especially relevant in schools, other theories are employed to show various constructs of empathy. Americans tip the scale heavily in favor of individualism over collectivism. The American Dream focuses on individual achievement and welfare, which directly challenges the concept of empathy. This paper delineates the history of empathy in the United States within the three sectors and illustrates how a thoughtfully manipulated school, museum, and healthcare environment can play a vital role in increasing empathy across American society.
ContributorsRyan, Jennifer (Author) / Romano, Adam (Co-author) / Wiseman, Shania (Co-author) / Niebuhr, Robert (Thesis director) / Henriksen, Danah (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis explores one day in the American Civil War: the Chambersburg Fire of 1864, a significant occurrence in American history that has been overshadowed by larger Civil War battles. Through the analysis of firsthand sources and the inclusion of personal anecdotes, this research aims to shed light on the tales of strength, empathy, and bravery displayed by the women of Chambersburg amidst and after the catastrophe.
In the mid-19th century, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was a bustling hub of industry and commerce. However, its prosperity was cut short when Confederate troops, under the command of General John McCausland, set the town ablaze. Despite preparations, the surprise attack caught the residents off guard, leading to extensive damage and loss of life. While previous historical records have emphasized military tactics and physical destruction, this thesis endeavors to shed light on the overlooked personal experiences of women and provide an accurate account of the casualties.
By conducting research of primary sources such as "The Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (1864)" by B. Schneck and "Reminiscences of The War (1884)" by Jacob Hoke, the thesis uncovers the remarkable stories of women like Louisa Brand, Elizabeth Boyd, Matilda McClure, and Ellen McLellan. These unsung heroines challenged societal norms by displaying immense courage in protecting their homes and supporting their community.
Despite facing numerous obstacles and setbacks, the town demonstrated solidarity, thereby ensuring that the legacy of the disaster was preserved through various channels, such as yearly reenactments and memorials.
This thesis reviews the often-neglected death count and the role of women in Chambersburg. It pays tribute to the grit and kindness of those who bravely paved the path during difficult times. Their influence continues to remind us of the unwavering strength of the human spirit, instilling hope and vitality in times of struggle.
ContributorsFraser, Jamie (Author) / Martin, Thomas (Thesis director) / Simpson, Mark (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Despite being fundamental to how they experience the world around them, humans have not properly understood how it behaves and functions. In fact, the classical understanding of light has only developed within the past 600 years. The scientific consensus in the time of Sir Isaac Newton held that light behaved such that it is like a particle, however certain phenomena and discoveries, like diffraction and polarization, would begin to show that light actually must behave like a wave. This wave theory of light was a very successful model that represented light extraordinarily well for its time. Despite this, evidence began to mount that light could actually be quantized, meaning that it has a base unit that it cannot be divided further from, with Albert Einstein advocating that light sometimes must be treated as a particle. This gave rise to quantum mechanics which installs something comparable to a hybrid between the particle and wave theories of light by treating light as being composed of particles known as photons that have wave-like characteristics. The wave theory of light, or classical physics, have different explanations of the characteristics of light and how it behaves, as well as diverging interpretations of the causes.
In this essay, I will delve into the history of the theory of light, the major discoveries in the process, and the significance of these developments. In addition, I will consider the differences in the two major theories of light, the wave theory and the quantum mechanical perspective, and present notable phenomena through the lens of either ideology.
ContributorsFeldman, Aidan (Author) / Foy, Joseph (Thesis director) / Hines, Taylor (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05