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- Creators: Department of Psychology
Description
I and with help from my director and second reader, created a Virtual Reality (VR) game to help reduce the fear of needles. In the game design document, there is background information on Specific Phobia of Needles, past work/studies using VR in psychology and all that I came up with in regard to the game.
ContributorsFaltz, Marti (Author) / Johnson, Mina (Thesis director) / Pina, Armando (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Division of Teacher Preparation (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Exercise has been shown to offer an array of mental health benefits including heightened confidence, intellectual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and reduced anxiety and depression. Various exercise formats, including strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and mind-body exercise, all have been shown to enhance mental well-being. Notably, group fitness classes have been found to have a significantly greater impact on mental-wellness than individual exercise sessions. Given the current college mental health crisis and lack of holistic lifestyle interventions, this study aims to apply this understanding to initiate positive reform. A cross comparison was conducted between strength, cardiovascular, and mind-body group fitness classes at the Tempe SDFC. Before and after mood surveys were administered to highlight potential changes in depression, anxiety, anger, and positive feelings. Across 26 participants, 16 strength, 19 cardiovascular, and 16 mind-body classes with corresponding before and after surveys were successfully completed. The results revealed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and anger across all class types. Interestingly, significant increases in positive feelings were only observed for cardiovascular classes. These findings suggest that campus group fitness classes may serve as a valuable resource for improving student mental-well being. On a broader scale, this study contributes to increasing awareness about the effectiveness of exercise as a powerful tool to promote mental wellness alongside physical health.
ContributorsUppal, Kirin (Author) / Hart, Teresa (Thesis director) / Meier, Madeline (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis presents an analysis that examines depictions of drug use as a novel dimension of sexuality, using Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream as a focal point to explore the intricate web of desire, addiction, and intimacy expressed toward drug use. Through a detailed analysis of the film's cinematic techniques and narrative depth, this paper challenges conventional boundaries of sexuality, proposing that the intense, often eroticized, relationship individuals share with substances represents a profound form of sexual and emotional expression often depicted as "more real" than their human counterparts. By examining the sensual portrayal of drug consumption and its capacity to fulfill sexual needs, it builds on to explore psychological and emotional needs and finally frames it as a relationship. This thesis reframes the general understanding of addiction in Requiem for a Dream beyond mere physical dependency but also reveals the societal and cultural malaise and interplay surrounding contemporary ideals of pleasure, connection, and the elusive American Dream that divides people into this chemical relationship. Aronofsky's film emerges not just as a movie about drug addiction but as a heartfelt romance with a chemical companion.
ContributorsTamm, Moritz (Author) / Agruss, David (Thesis director) / Takada, Emy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
DescriptionThis literature review explores the application of dynamical system theories to team coordination, following four major trends in the literature: Knowledge, Training, Communication, and Team-Machine Coordination.
ContributorsDolny, Robert (Author) / Amazeen, Polemnia (Thesis director) / Amazeen, Eric (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Research has confirmed a Vertical Attention Bias that directs attention to the tops of objects and the bottoms of scenes. Consistent with ecological theory, our perceptual system functionally adapts to the natural regularities and affordances in the environment forming biases, and generally adopts a downward gaze vantage that focuses attention on the behaviorally relevant locations. To date, the downward vantage tendency has been investigated using static images where there is a lack of dynamic perspective and natural behavior. The current experiment investigates real-world, active gaze allocation while participants wear mobile eye tracking glasses. Participants simulated their daily routine and executed 8 of the most common behavioral tasks according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: walking inside, walking outside, socializing in person, socializing on webcam, housework, eating and drinking, phone time, and personal care activities. Each of these tasks were performed in consecutive 5 minute blocks. Participants were instructed to perform each task as they normally would, and were allowed to engage in unspecified concurrent behaviors that typically occur (e.g., watching television while eating). For each behavioral task, head and eye tilt were used to calculate gaze angle and that value was compared to the horizontal plane of the observer's eye (i.e., degrees above or below their natural eye-height). Overall, the average participant gaze angle was below the horizontal plane and was moderated by the task-specific context of each behavioral task, supporting a generic downward vantage tendency that focuses attention on personal action space and body-level affordances.
ContributorsKigin, Patrick (Author) / McBeath, Michael (Thesis director) / Coza, Aurel (Committee member) / Corbin, William (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Music, Dance and Theatre (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Research suggests participating in graduation ceremonies is an important rite of passage for undergraduate students in the U.S., especially Black students (Causadias et al., 2022). However, less is known about the role of Hispanic convocation, a graduation ceremony for Hispanic students, in fostering success among undergraduate Hispanic students. Research is crucial especially for Hispanic Serving Institutions such as Arizona State University (ASU) because the core of its mission is to promote the academic success of their Hispanic students (García, 2023). To address this issue, I conducted a qualitative study with a sample (n = 6) of first-generation undergraduate Mexican-origin women (“Mexicanas”) to understand the significance of Hispanic convocations for them. This study had three aims: (1) To explore Mexicana students’ expectations about graduation ceremonies, (2) to explore how these students foster a sense of empowerment by participating in Hispanic convocation, and (3) to better understand the meaning their families and communities ascribe to college graduation and academic success. Findings highlighted five core themes (1) “Being a Minority on Campus”, (2) “Fear of Failure”, (3) “Support found within Community”, (4)” Celebrating with my Community while embracing my Culture”, (5) “Get the Celebration COVID-19 took from Us”. This study can be used to further understand the connection between college graduation as a cultural ritual and educational resilience among undergraduate Mexicana students and can inform programs designed to foster academic persistence and success.
ContributorsMartinez, Gisselle (Author) / Causadias, José M (Thesis director) / Carlos Chavez, Fiorella (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
DescriptionA creative project detailing the process behind the formation of a children's book centered around an imaginary friend helping a child develop their imagination.
ContributorsAgus, Ross Gabrielle (Author) / Soares, Rebecca (Thesis director) / Pina, Armando (Committee member) / Romley, Courtney (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05