As is true for most majors at Bates, all psychology seniors must complete a senior thesis. This archive lists the name, title and a brief summary (abstract) of the projects of select seniors who graduated in 2021.

Please check out our complete Senior Thesis Archive.

Note: indicates an empirical thesis project and indicates a community-based learning thesis project.

Click a name to view that student’s abstract, or scroll down to view all students.

Grace Bake
Jacob A Bart
Erin Bucki
Sasirat Sarah du Pont
Cameron Johnson
Charlotte J. Lynskey
Maya Pilar Muñiz Matlack
Zoë W McKinney
Anthony Ochoa
Collin Pember
Patrick Reilly
Jevan Sandhu
Lillian Scott
Sarah Wood
Wenjing Zheng

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Grace Bake       

How does the End of History Illusion React Under Threat?

The purpose of this study was to examine the end of history illusion under situations of threat and the role that character-trait importance further affects this illusion. The end of history illusion demonstrates how generally, people do not think their personalities, interests and values are going to change a lot in the future despite having perceived a lot of change in the past (Quoidbach et al., 2013). To reiterate, the way individuals perceive themselves in the present, is the way they think they will be for years to come. But why do individuals engage in this end of history illusion? This study is interested in further researching if character-trait importance, and threat manipulation causes individuals to further engage in this illusion. We collected data from 101 participants between the ages of 20 – 39, using M-Turk. Participants were divided into reporter and predictor condi tions where reporters, aged 30 -39, reported on their characteristics 10 years in the past and predictors, aged 20 -29 predicted their characteristics 10 years in the future. Participants were also randomly assigned into either a threat or control condition. The threat condition asked participants to recall a time that evoked negative feelings of the self, while the control condition asked participants to recall a situation that evoked positive feelings of self. We hypothesized that participants in the threat condition will report a higher level of end of history illusion than those in the control condition, especially for important characteristics, relative to unimportant ones. Results indicate that we were able to replicate the end of history illusion. Participants also reported less change for important characteristics than unimportant characteristics. Results also showed that participants in the threat condition reported less change for important characteristics than unimportant characteristics. However, there was no significant difference between important and unimportant characteristics on the end of history illusion.

Jacob A Bart       

The Effect of Race and Interaction Context on Threat Perceptions During Police Encounters

The purpose of this study is to examine threat perceptions of Black and White targets and how they might vary depending on the situation. The current research is seeking to extend the findings presented in Correll et al. (2011) that there is a certain threshold of danger-evoking stimuli that, once crossed, automatically triggers feelings of danger regardless of contextual clues. The current study will examine if this danger threshold is activated for Black or White targets during police interactions. Respondents for this study were 212 online survey-takers recruited from prolific.co. Respondents were randomized into one of four cells of a 2 X 2 design (target race: Black vs. White and context: police interaction vs. civilian interaction). Respondents read a brief vignette that described an interaction between either a Black or White target and e ither a police officer or a civilian. They answered questions about how threatening they found the target. A 2 X 2 ANOVA revealed no main effect of target race or interaction context, nor an interaction. Further analyses were conducted to explore the role of respondents’ political ideology, gender, education level, and religious identity on their threat ratings of the target. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Erin Bucki        

The Long-Term Impacts of the School of Environmental Studies

The School of Environmental Studies (SES) located in Apple Valley, Minnesota is a satellite school offered to junior and senior high school students. SES aims to foster environmental responsibility in their students by presenting them with environmental values and topics, while also empowering them to become agents of the world. Quantitative data was collected to analyze if the education offered at SES is successful at increasing environmental attitudes and behaviors. Two correlational tests found a positive relationship between the impact of SES with environmental attitudes, and with environmental behaviors. Qualitative data was used to identify important characteristics of SES, the influence of SES on students, and the long-term influence of SES on the current lives of alumni. Both qualitative and quantitative forms of data were used to create a comprehension model reg arding how SES is able to increase environmental attitudes and behaviors in its attendees. Including the work of Deci and Ryan�s Self-Determination Theory, this research suggests the environment and culture at SES allows students to develop a sense of belonging, self-confidence, and a drive or spark. These developments either prompt change in environmental attitudes and behaviors or reinforce previous environmental attitudes and behaviors. This study also highlights the influence of life characteristics on the ability to enact some environmental behaviors.

Sasirat Sarah du Pont       

When a virus goes viral: Humorous internet memes and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The isolation and changes in lifestyle caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in negative emotional reactions such as worry, stress, and anxiety. This study explored whether humorous internet memes related to COVID-19 function as a coping mechanism during the pandemic. Part 1 of the experiment involved 26 undergraduate students from the Bates College Introduction to Psychology class for the purpose selecting humorous memes. Part 2 of the experiment involved 88 participants completing scales measuring stress levels, sense of humor, and coping styles. We manipulated participants’ stress levels by providing a stress-inducing scenario about COVID-19 and tested their stress levels post-induction. Participants were then shown either humorous memes or neutral images of everyday objects and were tested for changes in stress levels. We hypothesized that humorous internet memes will be more effective than control images at reducing the feelings of stress and worry caused by the pandem ic. As expected, exposure to humorous internet memes was found to be more effective than neutral images at reducing stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to prediction, we found that sense of humor did not play a role in stress reduction in response to memes. With the increasing use of the internet and isolation during the pandemic, it may be important for future research to explore how internet memes or other forms of internet humor such as videos, TikTok, comedy shows, Twitter, and Instagram impact stress, anxiety, and isolation. Keywords: internet memes, humor, COVID-19, pandemic, coping mechanisms

Cameron Johnson       

The Role of Online Public Shaming in COVID-19 Public Health Behavior Guideline Compliance among College Students

The current study seeks to investigate the relationship between online public shaming and compliance with COVID-19 public health guidelines among college students. Data was collected from a survey of seventy-eight college students. The Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale (GASP) was used to assess general feelings of shame, and a set of survey questions developed by Park et al. (2020) was used to measure COVID-19 public health behavior guideline compliance. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) was used to control for fear, and other online public shaming questions were asked as well. Shame proneness was not correlated with online public shaming experiences nor COVID-19 public health behavior compliance, but a number of significant correlations were found between COVID-19 public health behavior compliance and Fear of COVID-19 . Possible implications for this study could explore the possibilities of using online public shaming in future public health campaigns.

Charlotte J. Lynskey       

Perinatal Experiences and Mental Health in Somali Women: Decolonizing Understandings of Perinatal Mood among Resettled Somalis

This current study offers a comprehensive review of existing literature on mental health perceptions and perinatal experiences of Somali women who have resettled in Western nations in an effort to inform future perinatal mood research and to identify factors that may impact distress in the perinatal period in this population. Furthermore, this research explores perinatal complications experienced by Somali women and highlights key social paradigms and health determinants that place resettled Somali women at increased risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes post partum. This research also proposes the incorporation of a decolonizing framework, highlighting social networks and resilience within the Somali community, Indigenous ways of healing and knowing that are rooted in holism, and the shortcomings of Western health care and epistemologies. Finally, this study offers practical recommendations for perinatal providers and future researchers to improve cultural competency, ch allenge colonial views, and best support resettled pregnant and postpartum Somali women.

Maya Pilar Muñiz Matlack       

Warning, Instagram Can Seriously Harm Your Mental Health: Development of a Dissonance Intervention to Protect Against Instagram-Related Body Image Dissatisfaction

In Western societies, many women experience negative outcomes due to body image dissatisfaction, which seems to be exacerbated by the use of Instagram. On Instagram, users may post photos where their body is manipulated to look thinner, and interact with followers through likes and comments. Both of these behaviors have been associated with increased body image dissatisfaction. Previous research displays online cognitive dissonance interventions can improve body image. The current studies tested two online cognitive dissonance interventions, specifically targeted towards Instagram-related body image dissatisfaction. In Study 1, 115 female-identifying participants, recruited from Bates College and Prolific, were randomly assigned to a cognitive dissonance intervention focused on photo manipulation, online feedback, or a control. In Study 2, 79 participants recruited from Bates College were randomly assigned to either the cognitive dissonance intervention focused on online feedback, o r the control. In both studies, the participants in the dissonance conditions did not significantly reduce their thin ideal internalization or body image dissatisfaction compared to the control. Qualitative data was coded from Study 2’s intervention to create a model of interrelated themes that influence the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and Instagram, and highlighted an overarching theme of toxic acceptability on Instagram. The non-significant quantitative analyses together with the qualitative model suggest the relationship between Instagram and body image dissatisfaction might be too complex for previous body image interventions, created in the context of traditional media, to be effective in the context of Instagram. The current studies demonstrate the need for new body image interventions developed specifically to address body image dissatisfaction arising from Instagram.

Zoë W McKinney       

Examining the Impacts of Restorative Practices and Social Emotional RULER Training at Lewiston Middle School

The present study examined the meaning teachers were making from Restorative Practice (RP) training and implementation, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) RULER training at Lewiston Middle School and how they have impacted their relationships with students. Sixteen teachers (N = 16) teachers were interviewed for this study to understand their perceptions. RP and SEL initiatives have been introduced at LMS since 2016 to try and change and improve school culture for the benefit of the students. The findings of this research revealed that teachers view RP theories favorably but view the actual implementation unfavorably. Teachers saw inconsistencies between the goals of RP and how LMS administration and the Lewiston school district have been implementing RP policies. For the RULER training this fall, teachers understood the importance of SEL approaches in the classroom, and liked the information presented in the training, but not all teachers brought into the training itself. Teachers found the looping process and Expeditionary Learning (EL) curriculum to be effective SEL approaches, which the RULER training provided context to. In the future, LMS and the greater Lewiston School District should develop a consistent system for RP implementation within all schools in the district, and increase support for teachers. Keywords: Restorative Practices (RP), social-emotional learning (SEL), Lewiston Middle School (LMS), teachers

Anthony Ochoa       

Citizenship and Information Processing in Criminal Trials: Does the Defendants’ Citizenship Status Affect Alibi Testimony Scrutiny?

Abstract A 2004 study by Sargent and Bradfield found that defendants’ race affects the way in which legally-relevant information is processed, such that Black defendants caused White participants to be more sensitive to case facts under low motivation conditions as a means to self-regulate bias. The present study aimed to extend this effect to citizenship status as opposed to race, as undocumented immigrants are also a notably stigmatized group in the United States. The present study failed to extend this bias self-regulation tendency found to be elicited by race to citizenship status. Plausible explanations such as the sample not accepting undocumented immigrants as a stigmatized group or the sample not being concerned with acting prejudicially were likely ruled out, suggesting possible a difference in the manner that stigma of citizenship status and stigma of race function within a legal context. Keywords: xenophobia, immigrant, bias self-regulation, watchdog bias, alibi testimony, psychology and law

Collin Pember       

How Young Adults’ Perception of Family can have an impact on Meaning in Life

In this study, we looked at the effect family has on meaning in life (MIL) with young adults. Lambert et al.’s (2010) study was replicated and expanded; the findings showed a strong connection with family leads to a stronger sense of MIL in young adults. In the current study, we included a more comprehensive measurement of MIL, which consisted of purpose, comprehension, and mattering. Family was measured by looking at family support, closeness, and belonging. We hypothesized the ratings participants gave for social support, closeness, and belonging towards family would positively correlate with all three components of MIL, even when control variables were added. We also hypothesized that mattering would be the strongest predictor of MIL compared to comprehension and purpose. 126 Bates College students participated in the study. Participants filled out an o nline survey that measured their attitudes towards family, MIL, and several control variables, including self-esteem and happiness. A hierarchical regression equation was used to look at family rating’s impact on MIL judgments. Rating on closeness and belonging with family had no significant effect on MIL when control variables were included. We did find a significant relationship between family support and both purpose and mattering, even when controlling for other variables. Social support did not impact participants’ comprehension scores. There was not enough significant data to say if mattering was the strongest predictor of MIL. The results are discussed in detail at the end of the study.

Patrick Reilly        

‘I Couldn’t Do it Alone’: Effect of Responsibility in Addiction Recovery Narratives on Political Support for Societal Opioid Policies and Attribution of Use

One of the most pressing modern public health crises in America is the opioid epidemic. The pervasive model of opioid recovery in the United States focuses primarily on treating addiction individually. There is evidence that a shift to a societal lens of opioid use encourages and improves recovery chances. The purpose of this study is to add to the growing research around narrative’s effectiveness at bypassing ideological differences and stigma surrounding policy issues like the opioid epidemic. 202 participants were randomly assigned to read one of two narratives, which differed in how much personal responsibility (either none or high) the character attributed to their opioid recovery. The participants then answered a series of question which gauged their support for societal opioid-related harm-reduction policies. The questions also gauged the participants’ attribution of opioid use, whether to individual or external factors. The narratives with no personal responsibility did not result in greater support from conservatives for societal policies and greater attribution of addiction to society. The no personal responsibility narrative did result in an increase in the attribution of opioid use to external factors in liberals but did not affect policy support levels. The study is concluded with a discussion on the limitations of the data and the implications of this work on public health communication strategies and opioid use disorder treatment policies and practices.

Jevan Sandhu       

Racial Experiences of Students of Color at Bates College

The present study seeks to examine the racial experiences between Bates College (Bates) students of color (SOC) who come from predominantly White places versus racially diverse places. The purpose of this distinction was to study how these racial environments are associated with their racial experiences at a predominantly White institution (PWI). Bates College students who self-identified as SOC, aged 18 and older, were participants in this study. A mixed-method approach was used through online surveys and interviews. Participants took part in the online survey and were given the option to also take part in an in-depth interview. The interview was used to gain narratives that assisted in finding meanings from their own life experiences to better understand their social and academic experiences. I expected to find that SOC from racially diverse places would report more negative experiences in transition, as well as more awareness of racial insensitivity. I also expected to find that SOC at Bates with high ethnic identity, regardless of pre-college racial environment, would report more negative experiences. There was no significant difference between SOC who came from racially diverse places versus those who came from predominantly White places, indicating that hypothesis 1 was not supported. This suggests that SOC at Bates experience PWIs similarly, which may be because others still perceive them as SOC, and therefore have implicit biases about them. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (high ethnic identity, low ethnic identity) based on their Bates College Experience scores, indicating that students with higher racial-ethnic identity experienced Bates less positively than students with low-ethnic identity which supports hypothesis 2. Students with high-ethnic identity reported more negative overall Bates Experi ence, and this may be due to the lack of diversity. Keywords: racial experiences, students of color, predominantly White institution

Lillian Scott       

Narrative versus Non-Narrative Evidence and its Effects on Adherence to COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines

This study investigates the effects of communication methods on preventing the spread of COVID-19. Looking at the potential mediating variable of emotional arousal and the moderating variables of transportability (high vs. low) and gender (female vs. male), the present research aims to determine if evidence type (narrative vs. non-narrative) has an effect on adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines (behavioral intentions, beliefs about efficacy and necessity, and attitudes) set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Undergraduate students from Bates College were used as participants (N = 131) for this study, and results indicated significant interaction effects on adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines for evidence type and transportability and evidence type and gender. Both effects were significant in the direction of non-narrative evidence being more influential than narrative evidence; specifically, participants who were either low in transportability or identified as a man were more likely to adhere to COVID-19 public health guidelines if they read non-narrative evidence compared to narrative evidence. Simple effects revealed no significance of evidence type on adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines. The data also did not support emotional arousal as a mediator, but additional analyses did support emotional arousal as a moderator. Limitations and future research will be addressed later on.

Sarah Wood        

Other Affirmation and its Effect on Stereotype Threat

The purpose of this study was to determine the interaction between other affirmation and stereotype threat. We induced other affirmation by having participants select an important value for someone they have a close relationship with, and writing about it. Gender-related stereotype threat was introduced, and evaluated using a mental rotation task. The Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal (RISC) scale was used to determine how reliant the participants’ identity is on their relationships. We predicted that participants who received affirmation would be less affected by stereotype threat, and so would score higher on the mental rotation task than those in the control group who performed a similar exercise which was not affirming. We further predicted that of those in the affirmed group, those who were high RISC would perform better than those who are low RISC because their identity was more closely tied to their relationships. This study included 51 female Bates College undergr aduate students with an average age of 19.28. Regression analysis indicated no significant effect of affirmation on mental rotation task scores, and no significant interaction between RISC scores and affirmation on mental rotation task scores.

Wenjing Zheng       

The Effects of Message Type and Close Family’s Health Conditions on Health Risk Communication

Objective: The present study examined the moderating role of social distance (i.e., an average person or a close other) of the effect of message types (i.e., narrative vs. nonnarrative) on individuals’ responses towards others drinking less. Base on construal level theory, the current study expected that narrative (vs. nonnarrative) would induce significantly more positive responses towards others drinking less and higher perceived risks of alcohol overconsumption when one thinks about their close others. In contrast, the study expected that nonnarrative (vs. narrative) would induce significantly more positive responses towards others drinking less and higher perceived risks of alcohol overconsumption when one thinks about an average person. Methods: 173 participants completed an online survey in which they were randomly assigned to read a narrative or nonnarrative message related to alcohol overconsumption and then rated their attitudes towards others drinking less, intentions to persuade to drink less, perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of alcohol overconsumption. Results: Contrary to my hypothesis, none of the interaction effect on attitudes, intentions, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity was significant. None of the effect of evidence types was significant. The effects of social distance on attitudes and intentions were not significant, while the effects on perceived susceptibility and perceived severity were significant. Conclusions: Health risk communication is an effective way to change one’s health behavior. Future research should consider optimistic bias when engage in interpersonal persuasion. Moreover, looking at various message framing and different health behaviors would also be helpful to understand health risk communication.