2020 Publications
Effect of Priming Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White Faces on Firearm and Non-Firearm Identification
Justin D. Durham and Robert D. Mather
University of Central Oklahoma
Previous research on the shooter bias effect has focused on Black versus White male stimuli, with participants mistakenly shooting unarmed Black stimuli more often than White stimuli. If shooter bias is related to threat perception, a pattern of bias should be present when using images of other threat-related ethnic minorities. Forty participants completed a computerized shooter task adapted from previous research in which participants made rapid repeated decisions to shoot or not shoot. Repeated measures ANOVA conducted on mean response times and error rates found participants significantly shot unarmed Black stimuli more quickly, more frequently, and at higher percentages compared to Hispanic/Latino and White stimuli. Signal detection analyses found that participants were significantly more accurate at discriminating weapons when primed with a Hispanic/Latino stimulus than other ethnic stimuli. Participants adopted the expected generous criterion for Black stimuli and cautious criterion for White stimuli when deciding to shoot.
Justin D. Durham and Robert D. Mather
University of Central Oklahoma
Previous research on the shooter bias effect has focused on Black versus White male stimuli, with participants mistakenly shooting unarmed Black stimuli more often than White stimuli. If shooter bias is related to threat perception, a pattern of bias should be present when using images of other threat-related ethnic minorities. Forty participants completed a computerized shooter task adapted from previous research in which participants made rapid repeated decisions to shoot or not shoot. Repeated measures ANOVA conducted on mean response times and error rates found participants significantly shot unarmed Black stimuli more quickly, more frequently, and at higher percentages compared to Hispanic/Latino and White stimuli. Signal detection analyses found that participants were significantly more accurate at discriminating weapons when primed with a Hispanic/Latino stimulus than other ethnic stimuli. Participants adopted the expected generous criterion for Black stimuli and cautious criterion for White stimuli when deciding to shoot.
| raceprimingfirearms.pdf |
Why Did You Do That? Because I Thought It Would Work! The Role of Perceived Effectiveness in Adolescent Emotion Regulation
Karena M. Moran
West Virginia University and Geisinger Health System
Amy L. Gentzler
West Virginia University
Much is known about outcomes associated with the use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies. However, less research has explored predictors of ER strategy use. The present study examined perceived effectiveness of strategies (i.e., how effective one believes a strategy is at decreasing negative affect or increasing positive affect) as a predictor of strategy use. The sample of 139 adolescents (Mage = 15.50, 60.4% male) reported their use of ER strategies for positive and negative emotions and how effective they believed each strategy was at changing their emotional state in the desired direction (i.e., more positive, less negative). Covarying age and sex, four hierarchical linear regression models indicated that perceived effectiveness was associated with strategy use in each case. These findings indicate that adolescents are more likely to use ER strategies when they believe they are effective. The study has important educational and clinical implications about teaching youth about ER.
Karena M. Moran
West Virginia University and Geisinger Health System
Amy L. Gentzler
West Virginia University
Much is known about outcomes associated with the use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies. However, less research has explored predictors of ER strategy use. The present study examined perceived effectiveness of strategies (i.e., how effective one believes a strategy is at decreasing negative affect or increasing positive affect) as a predictor of strategy use. The sample of 139 adolescents (Mage = 15.50, 60.4% male) reported their use of ER strategies for positive and negative emotions and how effective they believed each strategy was at changing their emotional state in the desired direction (i.e., more positive, less negative). Covarying age and sex, four hierarchical linear regression models indicated that perceived effectiveness was associated with strategy use in each case. These findings indicate that adolescents are more likely to use ER strategies when they believe they are effective. The study has important educational and clinical implications about teaching youth about ER.
| Why Did You Do That? Because I Thought It Would Work! The Role of Perceived Effectiveness in Adolescent Emotion Regulation |
The More You Know: Examining the Association Between Informational Interventions and Stigma Towards Individuals with Pica
Casey Brugh and Amanda Joyce
Murray State University
Stigma toward individuals with mental illness is common and can impair treatment, but familiarity with these individuals can reduce stigma. Educating individuals about mental illness can increase familiarity. This study examines the association between stigma and an informational intervention regarding pica. One hundred participants completed a survey with one of three vignettes describing an individual with pica. In one condition, only pica symptoms were described, in another, a pica diagnosis was given, and in the third, pica treatment was described. The three groups differed in overall stigma, personal stigma, and perceived stigma with decreased stigma in the labeling and informational conditions. Results suggest that providing individuals with information about different psychological disorders could be an effective way to reduce stigma towards individuals with mental illness.
Casey Brugh and Amanda Joyce
Murray State University
Stigma toward individuals with mental illness is common and can impair treatment, but familiarity with these individuals can reduce stigma. Educating individuals about mental illness can increase familiarity. This study examines the association between stigma and an informational intervention regarding pica. One hundred participants completed a survey with one of three vignettes describing an individual with pica. In one condition, only pica symptoms were described, in another, a pica diagnosis was given, and in the third, pica treatment was described. The three groups differed in overall stigma, personal stigma, and perceived stigma with decreased stigma in the labeling and informational conditions. Results suggest that providing individuals with information about different psychological disorders could be an effective way to reduce stigma towards individuals with mental illness.
| The More You Know: Examining the Association Between Informational Interventions and Stigma Towards Individuals with Pica |
Distracting Noise Reduces Task Persistence: A Successful Test of the Strength Model for Self-control
Michael Ouellet, Lionel G. Standing, and Stuart J. McKelvie
Bishop’s University
Using unpredictable noise at a moderate level as a new method to produce ego-depletion, this experiment tested predictions from the strength model of self-control (Baumeister, Vohs, & Tice, 2007), which likens willpower to a muscle that becomes fatigued from use (ego-depletion). Participants (68) were randomized to noise or no-noise groups, and worked on two sets of six anagrams where the sixth was unsolvable. As predicted from the strength model, participants in the noise condition persisted for less time on the unsolvable anagrams than those in the no-noise condition (medium effect size of d = 0.588). There was a general decline in persistence over the two trials, but individual tests showed that the decrease was only significant for the no-noise group. In addition, considering self-control as a subject variable, persistence times were unrelated to self-control trait scores, and the effect of noise on persistence did not differ between people who were higher or lower in trait self-control.
Michael Ouellet, Lionel G. Standing, and Stuart J. McKelvie
Bishop’s University
Using unpredictable noise at a moderate level as a new method to produce ego-depletion, this experiment tested predictions from the strength model of self-control (Baumeister, Vohs, & Tice, 2007), which likens willpower to a muscle that becomes fatigued from use (ego-depletion). Participants (68) were randomized to noise or no-noise groups, and worked on two sets of six anagrams where the sixth was unsolvable. As predicted from the strength model, participants in the noise condition persisted for less time on the unsolvable anagrams than those in the no-noise condition (medium effect size of d = 0.588). There was a general decline in persistence over the two trials, but individual tests showed that the decrease was only significant for the no-noise group. In addition, considering self-control as a subject variable, persistence times were unrelated to self-control trait scores, and the effect of noise on persistence did not differ between people who were higher or lower in trait self-control.
| Distracting Noise Reduces Task Persistence: A Successful Test of the Strength Model for Self-control |
An Investigation of the Incidence of PTSD in Patients Who Have Type II Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome
Jordan R. C. Greene and Diana K Riser
Columbus State University
Elizabeth DesPortes
Endocrine Consultants, PC
The purpose of this archival study is to investigate the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients who have Type II Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome and were seen at a local medical office in the last 10 years. Participants were collected through medical records of all the patients 18 and older with Type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome seen by the clinical psychologist at the practice between 2004 and 2012. Medical charts were reviewed to collect demographic data, medical diagnoses, and presence of PTSD. Medical diagnoses were the basis for inclusion in the study and examining the relations between medical diagnosis and PTSD. The hypothesis that the incidence of PTSD is higher in this sample than the general public was supported by a chi-square goodness of fit test. Findings may serve to reveal a bi-directional link between traumatic events, PTSD, and the development of endocrine disorders later in life.
Jordan R. C. Greene and Diana K Riser
Columbus State University
Elizabeth DesPortes
Endocrine Consultants, PC
The purpose of this archival study is to investigate the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients who have Type II Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome and were seen at a local medical office in the last 10 years. Participants were collected through medical records of all the patients 18 and older with Type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome seen by the clinical psychologist at the practice between 2004 and 2012. Medical charts were reviewed to collect demographic data, medical diagnoses, and presence of PTSD. Medical diagnoses were the basis for inclusion in the study and examining the relations between medical diagnosis and PTSD. The hypothesis that the incidence of PTSD is higher in this sample than the general public was supported by a chi-square goodness of fit test. Findings may serve to reveal a bi-directional link between traumatic events, PTSD, and the development of endocrine disorders later in life.
| An Investigation of the Incidence of PTSD in Patients Who Have Type II Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome |