Tag: Capstones Fall 2021

Karissa Bailor

Understanding the Impact of Online Influencers

The Internet has provided a unique opportunity for online entertainment, and a more direct way to connect with online influencers. Parasocial relationships between online content creators and their viewers, however, may have a negative impact on the viewers’ finances, trust, and personal worldviews. Recent research trends will also be reviewed, e.g., findings that online Influencers maintain the successful promotion of products or potential scams, and online influencers maintain strong influence on children and adolescent viewers. Future directions will also be reviewed including the fact that psychology researchers have not adequately investigated the psychological impact of Influencers; current research is heavily focused on marketing benefits, while few studies have researched the often blind trust between viewers and influencers, the psychological impact and benefits of influencer marketing. Researchers must explore the far-reaching effects of social media influencers on developing children and youth.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

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3:30 – 3:55 PM

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Nicolas Cazares

Modern Approaches to Spinal Cord Repair

Spinal cords are one of the most sensitive parts of the human body and damage to them can massively hinder one’s quality of life. This presentation will go over medical research of spinal cord repair. The first section is an overview of what the spinal cord is including, cellular make-up, biological function, and detailed anatomy. The second section of this presentation will discuss the history of research within this field dating back to the 1960s. Following this I will look at modern approaches to spinal cord repair and discuss the pros and cons of each method.

MATH 499

Brian Carrigan

P103

1 – 1:30 PM

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Sam Dodd

Benefits of Tabletop Role-Playing Games

Tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) have long been anathematized since their inception with the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons, though in recent times, they have been seen as more of a blessing. Engaging in tabletop role-playing games may positively impact adolescents and emerging adults in regard to self-discovery, the classroom, critical thinking and communication skills, and as clients in mental health therapy. Recent trends in research will be discussed, e.g., those who engage in TRPGs may benefit from increased self-discovery and may utilize acquired skills to apply to their work as clients in therapy. Future directions will also be reviewed including the need for researchers to examine the effects of TRPGs on overall mental health in children, adolescents, and adults.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

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1:30 – 1:55 PM

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Jared Dodson

The Darkest Nights Have the Brightest Stars: Reevaluating Light and Darkness in Johannine Literature

The imagery of light and darkness has always connoted very strong ideas through many diverse cultures. So too is light and darkness a key theme in Johannine literature. St. John of Patmos consistently uses the theme of light and darkness to demonstrate realities concerning the nature of God and those who follow him. The task presented here is to reevaluate traditional understandings of John’s use of light and darkness in light of the broader narrative of scripture. This paper will seek to envision the theme of light and darkness in Johannine literature as a continuation of this theme as found in the Hebrew scriptures. This project will also explore the interpretations of the theme utilized by the early church fathers Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, and will explore how their contrasting perspectives both portray distinct aspects of light and darkness as used by John. Distilling each of these sources into a coherent understanding of John’s imagery and use of light and darkness, this paper will demonstrate how God can be experienced and is present in both light and darkness.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

Agametochukwu Iheanyi-Igwe

L203

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10 – 10:30 AM

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Kaitlynn Edrington

Fleischer Animation Studios and the American Dream

During the period 1921 to 1941, the idealism of the American Dream prevailed, and can be seen through the lens of early animated media. Current histography reinforces that early animation image ideals and successes come from the Walt Disney studios, excluding many studios in operation, and innovating the field before them, namely Fleischer Studios. Literature and academics have addressed Fleischer Studios and the founders Max and Dave Fleischer in relation to animation innovation and depictions, but often do not reflect on the influence their personal lives had on their work. Doing so removes the diverse voice their experience as Jewish immigrants/first generation Americans from tenement housing in Brooklynn New York gives to the images and depictions of American life they created. The works of Mark Langer among others bring context and regional comparison of the Fleischer Studio’s works to other studios at the time nationwide but does not fully acknowledge the impact of the founders and the studio as an entity as a reflection of American society. The innovations and inventions of Max Fleischer, the themes and topics shown through the medium of animation, and the business dealings that led to the quick rise to fame and later paved the way for their downfall provide a unique viewpoint to an up and rising form of media as well as depictions and reality of American social life. This paper and accompanying presentation aims to draw these points together and put on display the unique diverse image of American social life and the ideal of the American dream as told through early animation.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

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9:30 AM – Noon

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Fern Gardea

The Impact of Parents with Mental Illness on their Children’s Health and Quality of Life

Mental health is currently a popular topic in the United States; mental illness is another matter. Further, we fail to acknowledge and talk about the countless children who live in the shadows with parents who experience mental illness; few acknowledge what these children live with daily. Parents experiencing mental illness may negatively impact their children’s development, including their emotional and mental health. Recent trends in research will be reviewed (e.g., mental illness in parents and the resultant anxiety, depression, and poor emotion regulation in their children; parenting styles in parents with mental illness and the impact on their children). Future directions will also be reviewed including the need for researchers to explore the role and potential impact of psychotherapy for parents with mental illness and for their children, in addition to whole family therapy, as well as the negative effects on children of parents who utilize poor parenting styles.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

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2:30 – 2:55 PM

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Daniel Gerlach

Engaging Polarization With Peacemaking Tactics and the Teachings of Jesus

We live in some of the most polarized times in our nation; but how do we make productive steps to change this? As followers of Jesus, I believe we are supposed to be the light of the world by being peacemakers. In an effort to bring communication tactics and the scripture to guide us on how to do this, I made a short, five-episode podcast series called “Peacemaking In Our Time” as my capstone project. Come check out my presentation on the discussion of how this project went, what I learned, and how we can make strides in navigating our conflicts and differences. Follow this link to listen to the podcast on Spotify: Not required for attendance to my presentation – https://open.spotify.com/show/7lw7NrlIYCzH2eYxXASO5k?si=f94f16cb073b4680

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Doyle Srader

L203

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1:30 – 2 PM

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Jonathan Rambousek

Barriers to Mental Health Care Among Active-Duty Military and Veterans

When military personnel come home from deployment or transition out of the military, they often do not know that they need mental health care. If they are aware that they need help, service members and veterans likely do not know where to look for that help. A culture of stigma may foster mental health care avoidance in active-duty and military veterans. Researchers have recently suggested that entrenched attitudes against mental health treatment seeking and risks to career advancement are likely to blame. Future directions will also be reviewed including the need for researchers to delve more deeply into the role veteran status of providers could play in the likelihood of service members and veterans entering and continuing treatment, as well as the need for more effective non-pharmacological interventions.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

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3:00 – 3:25 PM

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Stella Reaka

Substance Use in Prison: A Never Ending Cycle

Issues regarding the prison system evoke concern worldwide, in part because punishment has largely replaced rehabilitation. Individuals with substance use disorders in the prison system are being punished for their disorders rather than getting the treatment they need in order to be successful in society. Recent trends in research will be reviewed, e.g., prison release from prison without treatment, and evidence that ongoing treatment after release results in higher risk of recidivism and lethal overdose. Future directions will also be reviewed, including the need for researchers to explore the impact of increased rehabilitation on society.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

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2 – 2:25 PM

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Emmalee Rusk

A History of John Hinckley v. United States and Incarceration of the Mentally Ill

John W. Hinckley Jr. attempted to kill President Ronald Reagan, killing White House Press Secretary James Bradley in the process. The jury of the trial of John W. Hinckley Jr. v. United States found him Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. This sent the people of the United States into an uproar as they desired justice.

The Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 was then put in place to restrict the use of the Insanity Plea. 

However, the Act is now under scrutiny for an unfounded relation between it and the mass incarceration of the mentally ill in U.S. jails and prisons today. This presentation comes to the defense of the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 from these allegations through the history of John Hinckley and his attempted murder of President Reagan, the trial, and the affect of the Act.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

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9:30 AM – Noon

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Drenna Thompson

Gender Expression on the Autism Spectrum

Gender expression on the autism spectrum is currently a highly salient topic, with researchers indicating a high rate of fluid and unique identity within this population. Autistic individuals are more likely than neurotypicals to have a non-conformist relationship to gender, whether that be identifying outside the binary, disregarding gender roles, or being transgender. Recent trends in research will be examined, e.g., how autistic children express their gender identity and the struggles they face, and how queer people contacting gender clinics often also receive referrals for an ASD evaluation and potential diagnosis. Future directions will also be reviewed including the need for ASD-specific sex education, as well as inclusion of ASD voices in related research.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

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4:00 – 4:25 PM

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