2014 Abstracts

Cassandra Southam, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences Recruitment and retention are two of the most salient issues in emergency medical services (EMS) today. The National Association of State and regional EMS leaders, has twice identified recruitment and retention as the most important issues facing rural EMS agencies across the nation. The purpose of this study was to predict how Utah EMS personnel reached a point of wanting to resign using a stress model; value of job, self and other harm, spouse satisfaction, formal support as independent predictor variables. This data was obtained from an IRB approved statewide survey of all EMS personnel during the Spring of 2010. Of the 7,000 current EMS employees, 668 completed the survey, resulting in a 9.5 percent response rate. Results. The linear regression model indicated that the model explained 28 percent of the overall variance. A brief explanation of the findings indicates that all the direct paths were significant at the .05 level. The more they harmed themselves and others, the more they wanted to resign (Beta coefficient of .31). The higher their levels of Past Call-related Stress, the more they wanted to resign (.21). The higher their levels of spouse satisfaction, the more they wanted to resign (.07). The more they found value in their job, the less they wanted to resign ( -.18), And finally, the more they valued formal support from the debriefing team, the less they wanted to resign (-.10). Administrators and agency leaders can use these indicators to intervene when an EMS employee reaches a difficult point from the stresses and hardships of the job. Education, training, and available support can be very useful in preventing trained, experienced, and valued EMS employees from leaving the field. Local EMS directors and policymakers may find the results and study methodology useful toward designing and evaluating programs.

Desirae Wood, Weber State University Social and Behavioral Sciences Previous research has suggested that genetic polymorphisms may be correlated with specific behaviors and personality traits. The SLC6A4 gene that codes for the serotonin transporter contains a polymorphism in the promoter region that has been associated with anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. There have been reports linking SLC6A4 polymorphisms to traits such as neuroticism and harm avoidance (HA), but the relationship to novelty seeking (NS) is unclear. HA and NS are personality traits that have been correlated to some forms of risk taking, including casual sex. This present study was designed to explore a potential link between SLC6A4 polymorphisms in relation to novelty seeking, the frequency of casual sex behavior, and the cognitive assessment of how risky such behavior is. Undergraduate students (n=288) completed the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory, the Physical Risk Frequency Inventory, and the Physical Risk Assessment Inventory, and provided cheek swab cell samples for genotyping via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis gel. Ongoing data collection and data analysis will be complete by the end of November.

Conor Fishback, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in recent years has seen the majority of its neighbors fall into some kind of violent conflict. Throughout the Arab Spring and the years following, the Jordan state has been one of stability and peace. One possible reason for the stability of the country could be its level of religious tolerance. One way to look at religious tolerance is to look at the geographic landscape of where the religious buildings are located within the cities of that country. This study analyzed the specific location of Christian churches in relation to Muslim Mosques in five different cities with a significant Christian population. Specific points representing the different faiths were gathered using GPS and then analyzed using GIS software. The geographic situation was analyzed for each structure. Geographic situation in this case referred to Christian churches and their proximity to Muslim Mosques, as well as the number of Muslim mosques and how adjacent they are in relation to the Christian churches. Photographs were taken of every location to determine the level of overshadowing or dominance that was taking place in that specific site. Using GIS, the Christian quarters in each city was analyzed. The majority of the cities, including the Jordanian capital of Amman, showed little or no clustering of mosques in relation to churches as well as little evidence of building dominance by either sect. Only one out of the five cities studied showed serious clustering of mosques around the Christian areas. While this study only analyzed a small part of what makes up a country’s level of religious tolerance, it can be expanded to other countries as well – not only Muslim states that are tolerant to Christianity, but also Christian or Western states and their tolerance to Islam.

Sai Samineni, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences Introduction: Salt Lake Peer Court (SLPC) is an alternative program to juvenile justice where Salt Lake School District (SLSD) youth are referred for minor offenses such as truancy, disorderly conduct, fighting, theft, etc… The court is mediated by a panel of high school mentors who act as a jury which questions and mentors the referred youth while adult advisers facilitate court. Restorative justice-based contract requirements are used with many options including community service, attendance tracking, tutoring, counseling, and life skills classes. One major area that remains unaddressed among Peer Court’s disposition options is that of career exploration and college preparation. The intent of this research project is to create a new sustainable option that impedes the cycle of juvenile delinquency in families and increases their ability to stay free of crime by providing youth with tools to gain socioeconomic power through self-direction, goal-setting skills, and discovering their passions.

Chelsea Romney, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Getting adequate sleep is essential for optimal daytime functioning and has implications for both physical and mental health. There are several reasons to believe that social support may influence sleep outcomes. Although certain relationships (e.g., married versus unmarried) have been tied to sleep disturbances, little is known about the association between the quality of one’s overall social network and sleep. Thus, in the present study, we examined how the amount of supportive relationships in an individual’s social network is associated with sleep outcomes.

Chelsey Kenney, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences The purpose of this study was to compare the stressors and supportive resources found between Utah emergency medical service personnel who divorced after certification to those who did not divorce.

Maximilian Stiefel, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences This paper examines the impacts of sugarcane cultivation on rural community resilience in municipios throughout Brazil. Whether sugarcane cultivation has generated vulnerabilities, such as population diffusion, ecological transformation, and adverse path dependencies, for rural community resilience is the primary focus. Resilience is critical in that it demonstrates adaptation efficacy for a community facing shifting capabilities. Social cohesion and capital also tie into how resilience correlates to meaningful interactions among individuals. Over the past thirty years Brazil became second to the U.S. in terms of global ethanol production, generating robust economic growth. However, sugarcane cultivation expansion has forced some cattle ranchers from southern Brazil to migrate north, resulting in the clearing of Amazon forestland for grazing. Pastureland displacement from sugarcane cultivation generates various concerns for rural economies, social cohesion, and socioeconomic class disparities. There currently lacks abundant examination of impacts to rural communities adjacent to sugarcane ethanol cultivation and production. I formulate a regression analysis to gauge shifts in resilience from sugarcane cultivation that will include a variety of metrics such as employment rates, livelihood diversification, and educational attainment. From this information I will suggest practices that afford a more resilient economic, agricultural, and social model for rural communities. The suggestions I put forth will not be palliative, but will instead be consistent with sustainable practices that foster capabilities, socioeconomic equality, and environmental stewardship. Resilient rural community development models avoid historic deforestation patterns and aid climate change mitigation, which in turn safeguards Brazil’s myriad economic sectors. Robust rural economies support national security by ensuring a healthy agricultural sector, avoiding unsustainable urban migration, and reducing poverty. The models and practices I suggest will inform policies and programs for Brazilian officials, agriculturalists, and conservationists to support rural communities, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and increase national security.

Natalie Blanton, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences The rates of women interacting with the criminal justice system are increasing steadily—yet little is known about the experiences of these women with/within the system as well as the latent effects that follow them throughout their lives. With a sociological perspective, one comes to understand the immense impact of experiences, inequities, and health/wellness/opportunity disparities in individual’s lives—especially within the criminal justice system. This project takes a multi-pronged feminist perspective/approach to women’s interaction with such.

Megan Ward, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Little research has been done on the effect of parental media monitoring on a child’s thoughts and behaviors. This dearth of research is evident when considering the effect of parental media monitoring for a child who consumes Disney princess media. Research suggests that committed parents who heavily monitor their child’s media use are more likely to have a child who uses less media. The aim of this study is to garner a deeper understanding of the impact of parental media monitoring on a child’s stereotypical behaviors. Initial analyses showed a very strong correlation between how much a child identified with a particular princess and the number of female stereotypical traits. Namely, parents who reported that their children more closely identified with a princess showed gender stereotypical traits related to the types of toys they played with, the types of activities they participated in, and types of characteristics they took part in. Our analysis found the correlations to be especially strong when parents also reported low monitoring of their child’s media use, compared to parents who reported higher monitoring. Implications of these findings could influence children’s relationships with others. For example, children with more stereotypical behaviors may be less open to sharing, empathizing, and playing with other children who do not fit the gender stereotypes as accurately.

Ty Martin, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences The purpose of this study was to explore the marital and personal life outcome of couples who either had in-law troubles or did not. Using Gottman’s (1999) core principles, this study explored the complex challenges young married couples faced when trying to turn toward their spouse while problematic relationships with their spouse’s parents created a wedge. Data was obtained via a random sample of 3,000 current and 7,000 former UVU students. Of the 11 percent who responded, 488 were in their first marriage. Two types of statistical analysis were used to explore the relationship between the married student’s relationship to their in-laws and other personal and marital factors.

Steven Clements, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences The purpose of this study was to test the impact of having been on a dangerous call to EMS employee’s well-being. Two hypotheses were tested: First, suffering psychological symptoms from a dangerous call had no impact on their well-being; and second, suffering physical symptoms from a dangerous call had no impact on their well-being. In 2010, 7,000 state EMS employees were surveyed, yielding 668 completed surveys for this study.

Chelsea Pineda Davey, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Sense of community on the island of Guernsey is a cross between organic and mechanical solidarity. I argue that this sense of community is built and maintained through the island’s voluntary sector. The charities and volunteers help to preserve Guernsey’s sense of community and hold the society together. As I do this I use Durkheim and Mauss’s theories along with the McMillan/Chavis definition of sense of community to support my findings.

Joshua Matyi, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences The Neural Efficiency Hypothesis (NEH) states that individuals with higher measured intelligence exhibit less neural activation on relatively simple tasks compared to those with lower intelligence (Haier et al., 1988). While the current NEH literature regarding electroencephalography (EEG) primarily focuses on amplitude measures, differences in peak latency relative to task demands could also indicate processing efficiency. The current study examined the relationship between intelligence and event-related EEG amplitudes and latencies during the third of three task conditions, a visual repetition paradigm. Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III; Wechsler, 1997) were collected on 30 participants, 18 of whom had sufficient numbers of EEG trials for further analysis (FSIQ: M = 111.56, SD = 13.28, range = 91 to 131). During EEG recording, participants were asked to respond to randomized line drawings representing one of three stimulus conditions from the previous two tasks: Repeated stimuli, Once-viewed, and Novel stimuli. Time-frequency analyses were conducted to identify peak phase-locked activity in the theta (4-7 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) bands between 0 and 500 milliseconds post-stimulus. Results demonstrated no significant effects of IQ or stimulus condition on peak theta and alpha amplitudes. However, difference scores between Novel and Once-viewed conditions in peak theta latency showed a strong positive correlation with IQ (r[16] = .712, p < .01). These findings appear consistent with the NEH in suggesting that higher IQ individuals may process previously seen stimuli more efficiently than lower IQ individuals, as evidenced by shorter peak latencies relative to stimulus onset. A direction of future research could involve manipulating visual stimulus complexity, in order to isolate the effects of task complexity on peak latency, and potential interactions with IQ.

Jenna Deelstra, Weber State University Social and Behavioral Sciences The purpose of the present study was to explore the impact of facilitative mental imagery training on distance runners. Female (n=20) and male (n=11) athletes, separated by skill level classifications: Collegiate (n=19) and recreational (n=12) completed the Motivational Imagery Ability Measure for Sport (MIAMS) before and after 21 days of mental imagery training. Included in the training were relaxation and breathing techniques followed by guided imagery related to distance running training and competition. Physiological data including galvanic skin response (GSR), skin temperature, and breathing rate were also measured while participants took the MIAMS survey, which asked them to imagine and experience a competition. A One-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) examining the effects of the imagery training on MIAMS survey responses between collegiate and recreational athletes for motivational general-mastery imagery (MG-M) and arousal imagery (MG-A) was employed. Significance was found in the emotional response evoked and the ease of producing imagery between the two groups. Post-training skin temperature and galvanic skin response (GSR) between the two groups was also significant. These findings support previous research indicating that imagery is both a talent and a skill that can lead to better emotional control in competitive athletes. More research must be done to better understand the effects of mental imagery training on male and female distance athletes.

Tyler Moore, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences A fundamental concept in behavioral economics is that of loss-aversion, that is, the differentially greater effect of loss when compared to gain. The law of relative effect (also known as the matching law) provides the framework for precise behavioral measurement of that differential in a hedonic scale. We recently developed a video game by which to achieve that measurement. Participants will be invited to play the game during a series of sessions in which gain and loss contingencies are varied–sometimes the participant will gain points and sometimes lose them. In addition to varying the relative frequencies of gains and losses in order to measure their relative effects on behavioral choice, we will measure the effects of an additional variable by means of a different group of participants. This second group will win or lose points in one condition of the experiment and, in the other condition, win or lose actual money. It is our prediction that the group experiencing the loss of money rather than points will demonstrate behaviors indicative of a greater aversion to loss than their counterparts, who will merely lose points.

Kent Hinkson, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences PTSD has become increasingly more concerning to the mental health world over the past few decades. A plethora of events (both acute and chronic) that serve as a triggering moment in the lives of those afflicted by this potentially debilitating condition are beginning to be identified more consistently. Yet, it continues to remain an area of concern because of the manner in which it affects nearly every aspect of its victim’s life.

Derek Oliver, Dixie State University Social and Behavioral Sciences The use of birth interventions has been steadily increasing over the past several decades based on largely non-medical factors. It is thought that the various birth interventions (i.e. forceps, vacuum extraction, epidural, etc.), pitocin use, the mother’s attachment and psychological constructs during pregnancy are related to the incidences of neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, the current study attempts to understand the association between birth intervention and the development of neurodevelopmental disorders. Three hundred mothers of children between one and five years of age were recruited using social media, flyers and phone calls. Mothers provided access to their medical records of the birth of their child as well as incidences of neurodevelopmental disorders in their children. Mother’s hospital records were obtained to determine length of pregnancy, duration of labor and rate and duration of pitocin use. It is expected that there will be a significant correlation between developmental disorders and interventions broadly. Further, it is expected that pitocin use will be positively correlated with incidences of autism.

Rebecca Holland, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Dialectical Quichua throughout Ecuador faces disappearance through the development of Quichua Unificado, a standardized form of Quichua used the bilingual school system. This form of Quichua was created in hopes that introducing a standardized orthography would help bilingual schools effectively address the Quichua language loss that is pervasive throughout the country. However, as the language steps beyond its intended bounds of being a written language and moves toward replacing dialectical Quichua as a spoken language, it is evident that this revitalization movement is progressing at a great cost. Original ethnographic research in the Napo Valley of Ecuador asserts that this movement is ineffectual at reversing the Quichua language loss in this area, and may in fact prove fatal to the future of spoken dialectical Quichua.

Brandon Hansen, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences Measuring eye movements during reading is an effective and ecologically valid way to investigate dynamic changes in human cognition. The boundary technique (Rayner, 1975) is often employed during experimental reading research by changing text in real-time between eye movements—permitting subtle manipulations which are not obvious to the reader. Frequently, these manipulations include the replacement of a target word (beach) by words that are homophones (beech), semantically related (shore), orthographically related (bench), or by random letter masks (hxnzt). Understanding the differences between text in which the target word is available (beach) and denied (hxnzt) allows a deeper understanding of dynamic cognitive processes. In a real-world sense, such investigations yield findings that assists doctors, clinicians, and educators as they create interventions for those, for example, with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

Lindsey Hall, Utah State University Social and Behavioral Sciences The benefits of physical activity among young adults are widely recognized (Healthy People 2020). However, approximately 50% of college students are physically inactive (Keating et al., 2005). In the case of college students’ physical activity, parents serve as a resource for health information (Vader et al., 2011). In fact, the American College Health Association reported that parents are college students’ primary source for health information, and therefore may impact their physical activity levels. Although parents are often utilized as health advisors, the quality of this communication and children’s reaction to parental advice has not been explored (Romo et al., 2011). Although advice is sometimes perceived as helpful and supportive by parents, children can also view it as ineffective and insensitive. Advice about physical activity that is negatively received by college students might exacerbate stress, damage the parent-child relationship, or inhibit the student’s physical activity. A growing body of research identifies factors that predict more positive evaluations of advice messages and beneficial outcomes from supportive interactions that include advice. To date, research has identified a variety of source, content, style, and context factors that influence advice evaluations and outcomes (see MacGeorge et al., 2008). However, none of these aspects have been examined when considering the parent-child relationship within the context of physical activity. The present study sought to extend research on advice-giving, the parent-child relationship, and college students’ physical activity by surveying college students about their experiences receiving physical activity-related advice from a parent. Participants (N=224, ages 18-24 years) completed an online survey about the physical activity-related advice they received from their parents. Results highlight a range of parent advice-giving strategies relative to children’s physical activity and children report responding to advice based on a number of factors related to the parent, the child, the parent-child relationship, and the advice context.

Brendan Willis, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences Most people at some point in their lives will encounter a situation where they witness, perpetrate, or fail to stop an action that seriously violates their moral beliefs, events that have recently been termed moral injuries. Litz and colleagues (2009) proposed a theoretical framework that suggests such moral injuries may interact with various protective and risk factors in order to result in either positive or negative outcomes. Negative outcomes could include feelings of guilt, shame, self-condemnation, and alienation. Positive outcomes could include individuals realizing that they have done something wrong, but accepting that they are not bad or evil and resolving to become a better person. A vital part of this framework is the concept of meaning making, the process by which individuals grapple with understanding and constructing meaning regarding their participation in events that violate their moral beliefs. The degree to which an individual is able to adaptively make meaning of a potentially morally injurious event is believed to serve as a mediator in the association between experiencing such an event and developing negative consequences. Specifically, the more adaptively an individual can make meaning of a morally injurious event, the less negative will be the outcomes. However, this mediational role of meaning making in the association between moral injury and psychological distress is a proposition of the theory that to date has not been empirically tested. Given its importance in the moral injury model, the purpose of this study is to empirically test whether or not this association exists. Understanding meaning making’s role in the moral injury model will help form a foundation of empirical work on which future research can build.

Chad Clayton, Brigham Young University Social and Biological Sciences Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939, alongside France. Within a year, France would fall to the German Blitzkrieg and England would stand alone in Europe against the Third Reich. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, in a radio broadcast on June 18, 1940, told the British people that, despite significant military losses in the Battle of France, “there are good and reasonable hopes of victory” upon which they must resolve to carry on. With France already conquered and The Soviet Union out of the picture, the British must have known how big of a risk they were taking. What motivated the British to face down such a foe? By examining the archival reports of the British Joint Intelligence Committee at the time, this study seeks to evaluate the British perception of German military strength in 1940 when the war began, and to see how their assessments of Germany’s military capability and plans factored into British military and political actions.

Phillip Smith, Brigham Young University Social and Biological Sciences Over the last few decades the field of Neuroscience has opened up our understanding of human behavior. One of these behaviors is understanding what goes on with the human brain while an individual is undergoing a spiritual experience. The purpose of this study is to show how prayer, meditation, or other forms of ritualistic worship can stimulate portions of the brain linked with clarity of mind, error detection, empathy, compassion, emotional balance, and the suppression of anger and fear. The routine observance of these practices can help with neuroplasticity and overall cognitive functions.

Jarrett Webster, Dixie State University Social and Biological Sciences This study sought to determine what type of influences a British accent has on Americans. It was predicted that American listeners would rate a British voice higher than an American voice across four traits: physical attraction, social attraction, credibility, and overall favorability. Participants were 197 undergraduate students from Dixie State University (68 men, 129 women). Participants were offered extra credit in return for participation and ranged in age from 17-60. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experiment was designed as a between-subjects experiment. The control group heard an American voice and saw a picture of a man. The experiment group heard a British voice and saw a picture of the same man. Both groups were asked to answer questions that measured the four dependent variable traits. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to calculate results. The hypothesis was confirmed for all of the traits except credibility. These findings have ramifications in interpersonal relationships in business, educational, and social settings.

Chase Jenson, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences In May of 1940 Britain demilitarized the island of Guernsey which created the opportunity for German occupation. Some of the citizens left the island, but those that remained became imprisoned for the next five years. While there is a significant amount of research that is done on the topic of extreme circumstances during World War 2, the archived data of the events and social interactions of the people of Guernsey remains unexplored despite being the only part of Britain under German rule. To address this, final stages of conducting an exploratory study are in progress to discover reasons for resistance and collaboration of the imprisoned island inhabitants by content analysis of secondary data including government records, interviews, and journals.

Tanner Mortimer, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences Surveys show that nearly half of all Americans reject evolution as an explanation of the origin and diversity of life on Earth, especially when concerning human evolution. (Gallup 2007). Furthermore, there is a correlation between the rejections of evolutionary science with a belief in a Christian God-creator (Gallup 2007).

Michael Christensen, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Suicide is a major problem for students in Utah middle and high schools. Since adolescents spend a large portion of their time on social media like Facebook and Twitter, there is a wealth of information we can learn about their personalities, moods, and interests by exploring their online interactions with others and specifically the statuses and messages they post publicly. We have created a Facebook app to mine this data and report the mood of a logged-in user’s entire network based on the individual classification of community members’ posts. We contribute to the Public Health field by aggregating suicide-risk factors and facilitating intervention, the motivation being to help others better identify and help those who are at-risk for suicide based on their online behavior. We contribute to the Computer Science field by creating a machine learning algorithm that can classify text into one of several fine-grained mood categories, learning to identify more than just positive or negative sentiment. In addition, our algorithm has the ability to update online by receiving feedback from the users on how well or poorly it classified the text of their friends’ posts. We describe our algorithm and report on preliminary results about its performance on real-world data.

Zack Bjerregaard, Weber State University Social and Behavioral Sciences The research presented here will lay the groundwork for a larger project as part of iUTAH that will examine the interrelationships and feedbacks among hydroclimate and the ecological and human aspects of urban and montane landscapes in the Wasatch Range Metropolitan Area (WRMA). To assess how human systems and urban development patterns influence water sustainability, we developed a typology of neighborhoods in the WRMA based on sociodemographic and climate variables and built environment characteristics that previously have been found to affect water system dynamics. Using GIS and statistical analysis programs, variables were aggregated to census block groups (CBGs), which we determined were a satisfactory proxy for neighborhoods in most urban areas. Previous studies show that neighborhoods are an important level of measurement because of their influence on individuals’ behaviors. Only CBGs that had a recalculated population density of at least 50 people per square mile after subtracting areas of water and/or federally-owned land were included. A statistical factor/cluster analysis was performed on these variables, which returned a typology of neighborhoods and their spatial distribution based on water usage. The typology will be used by other members of the project to target a select number of each neighborhood type, where instrumentation and further data collection will be implemented to examine the impacts of urban development patterns on water sustainability and the wider ecological and physical hydroclimate.

Quinn Linford, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences Background: Mt. Timpanogos has been an attraction for the residents of Utah Valley and has become a center of recreation for much of Utah. For many years Mt. Timpanogos was the home of an annual hike hosting a daily crowd of approximately 18,000 people. After being designated a wilderness area in 1984, the annual hike was banned. However, the mountain remains an attraction for many residents of the surrounding valleys and visitors from around the world. Currently one- to two-thousand people hike the mountain on mid-summer weekends. This concentration continues to push the limits of the mountain’s ability to accommodate while balancing the opportunities for solitude and unconfined recreation.

Brooke Bradford, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences Research in the area of sexuality indicates that females tend to be more flexible in their sexual behaviors than males.(Baumeister, 2000) Studies also seem to indicate that there is a more permissive and accepting attitude towards women’s bisexual behaviors than towards men’s bisexual behaviors(Lippa, 2006; Savin-Williams, 2006) The present experiment was created in order to measure the perceptions of bisexual behavior held by Utah Valley University students. One hundred students were asked to read brief descriptions of similar sexual behaviors participated in by men and women. Participants were asked to rate these sexual behaviors on a scale and indicate if they perceive the behavior as heterosexual, questioning, bi-curious, bisexual or homosexual. The participants were then asked to rate behaviors on a scale of acceptability as well as a scale of commonality. The questions consist of similar behaviors being engaged in by males and females in order to test for changes in perceptions of the sexual activity occur based on the gender of the actor in the scenario. It is hypothesized that the results of these surveys will support current research in this area and confirm that the scenarios featuring females will be rated as more acceptable, common and placed in the bisexual categories.

Anthony Hoffman, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences During World War II, the Germans occupied two places that have often been overlooked in the history books since: Guernsey in the Channel Islands and the nation of Denmark. Both are strikingly similar in terms of World War II history and overall treatment by the Germans. In contrast, both are strikingly dissimilar in terms of reaction to the Germans, treatment of each other, treatment of other minority groups within their own countries, etc. It is the similarity that provides the ability for these two places to be compared, which in turn provides a context for the dissimilarity to be studied within. The bulk of information for this research comes from the written histories about those countries during World War II, as well as available individual and personal accounts within each group such as diaries, histories, memoirs, etc. The framework that will be used for interpreting the dissimilarities will take a psychological/social psychological approach, drawing on works from researchers such as Milgram, Darley, Latane, and Shergill, to name a few. The focus of this research is centered on the following question: why do people in very similar circumstances have drastically different reactions? It is expected that this research will shed more light on the reasons for why one individual or group of people reacts one way under bad circumstances, while another individual or group under the same circumstances reacts differently. A better understanding of this phenomenon can help individuals, groups, and nations know how to best help those suffering in the world both today and in the future.

Morgan Williams, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences My research intends to answer the question, are the youth today more polarized than they were 25 years ago, and does increased polarization in youth attitudes lead to a higher percentage turnout among youth voters. This is an important area to research because elected officials have never been more polarized on both sides of the ideological scale. It is important to examine possible causes for this polarization, one of which is that these elected officials are catering to the attitudes of the emerging youth voters, causing them to take more polarized stances. Polarization in this research will mean that the divide between the two core ideologies, liberal and conservative has grown wider. This will be measured by looking at an individual’s placement on the ideological scale, if they are liberal learning they will be classified and liberal and the same applies for the conservatives. I will then compare these two groups and there stance on certain issues, such as government spending and abortion, overtime to see if the divide has grown larger. I will be using the American National Election Studies data set to look at youth voting patterns and attitudes from the 1988 presidential election until the 2012 presidential election. I will be defining a youth voter as a voter between the age of 18-29, meaning they could have voted in no more than 2 presidential elections. This research will be done in January and February of 2014, therefore the results of this research are not currently available. I hypothesize that the polarization in the youth voting bloc has not grown wider over time, but fluctuated throughout the years. I also hypothesize that years with a higher level of polarization will lead to a higher turnout among the youth.

Chauntelle Gates, Dixie State University Social and Behavioral Sciences Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) can affect the brain development of the fetus and we know early experiences, even during gestation, shape the way our brain is developed. Since the brain growth of the fetus is rapid, any stressful situation can alter the rate at which the brain develops resulting in an under developed brain at the time of birth. This paper focuses on potential risks associated with prenatal maternal stress to the developing brain throughout gestation and preventive measures to reduce risk. Prenatal care is used throughout the world in a preventive manner to ensure optimum health and welfare of the mother and her baby, throughout gestation. Prenatal care is imperative and should take place during the first trimester to prevent potential risks to the fetus. It detects early signs of abnormalities in the infant, benefiting the mothers’ overall health. Mothers who take advantage of prenatal care, especially when PNMS occurs, have better birth outcomes and overall the brain development of the fetus is less effected. Other life situations could affect the brain development of the fetus but this paper will only focus on the effects PNMS has on the brain.

Kathi Beckett, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences The Kallari Association, a group of self-governed organic cocoa producers located in the Napo Province of the Ecuadorian Amazon, is creating sustainable income through cacao farming and the production of organic chocolate bars in Ecuador. Using interviews and participant observation, I conducted fieldwork with six different Kichwa cacao farmers from five different communities in the Amazon area of Ecuador during the summer of 2013. In my research, I focused on the farmer’s reasons for involvement in the Kallari Association, the local community cooperative. These farmers expressed that they were driven by a desire for an increase in profits, agricultural knowledge, and education. At the same time, their involvement in the cooperative seems to have created a dilemma for them. On one hand their participation strengthened the teaching of Kichwa cultural traditions, and increased their access to food and educational opportunities, while on the other hand, the increased educational opportunities appears to have contributed to a loss of Kichwa cultural traditions.

Pratik Raghu, Westminster College Social and Behavioral Sciences Divided between India and Pakistan in multiple senses, Kashmir is home to the one of the world’s oldest yet least discussed civil conflicts. India and Pakistan continue to defend their claims to Kashmiri land, but most political thinkers agree that establishing an independent democratic state is the only way to ensure long term politico-economic stability in South Asia. However, what should this democracy look like?

Mary Barnewitz, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences Analysis of archaeofaunal remains aids in the understanding of the ecological effects of past human prey-species exploitation. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris), in particular, were intermediate-return prey for late Holocene human populations along the California coastline. At the Yerba Buena Shellmound, on the San Francisco Peninsula, there is significant evidence of sea otter use by the local human inhabitants from 1950-1000 14C YBP. This study aims to investigate the use of sea otters at this site in order to address the implications of human subsistence patterns and the use of natural resources during this time period. The study will examine sea otter epiphyseal fusion and tooth crown height as measures of age, as well as comparative indices with other larger and smaller prey animals, in order to determine the age structure and abundance of this prey species over the time of site occupation. Given the breeding ecology of the sea otter, prey depression is often signaled by an increase in mean age over time. Prey resource depression is also signaled by decreases in the use of large-prey animals, and an increase in the lower return, small prey. Comparing the sea otter remains in the site to other taxa will provide more information regarding the significance of sea otters as prey. In general, a mean age increase in sea otters is indicated by the Yerba Buena sea otter tooth remains, but to a much lesser extent by the fused and unfused sea otter bone specimens. The interpretations of the comparative indices are still in progress. Nevertheless, the preliminary results support other evidence revealing over-exploitation of local resources in the San Francisco Bay area. Understanding the effect of past human behavior and subsistence patterns on local ecology is an important pursuit as it can help guide our management of future ecological resources.

Helen Jones, Weber State University Social and Behavioral Sciences The events of the past often colors how observers interpret current events. Past interaction between two countries sometimes influences current events as well. Recently reported stories concerning United States agents spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel through information provided by Edward Snowden (Cohen, 2013) from his exile in Russia impact three nations. The release of information concerning American actions regarding German chancellor by Russian exile Edward Snowden could be a link between current events and the trust issues of the past. The relationship between the United States and Germany could resolve in time because people are aware of the issue. The relationship between Germany and Russia relative to the information Snowden provided could also be difficult as Germany evaluates whether it can trust Russian leaders who granted Snowden exile. The interaction between German and Russian leaders prior to and during World War II had a trust issue. The pact between Germany and Russia in 1939 was an attempt to keep the battle focused on one front for the Nazis. For Russian leader, Josef Stalin, the pact was a way to delay Russian force deployment in the event of world war. The Nazi invasion of Russia in June 1941 violated the trust Josef Stalin placed in the pact signed with Adolph Hitler. This misplaced trust blurred the vision of the Russian leader when advised of the Nazi presence on the western Russian border. Russia had many resources Hitler wanted bad enough to break the treaty with Stalin. The experience between Germany and Russia during World War II illustrate how important trust becomes between countries, leaders, and people. Tom Cohen, “Top Senator: Obama didn’t know of U.S. spying on German’s leader,” CNN, October 29, 2013, http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/28/politics/white-house-stopped-wiretaps/ (accessed 10-30-2013).

Andrew Broadbent, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences Introduction: Timpanogos is the second highest peak in Utah County, and has the highest visitation in the state, despite having no stand-out features such as being the highest or most technical. Over the years Mt. Timpanogos has been valuable go-to wilderness area for recreating Utahns. It also has developed a unique sense of place in the way that famous locations like Yosemite and Yellowstone have. Now Timpanogos has exceptionally high visitation and trail use relative to other recreation areas in the US. One purpose of this research is to explain what makes this peak special to visitors and what can be done to improve the visitor experience in areas such as littering, trail cutting, and overcrowding.

Jay Winters, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Science The common stereotype of feminism has a negative connotation implying that feminist’s are simply radical women’s rights activists. The reality is that feminism is hard to define given its complexity and the range of issues it encompasses. A scale was developed in 1994 called the Attitudes Toward Feminism and the Women’s Movement (FWM), which sought to predict attitudes toward feminism (Fassinger, 1994). Many social psychologists see it as an effective way of predicting attitudes despite its age or lack of an emotional component. Our Assessment of Feminist Attitudes (AFA) scale was developed to include an emotional response component as well as provide a contemporary view of the ever-changing feminist movement. Our study is in the process of being assessed for statistically significant data. The effectiveness of the AFA in measuring feminist attitudes will be known in the coming weeks.

Madeleine Ary, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences In 2010 I conducted research in the city of Cambridge England on the relationship between the Muslims of Cambridge and the police of the same city. I conducted this research primarily through single interviews and data analysis from the United Kingdom in general and England specifically. From this research I discovered that the relationship between these two groups was maintained by frequent, mutual contact and trust. England at the time was experiencing a summer of rioting, much of which revolved around Islam. This may have increased the difficulty in such a faith group, authority relationship, however their efforts to maintain a positive relationship only intensified and there was little to no real disruption within the Cambridge Muslim community. My research demonstrates how such relationships can be effectively conducted even in otherwise tumultuous circumstances.

Clinton Hardy, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences Coercive treatment practices, while controversial, are commonly employed (by mental health professionals and parents) when admitting adolescents into outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH; e.g., outdoor/wilderness therapy) and residential-based treatment settings. While coercive practices have been investigated in various adult treatment contexts, to my knowledge no study has examined coercive practices or pressures among adolescent treatments. As the first of its kind, my report investigates the relationship between adolescent-perceived coercive treatment pressures (i.e., negative pressures) and their affective reactions reported when entering OBH treatment. Negative pressures, or the perceptions of “threat” and “force” during admissions, are measured via the Negative Pressures Subscale (NPS) of the MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (AES). Affective reactions to entering treatment are measured via the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form (PANAS-X). Although this study is still taking place, my interim analysis (N = 36, age range: 14-17) has so far demonstrated the following predicted relationships between negative pressures and affective reactions in OBH treatment admissions: An adolescent’s increased perception of negative pressures significantly correlates with (a) increased affective distress (r = .377, p = .037), (b) decreased affective positivity (r = -.61, p < .001), and (c) increased affective hostility (r = .464, p = .003). Therefore, significant medium to large correlational effect sizes are reasoned to be imminent. In recognizing that negative pressures might not only relate to an aversive admissions experience, but also negatively impact or delay positive treatment outcomes, future research is concluded to be essential.

Daniel Cardoza, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences This paper aims to offer an introductory platform to the correlation between Russian fatalistic tendencies and conversion to Protestantism. It argues that fatalism is a central aspect of the Russian collective conscious, something that is fundamentally at odds with the Protestant temperament as outlined by Max Weber in his book, The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism. What happens when a Russian converts to a Protestant religion? This paper specifically focuses on conversion to one religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Analysis of data gathered through ethnographic interviewing and participant observation shows that a correlation might exist between belief in LDS doctrines and a reduction of fatalistic tendencies. This paper serves an introductory basis for future research on this topic. As such, the paper also presents recommendations for further research.

Ryan Hill, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences We analyze the presence of two types of framing bias in ballot wordings that affect election outcomes: status quo bias and agent-external loss aversion. Both of these biases are studied extensively in behavioral economics and likely have salient impacts on initiative or proposition measures in state elections. Status quo bias is the tendency of a voter to be more likely to maintain a currently enacted policy rather than passing a new law. Agent-external loss aversion is the tendency for a voter to be more likely to grant a right to a minority population rather than vote to restrict a right. Both of these biases have had important impacts on the outcome of recent ballot initiatives especially on California Proposition 8 that failed to legalize the right of marriage for same-sex couples. We test the salience of these framing biases by conducting a nationwide survey experiment that randomly assigns different ballot wordings for the same policies across different survey respondents. The survey mimics a real voting situation and the randomization of questions ensures that we can identify the specific effect of each bias on the voting outcome. We analyze the treatment effects using difference of means and ordinary least squares analysis. We also extend our analysis to examine whether moderating variables such as political knowledge or opinion have an impact on the magnitude or direction of the bias effects.

Peter Busche, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences An undergraduate study on young people in the Channel Islands (near England and France. Such questions will be addressed, such as: What makes growing up in a tiny Island community unique? How does leaving the Island for the outside world affect the young peoples’ transition into adulthood? This project consists of a descriptive outline based on 2 months of ethnographic research, as part of a 10,000 word senior thesis. Current anthropological and psychological theories are part of the overall construction of the data.

Joshua Smith, Utah Valley University Social and Behavioral Sciences The current veteran populations that comprise Level 1 (18-24 years old) and Level 2 (25-34 years old) have had higher unemployment rates than their counterparts in the civilian population. One reason for this discrepancy is that veterans have put their lives on hold to make a commitment of public service by serving in the military. When they return home, many struggle to adjust from life in the military to civilian life. One issue includes finding employment in their areas of expertise without having a degree from a higher education institution. Many employers that are seeking veterans for their military experience prefer them to have a college degree in addition to their specialized training. Veterans are encouraged once they leave service to find a college major that best matches the skills and experience they gain while serving in the military. However, many veterans do not understand the full education benefits they receive from the government, what college majors best match their skillset, and what kind of benefits they can get from earning a college degree. Veterans have a lot to offer to both the college environment and workforce with their advanced technical and personal skills. This research paper will help determine if veterans do understand their educational benefits, if they have or will use their educational benefits, if they know what degrees could apply to their military training, and what the Veterans Administration and higher education institutions can do to better serve veterans to succeed for a life after the military with a college degree.

Ashley Jolin, University of Utah Social and Behavioral Sciences This paper analyzes the essentiality of creating a just European Union banking union between member states of the eurozone, in response to the European debt crisis. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty established strict financial criteria for member states to follow, ensuring a strong economic environment to support the new currency union. However, numerous member states did not abide by these limits, and countries with weaker economic stability such as Greece and Ireland began to accumulate huge public deficits. As a response to this debt crisis, in June 2012 the key institutions and leaders of the EU proposed working towards a genuine Economic and Monetary Union, a banking union serving as the keystone of this project. I argue it is imperative that this banking union is designed to be successful at dissolving the current economic crisis and anticipating future problems, as the existence of the eurozone is contingent upon it.

Mason Bennett, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences In the natural environment, rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) acquire social dominance rank through matrilineal family (mothers’) inheritance. It is unknown as to how high ranking matrilines initially become high in social dominance. Serotonin (5HT) has been linked to social dominance rank. Central Nervous System 5HT is modulated by both the serotonin transporter (5HTT) and MAO and both have been linked to social dominance rank. MAOa and the 5HTT are the two main variables controlling central serotonin. To assess the effects of genetic and temperamental variables on matrilineal rank and potentially the effects of rank on behavior and temperament, we examined: the serotonin transporter genotype and MAOa genotypes. Because low or unstable social dominance rank is stressful, leading to chronic hypercortisolemia we also measured stress-induced cortisol levels. Lastly we examined infant temperament ratings taken from a Bio-Behavioral Assessment (BBA) pioneered by John Capitanio. This test is performed over a 24 hour period when infants are 6 months of age, and includes a bio-behavioral battery of tests designed to measure temperament. Dominance was measured by wins/losses during head-to-head competition between all possible pairs in a group. Subjects included 2300 rhesus macaques raised at the California National Primate Research Center between the years of 2001-2012. Results showed that matrilines high in social dominance exhibited a significantly high rate of both the long allele of the serotonin transporter genotype, and for males a high frequency of MAOa allele 6. As infants, subjects from matrilines low in social dominance rank exhibited high cortisol, hypervigilance, low activity ratings, and high emotionality. This study is the first of its kind to suggest that the acquisition of dominance by a matriline is modulated by genetic influences and that it is likely that the serotonin system plays a role in this process.

Bryson Pope, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Purpose of the Project:

Jason Lefrandt, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Dominant behaviors frequently occur in both human and non-human primates. In the non-human primate world, high and low dominance rankings are rated through interactions recorded within the group, specifically, aggressive and submissive behaviors. Dominance within Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) also tends to be governed by a matrilineal effect: meaning that if two monkeys are in the same family, than both monkeys will show similar rankings within the group. This current study looks into how genotypic variables correlate with overall behavioral expression in dominance. Utilizing archived dominance and genetic data from the National Institute of Health including serotonin, MAO-A, and rearing, we analyzed the correlations with social dominance rankings of rhesus macaques. In order to control for matrilineal effects within established groups, all subjects were placed in smaller, newly formed social groups. This was done in order to facilitate great analyses of genetic influences on dominant behavior. Our original hypothesis was that macaques with long homozygote serotonin for the long allele; were mother-reared; and have the MAO-A gene will have high social dominant rankings. On the contrary, our preliminary findings have shown that subjects who were reared by mothers who were not genetically their own tend to show more dominant related behaviors, and are subsequently rated much higher than those subjects who were mother-reared or peer-reared.

Chantelle Fitting, Brigham Young University Social and Behavioral Sciences Rebelliousness is often the product of an effort to express individualism and is an outlet for uniqueness (Imhoff & Erb, 2009); however, it can have very detrimental consequences. When a person strives to not conform to his or her family’s beliefs and values, familial relationships become strained, and the potential arises for the family to be torn apart. This nonconformity manifests itself through the beliefs a person has and the actions they take that are markedly different from those chosen by family members. The Nonconformist Assessment Scale (NCAS) is a ten question survey that is used to measure an individual’s inclination to rebel against his or her family unit. With the NCAS, we seek to discover indications of early rebelliousness, which are manifested through a person’s deviation from the family in areas such as weekly activities and personal interests. By detecting the seeds of nonconformity that arise in early life within the family, family therapists can intervene before more severe rebelliousness such as illegal activity, abandonment of core family values, or other dangerous behaviors emerge. Cronbach’s Alpha of the NCAS was found to be .7195, giving the test acceptable reliability. The Pearson bivariate correlation indicated that every item except item nine correlated positively with at least seven other items. The items loaded onto a single factor, and the variance explained by this factor was .7019. Thus the NCAS is a good indicator of nonconformity to familial values. However, the domains of actions and beliefs were not discernible as the items loaded only onto a single factor, so further research could be conducted that includes items where these domains are more easily separated from each other.