Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2013, Counseling Psychology

The current study explored the theoretical underpinnings of the Relationship Attachment Model, an alternative model to understanding closeness in relationships, using deductive qualitative analysis (DQA; Gilgun, 2010). Qualitative data from married couples was used to explore whether the five bonding dynamics (i.e. know, trust, rely, commit, and sex), proposed by the RAM, existed in their marital relationships. Additionally, this study examined whether the RAM could explain fluctuations in closeness and distance in the couple’s marriage and how married couples described and talked about love in their relationship. The findings of this research indicated that the five bonding dynamics put forth by the RAM did exist in marital relationships of these couples and that the complicated dynamics that occur in marital relationships could be captured on the RAM. This research supported findings from past research on close relationships and added to the literature by proposing another model to understanding and conceptualizing close relationship dynamics. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of implications for therapists who work with couples and relationship researchers.

Committee: John Quener Dr. (Advisor); Susan Hardin Dr. (Committee Member); David Tokar Dr. (Committee Member); Ingrid Weigold Dr. (Committee Member); Francis Broadway Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Education; Counseling Psychology; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Social Research

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2019, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

This qualitative study explores therapist views of the therapeutic relationship in adolescent residential treatment from an attachment perspective. The therapeutic relationship is a strong predictor of outcomes in adult psychotherapy and a significant body of research has relied on the attachment literature to understand its importance. Research yields comparable results when examining the significance of the therapeutic relationship with children and adolescents; however, there is virtually no literature exploring it from the attachment lens. This is particularly notable for children and adolescents in residential treatment. As treatment intensity increases from outpatient to inpatient to residential, challenges and opportunities within the therapeutic relationship increase, too: therapists form uniquely intense and intimate connections with children and adolescents they may see every day. This study employed constructivist grounded theory data analysis of semi-structured interviews with residential therapists exploring their views of the role of attachment in the therapeutic relationship with their adolescent clients. Key findings include role differences in therapists in adolescent residential treatment; the importance of affect management, attunement, and self-awareness within the therapeutic relationship in adolescent residential treatment; the healing nature of relationship, connection, and feelings of safety with adolescents in residential treatment; and the concept of attachment as fundamental in adolescent residential treatment. Implications for practice and training, limitations, and suggestions for future inquiry are also discussed.

Committee: Martha Straus PhD (Committee Chair); Gina Pasquale PsyD (Committee Member); Cara Bonuso PsyD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2015, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

The current study assessed and integrated theories for Unwanted Pursuit Behaviors (UPBs), including real-life UPBs (e.g., following, showing up in places unexpectedly), and cyber UPBs (e.g., sending threatening text messages, monitoring a person's Facebook account). Theories tested included: attachment theory, the investment model theory, relational goal pursuit theory, and coercive control theory, and included variables such as self-control and emotion regulation difficulties which are postulated to underlie these theories. Whereas models predicting individual forms of cyber and real-life stalking showed different correlates of each form, results of an integrated model demonstrated that, whereas the coercive control model best predicts threatening forms of real-life and cyber UPBs, relational goal pursuit variables, and indirectly, investment model variables, best predict real-life and cyber unwanted contact/checking UPBs. Whereas the predictors varied by type (unwanted contact compared to threatening UPBs), the predictors for each modality of UPB (real-life or cyber) were similar. This pattern suggests that threatening UPBs are motivated by anger and desire for power/control, whereas unwanted contact/checking UPBs are motivated by desperate desires to maintain or reclaim loving relationships. Longitudinal research is needed to replicate the integrated model with consideration of temporal sequence; however, the current results emphasize the need for intervention in dating violence to prevent threatening UPBs when violent relationships are terminated. In addition, greater attention should be given to individuals who are the recipient of break-ups, because even if they do not engage in threatening post-break-up behaviors, those who engage in excessive and unwanted contact as a result of commitment and rumination about former partners are engaging in behaviors that are likely not in line with their desired goal (i.e., of reuniting with their former partners), and like (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Christine Gidycz PhD (Advisor); Julie Suhr PhD (Committee Member); Timothy Anderson PhD (Committee Member); Brian Wymbs PhD (Committee Member); Thomas Vander Ven PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2012, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

The purpose of the study was to advance the understanding of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) by examining the overlap of Adult Attachment Theory and Bowen Family Systems Theory in a clinical sample of couples. This study utilized dyadic data analyses to examine how attachment styles and differentiation levels, measured in this study as separateness scores and connectedness scores, overlap in couples and then how a history of violence affected the relationship between attachment styles and differentiation levels. Few significant results were found, possibly due to the small sample for dyadic data analysis. This study found that while the majority of both male and female participants identified with the secure attachment style, high proportions of male participants ascribed to the dismissing attachment style, while high proportions of female participants ascribed to the fearful attachment style. Furthermore, participants who ascribed to the dismissing or fearful attachment styles were most commonly paired with a partner who ascribed to the secure attachment style. Results of separateness and connectedness showed that the means for separateness scores were lower than the means for connectedness scores, regardless of gender. Partial support for the hypothesize were found, which are discussed. A history of violence also had a substantial association with feelings of closeness and distance in a relationship, in that the scores for almost every variable and every relationship varied with the presence of a history of physical violence as compared to the absence of a history of physical violence. Significant main effects were found for violence on female separateness, male separateness, and female connectedness, as well as significant interaction effects of violence and female attachment. Furthermore, separateness was consistently higher and connectedness was consistently lower when violence was reported than when it was not reported. Clinical implications, limitations, and (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Suzanne Bartle-Haring PhD (Advisor); Amy Bonomi PhD (Committee Member); Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Mental Health

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

The definition of a word helps us understand its context and how it is meant to be used in daily life or research. When a word lacks a universal definition, it is hard to know how to use it. “Resilience” is that type of word. The resilience community in psychological research does not have a concrete, universal definition for this word. It takes on whatever characteristics are useful to the investigator. This study began with seeking a universal definition for the domain known as resilience. This study used a convergent parallel design with adults aged 60 and older living independently to seek out their personal definitions of resilience, then employed a well validated measure—the Conner-Davidson-25 (CD-RISC-25)—to test this population's resiliency and how they felt the measure addressed to domain of resilience. The findings of the study demonstrated that resilience is a complex and nuanced domain and a broad scope, making it challenging to develop a universal definition.

Committee: William Heusler PsyD (Committee Chair); Douglas Kerr PhD (Committee Member); Michael Sakuma PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Personality Psychology; Psychobiology; Psychological Tests; Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2023, Communication

Parasocial romantic relationships (PSRRs) are conceptualized as PSRs that involve physical attraction, a sense of emotional closeness, and feelings of being in love or having a crush on a persona. These relationships have been shown to be particularly impactful among adolescents. However, few studies to date have examined the breadth of relational needs fulfilled by these one-sided romantic relationships. Using attachment theory and a need fulfillment perspective, this study aims to address the current gap. This study identified several types of relational needs individuals have during adolescence. Additionally, PSRs were reportedly used to fulfill some of these needs during adolescence. Attachment style was also shown to impact both the relational needs one has during adolescence as well as which of these needs are fulfilled by PSRs.

Committee: Emily Moyer-Guse (Committee Member); Jesse Fox (Advisor) Subjects: Communication; Developmental Psychology; Mass Communications; Mass Media

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2021, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

Research on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) provides an opportunity to study the ways in which early childhood relational experiences might influence an individual over a lifetime. It is not yet clear, however, whether results from different coding systems for the AAI are equally useful. The first purpose of this study was to compare attachment classification distributions obtained from coding AAIs with the Berkeley and Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) coding systems. The second purpose was to explore whether AAI classifications derived from the Berkeley or DMM system were more strongly associated with mother and mother-child dyad outcome variables. Participants were a subset of 45 women from the national Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project (EHSREP), 1996-2010 sample, and archival data from that research project was used for this study. AAI transcripts were classified using both the Berkeley and DMM coding methods. Attachment classification distributions from the two systems were evaluated for associations with (a) each other and (b) outcome variables. (A) A significant association was found between the attachment security or insecurity distributions resulting from the Berkeley and DMM coding systems. No other significant associations were found for distribution comparisons made (e.g., presence of unresolved trauma and/or loss or the combination of both dismissing and preoccupied attachment). (B) Significant associations were found between the Berkeley three-category "forced" attachment classification distribution and Maternal Depression, the Berkeley four-category main attachment classification distribution and Maternal Parenting Distress, and the Berkeley presence or absence of a combination of dismissing and preoccupied attachment distribution and Regular Bedtime Routine. No other associations between Berkeley or DMM attachment distributions and outcome variables were significant. Limitations to this study were noted and further research recomme (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Michael Sakuma (Committee Chair); Christopher Heffner (Committee Member); Susan Spieker (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Comparative; Developmental Psychology; Personal Relationships; Psychological Tests; Psychology

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2021, Antioch New England: Marriage and Family Therapy

Utilizing an arts-based feminist autoethnographic stance and method, this dissertation is an evocative exploration of the process and experience of attempting to develop a cohesive identity and build a secure attachment to the self. The author uses countercultural methods—prioritizing and centralizing her experience and uncovering and acting in defiance of oppressive norms—to identify and experience their impact on her identity and intra- and inter- personal relationships. Various tensions are explored, including the suppression of self and desire, self-objectification, fearful-avoidant attachment, and shame; and their influence on engaging in emotional and sexual intimacy is examined. Critique on the role of female socialization—especially caretaking and objectification—and research on undermining women's power, identity, and self-advocacy are presented. The effects of culture, feminism, monogamy, and ethical non-monogamy on the experience of a middle-aged woman is highlighted. The use and experience of creativity, nature, shamanic practices, interpersonal experimentation, and autoethnography in accepting and moving through fear is also presented. Implications and tools to develop a more empowered and cohesive identity, attachment to the self, exploring intimacy, and conscious relationships; and guidance on overcoming self-objectification, dysfunctional relationship patterns, projection, and denial are included for therapists as well as individuals and their partners, family, and friends.

Committee: Denzel Jones PhD (Advisor); Kevin Lyness PhD (Committee Member); Dana Riger PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Counseling Psychology; Families and Family Life; Gender Studies; Individual and Family Studies; Personal Relationships; Psychotherapy; Social Psychology; Spirituality; Therapy; Womens Studies

Master of Fine Arts, Miami University, 2021, Art

Thousands of children are adopted both domestically and internationally every year. Many of these children come from institutional or foster care and suffer from complex trauma, abuse and neglect, which negatively affect their transition and attachment with their adoptive families (Van Der Kolk, 2005). If left untreated, these effects can last into adulthood, impairing a person's ability to form secure relationships throughout their lives (White, 2014). The purpose of this research is to explore the use of virtual play—especially play therapy—to help adopted children in Pennsylvania work through these past traumas so they can form healthy attachments with their adoptive families. As a result, treating complex trauma in these children requires treatment that addresses the whole child: 1) safety, 2) relationships and 3) self-regulation and management (Purvis, 2013). Up until this point, most interventions are behavioral-based and revolve around the caregiver and family, such as attachment parenting and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training (Chobhthaigh, 2019). However, few studies focus on adopted children and their use of play, and no studies have been published that revolve around the use of virtual play to treat adopted children with trauma.

Committee: Zack Tucker (Advisor); Dennis Cheatham (Committee Member); Doris Bergen (Committee Member); Anne Roma (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive Therapy; Counseling Psychology; Design; Developmental Psychology; Early Childhood Education; Educational Psychology; Educational Technology; Elementary Education; Families and Family Life; Individual and Family Studies; Information Technology; Instructional Design; Mental Health; Neurosciences; Pedagogy; Preschool Education; Psychology; Social Psychology; Social Work; Special Education; Technology; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

Although researchers have examined the role of attachment representations in family relationships, there has been a historical systematic devaluation of the contributions of fathers to the family system through the persistent tendency to leave fathers out of research. Given that fathers today are more involved in parenting than ever before, family scientists and attachment researchers are missing out on a complete understanding of the inner workings of families when they do not include fathers in their studies. Despite some progress in including fathers in studies assessing self-reported romantic attachment and narrative coherence of mind regarding formative attachment experiences, the Attachment Script Assessment (ASA), a newer measure of attachment, still suffers from a mothers-only bias with less than 20% of existing ASA narratives coming from fathers. The ASA assesses secure base script knowledge—or one's cognitive model for how to interact with close attachment partners in a supportive and helpful way—in both parent–child and romantic partner contexts, placing it in a unique position among assessments. In this dissertation, I aim to fill this gap through the examination of secure base script knowledge in both fathers and mothers through the use of the 7.5-year wave of the New Parents Project dataset, a longitudinal study of different-sex couples who experienced the transition to parenthood in 2008-2009. In Chapter 1, I begin by situating the ASA in the context of the larger field of attachment. In Chapter 2, I examine sex differences as well as demographic and verbal intelligence factors which may predict mothers' and fathers' performance on the ASA; additionally, an exploratory analysis is conducted examining links between self-reported romantic attachment and secure base script knowledge. Results indicated that differences between mothers' and fathers' secure base script knowledge are nuanced; fathers tend to score lower than mothers, but do not differ from m (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan (Advisor); Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor); Claire Kamp Dush (Committee Member); Theodore Waters (Committee Member) Subjects: Developmental Psychology; Families and Family Life

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2019, Counseling Psychology

Bowlby (1982) postulated that the attachment hierarchy, or the rank-order of attachment figures used to fulfill attachment needs, was vital for adaptation from “the cradle to the grave” (p. 208). Subsequent empirical literature suggested the presence of predictable developmental trends in the size (number of attachment figures) and types of attachment figures (i.e., sibling, friend) included in the attachment hierarchy across the lifespan. Investigations of the presence of shifts across the lifespan in preferences for different attachment figures has been accomplished through the identification of the primary attachment figure. Studies commonly identified the primary attachment figure by calculating a mean composite score. Copious research suggests that both the size of the attachment hierarchy and the primary attachment figure correlate with emotional well-being in younger adulthood. However, less attention has been paid to the relationships between the attachment hierarchy and cognitive aspects of well-being (i.e., life satisfaction). The current study focused on four attachment figure types (i.e., family, peers, romantic partners, and “other”), and expanded upon attachment theory research by investigating the relationships between age, the size of the attachment hierarchy, the primary attachment figure, and life satisfaction between the young-old (ages 65-74) and mid-old (ages 75-84). Support was found for a relationship between the size of the attachment hierarchy and life satisfaction in the young-old. The primary attachment figure was not found to relate with the size of the attachment hierarchy or levels of life satisfaction. Results indicated that the distributions of the primary attachment figure did not change from the young-old to the mid-old.

Committee: Charles Waehler Ph.D. (Advisor); Stanley Jennifer Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sterns Harvey Ph.D. (Committee Member); Weigold Ingrid Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sangganjanavanich Varunee Faii Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2019, Psychology-Adult Development and Aging

Older adults often report better well-being than young adults, despite physical and cognitive declines that accompany aging. This paradox may be explained by older adults' better emotion regulation abilities and social support. Together, Selection, Optimization, and Compensation with Emotion Regulation Theory and Interdependence Theory offer a potential mechanism for how older adults are able to maintain emotion regulation success and suggest older adults might be more likely to shift their emotion regulation strategies to rely on and help manage the emotions of a romantic partner by using interpersonal emotion regulation strategies. However, extant emotion regulation research has mainly focused on individual regulation strategies even though the majority of situations requiring regulation involve a close social partner. The main goal of the present study was to understand what personal and social characteristics influence the use of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) in general and throughout an interaction. Data were collected using an online survey and an in-person, videotaped session. Emotion regulation preferences, frequency of emotion regulation use, relationship quality, and interpersonal skills were assessed. Researchers coded and participants self-identified their IER strategy use by viewing their videotaped interaction with their partner. Young adults, compared to middle-aged and older adults, preferred all emotion regulation strategies and those with better interpersonal skills and longer relationship durations, on average, used interpersonal strategies more frequently on a weekly basis. Participants expressed negative affect and withdrawal, and females expressed conflict as cues for intrinsic IER. Participants expressed positive affect, problem solving, support/validation, effective communication, and physical touch of the female partner as extrinsic IER. Couples interdependently helped each other regulate their emotions; specifically, older couples (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jennifer Stanley PhD (Advisor); Toni Bisconti PhD (Committee Member); Eric Allard PhD (Committee Member); Ingrid Weigold PhD (Committee Member); Shannon Zentall PhD (Committee Member); Christiane Hoppman PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2019, Social Welfare

Empirical research about the acceptability and feasibility of animal-assisted interventions with therapy dogs is an emergent field. The dental environment provides a controlled environment to test a strengths-based intervention for the benefit of children's health. The empirical research herein is first grounded in attachment theory. Theoretical and empirical literature predominantly reference attachment theory as the framework to understand the association between internalized emotions and externalized negative behaviors, and AAIs. However, empirical publications tend to lack thorough definition and application of attachment theory. As such, this work seeks to redefine the theoretical foundation with a full discussion of history, mechanisms, and theory of change. The first phase of this study summarizes the findings of an exploratory survey conducted in the dental clinic to understand if therapy dogs would be desired by dental professionals and families. The second phase culminated with a pilot study to explore the feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry. As a complete research project, this study achieved four independent yet inter-related purposes: first, the underlying social welfare issue of the dental caries childhood epidemic is discussed throughout the chapters; second, the prevalence of anticipatory anxiety and situational fear (AA&SF) as an expressed emotion to perceived negative stimuli is discussed as a barrier to preventative health and wellness. Though explored in the dental clinic, AA&SF is experienced in multiple environments, thus the research herein may be generalizable to other situations. Third, the integration of AAI in social work practice is addressed as an opportunity for social welfare research and practice. And fourth, the empirical study utilized a newly refined biomarker measure for salivary oxytocin and assessed change over time. The use of a biomarker measure provides quantitative rigor to the predominantly qualit (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kathleeen Farkas PhD (Committee Chair); Masahiro Heima DDS, PhD (Committee Member); David Hussey PhD (Committee Member); David Crampton PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Dentistry; Social Research; Social Work; Veterinary Services

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2017, Arts and Sciences: Psychology

African American women are disproportionately affected by HIV/STI. Extant literature suggests that attachment style may be associated with risky sexual behavior. Working model-self (WMS) and working model-other (WMO) are attachment-related constructs that reflect beliefs about oneself in relationships, and beliefs about others with whom one relates to or interacts with. The present study examined the associations between WMS, WMO and sexual risk behaviors: (a) proportion of condom use for vaginal and anal sex during past 3 months, (b) number of sexual partners in lifetime and during the past 3 months, (c) having a casual sexual partner during the past 3 months, and (d) using alcohol before having sex during the past 3 months. Potential partial mediators of the relationship between WMS, WMO and sexual risk behaviors were also assessed, including: (a) partner communication self-efficacy, (b) fear of condom negotiation, (c) peer norms for risky sexual behavior, (d) partner trust, and (e) sex-related alcohol expectancies. Structural equation modeling analyses assessed a model of the Theory of Gender and Power (TGP) with the added attachment construct to explain risky sexual behaviors among African American women. A total of 560 participants completed the baseline assessment for an HIV prevention intervention trial and were randomized to study conditions. The current study includes only the baseline data obtain from these 560 participants (M age= 20.58, SD = 1.89). Participants self-reported sociodemographics, sexual history, alcohol use, communication skills, and psychosocial constructs associated with STI/HIV-preventive behaviors via an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) survey. Results indicated that WMS (but not WMO) was associated with number of lifetime and recent (during the past 3 months) sexual partners; however, WMS was not associated with having a recent causal sexual partner, proportion condom use, or consuming alcohol prior to sexual encounters. (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jennifer Brown Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Kristen Jastrowski Mano Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sarah Whitton Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, 2014, College of Sciences and Health Professions

The relationship between attachment style and dissociation was examined in this study. A total of 36 undergraduate students were administered self-report questionnaires that revealed their attachment style, and then underwent two tasks (dot-staring and mirror-staring) to evoke acute dissociative symptoms. In a repeated-measures design, it was found that individuals with insecure attachment experienced a significant increase in dissociation following both of the tasks than did those who were securely attached. Additionally, this increase was significantly greater for those participants who reported higher everyday dissociation.

Committee: Stephen Slane PhD (Advisor); Michael Wisniewski PhD (Committee Member); Richard Rakos Phd (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Personal Relationships; Psychology

BA, Kent State University, 2013, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of English

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, mothers, including the absent ones, play huge roles in their children's upbringing. Child-mother attachment in infancy helps the child develop strong relationships later in life, while losing the mother before the age of one can destroy a child's potential to form connections with others.

Committee: Vera Camden Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Literature

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2008, Mechanical Engineering

The essential function of a mechanical assembly is the removal of degrees of freedom (DOF) and transfer of load between two bodies. Assemblies using integral attachments are composed of unilateral mating surfaces, where quality is greatly affected by the location and orientation of assembly features. Feature-level design is concerned with the dimension, stress, and strain of individual assembly features. This dissertation is concerned with attachment-level design, where design decisions are made on the type, location, and orientation of assembly features. Previous research in theoretical kinematics, robotic grasping, and fixture design have produced either a binary test for form closure or design optimization for a specific loading condition. There is currently no tool available to: (1) analyze an assembly's quality with a quantitative metric and (2) optimize the design of the assembly constraint configuration (location and orientation of features) to resist motion effectively. Therefore, the objective of this dissertation is to develop an analysis and design tool to address these needs. The analysis tool models the assembly features as wrench systems. The point, pin, line, and plane constraints in assembly are modeled with equivalent first, second, and third order wrench systems. The methodology used is based on composing a five-system pivot wrench combination to which a screw motion is reciprocal. The resistance effectiveness of each constraint to these motions is calculated as the ratio of the reaction forces at each resisting constraint to the input wrench magnitude. Based on these individual resistance values, a set of rating metrics is calculated to evaluate an assembly's quality from different perspectives. A design tool based on this analysis methodology is developed to optimize assembly design by constraint modification, constraint reduction, and constraint addition. A set of case studies is used to verify commonly known design principles, explore the desi (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Anthony Luscher Ph.D. (Advisor); James Schmiedeler Ph.D. (Advisor); Gary Kinzel Ph.D. (Committee Member); Krishnaswamy Srinivasan Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Mechanical Engineering

PHD, Kent State University, 2012, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Ambassador Crawford / Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Gift exchange is a mechanism by which relationships are created, maintained, and managed. However, research reveals that the gifts givers prefer to give often differ from the gifts recipients prefer to receive, and relies on error in the givers' gift choice to explain giver-recipient gift preference asymmetry. This dissertation adopts an attachment theory perspective of gift exchange to examine givers and recipients' gift exchange preferences. Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969/1973/1980) explains how individuals' working models of self and other influence their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors toward relationships. As gift exchange strengthens, confirms, or distances relationship intimacy, the work in dissertation demonstrates that individuals are predisposed toward certain gift preferences in order to influence relationship intimacy in accord with their attachment style. Generally, recipient- and relationship-focused gifts confirm or strengthen relationships, while giver-focused gifts weaken them (Kleine et al., 1995; Ruth et al., 1999). Therefore, this dissertation asserts that attachment style affects the identity-congruence levels givers and recipients prefer in gifts. Based on data from 151 friendship dyads, study 1 uses the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to investigate how givers' and recipients' attachment styles dyadically affect the levels of identity-congruence preferred in gifts given and received. Study 2 provides a practical investigation into how marketers can influence gift givers' selection of a brand as a gift. Using data collected from 491 participants, study 2 demonstrates how matching an advertising message to an individual's attachment style facilitates persuasion. This dissertation seeks to contribute to theory and practice in several ways. This work establishes the attachment theory perspective of gift exchange as a relationship-level phenomenon and explains how attachment styles dyadically affect preference for gifts expressing d (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert Jewell PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Jennifer Wiggins Johnson PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Kristin Mickelson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Marketing

PHD, Kent State University, 2011, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

The present study investigated of the role of trauma characteristics in Terror Management Theory (TMT) in a sample of 257 undergraduate students. Specifically, I aimed to investigate whether traumatic writing in individuals who had experienced a trauma would induce worldview defense similarly to a traditional Mortality Salience (MS) design in both traumatized and non-traumatized individuals. Further, research has suggested that worldview defense may be mitigated by secure attachment. Thus, as a secondary analysis, I investigated whether or not attachment-related avoidance and anxiety dimensions moderated worldview defense for both traumatized and non-traumatized individuals. Results indicated that rates of defense were low overall, yet unique trauma characteristics and symptoms were predictive of defense of benevolence and meaningfulness. Analyses investigating the moderating role of attachment demonstrated that for those who had experienced trauma, after controlling for time 1 scores, higher levels of attachment related avoidance predicted lower post-induction self-worth. Higher levels of attachment related anxiety were associated overall with decreased time 2 levels of benevolence and self-worth. Results taken together suggest that trauma and specific characteristics of trauma may be more important than type of induction in predicting differences in worldview and worldview defense. The connection between trauma, TMT, and worldview is complex, and is an important area of future research.

Committee: Jeffrey Ciesla PhD (Committee Chair); Douglas Delahanty PhD (Committee Co-Chair); John Updegraff PhD (Committee Member); Gregory Smith PhD (Committee Member); Richard Adams PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

MA, Kent State University, 2008, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

Laura Betzig, a sociobiologist, stated quite matter-of-factly: people are animals. Humans (and other nonhuman animals) are evolved social organisms that must successfully transmit their genes to future generations at the expense of similarly reproducing conspecifics. Individuals contribute genes to the next generation by the production of direct offspring or by helping kin who also carry those same genes. All of this competition occurs within a complex network of socially interacting kin and nonkin. Attachment systems and ranked hierarchies are critical components of the social network. The purpose of this thesis is to review hypotheses put forward by human sociobiologists interested in the functional significance (and adaptive design) of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. This very brief introduction hopefully shows the benefits of using an adaptationist model to better understand human behavior.

Committee: Mary Ann Raghanti PhD (Advisor); Richard Meindl PhD (Committee Member); Olaf Prufer PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behaviorial Sciences; Physical Anthropology