Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2024, Psychology

There is long-standing evidence that acquired capability and emotion regulation are key to understanding the progression from self-harm to suicide (Law et al., 2015; Turton et al., 2021; Van Orden et al., 2010). However, recent literature suggests that emotion dysregulation alone is not a sufficient explanation for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality. Research has demonstrated that emotion-regulation self-efficacy (ERSE), or the belief in one's ability to regulate one's emotions (e.g., Gratz et al., 2020), is a factor in predicting the pathway between NSSI and suicidal behavior (Gratz et al., 2020). The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between emotion reactivity, ERSE, NSSI, acquired capability, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Participants were asked to complete a screener and those who endorsed self-harm history were eligible to complete the follow-up questionnaire (N = 174). Findings indicated that ERSE is lower among people with history of NSSI and either suicidal ideation or suicide attempt history, as compared to those with only a history of NSSI. In addition, ERSE is negatively associated with emotion reactivity such that those with greater emotion reactivity have lower ERSE. ERSE predicted suicidal risk over and above emotion reactivity, acquired capability, and number of NSSI methods. Last, ERSE for positive affect predicted suicidal risk over and above emotion reactivity and acquired capability, such that those with lower ERSE have higher suicidal risk. Implications of these findings point to ERSE as a predictor for suicidal risk.

Committee: Nicholas Salsman Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Chair); Morrie Mullins Ph.D. (Committee Member); Anne Fuller Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Psychology

This dissertation investigates the neural representation of complex social information by employing multivariate methods such as functional connectivity classification analyses and intersubject representational similarity analyses (IS-RSA). The present research examines the functional network associated with social interactions as well as the association between neural similarity and individual differences in emotional reactivity and empathy. Study 1 utilizes multivariate pattern analyses (MVPA) to classify different categories of social interactions based on connectivity patterns between brain regions involved in social perception. Study 2 uses IS-RSA to investigate how individual differences in emotional reactivity modulates the neural representation of different social interactions. Study 3 explores how idiosyncrasies in behavioral measures of empathy are associated with neural synchrony during the observation of naturalistic social scenes depicting specific characters and various types of interactions. Study 1 demonstrates that contextual categorical information about social interactions is better classified by a network of regions rather than within a single region of interest. Studies 2 and 3 suggest that idiosyncrasies in trait-like attributes such as empathy or emotional reactivity reflects differences in neural representation of complex social information. This research contributes to our understanding of how social information is processed in the brain and sheds light on the impact of individual differences on social perception.

Committee: Dylan Wagner (Advisor); Baldwin Way (Committee Member); Steven Spencer (Committee Member) Subjects: Neurosciences; Psychology; Social Psychology

Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, 2021, College of Sciences and Health Professions

Emotional reactivity has been commonly studied through the discrete emotion approach model (DEA) that categorizes emotions as singular unique experiences (sadness, fear, disgust, anger, etc.). Reactivity to a discrete emotion is related to the contextual relevance of the emotional elicitor, and thus, may result in variable reactivity profiles across different age groups. While prior research has typically associated older age with sadness and younger age with anger, there may be contextual subtypes within these discrete categories that are more or less relevant to either age group. Characteristics of older age are associated with themes of loss (death, diminished physical ability, etc.); therefore, we predicted older adults would be equally or more reactive to loss-based sadness compared to younger adults. In contrast, we predicted younger adults would have greater reactivity to failure-based sadness, as younger adulthood is associated with themes of resource competition. As prior research has found older adults to be less reactive to interpersonal conflict compared to younger adults, we predicted younger adults would be more reactive to frustration-based anger. Lastly, we predicted older adults would be more reactive to violation-based anger, as older adults may be more embedded in their moral values compared to younger adults. In this study, 49 younger adults (Mage = 20.00, SD = 2.26) and 51 older adults (Mage = 66.00, SD = 4.94) were asked to relive and verbally describe an emotional memory associated with subtypes of anger and sadness. Emotional reactivity was recorded through self-reported ratings on distinct emotion categories. Results revealed a significant age difference in emotional reactivity to violation-based anger. No other significant age differences were found. The findings from this study suggest that aging and emotional reactivity may be determined by contextual relevance within discrete emotions. Future research could potentially investigate emoti (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Eric Allard PhD (Committee Chair); Conor McLennan PhD (Committee Member); Katherine Judge PhD (Committee Member); Jennifer Stanley PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Cognitive Psychology; Experimental Psychology; Gerontology; Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2018, Psychology

This study explored the role of social perspective-taking in accounting for the relationship that has been found between self-distancing and benefits such as lower emotional reactivity. Studies have shown that self-distancing can help people come to terms with emotionally upsetting experiences. We used both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the processes that account for this relationship. 352 undergraduates reflected on a recent interpersonal conflict that still aroused strong emotions. Those who reflected on the conflict from a psychologically distanced perspective reported less intense feelings. Regression analyses indicated that social perspective-taking (e.g., reflecting on the conflict from the viewpoint of the other person) substantially mediated the relationship between self-distancing and lower emotional reactivity. A content analysis found that most of respondents' open-ended reflections on the conflict were scorable in terms of categories of social perspective-taking. Greater insight into the processes by which self-distancing promotes lower emotional reactivity and other benefits can enhance the effectiveness of cognitive interventions in therapeutic and educational contexts.

Committee: John Gibbs (Advisor); Stephen Petrill (Committee Member); Susan Johnson (Committee Member) Subjects: Developmental Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

Bowen (1966) created Family Systems Theory as a way to expand the comprehension of human behavior by using individual and familial factors. One concept nested within this theory is Differentiation of Self (DoS). DoS is a universal and multifaceted concept that pertains to one's ability to use thoughts as opposed to emotions (intrapersonal DoS), and the interplay between individuality and togetherness (interpersonal DoS; Kerr & Bowen, 1988). Current instruments that measure DoS, such as the Differentiation of Self Inventory (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998) place individuality and togetherness on the same continuum, which has limited the understanding of DoS. Bowen (1966) hypothesized that one's level of differentiation is directly correlated with one's anxiety (Skowron & Friedlander, 1988), and could contribute to the presentation of symptoms, such as an alcohol use disorder (Bowen, 1974). However, the current understanding of Bowen's (1966) concept of DoS is limited, in that individuality and togetherness are treated as if they are on the same continuum, where individuality is a more desirable than togetherness. The belief that DoS is on one continuum removed the ability to study the positive aspects of togetherness. To further the research of DoS, an instrument, called the Differentiation of Self Quadrant Inventory (DSQI) was created that separated healthy and unhealthy individuality and togetherness, creating four subscales. The DSQI was piloted and tested for reliability, convergent validity, predictive validity, and discriminant validity. From these analyses, an instrument was created that was significantly related with another measure of DoS, and successfully predicted alcohol use and consequences associated with alcohol use. These findings not only supported Bowen's (1974) theory that low DoS is significantly related to alcohol use, but expanded the understanding of DoS by including healthy togetherness.

Committee: Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor); Keeley Pratt (Committee Member); Xin Feng (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2013, Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy

ABSTRACT The purpose of the Study is to examine emotional reactivity of Nigeria couples in US in line with the concept of differentiation of self. This is very important because some Nigerian families’ emotional reactivity in the U.S. had caused numerous divorces and separations, as well as physical, emotional, and mental abuse of spouses and children. The main research question the researcher sets out to answer in the study is (a) what role does emotional reactivity play in the marital stability within the family system of Nigerian immigrants in the U.S.? The following sub-questions helped to answer the main research question. (i) What are the difficulties and consequent stressors? (ii) What is perceived as different from life in Nigeria? (iii) What is the nature of change and adaption to life in the U.S? (iv)What is the impact on marriage and family? Five Nigerian couples who are struggling to hold on to their marital union were used for the Study. A phenomenological research approach was used to understand the effects of their emotional reactivity on the stability of their marriages. This approach emphasizes the meaning participants derive from their life experience and validates their individual and social construction of reality Through the analysis of the couples’ interview the following themes emerged (a) Role Reversal/Adaptation (b) Financial stress (c) Lack of support network (d) Experience of Discrimination in places of work. The study also made the following findings that a good understanding of the Bowen differentiation of self (togetherness and individualism) will help Nigerian couples to master their emotional reactions in the face of stressful daily life in the US. Suggestions for future study in the area of the study and researcher’s personal recommendation were discussed

Committee: Karin Jordan Dr. (Advisor); Suzanne MacDonald Dr. (Committee Member); Rebecca Boyle Dr. (Committee Member); Cynthia Reynolds Dr. (Committee Member); John Queener Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education, Cleveland State University, 2012, College of Education and Human Services

Youth who have been victims of crime or are exposed to community violence are at high risk for developing conduct problems. However, not all youth who have been exposed to violence develop behavioral problems. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between resiliency factors such as sense of mastery, relatedness, emotional reactivity, relatedness to parents, friends, and teachers, and conduct problems in youth who have been exposed to violence in a general population of high school students. The independent variables are measured using the Children's Report of Exposure to Violence, the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents, and the Hemmingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness. The Youth Self Report was utilized to measure the dependent variables in this study. A canonical correlation was used to analyze the data. The full canonical model was significant and accounted for 37% of the variance between canonical composites with two canonical roots emerging. The first root accounted for 79% of the overall variance between the canonical composites. Youth who have high exposure to violence and a high level of emotional reativity and a low connection to parents and teachers reported more aggressive behavior and rule breaking behavior. The second canonical root accounted for 21% of the overall variance between canonical composites. Youth who reported having a sense of connectedness to others also reported low emotional reactivity and aggressive behaviors but to a lesser extent.

Committee: Donna Schultheiss PhD (Committee Chair); Graham Stead PhD (Committee Member); Elizabeth Welfel PhD (Committee Member); Dilani Perera-Diltz PhD (Committee Member); Constance Hollinger PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Psychology; Criminology; Families and Family Life; Mental Health; Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2008, Psychology/Experimental

Maternal care in rodents is a strong determinate of lifelong stress responsiveness and emotional regulation. The goal of the present study was to observe natural fluctuations of maternal care in rodents and to examine the effects of this variation in care on early affective and behavioral states of offspring. Rodent maternal care was observed for 8 days after birth. Using mean levels of arched back nursing and maternal licking and grooming (MLG) dams were categorized into high, medium, and low MLG mothers. Behavioral tests were then completed to examine levels of social motivation between the different MLG conditions. For isolation distress testing, each pup was isolated at postnatal day (PND) 10 for 2 minutes during which isolation ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were recorded. Next, on PND 15, place preference and USVs were measured involving a maternally paired odor. A third test was conducted to examine trends of juvenile play behavior, play suppression, and play USVs during 9 alternating days beginning on PND 24. After the completion of behavioral testing, thyroid hormone analysis (total T3 and T4) was conducted. Results showed an increase in vocalizations and maternal attachment during isolation in the high MLG animals, possibly indicating a greater ability to elicit maternal behaviors by high MLG pups during infancy. In contrast, animals experiencing low MLG displayed reduced preference for maternal cues and low levels of isolation calls. The two extreme levels of MLG diverged during play as well, with high MLG showing less response to isolation and a quicker recovery to baseline levels of play after the introduction of a predator odor. In contrast, low MLG animals showed higher levels of play following isolation and greater suppression after the presentation of the predator odor. Thyroid hormone analysis revealed a significant deficit of T4 in low MLG animals when compared to medium and high MLG animals. This decrease was still apparent in T3 analysis; howev (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Howard Casey Cromwell PhD (Advisor); Lee Meserve PhD (Committee Member); Dara Musher-Eizenman PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behaviorial Sciences; Psychology