Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2022, Psychology-Counseling

The current study examined the relationships among internalization of both sexual and foreigner objectification experiences directed toward Latinas as result of their gendered ethnicity and Latinas' fear of sexual victimization. Moreover, the study explored how stigma consciousness may influence the relationship between objectification experiences and internalization of gendered ethnicism. Data was collected from 315 Latinas across the United States. The results indicated that experiences of sexual and foreigner objectification have a significant relationship with fear of sexual victimization. It didn't matter how much or how little one has internalized negative messages about being Latina, it did not impact the relationship between objectification experiences and fear of sexual victimization. Instead, stigma consciousness was found to explain the relationship through which sexual and foreigner objectification experiences leads to higher levels of fear of sexual victimization. Overall, the findings highlight the need for further research regarding the impact of both sexual and foreigner objectification experiences and stigma consciousness on Latinas psychological functioning. The study includes implications for clinical interventions and directions for future research.

Committee: Suzette Speight (Advisor); Dawn Johnson (Committee Member); Delila Owens (Committee Member); John Queener (Committee Chair); Ingrid Weigold (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Psychology; Womens Studies

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2019, Psychology

Many mainstream organizations celebrate and emphasize their history, even though their histories often marginalized women, racial minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Drawing from the “cues hypothesis” (Murphy et al., 2007), we suggest that when organizations emphasize their histories, they provide a cue of social identity threat (i.e. the concern that one may be devalued because of their group membership) for members of historically marginalized groups. Specifically, we hypothesized that emphasizing an organization's history would undermine trust, belonging, and intentions to participate in the organization among Black participants. Four experiments and an internal meta-analysis supported these predictions. Across studies, Black participants who were exposed to an organization that emphasized history showed reduced trust, belonging, and intentions to participate in the organization relative to those who viewed a control organization. Furthermore, consistent with social identity threat theory, these effects were stronger among individuals who reported higher levels of stigma consciousness (Pinel, 1999). Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated these basic effects. In Study 3, we examined whether membership in a marginalized group would moderate the effects; we found no evidence that emphasizing history triggered social identity threat among White participants, who have not been historically marginalized in mainstream US organizations. Study 4 examined how the content of an organization's history would shape the effects. This study found that the effects of emphasizing history were mitigated when the organization's history was diverse and inclusive. Taken together, these findings suggest that emphasizing organizational history (even when that history is not overtly racist, but merely manifests society's racism) is a ubiquitous, yet underappreciated source of social identity threat among marginalized groups. These findings have implications for broadening participation (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Steven Spencer PhD (Advisor); Fujita Kentaro PhD (Committee Member); Crocker Jennifer PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Psychology

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

Gay men experience, internalize, and expect more stigma than do their lesbian and bisexual men/women peers (Herek, 2009; Balsam & Mohr, 2007). Subsequently, it is important to investigate gay men's beliefs about themselves, such as the stereotypical assumption of gay men's inability to have or maintain romantic relationships (Meyer & Dean, 1998; Peplau, 1991). Using a combination of the minority stress model (specifically, experienced discrimination, stigma consciousness, internalized heterosexism and self-concealment) and self-efficacy theory, two path models were constructed to explore this association with the novel relationship constructs of relationship self-efficacy and optimism. The investigation improved past research by the measurement of the minority stress variables, the use of a sample of only gay men, and the use of social media data collection. To test these models, 522 participants were collected. Although both models were outright rejected, three surprising findings emerged. First, the self-efficacy mediation model was supported after a slight alteration to include a direct path from internalized heterosexism to relationship optimism. Secondly, a positive path emerged from experiences of discrimination to relationship self-efficacy. Thirdly, support was found for using an exploratory feminist model which included experiences of discrimination as antecedents to proximal stress processes of minority stress. The findings are discussed in terms of contributions to and future directions for the minority stress model and the inclusion of feminist theory in the exploration of gay men's concerns regarding relationships. Limitations, future directions, and contributions to the field of Counseling Psychology are discussed.

Committee: Linda Subich Dr. (Advisor); Suzette Speight Dr. (Committee Member); Dawn Johnson Dr. (Committee Member); Kuldhir Bhati Dr. (Committee Member); Robert Schwartz Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Counseling Psychology; Gender; Glbt Studies; Personal Relationships