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MANSFIELD, Mass. – Dominique Engle (Rutland, Mass.) and Trevor Hott (Idaho Falls, Idaho) were selected as nominees for the Northeast-10 Conference Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Thursday.
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April 9, 2015 Vivian Fitzgerald graduated in May, 2014 from Saint Anselm College with a major in Psychology. She is originally from Chicago, and transferred as a junior from Stonehill College where she played volleyball. Her sophomore year she spoke to the volleyball coach here at Saint A’s, got recruited and fell in love with the campus which led to her decision to transfer. Vivian liked the sense of community and social awareness on campus, she commented that, “Saint A’s graduates aren’t just trying to make money, they are trying to make a difference.” Because of these experiences at Saint A’s, Vivian decided to work for a year post graduation for AmeriCorps Vista (volunteer service in the United States). Through AmeriCorps, she works for Campus Compact, a small nonprofit organization in New Hampshire. Their focus is to promote college awareness to high school students of low economic status. Viv was placed to work for the service and solidarity program through campus ministry at Saint Anselm, organizing service trips in the US and internationally. In her time at Saint A’s, Vivian was also a participant in these trips. Her senior research project, which was conducted in the Psych Department, focused on Examining Female Involvement in Sport Effect on Communication. She worked with Prof. Brady to replicate a study that looked at nonverbal communication styles in a lab setting. She recreated this in the psychology department observation room using the NOLDUS program to code behavior of athletes and non athletes. Vivian’s hypothesis was that female athletes have more male nonverbal communication tendencies than female non athletes. There were four main nonverbal characteristics she coded for including talking duration, fillers used in conversation, upper body movement, and lower body movement. Her hypothesis was supported and found an increase in all of the male nonverbal characteristics in the female athletes versus female non athletes. Vivian presented her research at the New England Psychological Association and won eighth place overall for her poster out of over one hundred other students. One of Vivian’s contributions to the Saint Anselm community is bringing the Special Olympics to Saint A’s because of her experiences volunteering at the Stonehill College Special Olympics. The next step for Vivian is to pursue a career in occupational therapy.
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We would first like to thank Dr. Gilbert M. Foley, EdD for joining us on campus alongside many accomplished professionals in the field! As students, it is always great to see our facilities such as the NHIOP being used openly by the community whilst also allowing students to gain a broader knowledge of study from outside the College’s affiliates. For those of us interested in childhood psychology, trauma, and attachment, this program was a great supplement to our studies. This presentation was very enriching because of the amount of detail and background given to support the main objective that infants, toddlers, and children have specific and important attachment needs. Not only was evidence of this idea provided by brain scans of children whom had experienced neglect, but also in the philosophical formation of the self. The early formation of the self plays a role in the “Brain-Self Connection” in that a lack of ego identification can be detected in many (though not one specific) locus of the brain. Ego and early sense of self can only be developed properly within a secure and stimulating attachment environment, further promoting the importance of early childhood and parental interventions. Alongside this concept, it is clear that children in particular need secure attachment through relationships, affection, sensation, and language in order to relate to the rest of the world through their sense of self. As students in this field, what should we be focusing on as we approach our professional research and fieldwork? Dr. Foley suggests that attachment interventions should incorporate affectionate touch, mutual gaze (reflective functioning), and certain vocal-rhythm combinations. A special focus should be put on responsive and secure caregiving while also being mindful of age-appropriate sensory input. As students, these lessons were very helpful and enriching, and we are very thankful for Dr. Gilbert Foley for representing his important work here on campus!
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April 23, 2015 Thanks to a connection Professor Brady made while on her Fulbright in Cyprus a few years ago, I have had the opportunity to work as an intern with Dr. Eva Kimonis while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Kimonis is a professor at the University of New South Wales—a “Uni” located about 20 minutes outside downtown Sydney, where I live—and has been working on jumpstarting a study on Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). It is with this year-long research project that I am having the pleasure of helping with for the time that I am here. This project is concerned with children aged from two to eight years with difficult behaviors and how the parent-child relationship can be improved to remedy these behaviors. If eligible for the experiment, the child and at least one of their caregivers work with the team for a number of weeks (based on the needs of the particular family) going through a variety of different testing situations.
After completing the eligibility screening, the child and caregiver(s) are invited to one of the Karitane parenting clinics based on the age of the child (ages two to five are in the toddler clinic, and ages six to eight are in the child clinic) for preliminary assessment. Families are then invited to the UNSW lab where the actual PCIT can begin and take place. Caregivers are trained to encourage positive behaviors from the child via reflection, behavior descriptions, and labeled/unlabeled praise while avoiding negative talk, commands, and questions in both the Parent Directed Interactions (PDI) as well as the Child Directed Interactions (CDI). All behaviors are coded and assessed throughout the experiment to quantify progress made by psychologists viewing behind a one-way mirror and by reviewing the tape recordings. My involvement with this experiment is twofold. One day per week, I go to the UNSW lab to conduct screening interviews with parents/caregivers and to go through the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS) for the tape recordings. Screening interviews are conducted over the phone to ensure that the child’s age, behavioral difficulties, and treatment history (the child ca
nnot be currently receiving psychological treatment in order to participate) are alight with this study. I then use the DPICS to code videos of PCITs that have already been conducted for the behaviors of interest. Once a week on a different day, I also work at the Karitane Toddler Clinic in Carramar, NSW, located about an hour outside of the city. Here, I am able to administer tests such as the Dynamic Faces Emotion Recognition Task, Theory of Mind: False Belief Task, the Denver Developmental Screening Test, and a few others in order to assess empathy, cognitive ability, and the developmental level of the child. For someone who aspires to someday be a clinician and potentially run similar experiments on my own, this internship has already taught me so much of value. Not only that, I also believe that there is no better way to learn about the culture of a new country than to work with local families and professionals. Again, I’m thankful for this opportunity - professors at Saint Anselm are always thinking of how they can support their student's interests beyond the classroom. Dr. Kimonis’ recent work: Kimonis, E. R., Bagner, D. M., Linares, D., Blake, C. A., & Rodriguez, G. (2014). Parent training outcomes among young children with callous–unemotional conduct problems with or at risk for developmental delay. Journal of child and family studies, 23(2), 437-448. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3913175/pdf/nihms-509125.pdf
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Welcome to the start of a new academic year! Last week, faculty in the Psychology Department met with incoming freshman during orientation (pictured below). We look forward to getting to know all of the incoming freshman, new majors, minors, and transfers in our classes and around the department. As we begin a new year, we would like to make you aware of some of the activities and opportunities within the department. Are you interested in learning more about the field of Psychology and getting involved beyond the classroom? Here are some great opportunities: Use your Work Study hours in the Psychology Department: Work study students who would like to work in the Psychology Department should contact the Chair of the Department, Professor Ossoff for more information. Get Involved with Psi Chi: Psi Chi is the National Honors Society for Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. You can find more information regarding eligibility and how to join on the Psychology Department website. Work on Research with a Faculty Member: Click on the “Meet the Faculty” link above to learn more about the various research interests of the faculty in the department. Join the Psychology Student Club: The Psychology club seeks to advance the science of psychology and to encourage, motivate, and maintain scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology. The organization works to encourage interaction among students and faculty through both academic and social endeavors. Contact the President, Elizabeth Gallagher ’16, for more information or to join. Apply to be a Psychology Student Ambassadors: Professor Brady recently sent out a call for applications for the Psychology Student Ambassador Program, which is a program designed to create opportunities for student involvement in departmental efforts to educate, evaluate, and communicate our scientific discipline with a variety of audiences and methods. Check your email inbox for more information regarding the program, application and eligibility. Applications are due on Friday, September 11th at 9am (email applications to lbrady@anselm.edu). Lastly, keep your eye out for an email about a “beginning of the year” meeting for all Psychology Majors and Minors and subscribe to this Psychology Department Blog to stay updated on activities and events within the department. Best wishes for a great semester!
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Last week, we sat down with Evan Rushton, '16 to discuss the research he has been working on with Psychology Professor Adam Wenzel. Evan presented his research at the New England Psychological Association (NEPA) Annual Meeting at Fitchburg State University on October 10th. 1. Could you briefly describe your research? We used a within-subjects design measuring for taste threshold and intensity. Before and after, subjects were given two taste modifiers, Miracle fruit, which turns sour tastes sweet, and Gymnema Sylvestre tea which suppressed sweet taste entirely. 2. What is your year of graduation and majors/minors? I am a senior psychology major with a minor in human relations and work. 3. How did you get involved with this research? Which professor are you working with?
In relation to this research, Professor Wenzel and I collaborated. At the end of the spring semester sophomore year, an email went out about a summer research position related to the INBRE grant. INBRE (i.e., Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) is a program that funds research opportunities for undergraduate students to work on biomedical research. I talked to Professor Wenzel about doing something with taste because whenever I would talk to him after class he would always mention something from the class I took with him, Sensation and Perception, such as the miracle fruit. I thought that it was pretty interesting so I was glad to get on board with the project. 4. What is the most valuable tool you have gained from being involved in research? I think the most important thing gained from being involved in research is experience. Since I am looking to go into graduate school, it is helpful to have experience especially if you are looking to go into a research-oriented field. Also, it gave me the independence and ability to organize a research project. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t know how to go through the Institutional Review Board application and many other research procedures.
5. What advice would you give to incoming freshman about getting involved in research?
I would tell the freshman to definitely try to get a research position. Get as involved as early as possible with the department and develop a relationship with professors. Eventually you are going to need their help, and they are very helpful to say the least.
6. What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I would very much like to go into grad school, or get a job right out of college. I am interested in organizational psychology. If I go to grad school, I am interested in pursing a doctorate.
7. How do you think this experience will benefit your future goals?
In relation to the research that I did, even though it is not directly relatable to Industrial Organizational psychology, it gave me valuable tools in order to understand the research process.
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Tucked behind a heavy, white door in the Psychology Department at Saint Anselm College is a maze of hallways. Entering the first door, one is bombarded by the clanging sounds of machinery and the squeaking of rats which echo off the walls. Enthusiastic students dart in and out of small rooms, gloved hands gripping syringes and bottles of carefully measured solutions. Here, these students, along with Psychology professor Dr. Joseph Troisi, are using rats as test subjects in a series of experimental research related to drug addiction. Students’ eyes light up when asked about the time they are spending working in the lab. Patrick Conley, a senior Psychology major, says he is particularly interested in using his major for animal research. “Reading an article on this kind of thing is boring, but doing it in person is wicked cool. I think it’s awesome that we have this accessibility to the rats here.” Olivia Koporek, also a senior Psychology major, agrees with Patrick. She says, “Without Dr. Troisi's passion for the research and the Saint Anselm Psychology Department's generation of resources, I find it hard to believe I would have this opportunity at any other college. Many friends I've spoken to who attend other schools, large and small, are not aware of any similar opportunities.” The rats experience counterbalanced, varied states of consciousness - neutral or under the influence of caffeine or nicotine. Under each condition, the rats undergo a form of operant conditioning in which they are reinforced with food pellets by pressing their nose to a lever in their chamber. The twist is this: some “nose touches” are rewarded by food; others are not. Professor Troisi explains that “for some animals, the drug state is used to indicate that their behavior in the operant chambers will be reinforced. For those same animals, the non-drug state is used to indicate that responding won’t be reinforced.” Rats are also tested on days where there are no pellet rewards under either condition. On these test days, a high
er response - a larger number of “nose touches” - is found in rats who experienced the drug condition which was rewarded with a food pellet in the past. A lower response - a smaller number of “nose touches” - is found in rats who experienced the drug condition with no reward in the past. Because the rats experience reward - and lack thereof - in both the drug condition and the non-drug condition, their tendency to “nose touch” for a reward is related to whether they received a reward in the past rather than directly related to how the drug makes them feel. In this way, the tendency toward behavior due to the drug state alone and the tendency toward behavior due to experiencing reward are separated - the drug and the environment become two different factors entirely.
As Professor Troisi notes, “Environmental cues interact with interoceptive cues to regulate behavior - it’s not one or the other. When a person engages in a behavior for taking a drug, they’ve learned a relationship between the emotional state that occurred before it, the behavior that occurred under that state and the reinforcing effect of the drug.” More simply put, focusing solely on extinguishing the behavior of taking the drug is insufficient. What Professor Troisi and his team of students have come to believe is necessary is “extinguishing the behavior in the presence of those cues, but also in the presence of other environmental and internal cues that have no relationship with the drug.” At the same time, it is important to create new habits and behaviors which provide alternative types of reinforcement - rather than drug effects - when those environmental and internal cues are present.
This multitude of valuable, innovative research has incredible translational importance in the arena of drug addiction and related psychological therapy. It is an unfortunate but true fact that drug addiction, in numerous forms, is a continuing problem in our country - even particularly in the city of Manchester. Noelle Michaud, a junior Psychology major, is a newer member to the student team of researchers. She says, poignantly, “A vast majority of people have experience with family or friends being affected by addiction. It is something that will always be relevant because addiction will always exist. This research is a huge contribution to better understand both the psychological and biological processes that come into play for those with an addiction- with the ultimate hope to form effective solutions to extinguish them.” As psychologists, the goal is to examine every element of the issue and target areas to focus on for decreasing its prevalence; this is exactly what Professor Troisi and his team of students have attempted to accomplish in their research. “It’s not just the environment, it’s not just the emotional state, it’s both,” he says. That means working with patients over long periods of time, in multiple contexts, in lots of different situations, and that’s probably the best way to treat drug addiction rather than to treat it just with drug replacement therapy. That’s why we’re studying it.”
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Congratulations to the newest members of Psi Chi, the National Honors Society in Psychology. These members were inducted during a ceremony last week in recognition of their academic distinction in the field of psychology. Psi Chi was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Please join us in congratulating them! Front row, left to right: Victoria Roach, Alex Williamson (Vice President), Mackenzie Wild (President), Kelly Hopler, Briana Goddard, Ashley Robichaud, Olivia Thornburg, Abigail Mark, and Elizabeth Gallagher Back row, left to right: Meredith Whitney (Secretary/Treasurer), Kayla Lanagan, Mercedes Thayer, and Dominique Lesieur. Maddison Pirner not pictured because she is currently studying abroad.
