Psychology and Social Science.

Chair: Ann Marie Kinnell, University of Southern Mississippi

Vice-chair: Pamela Banks, Jackson State University 

FRIDAY MORNING

Petit Bois

8:45 Divisional Poster Session 

THE SEEKING OF NOETIC GOALS TEST: A PSYCHOMETRIC REVIEW AND DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

Joseph L. Benedict*, Walter S. Benjamin*, Natalie L. Cathcart*, John T. Herzog*, Jason R. Payne*, Elizabeth D. Kolivas, and Stefan E. Schulenberg, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

The Seeking of Noetic Goals test (SONG) was originally developed by Dr. James C. Crumbaugh in the 1970s. The SONG is a 20-item attitude measure with a multiple response format developed to assess a person's motivation to find life purpose. Higher scores are interpreted to mean that the person has more motivation to discover life purpose. Although higher scores on the SONG have been associated with negative psychological states such as anxiety and depression, Hutzell (1987) cautioned that the SONG's primary use should be for research purposes, primarily due to concerns about the SONG's validity in clinical populations. Hutzell observed that the SONG may be useful in empirical studies of the association between motivation to find life purpose and other variables. These studies have not been systematically conducted. The emphasis of this psychometric investigation is that additional research as to the SONG's reliability and validity needs to be conducted with increasingly diverse populations before the measure's true utility is realized. References: Hutzell, R. R. (1987). Seeking of Noetic Goals test. In D.J. Keyser and R.C. Sweetland (Eds.), Test critiques: Volume VI (pp. 486490). Kansas City, MO: Test Corporation of America.

TEMPORAL LIMITS IN ASYNCHRONY PERCEPTION

Angelique Horace (1)*, Brianna Conrey (2), and David Pisoni (2), (1) Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, and (2) Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405

One way to study how our senses normally combine information from the auditory and visual senses is to explore the limits of how separate auditory and visual sources of information are combined in perception. Measuring participants' performance in discriminating between whether an audio-visual stimulus is synchronous or not is one way to assess these limits. The aim of this study was to determine whether the duration of the non-speech stimulus has an effect on whether it is perceived asynchronous or synchronous. Earlier research on asynchrony detection using an asynchrony detection task identified a window of time when asynchronous information was deemed synchronous (Conrey and Pisoni, 2003). For the present study a similar asynchrony detection task was employed. The task consisted of 25 levels of asynchrony on four different conditions. The four conditions in this study were a full-face visual stimulus and three non-speech conditions: 33 ms in length, 100 ms in length, and 500 ms in length. Behavioral data was obtained on the level of asynchrony the participants judged to be synchronous. The present study yielded a similar window of time of synchrony detection on asynchronous stimulus to the Conrey-Pisoni study. Analysis of this window included using repeated a measures ANOVA and paired t-test to examine the Mean Point of Synchrony, High Threshold of the Curve, and Low Threshold of the Curve. Results of this study indicated that there was no significant difference in the ability to detect asynchrony due to the length of the non-speech stimulus.

ROLE (BENEFIT) OF SPOUSAL INVOLVEMENT IN RECRUITMENT FOR CLINICAL TRIALS

Bern'Nadette Knight* and Gail D. Hughes, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216

Cancer is one of the leading health problems facing men today, especially African-American males. Decreased participation in cancer screenings, clinical trials, and prospective cohort studies by African-American males is of great concern. Little is known in the literature of the role/benefit spousal involvement has on recruitment and retention in clinical trials. Focus groups were used to elucidate barriers to participation and retention among African-American males in clinical trials. Six focus groups were conducted among African-American males diagnosed with prostate cancer and four among their spouses/partners between ages 50-78. Female spouses/partners' opinions were sought to explore their impact on decision making processes of men to seek screening, medical attention, and participation in clinical trials. Spouses/partners can serve as advocates for male recruitment into clinical trials and should be involved throughout the entire medical process--screening, treatment, and clinical trial. Involving spouses/partners initially in the medical process encourages successful recruitment of males into clinical trials. Findings suggest that female spouses/partners can effectively be used as advocates to increase participation of males. Resource materials explaining the purpose and significance of clinical trials must be presented to both male and female partners in a culturally appropriate manner. Researchers and health-care professionals must acknowledge and incorporate female spouses/partners as a crucial component of the recruitment and retention process in clinical trials. This will increase patient education, information dissemination, and participation/retention of African-American males in clinical trials.

PERCEPTIONS OF A DESIRABLE BODY FRAME: ANALYSIS USING SILHOUETTE DRAWINGS

Ayanna Shivers*, Mindy Ma, and Pamela Banks, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

The objective of this study is to explore the perceptions that African American women have about their body frame. Literature suggests that there are discrepancies of body frame among Caucasians. A Body Image Questionnaire was given to African American students at a Historically Black University in the southern part of the United States. This questionnaire included nine silhouette drawings (Forbes, Adm-Curtis, Rade, and Jaberg, 2001) of female figures ranging from 1 (thinnest frame) to 9 (largest frame). The participants were given the option to respond to any question with a rating between two figures (i.e., 5 1/2). Results indicated that women displayed high satisfaction with their own bodies by comparing their own reported silhouette to the silhouette they most would like to have (.693, p > 0.01) and the type that most women would like to have(.490, p > 0.01). The type that they believed most men would like was very accurate compared to the type men rated as most attractive (1.00, p > 0.01). Findings of this study further suggest that more studies on body image be conducted using minority populations.

ASPARTAME INCREASES FOOD INTAKE AND WEIGHT GAIN IN RATS

A. Kurt Thaw*, Valerie Lauro*, and Holly McNeal, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS 39210

Aspartame discussions have been common in the scientific and lay literature for over a decade. Opponents suggest various maladies caused by Aspartame, while supporters tout its useful applications. A significant point of contention concerns whether Aspartame is effective as a diet aid. The assumption that Aspartame leads to fewer calories consumed per day may be intuitive, but perhaps premature. The established physiological effect known as Early Cephalic Reflexes is a response to sensory stimuli that prepares the body for incoming nutrients. Insulin release is the primary effect. Aspartame consumption leads to Early Cephalic Reflexes without the delivery of sugars which may increase hunger. To test the hypothesis that Aspartame consumption leads to excess food intake 32 rats were divided into two groups of 16. Each group had ab libitum access to food from 1400 h to 0900 h each day. From 0900 to 1400 all food was removed and 50 ml of either sucrose (group 1) or aspartame (group 2) was made available. After 2 consecutive weeks the sweet solutions were reversed for the groups. Each rats' feeding behavior and bodyweight were recorded daily. Results indicate an increase in total calories, weight gain, and rate of food intake for the Aspartame group. When the groups were switched this trend switched as well. With this procedure significant increases in calories and weight gain occur with Aspartame consumption compared to sucrose intake.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE VOLUNTARY REGURGITATION IN CAPTIVE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATES)

Deirdre Yeater (1)*, Jennifer Davis (1), Peter Sugarman (1), Stan Kuczaj (1), and Moby Solangi (2), (1) University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS 39406, and (2) Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS 39502

Voluntary regurgitation is common among captive cetaceans, and is a potential health hazard for animals that participate in this activity. Regurgitation instances and the circumstances surrounding such instances were studied by observing two adult and two juvenile Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. These dolphins were housed in a pool at Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi. The dolphins' behaviors were observed in thirty minute blocks using an instantaneous scan sampling method in which the behavior of each dolphin was noted every two minutes. There were approximately eighteen hours of observations each week for 12 weeks. Regurgitations were categorized in terms of what was regurgitated, such as a whole fish, a partial fish, or a cloud of small particles and liquid. For each regurgitation event, it was also determined which dolphin regurgitated, whether another dolphin observed the regurgitation, the context in which the regurgitation occurred, and the outcome. The outcome concerned what happened to the regurgitated fish, which often included playing with the fish and re-eating it. Behaviors preceding and following regurgitation events were also examined to determine factors that influence voluntary regurgitation. The results suggest that dolphins practice voluntary regurgitation until they are able to produce a fish or piece of fish with minimal effort. The dolphins in this study appeared to regurgitate fish in order to play with the fish, and so voluntary regurgitation may be an example of dolphins enriching their own lives as best they can.

Special Session: Life during the 1700s on the Mississippi Gulf Coast--The Moran Studio (22HR511) Burials

9:00 NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE ON THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF COAST DURING THE PROTOHISTORIC PERIOD: AD 1550-1700

Jason A. Gardner, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

The protohistoric period in the Southeast, which began with the first European contact with Native Americans, was in many areas a time of substantial change for the aboriginal populations. The prehistoric period immediately preceding had witnessed the fluorescence of chiefdom-level societies in this area, but there was no evidence of this political complexity noted by the French upon their arrival to the Mississippi coast in 1699. Instead, they found small, dispersed tribal groups including the Biloxi, Pascagoulas, and Capinans. Prior to this contact, very little written evidence exists, so the archaeological record provides our only view of this dynamic period. The bioarchaeological evidence in many places, especially coastal areas such as the Mississippi coast, suggests that most people were relatively disease-free and had a healthy, balanced diet. Many of the ceramic motifs of this period are more abstract and highly stylized than previous periods. Also, there was a political breakdown of chiefdom-level societies into smaller, tribal groups. Reasons for the increased material abstraction and political turmoil remain unclear, though missionization efforts by the Spanish and internal political dynamics may have provided an impetus. What is more certain is that not all aboriginal populations succumbed to the diseases and trauma introduced by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. More significantly, many coastal groups were maintaining the successful subsistence and economic practices of their prehistoric ancestors, despite the chaos of European colonization. If these are indeed French colonists under Moran's Art Studio, then they not only would have encountered, but also interacted with the local Indian populations on a daily basis.

9:15 LIFE DURING THE 1700s ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST 

Edmond Boudreaux, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

The first European contact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast took place in 1697. That year, Pierre Le Boyne, Sieur d'Iberville, had orders to locate the mouth of the Mississippi River, build a post, and block other nations from claiming the Mississippi. In 1698, Iberville's expedition left La Rochelle, France and arrived at Ship Island on February 10, 1699. By 1719, concessions lined the shores of Biloxi. They cleared land, planted crops, built cabins, warehouses, and boats to transport them to land grants in the interior. The capital was transferred to Biloxi in 1720 and remained there until 1723 when it was moved to New Orleans. The period from 1720 to 1723 was extremely hard on the colonists. In 1721, 2500 people were listed at New Biloxi. This large number, plus the lack of knowledge of soil conditions, climate and constant shortage of provisions, created many hardships. These included plagues and virtual famine that forced many to eat plants and herbs which often caused death instead of bringing nourishment. Records indicate that many got sick and died after eating oysters they harvested by wading in the Mississippi Sound (hypothermia). The priests could not keep up with death records. In 1914 and 1969, human bones were discovered on property located east of Porter Avenue on the Beach. Twelve skeletons were ultimately found during archaeological excavation, and they appear most likely to belong the French colonists who occupied the site in the early 1700s.

9:30 COLONIAL FRENCH MORTUARY PRACTICES ON THE NORTH GULF COAST

Donald Craig, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

On October 22-24, 2003, eight 18th-century French burials were excavated beneath the Moran Art Studio in Biloxi, Mississippi. The burials were discovered during clean-up activities in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in 1969, and have been on display through an access panel in the floor since that time. The burials included six European males and two European females. The burials were laid out in a row from east to west. While typical European burials were laid out in rows, they were usually all in the same direction and facing east. Six of the skeletons had their heads to the south, and two of the skeletons had their heads to the north. All the burials were supine with their hands crossed over their pelvis. It has been reported that during earlier excavations of the burials in the 1980s that some of the bones had been removed and then reburied. The two skeletons with their heads to the north appeared to be disturbed, but the other six skeletons appeared to be undisturbed. These burials are compared with ethnographic descriptions of French Colonial burials, adding to the understanding of mortuary and religious practices of Europeans in the protohistoric Southeast.

9:45 A STUDY OF THE ANCESTRAL AFFINITY OF INDIVIDUALS FROM MORAN ART STUDIO IN BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

Krista Burleigh, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

During the clean up of Hurricane Camille, 12 burials were discovered in Biloxi, MS, under what is today Moran Art Studio. These burials were thought to represent both Native American and French individuals that died during a famine in the early 1720s. It was difficult to draw reliable interpretations because no artifacts were found with the burials; therefore, a study was undertaken to determine the racial affinity of the individuals. A set of craniometric measurements, including skull width, nasal breadth, and facial breadth, along with dental traits were observed and measured. Using a series of discriminate functions based on measurements from individuals of known ancestry, the measurements from the Biloxi burials were analyzed using the Giles and Elliot (1962) formulae. Various morphological features associated with race were also observed. All measurements were run through Fordisc 2.0, a forensic database developed by the University of Tennessee in 1994. The final analysis showed that the group was predominately European with two possible Native Americans present. These findings are discussed in light of the local history of the time.

10:00 ANCESTRY, ROBUSTICITY, AND STATURE: IDENTIFICATION THROUGH LONG BONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE MORAN BURIALS, BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

Cindy Carter, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

In October of 2003, the University of Southern Mississippi Department of Anthropology investigated a group of burials located under the Moran Art Studio (22HR511) in Biloxi, Mississippi. The burials were located after Hurricane Camille caused structural damage in the late 1960s and appear to belong to French colonists. This project analyzed the length and robusticity of the individuals. The long bones, most frequently the femur and humerus, were measured in situ using both an osteometer and sliding calipers. The data collected was subsequently calculated using FORDISC[TM] to identify the race and sex of the remains. At least two females were represented among the skeletons. Average height was 5'6" for males and 5'2" for females. Robusticity measurements indicate that that the subjects were in relatively good health at time of death. Comparisons with similar remains of Native Americans of the late prehistoric period show them to be very similar. Preliminary indications through relative dating suggest that the remains were those of French colonists linked to the original Biloxi settlement. All results are discussed in light of findings from other European populations of the same era.

10:15 Break

10:30 AN ANALYSIS OF TOOTHWEAR PATTERNS AND CARIES PRESENT ON TEETH OF BURIALS RECOVERD FROM MORAN ART STUDIO AND THE INDICATIONS OF DIET OF EARLY EUROPEAN COLONISTS

Stacey Young, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

In October students from the University of Southern Mississippi excavated a group of burials located beneath the floor of the Moran Art Studio in Biloxi. The burials were exposed after Hurricane Camille passed through the area in 1969. Preliminary investigations revealed approximately twelve burials were present. At this time, eight have been uncovered. Six skulls were brought back to the University of Southern Mississippi lab for further investigation. On site identification revealed that the remains likely belonged to Europeans, and from what is known about the history of the area it is likely they were those of French colonists. An analysis of the teeth of six skulls was conducted. The scoring methods of Scott (1974) and Smith (1976) were used to record toothwear patterns and caries. These are two indicators of health which can be used to determine quality of diet. When teeth are used for purposes besides chewing, or to grind gritty foods, heavy wear patterns are present. This pattern was common among populations consuming bony fish and shell. In Native American populations, teeth are often reduced to rims of enamel. In this sample, tooth wear looks to be generally light, which is consistent with the more processed diet of Europeans when compared to Native Americans. Caries are produced by the breakdown of tooth enamel by acids. Acidic foods were more commonly associated with agricultural diets and those of starchy foods. Caries and tooth loss was quite high, indicating a greater dependency on agricultural foods. The results were compared to other European and Native American populations and discussed in terms of diet.

10:45 AN EXAMINATION OF DIET AMONG THE COLONIAL FRENCH IN BILOXI USING ISOTOPE ANALYSIS 

Ashley Siedell, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

In October 2003, Anthropology students from the University of Southern Mississippi excavated eight human burials under Moran's Art Studio in Biloxi, Mississippi. Although some are covered with shellac, most of the burials are in fair condition. Data collected on site and analyzed using FORDISC[TM] determined the remains to be Caucasian. The remains are most likely French colonials from the 1700s. In order to examine the diet of the subjects, two samples of cortical bone were taken from the femora of an adult male and an adult female. The samples were then sent to the Beta Analytic, Inc. in Florida for isotope analysis. Carbon-13 measures the amount of C3 and C4 plants in the diet. C3 plants include most grasses such as wheat. C4 plants include tropical flora such as maize. Thus, we can discriminate between consumption of Old and New World foods in the diet. Nitrogen-15 is important in measuring sources of protein in the diet, especially according to placement in the trophic chain. Nitrogen-15 can also be used to discriminate between terrestrial and marine sources of protein. The results confirmed expectations that the population consumed many local foodstuffs, although maize consumption was less than that observed in Native Americans. A heavy dependence on marine resources was also determined. No differences in diet were found between the sexes. These findings will be compared with discussions of diet in the historical record.

Regular Session

11:00 DECOMPOSITION PATTERNS IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI DURING SUMMER

Dale Norton, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Processes regarding human decomposition are often indistinct and can lead to confusion concerning circumstances of death. This is especially true of fetal and infant remains since relatively little research has been done with individuals from this age group. In an effort to overcome this, an exploratory study was conducted using bush babies, a small African prosimian, as a model to identify critical aspects regarding decomposition during summer in the southeast U.S. Two bushbabies corpses, which died of natural causes were frozen and then thawed, removed of hair, and placed in wood frames covered with wire mesh. One box was covered with 1/4 inch wire mesh and the other with 1/2 inch wire mesh. The boxes were placed on the ground in a rural, wooded setting. A third bushbaby was placed about one foot underground within a wood-frame box with 1/4 inch wire mesh on the bottom. The corpses were observed for a series of variables, including insect activity, skin sloughing, and body temperature. Environmental conditions, such as ambient temperature and ground temperature, were recorded. Generally, the progression of decomposition followed that seen in human adults, although the insect activity was less intense. It was also found that the exposed corpses decomposed in about four weeks. These findings will be discussed in light of the local conditions, and implications for other environmental settings will be offered. The possible differences between the decomposition of bushbaby and human infant tissues will also be addressed.

11:15 COMPARISONS OF SCAVENGERS OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI IN A TAPHONOMIC SETTING

Patricia Miller, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

A forensic case recovered in the state of Mississippi exhibited extensive damage to the remains. The areas of the body missing included the arms below the elbow and the legs below the mid-thigh. Based on the extensive gnawing marks, it was determined that most of the damage to the remains was done postmortem by scavengers. Subsequently, the present study was then undertaken to determine what type of scavenger was responsible. Molds were made of tooth mark impressions left on the long bones. These were then compared with those of potential local scavengers, including rodents. An analysis using scanning electron microscopy suggests that dogs were the most likely perpetrators. Further work was undertaken, taking molds from bones gnawed by dogs of various sizes. Comparisons were made, and it was determined that the dog was large in size.

11:30 CAUSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF SHELLSHOCK IN RALPH ELLISON'S INVISIBLE MAN

Derrick Spires, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39174

Through Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison attempts to deconstruct common stereotypes concerning African American one-dimensionality, docility, and blindness through his narrator's developmental strivings. A key node in his struggle is his time spent in the Golden Day (GD), a brothel, gaming house, and weekly recreational retreat for a group of World War veterans housed in an asylum near his school. The GD is much more than a physical entity; it acts as an ideological location where power and social paradigms become upended and reconfigured. As a result of the GD phenomena he is able to eventually take up the vets' striving to break free of white American reality by transcending these binary oppositions underground. The question, however, remains--what causes the veterans to go insane? Was it shell shock from World War One, and if so, where did it come from and how was it diagnosed? Does their insanity stem from returning home to a racist society in which the honors and respect they earned in Europe becomes void? Or are these veterans not clinically sane, but socially insane, because they chose to pursue professions were supposedly off-limits for African Americans? As mental illness becomes more prevalent in the African American community it is important that we make the conceptual distinction between clinical insanity and socially projected insanity. Using the veterans in Invisible Man I intend to explore the differences between the two and test my findings on contemporary issues such as post-traumatic stress stemming from police brutality and racial profiling.

11:45 GENDER AND ONLINE GAMES

Ashley Craig, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Online games are growing and competitive new market of entertainment media that presents an interesting sociological dynamic in gender differences among players. The methods employed in this study included extensive online research on the topic of online games, and subject matter drawn from the researcher's own experience. The research indicates a significant gender gap in the reasons for playing online games, with female players preferring the cooperative communicative aspects of the game and male players preferring the competitive aspects of the game. There is also a large gender imbalance in the players, male players significantly outnumbering female players. The study explores some of the reasons why these differences might exist, and possible solutions in creating a more gender neutral virtual playing field. This paper contributes to the literature on gender by exploring the social conditions and behaviors of men and women in virtual spaces.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Petit Bois

1:30 Divisional Business Meeting

Session A

1:45 AN EVALUATION OF THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM A COUNTY LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE OREGON TEST SITE

George Hough and David Swanson*, Portland State University, Portland, OR, and University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

The American Community Survey (ACS) is a Census Bureau product designed to provide accurate and timely demographic and economic indicators on an annual basis for both large and small geographic areas with the United States. Operational plans for Census 2010 call for ACS to replace the decennial census long-form (Census LF), pending the results of evaluation studies. This plan represents a major change in that variables that traditionally have been collected on a "snapshot" basis once every ten years would be collected on a "rolling" annual basis. Using a Loss function Analysis and other tools, this paper reports preliminary findings from a comparison of ACS and Census LF in Multnomah County, Oregon, one of five national "local expert" test sites set up to compare ACS data colleted at the time of Census 2000. The preliminary findings suggest that there are notable differences between some of the corresponding variables found in the ACS and Census LF that require more detailed examination. The Loss function Analysis reveals notable differences for race and disability variables. In other comparisons of corresponding variables between ACS and Census LF, differences are found within each of the four major areas of interest ((1) demographic characteristics; (2) social characteristics; (3) economic characteristics; and (4) housing characteristics), with housing characteristics showing the least similarity overall. These results also suggest that more detailed examinations are needed to understand differences between corresponding variables collected by ACS and the Census Long Form.

2:00 MEANING-BASED PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF FAMILIES WITH CHILD CANCER PATIENTS

Hillary R. Hunt* and Stefan E.Schulenberg, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

Families with child cancer patients experience a variety of psychological sequelae such as finding meaning, given the child's medical condition. Although medical interventions are undertaken, frequently the psychological needs of the child and his or her family are neglected. A systematic review of the empirical and descriptive literature suggests that a major area to address is helping the family retain a sense of purpose in light of what is perceived as a negative prognosis. Psychological treatments focusing on spiritual growth, transcendence, and finding meaning in suffering are increasingly being used. One example is Viktor Frankl's logotherapy. Logotherapy is a form of psychotherapy geared toward helping people establish and/or maintain a sense of life purpose even under intense and unavoidable suffering. Logotherapy appears to be a unique method of helping children and families cope with the diagnosis and course of cancer. A significant amount of research has been conducted using quality of life instruments with both patients and families. Systematic comparisons of these instruments with measures of meaning is an important direction for psychometric research. Such research will aid in better understanding the reliability and validity of these measures, as well as in quantifying benefits of psychological treatment.

2:15 LOGOTHERAPY AND BOWEN FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY

Elizabeth M. Malone* and Stefan E. Schulenberg, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

Both Frankl's logotherapy and Bowen's Family Systems Theory (FST) have been shown to relate to peoples' physical and psychological well-being. Historically, logotherapy emphasizes the individual, while FST emphasizes the family as an emotional unit. The following paper outlines logotherapy and FST, summarizing the major constructs of each theory and comparing and contrasting the theories, applications, and research. Beginning with Murray Bowen, we outline the history of his training and his eight interlocking concepts, such as differentiation of self. The concept of nuclear family emotional process is presented, while outlining ideas of emotional distance, marital conflict, and sickness. The other concepts of triangles, family projection process, emotional cutoff, sibling position, and emotional process in society are also outlined. Frankl's logotherapy is summarized beginning with his history of training and the significance of his time spent in Nazi concentration camps. The dimensions of the human include the physical, psychological and emotional dimensions. The noetic dimension is discussed as well as the will to meaning, tragic triad, tragic optimism, and existential vacuum. Frankl's approach to therapy, and applications of logotherapy to a family situation are explored, including the goals, as well as direct and indirect approaches. The engagement and commitment to the therapeutic relationship is highlighted. Finally, the two theories are compared and contrasted along the dimensions of history, fundamental concepts, and the approaches to therapy.

2:30 REACTIVE ATTACHMENT DISORDER CHILD ASSESSMENT TO PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT

Chalonda Handy (1)*, Mark Kilgus (2), Michelle Moser (2), and Shaila Khan (1), (1) Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39174, and (2) East Tennessee State University 

The purpose of this study was to research and develop an assessment battery for evaluating Reactive Attachment Disorder. Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a disturbed condition that is brought on by gross care and inappropriate conditions that the child has undergone previously in life. RAD is a severe psychological disturbance that can occur in children during the first few years of life. RAD can present itself in children by age five. There are two forms of RAD: disinherited and inhibited. Little research has been conducted on RAD. There are few assessment measures that are designed specifically to diagnose RAD. As a result, treatment centers for RAD employ a combination of assessment measures designed to recognize other mental health problems such as Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other co-morbid disorders that affect young children. Existing protocols including assessment instruments and structured clinical interviews for identifying children with Reactive Attachment Disorder and other co-morbid conditions were located. Objective assessment instruments to be used in the proposed battery were reviewed and critiqued. These objective instruments included behavioral checklists, clinically structured interviews, and assessment measures commonly used to diagnose other psychological disturbances found in children. Present information on the validity and reliability for each measure was reviewed. A proposed assessment battery was identified. The proposed battery is a multi-method, multi-informant, assent instrument that can be used to identify RAD and other comorbid diseases found in children.

2:45 Break

3:00 THE STROOP EFFECT WITH INTERVENTION ON AUDITORY STIMULI 

Angela Scott (1)*, Shaila Khan (1), and William Heindel (2), (1) Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39174, and (2) Brown University, Providence, RI 02912

The stroop effect has been proven many times, and it is known as an attention procedure in which automatic process takes place. The comparison suggest an interfering effect of color stimuli upon reading names of colors, with the interfering effect of word stimuli upon naming the colors (Stoop, 1935). The hypothesis states that (1) if two things are automatically processed when the stimuli is given simultaneously then one will override the other, (2) it is also hypothesized that the parallel theory of automatic processing is correct. There is a total of 30 students volunteering for extra credit in a general psychology course at Brown University, 15 of the students will be given the task of carrying out a reaction time test on a programmed computer testing the original stroop effect paradigm. Fifteen students will be given the stroop effect with the intervention an auditory stimuli. The visual stimuli consisted of the words green, blue, and late written in the color blue or green. The auditory stimuli consisted of hearing the words green, blue, and late through headphones. The words all were modified to have a 20 millisecond (ms) fade in and fade out, and they lasted for duration of 400 (ms). The design of the experiment is a 3 X 3 repeated measures design. Normal distribution analysis will be done across groups in order to compare before the stimuli and after the stimuli. In order to distinguish the variables, incongruent and congruent, across the design an analysis a variables will also be done.

3:15 EARLY MOTHER-INFANT INTERACTIONS AMONG GARNETT'S BUSHBABIES (OTOLEMUR GARNETTII)

Sarah Wilhelms (1), Sheree Watson (1)*, Angela McGuire (1), and Michelle Becker (2), (1) University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, and (2) University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

In non-human primate species, mother-infant interactions during the first days of life may provide important foundations for the subsequent development of the infant. However, for many species, including Garnett's bushbaby, early behavioral interactions between mother and infant have not been well characterized. In addition, because bushbabies usually have only one offspring per parturition, little is known about the effect of twinning on activity budgets and rearing behaviors. Seven female bushbabies and their 12 offspring (2 singletons, 5 sets of twins) were video-taped for 30 min/day during the first 30 days postpartum. T-tests revealed that mothers groomed their infants more often than they groomed themselves (t(6) = 5.05, p = 0.002). Conversely, infants groomed themselves more often than they groomed their mothers (t(11) = 12.69, p < 0.001). Mothers of singletons performed significantly more bouts of autogrooming than mothers of twins (t(5) = 4.8, p = 0.005). Infants averaged 3.6 bouts of exploratory behavior per hour, but most of these were observed during the second half of the 30 day observation period. Although there was considerable variability among infants in propensity to explore their environment, twin siblings tended to be consistent with each other. These results provide insights regarding early rearing practices of bushbabies and early behaviors of bushbaby infants. This study provides a basis for further investigation of the influence of the mother-infant relationships on developmental patterns of the infant.

3:30 USE OF ANESTHESIA DOES NOT INCREASE ACCURACY OF ANTHROPOMETRICS IN GARNETT'S BUSHBABIES (OTOLEMUR GARNETTII)

Stacey Curry*, Sheree Watson, and Marie Danforth, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Scientists who use animal models in research are mandated by the Animal Welfare Act to employ the "Three Rs" in research methodology: Reduction, Replacement, and Refinement. Refinement involves eliminating or modifying invasive procedures to reduce the distress experienced by the animal. For example, it has been suggested that anesthesia should be used judiciously and only when necessary. However, modification of anesthesia protocols is feasible only if accuracy of data is not compromised by the modification. Anesthesia is routinely used during collection of anthropomorphic data (i.e., anatomical measurements) to ensure accuracy. In the present experiment, we examined the effect of eliminating anesthesia on accuracy of anthropometrics in Garnett's bushbaby, a prosimian primate. We obtained two sets each of 10 measurements, including body, snout, arm, leg, and tail length, ear and eye spacing, maximum cranial length, maximum cranial breadth, and bizygomatic breadth. One set of measurements was obtained while the animals were awake and manually restrained whereas the other set was obtained while the animals were anesthetized with Ketamine HCl. Paired t-tests were used to compare the results of the two sets of measurements. There were no significant differences on any of the measurements. Thus, use of anesthesia did not increase accuracy of the anthropometrics. These results indicate that anthropometric data can be accurately collected from prosimian primates without use of anesthesia.

3:45 CORTISOL RESPONSE TO RELOCATION STRESS IN GARNETT'S BUSHBABY (OTOLEMUR GARNETTII)

Sheree Watson (1)*, Ronda Stavisky (2), Tammy Greer (1), John McCoy (1), David Hanbury (1), and Sarah Gamon (1), (1) University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, and (2) University of Texas, Austin, TX

Relocation of research animals, either within a facility or from one facility to another, is assumed to be stressful. Development of appropriate research methodologies may be facilitated by understanding the extent and duration of the physiological response to relocation stress and whether the stress is buffered by environmental or social factors, like the presence of a cagemate. To characterize the response to relocation stress in Garnett's bushbaby, we assessed cortisol levels in 10 female and 6 male bushbabies during relocation to a different facility. Six of the animals were pair-housed at the time of the move and were moved with their cagemate. Fecal cortisol was assessed at three timepoints: (1) Baseline -- one day prior to moving; (2) Relocation -- the day the animals were relocated; and (3) Post-relocation -- seven days after the relocation. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance revealed differences in cortisol values with post hoc tests indicating an increase in cortisol at the Relocation timepoint compared to Baseline and Post-relocation (F(2,28) = 4.73, p = 0.047). Baseline and Post-relocation cortisol levels did not differ. There were no differences in cortisol levels as a function of having a cagemate during the relocation. These results indicate that although relocation resulted in a significant cortisol increase, levels returned to baseline within seven days after the stressor. Moreover, the effects of the stressor were not diminished by the presence of a cagemate.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Chandeleur

Session B

1:45 ARE FRIENDS MORE SIMILAR THAN NON-FRIENDS

Minervia E. Scott*, Susaye Ratigan, and Elizabeth Lemerise, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217; Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234; and Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101

The purpose of this study was to find out whether children who are friends are more similar than randomly paired children matched for age and gender. This study used archival data from 5 elementary schools in a small southeastern city. The sample consisted of 1,437 first to fourth grade children attending ungraded primary classes in combinations of 2 grades: 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4. Reciprocated "like best" nominations defined a friendship. Two kinds of friendships were identified in these ungraded classrooms: (a) friendships between children who were from the same grade level; and (b) friendships between children who were in adjacent grade levels. To address the question of whether friends are more similar than non-friends, teacher ratings of problem behaviors and social competencies, peer assessments of liking and social behaviors, and children's social information processing were examined in friend and non-friend pairs. The results indicated that friend pairs who were from the same grade level were significantly more similar than random pairs of same grade children. However, friend pairs who were from adjacent grade levels had far fewer statistically significant areas of similarity. The findings were congruent with the "birds of a feather hypothesis" and support the idea that same-age friends are similar to one another.

2:00 EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Wesley Prater* and Safiya Omari, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

Research indicated that the health behaviors of college students play an important role in the psychological health of students. These health concerns among American college students share a common factor--African-Americans are at a higher risk. In this study, African-American college students at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and their health risk behaviors were examined. Our goal was to determine whether their mental health and their attitudes towards health play a role in these risk behaviors. We examined the prevalence of tobacco use, their sexual behavior, their weight, exercise habits, mental health, and their education on health. 113 African-American undergraduate students participated in this study. The students were administered a Health Association's National College Health Assessment. Our results indicated that the average student was not in good health, overweight, sexually active, and used alcohol. However, depression was not a significant problem for the students. Stress and relationship problems most affected student's academic performance. It can be concluded that students need to receive more information from their university about pregnancy prevention, physical activity and fitness, and alcohol/drug use. The school should enforce rules dealing with marijuana and alcohol use.

2:15 DOES SUICIDE HISTORY OR PLAN INFLUENCE COMMITMENT DECISIONS

Kendria Funches* and Lillian M. Range, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Researchers have not determined which factors increase the likelihood of involuntarily hospitalizing a suicidal family member. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the likelihood of one's civil commitment of a family member who has a history of suicide and/or a specific plan to commit suicide. A total of 97 African American and Caucasian American undergraduate college students were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes that described a younger sibling as depressed, hopeless, and thinking of suicide. Participants completed the Suicide Ideation Scale about their own suicidal thoughts and rated how likely they would be to ignore the thoughts, to tell the sibling that suicide is not a good thought, to refer the sibling to therapy, and to commit the sibling to a mental hospital. In most responses, history and plan made no difference. Regardless of whether the sibling had a history or plan, students were unlikely to ignore, likely to tell the sibling that suicide is not a good idea, and likely to refer to therapy. In terms of committing, however, plan made a difference: when the sibling had a plan, participants were slightly likely to commit and moderately sure that they would take this action. In contrast, when a sibling had no plan, participants were neutral to commit and slightly sure that they would take this action. Like therapists in other research present untrained college students recognized the imminent risk of a suicide plan.

2:30 DEVELOPMENT OF AN UNDERGRADUATE STRESSOR SCALE

Shelle Rogers, Jennifer Holcomb, and Reid Jones*, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733

The initial conception for the Undergraduate Stressor Scale was patterned after the Holmes Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Common stressors for the undergraduate were identified and items developed for an existing undrergraduate stressor scale were added. The resulting 50 item scale required respondents to provide intensity ratings from 1 (not distressing) to 4 (very much distressing). The preliminary instrument was administered to 153 undergraduate volunteers along with five published scales rating emotional and personality constructs. Internal consistency for the scale was high (Chronbach\'s alpha = .92). Further, each of the five other survey instruments provided significant (p < .05) evidence for construct validity of the stressor scale. Item analysis suggested that a potent form of stressor was related to being overwhelmed by assignments and tests coming at the same time.

2:45 Break

3:00 STRESSORS AND LOCUS OF CONTROL IN THE UNDERGRADUATE

Ashley Mahalitc, Jennifer Barnett, and Reid Jones*, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733

A survey of 50 common stressors was completed by 69 undergraduates. Subjects also provided background demographics and completed Leary's Internal Control Index (ICI). One group completed the stressor survey before the ICI and the other group completed the ICI followed by the stressor survey. Students with higher ICI scores reported significantly (p < .05) fewer and less intense stressors. Those students completing the ICI first reported significantly (p < .01) more intense stressors. Several possible explanations for this last effect were considered.

3:15 EMOTIONAL STATES OF UNDERGRADUATES AS AFFECTED BY STRESSORS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS

Natayla Jennings, Sallie Simmons, and Reid Jones*, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733

Eighty-five undergraduates at a public, regional university received class credit for participating in research relating current emotions and recent stressors to longer term personality traits. The two sub-scales of Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Scale and his State-Trait Anger Scale were all significantly (p < .05) associated with a survey of 50 stressors commonly occuring during the undergraduate years. Regression analysis was used to determine the relative contribution of traits (anxiety and anger) and current stressors as predictors of current emotional states (anxiety and anger). Multiple R's were substantial (R = .7128 for anxiety and R = .4787 for anger), both significant beyong the p < .01 level. In the resulting regression model, long term traits were significantly associated with current states, while the stressor ratings were not.

3:30 THE USE OF A MODIFIED BLOOM'S TAXONOMY IN DESIGNING COURSE OBJECTIVES AND ASSESSMENTS

Darlene Crone-Todd* and Jenetta Waddell, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733

The development of critical, or higher-order, thinking skills is considered to be a hallmark of higher education, and required for many programs. Despite this emphasis on higher order thinking, there has been little development of reliable and valid instruments for designing course objectives and assessing student work. Recent advances in this area by researchers at the University of Manitoba (Canada), using undergraduate psychology courses, include a further modification of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (Bloom, 1956). This modification involves developing tighter operational definitions for Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation levels of thinking. Previous research demonstrated that the first four levels are reliable and valid measures of the constructs. The present paper will address extending the use of the modified taxonomy to the Synthesis and Evaluation levels of the taxonomy, and to other disciplines at Delta State University. Reliability measures will be presented, along with current and future directions in the research.