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Title: THE EFFECTS OF SITUATIONAL CONSTRAINT AND SELF-SELECTION ON THE CROSS-SITUATIONAL CONSISTENCY OF BEHAVIOR.
Creator: WALKER, JACK B., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description: Many psychologists have promoted the use of personality traits and other dispositional constructs for the prediction of human behavior. However, other psychologists have concluded that individuals do not exhibit sufficient cross-situational consistency in their behavior to warrant the use of dispositional measures as predictors of behavior (e.g., Mischel, 1968; Nisbett, 1980). The present research was designed to demonstrate that cross-situational consistency correlation coefficients may be...
Show moreMany psychologists have promoted the use of personality traits and other dispositional constructs for the prediction of human behavior. However, other psychologists have concluded that individuals do not exhibit sufficient cross-situational consistency in their behavior to warrant the use of dispositional measures as predictors of behavior (e.g., Mischel, 1968; Nisbett, 1980). The present research was designed to demonstrate that cross-situational consistency correlation coefficients may be inadequate indicators of the utility of dispositional constructs. In particular, it was proposed that a consideration of the situational constraint present within a situation and the degree of the opportunity to self-select into a situation are important factors which aid in the specification of when personality traits can and cannot be used successfully to predict human behavior.
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Date Issued: 1986
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14344
Subject Headings: Personality, Human behavior, Prediction (Psychology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Using Situation Research.
Creator: Ramos, Jamie Zahava, Sherman, Ryne A., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Narcissism is a multidimensional construct consisting of many components and a variety of conceptualizations. One such example is the NARC conceptualization of grandiose narcissism and its two subcomponents admiration and rivalry. This research aims to answer three questions about the NARC conceptualization: (1) what is the relationship between narcissism and Big Six Personality dimensions?; (2) what is the relationship between narcissism and observable behavior?; and (3) how does narcissism...
Show moreNarcissism is a multidimensional construct consisting of many components and a variety of conceptualizations. One such example is the NARC conceptualization of grandiose narcissism and its two subcomponents admiration and rivalry. This research aims to answer three questions about the NARC conceptualization: (1) what is the relationship between narcissism and Big Six Personality dimensions?; (2) what is the relationship between narcissism and observable behavior?; and (3) how does narcissism relate to situational experiences in daily life? Results showed that, consistent with previous research, narcissism was related to Big Six personality. Additionally, narcissism was related to observable behavior. Finally, the results also showed a relationship between narcissism and every day experience (i.e., situation experiences and state expressions of personality). Most critically, the pattern of results suggests that although admiration and rivalry are related subcomponents of narcissism, they are quite distinct in terms of their personality and behavioral correlates.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004855
Subject Headings: Narcissism--Psychology., Human behavior., Typology (Psychology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Perceptions of animal minds.
Creator: Maurer, Lauren N., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Previous research into people's perceptions of animals suggests that people view animals most favorably when they perceive them as being mentally like humans. This thesis examined whether animals perceived as threatening are still seen to be mentally similar to humans, but more likely to experience mental states associated with anger and aggression. Using three separate measures of people's perceptions of animals, including one designed for this study, it was found that participants did...
Show morePrevious research into people's perceptions of animals suggests that people view animals most favorably when they perceive them as being mentally like humans. This thesis examined whether animals perceived as threatening are still seen to be mentally similar to humans, but more likely to experience mental states associated with anger and aggression. Using three separate measures of people's perceptions of animals, including one designed for this study, it was found that participants did indeed view the mental lives of animals differently when those animals were perceived to be threatening. Examination of the effect of the animal chosen showed that some animals are inherently seen as more threatening and less-human like. The implications of these findings for animal conservation efforts, reduction of human-animal conflict, and anthropomorphism in the study of animal cognition were discussed.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2978987
Subject Headings: Cognition in animals, Human-animal relationships, Animal behavior
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Risk of sperm competition moderatres men's relationship satisfaction and interest in their partner's copulatory orgasm.
Creator: Bates, Vincent M., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Sperm competition occurs when the sperm of multiple males concurrently occupy a female's reproductive tract and compete for fertilization. Sperm competition may have been a recurrent adaptive problem over human evolutionary history. Women's orgasm may facilitate retention of a particular man's sperm. I therefore hypothesized that men experiencing greater sperm competition risk will be particularly interested in the occurrence of their partner's copulatory orgasm. Men who are more satisfied...
Show moreSperm competition occurs when the sperm of multiple males concurrently occupy a female's reproductive tract and compete for fertilization. Sperm competition may have been a recurrent adaptive problem over human evolutionary history. Women's orgasm may facilitate retention of a particular man's sperm. I therefore hypothesized that men experiencing greater sperm competition risk will be particularly interested in the occurrence of their partner's copulatory orgasm. Men who are more satisfied with and invested in their relationship may experience greater costs in the event of sperm competition and potential cuckoldry. Therefore, these men may be more interested in ensuring their partner's copulatory orgasm. I hypothesized that men's relationship satisfaction and investment would predict interest in their partner's copulatory orgasm and moderate the link between sperm competition risk and interest in partner's copulatory orgasm. Using data secured from 229 men in a committed relationship, I tested and found support for these hypotheses.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1927608
Subject Headings: Man-woman relationships, Sperm competition, Human behavior, Competition (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Of one mind? An action identification analysis of self-structure.
Creator: Miller, Mandy E., Florida Atlantic University, Vallacher, Robin R.
Abstract/Description: The way we think about ourselves is reflected in, and shaped by, the way we think about our actions. The identification of action can vary from mechanistic, low level depictions to far more comprehensive, high level depictions. This study tests the supposition that comprehensive understanding of action is a precondition for coherence in self-concept and that failure to generate stable, high level action identifications interferes with the formation of a stable and personally certain self...
Show moreThe way we think about ourselves is reflected in, and shaped by, the way we think about our actions. The identification of action can vary from mechanistic, low level depictions to far more comprehensive, high level depictions. This study tests the supposition that comprehensive understanding of action is a precondition for coherence in self-concept and that failure to generate stable, high level action identifications interferes with the formation of a stable and personally certain self-concept. It was predicted (and the results confirmed) that persons who experience fragmented action understanding (i.e., relatively low level action identification) demonstrate less coherence in their overall self-evaluative stance and greater self-uncertainty and self-instability. The relationships between self-concept and coherence (i.e., self-stability and self-certainty) and action identification level was studied in both a context-free manner and with respect to specific social roles. The results expand our understanding of the nature and impact of the organizational processes at work within the self system.
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Date Issued: 2001
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12842
Subject Headings: Human behavior, Self, Social perception, Self-evaluation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Interacting in electronic space: Group dynamics resulting from individual change.
Creator: L'Herrou, Todd Alan, Florida Atlantic University, Latane, Bibb, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Three studies use interaction in groups to test macro-level phenomena of the type predicted by computer simulations of dynamic social impact theory, an interactive, reciprocal, and recursive extension of Latane's (1981) theory of social impact, which specifies how individuals are affected by their social environment. A key prediction of dynamic social impact theory is that such phenomena as clustering and polarization of attitudes will emerge from social interactions among spatially...
Show moreThree studies use interaction in groups to test macro-level phenomena of the type predicted by computer simulations of dynamic social impact theory, an interactive, reciprocal, and recursive extension of Latane's (1981) theory of social impact, which specifies how individuals are affected by their social environment. A key prediction of dynamic social impact theory is that such phenomena as clustering and polarization of attitudes will emerge from social interactions among spatially distributed people. Study One, using a group of 24 people corresponding with their neighbors about an attitudinal topic, found both substantial polarization and a suggestive tendency toward clustering. Studies Two and Three, using 192 people organized into 48 24-person groups, provide strong empirical support for the emergence of clustering and incomplete polarization, and extend the findings to two alternative spatial structures. As predicted, a control geometry, involving random connections without any spatial organization, failed to produce clustering. Directions for future research are discussed.
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Date Issued: 1992
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14821
Subject Headings: Human behavior--Computer simulation, Social interaction, Social groups
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The seeds of structure: Exploring the chimpanzee mind.
Creator: Halloran, Andrew R., Florida Atlantic University, Broadfield, Douglas C.
Abstract/Description: There are certain properties of the human mind which allow abstract thought. These properties are responsible for the ability to create myth (or explanations of the unknown), cosmology, and culture. They are the seeds of all human phenomena not attributable to instinct. These properties can be isolated as the capacity for numeric logic and the mind functioning in terms of binary oppositions. The long held paradigm sees the human species as unique in possessing these qualities and well as the...
Show moreThere are certain properties of the human mind which allow abstract thought. These properties are responsible for the ability to create myth (or explanations of the unknown), cosmology, and culture. They are the seeds of all human phenomena not attributable to instinct. These properties can be isolated as the capacity for numeric logic and the mind functioning in terms of binary oppositions. The long held paradigm sees the human species as unique in possessing these qualities and well as the phenomena they yield. In order to challenge this paradigm, a two experiments are conducted on a chimpanzee to see if she possessed these properties. She successfully completed the cognitive tests on both experiments, thus implicating the human species as not unique in its abstractions.
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Date Issued: 2005
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13309
Subject Headings: Brain--Evolution, Human information processing, Primates--Behavior, Human-animal communication, Cognition in animals, Chimpanzees--Behavior
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Perceptual Acuity and Social Attitudes Survey (PASAS).
Creator: Morgan, Hunter, Lanning, Kevin
Date Issued: 2012-04-06
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3350920
Subject Headings: Human behavior, Perception, Behavior responses, Sensory inputs, Psychology, social, Attitude change
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mental Representation of Near Vs. Distant Social Roles.
Creator: Goldsztajn, David, Sagristano, Michael D., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description: Three studies explored how psychological distance from social roles can affect information processing. Based on Construal Level Theory (CLT; Trope & Liberman 2003; Liberman & Trope 1998) we believe that a greater psychological distance from a role will cause individuals to process information of this distant role on a higher cognitive level than a psychologically active role. Three studies were designed to examine the effect of social distance on complexity of preferences (Study 1 & 3), level...
Show moreThree studies explored how psychological distance from social roles can affect information processing. Based on Construal Level Theory (CLT; Trope & Liberman 2003; Liberman & Trope 1998) we believe that a greater psychological distance from a role will cause individuals to process information of this distant role on a higher cognitive level than a psychologically active role. Three studies were designed to examine the effect of social distance on complexity of preferences (Study 1 & 3), level of linguistic categorization (Study 2), the breadth of object categories, prototypicality of anticipated activities, and coping experiences (Study 3). The results provided no support to extend the basic principle of psychological distance of CL T to a related social distance dimension.
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Date Issued: 2007
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000762
Subject Headings: Social psychology, Communication--Social aspects, Human behavior--Research, Human information processing--Social aspects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Behavioral enrichment of captive black bears (Ursus americanus).
Creator: Gonzalez, Jasmine, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description: A crucial aspect of captive animal care is enrichment, ranging from simple additions of flora to complicated foraging puzzles. Enrichments are vital in creating an environment for animals that is similar to their wild habitat and eliciting natural behaviors. Enrichment is also used to inhibit unnatural or harmful behaviors, like pacing. Commonly, enrichment techniques are not scientifically tested, and the universality of enrichments is rarely scrutinized. This study explores the universality...
Show moreA crucial aspect of captive animal care is enrichment, ranging from simple additions of flora to complicated foraging puzzles. Enrichments are vital in creating an environment for animals that is similar to their wild habitat and eliciting natural behaviors. Enrichment is also used to inhibit unnatural or harmful behaviors, like pacing. Commonly, enrichment techniques are not scientifically tested, and the universality of enrichments is rarely scrutinized. This study explores the universality of a "Snak'n'Trim", a hollow ball 10 inches in diameter with a 1 inch opening for food items to be inserted into the ball. Four bears, (two male, two female) were observed for ten weeks, five in the summer and five in the winter. Daily observations were made during baseline and enrichment trials. Behavior frequency was calculated and results indicate a significant (p<.01) difference between baseline and enrichment trials, providing evidence for the efficacy of the Snak'n'Trim.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359302, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FADT3359302
Subject Headings: Captive wild animals, Black bear, Behavior, Black bear, Habitat, Social behavior in animals, Black bear, Effect of human beings on
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mate retention and copulation frequency in humans: Complementary anti-cuckoldry tactics.
Creator: Guta, Faith E., Florida Atlantic University, Shackelford, Todd K.
Abstract/Description: Guarding oneself from cuckoldry can be a challenging task for males of socially monogamous species. Accordingly, human males may possess evolved psychological mechanisms designed to prevent their partner's infidelity, and to "correct" that infidelity if it occurs. Because preventative tactics are not failsafe, I hypothesized that men's reports of their mate-retention behaviors and copulation frequency would function as complimentary tactics (Study 1). Research has suggested that men's reports...
Show moreGuarding oneself from cuckoldry can be a challenging task for males of socially monogamous species. Accordingly, human males may possess evolved psychological mechanisms designed to prevent their partner's infidelity, and to "correct" that infidelity if it occurs. Because preventative tactics are not failsafe, I hypothesized that men's reports of their mate-retention behaviors and copulation frequency would function as complimentary tactics (Study 1). Research has suggested that men's reports of their own anti-cuckoldry behaviors can be flawed, and that women may be more accurate. Therefore, Study 2 analyzed reports made by women of copulation frequency and their partner's mate-retention behaviors. In the two studies, the hypotheses that (1) men's reports of copulation frequency and their own mate-retention behaviors and (2) women's reports of copulation frequency and their partner's mate-retention behaviors would show positive correlations was supported. Discussion focuses on the use of copulation frequency and mate-retention behaviors as complimentary tactics in solving the adaptive problems of sperm competition and cuckoldry.
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Date Issued: 2005
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13277
Subject Headings: Man-woman relationships, Human behavior, Adultery, Commitment (Psychology), Sperm competition
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Women’s Plasticity During Childhood and their Influence on Rape-Avoidance Behaviors.
Creator: Penaloza, Sammy, Bjorklund, David F., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Evolutionary theory predicts that sexual coercion and rape are likely to occur in any species in which males are more aggressive, more eager to mate, more sexually assertive, and less discriminating in choosing a mate (Thornhill & Palmer, 2000). McKibbin and Shackelford (2011) state that males of many species have evolved strategies to sexually coerce and rape females. It is for this reason that researchers have speculated that several female traits or behaviors evolved to reduce the risks of...
Show moreEvolutionary theory predicts that sexual coercion and rape are likely to occur in any species in which males are more aggressive, more eager to mate, more sexually assertive, and less discriminating in choosing a mate (Thornhill & Palmer, 2000). McKibbin and Shackelford (2011) state that males of many species have evolved strategies to sexually coerce and rape females. It is for this reason that researchers have speculated that several female traits or behaviors evolved to reduce the risks of being raped (McKibbin & Shackelford, 2011). The rationale behind the proposed experiment examined whether parents’ childrearing practices and women’s plasticity during childhood may have influenced the development of psychological mechanisms in response to the recurrent adaptive problem of rape. Analyses showed that maternal support during childhood predicted how frequently rape-avoidance behaviors were exhibited by women as adults. Analyses also showed that father absence was related to earlier sexual activity but age of menarche did not predict and was not associated with any rape-avoidance behaviors.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004784
Subject Headings: Rape--Psychological aspects., Rape victims--Public opinion., Women--Violence against., Men--Sexual behavior., Men--Attitudes., Human behavior., Sex differences (Psychology), Evolutionary psychology.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Sex differences and similarities in preferred mating arrangements.
Creator: Stone, Emily A., Florida Atlantic University, Shackelford, Todd K.
Abstract/Description: Over 90% of men and women marry, but as many as 50% of married men and women have affairs. Thus, in a self-report study of ideal mating arrangements, in which costs associated with infidelity are eliminated, it was hypothesized that men and women would prefer a mating arrangement of monogamy with the option of casual, extra-pair sex. Unexpectedly, men and women (N = 463) overwhelmingly preferred strictly monogamous mating arrangements when forced to select one such ideal arrangement. A...
Show moreOver 90% of men and women marry, but as many as 50% of married men and women have affairs. Thus, in a self-report study of ideal mating arrangements, in which costs associated with infidelity are eliminated, it was hypothesized that men and women would prefer a mating arrangement of monogamy with the option of casual, extra-pair sex. Unexpectedly, men and women (N = 463) overwhelmingly preferred strictly monogamous mating arrangements when forced to select one such ideal arrangement. A hypothesized sex difference did emerge, however, with men more than women rating as more interesting those arrangements that included casual sex or partner variety. Discussion addresses several evolutionarily plausible accounts for the current results and integrates the current results with existing theories about sex differences and similarities in mating psychology and behavior.
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Date Issued: 2005
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13308
Subject Headings: Human behavior, Sex (Psychology), Intimacy (Psychology), Life change events, Man-woman relationships--Psychological aspects, Sexual ethics
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Developing mechanisms of self-regulation: an integrative perspective.
Creator: Kadin-Pessoa, Aviva R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Parents' and children's behaviors are intricately woven together over the course of development. Consequently it is difficulty to determine the sources of influence predicting socially and academically oriented outcomes. Research from several developmental fields suggests that developing mechanisms of attention during the preschool years is crucial for both emotional and cognitive control. The current study shows that parental responsive behavior is important in understanding the development...
Show moreParents' and children's behaviors are intricately woven together over the course of development. Consequently it is difficulty to determine the sources of influence predicting socially and academically oriented outcomes. Research from several developmental fields suggests that developing mechanisms of attention during the preschool years is crucial for both emotional and cognitive control. The current study shows that parental responsive behavior is important in understanding the development of voluntary attention. More specifically, the results suggest that parental awareness, assessed utilizing their perceptions of attentive temperament is an important factor in predicting their own behavior and the developmental outcomes of their children.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2705084
Subject Headings: Parent and child, Attachment behavior in childhood, Family, Psychological aspects, Emotions and cognition, Cognition in children, Human information processing, Attribution (Social psychology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The behavioral, emotional, and attentional effects of human baby schema.
Creator: Machluf, Karin, Bjorklund, David F., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Children exhibit neotenous, or physically immature, features, such as a large rounded head relative to body size, adult-sized eyes, round cheeks, a small chin, and a short narrow nose. Bowlby (1969) and others (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1989; Hrdy, 2005) propose that, in species whose young depend on care from an adult, these features could enhance offspring survival. Lorenz (1943) argued that adult humans are particularly attracted to these features, and that these characteristics, which he termed...
Show moreChildren exhibit neotenous, or physically immature, features, such as a large rounded head relative to body size, adult-sized eyes, round cheeks, a small chin, and a short narrow nose. Bowlby (1969) and others (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1989; Hrdy, 2005) propose that, in species whose young depend on care from an adult, these features could enhance offspring survival. Lorenz (1943) argued that adult humans are particularly attracted to these features, and that these characteristics, which he termed Kindchenschema or “baby schema,” trigger a cognitive system that processes and reacts specifically to infantile features for the purpose of enhancing motivation to engage in caretaking behaviors. The goal of the studies proposed here is to examine the behavioral, attentional, and emotional effects of baby schema.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004452, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004452
Subject Headings: Ego (Psychology), Emotions in infants, Empathy, Evolutionary psychology, Genetic psychology, Human behavior, Identity (Philosophical concept), Moral development, Parent and child
Format: Document (PDF)

FAU Theses and Dissertations (13)	+ -
Honors Student Theses (1)	+ -
FAU Undergraduate Student Research (1)	+ -

Human behavior (6)	+ -
Cognition in animals (2)	+ -
Human behavior. (2)	+ -
Human information processing (2)	+ -
Man-woman relationships (2)	+ -

Parent and child (2)	+ -
Sperm competition (2)	+ -
Adultery (1)	+ -
Animal behavior (1)	+ -
Attachment behavior in childhood (1)	+ -
Attitude change (1)	+ -
Attribution (Social psychology) (1)	+ -
Behavior (1)	+ -
Behavior responses (1)	+ -
Black bear (1)	+ -
Brain--Evolution (1)	+ -
Captive wild animals (1)	+ -
Chimpanzees--Behavior (1)	+ -
Cognition in children (1)	+ -
Commitment (Psychology) (1)	+ -
Communication--Social aspects (1)	+ -
Competition (Biology) (1)	+ -
Effect of human beings on (1)	+ -
Ego (Psychology) (1)	+ -
Emotions and cognition (1)	+ -
Emotions in infants (1)	+ -
Empathy (1)	+ -
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Evolutionary psychology. (1)	+ -
Family (1)	+ -

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abstract (1)	+ -
thesis (1)	+ -

Florida Atlantic University (10)	+ -
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (7)	+ -
Department of Psychology (7)	+ -
Bjorklund, David F. (2)	+ -
Shackelford, Todd K. (2)	+ -

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