For some individuals a conflict arises between their religious and sexual identities. Such a conflict can be extremely distressing, and may cause to many adverse and negative psychological consequences. A sample of 10 participants (between 25-54) were recruited and interviewed. Using content analysis, major themes were identified and grouped. Within the interviews a major homogenous experience arose between all the respondents. This homogenous experience can be classified with five major superordinate categories: (a) sources of conflict; (b) emotional and cognitive consequences of conflict; (c) exploration of gay identity; (d) current negative emotions, and (e) religion as a source of strength. Although counseling was considered by participants as helpful, participants pointed to external factors outside of the counseling setting as the most efficacious.

The current investigation measured rates of disordered eating and substance abuse among exotic dancers, evaluated the relationship between these rates and measures of embodiment, as well as the influence of club-type on these patterns. Of the seventy-five (75) female exotic dancer participants, ages 18-39 from across Ontario, 35% (n=26) were found to endorse disordered eating behaviour, 57% (n=43) were high risk for alcohol abuse, 63% (n=47) were high risk for drug abuse, and 20% (n=15) were found to be high risk for all three. Cluster analysis revealed two separate club-types: 1). Positive Club Environment; 2). Negative Club Environment. Significant relationships were found between all measures of embodiment and disordered eating. Level of body connectedness was negatively correlated with risk for alcohol abuse. While no relationship was found between club type and substance abuse or disordered eating, significant relationships were found between club type and all measures of embodiment.

For some individuals a conflict arises between their religious and sexual identities. Such a conflict can be extremely distressing, and may cause to many adverse and negative psychological consequences. A sample of 10 participants (between 25-54) were recruited and interviewed. Using content analysis, major themes were identified and grouped. Within the interviews a major homogenous experience arose between all the respondents. This homogenous experience can be classified with five major superordinate categories: (a) sources of conflict; (b) emotional and cognitive consequences of conflict; (c) exploration of gay identity; (d) current negative emotions, and (e) religion as a source of strength. Although counseling was considered by participants as helpful, participants pointed to external factors outside of the counseling setting as the most efficacious.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumor in childhood. The cranio-spinal radiation (CSR) required to treat this disease results in long-term cognitive and neurologic impairments. Medulloblastoma was recently categorized into four genetic subgroups (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4). This study examined neuropsychological and intellectual functioning in 91 medulloblastoma patients (41 Group 4; 20 Group 3; 18 SHH; 12 WNT) following treatment, and examined the impact of several medical, treatment and demographic factors on functioning over time. Longitudinal growth curve analyses revealed hydrocephalus most clearly predisposes to poor neuropsychological functioning. Results also indicate medulloblastoma subgroups have heterogeneous intellectual outcomes following treatment. All subgroups experience intellectual declines following treatment; however, comparing between subgroups revealed Group 4 performs most poorly, and Group 3 has the best overall intellectual outcome. Lastly, qualitative analyses suggest treatment with a larger CSR dose may contribute to poor intellectual functioning.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumor in childhood. The cranio-spinal radiation (CSR) required to treat this disease results in long-term cognitive and neurologic impairments. Medulloblastoma was recently categorized into four genetic subgroups (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4). This study examined neuropsychological and intellectual functioning in 91 medulloblastoma patients (41 Group 4; 20 Group 3; 18 SHH; 12 WNT) following treatment, and examined the impact of several medical, treatment and demographic factors on functioning over time. Longitudinal growth curve analyses revealed hydrocephalus most clearly predisposes to poor neuropsychological functioning. Results also indicate medulloblastoma subgroups have heterogeneous intellectual outcomes following treatment. All subgroups experience intellectual declines following treatment; however, comparing between subgroups revealed Group 4 performs most poorly, and Group 3 has the best overall intellectual outcome. Lastly, qualitative analyses suggest treatment with a larger CSR dose may contribute to poor intellectual functioning.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychology / Ronald G. Downey / Entrepreneurship represents an important path to job creation, product development and organizational competitive advantage. Therefore, the identification and retention of entrepreneurial talent is of primary importance. The Entrepreneurial Orientation Profile Inventory (EOPI) was developed to evaluate the Proactiveness, Innovativeness and Risk-Taking dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation using a situational judgment test (SJT) testing methodology. The current research outlines the initial development of the testing items and provides a preliminary review of the process used to develop a scoring key and evaluate the psychometric properties of the measure among two independent samples. Study 1 focused on developing a key to score and evaluate data in subsequent samples. In Study 1, 49 adult workers provided ratings regarding the most and least effective response to 12 business-related scenarios designed to measure the Proactiveness, Innovativeness and Risk-Taking dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation. Interrater consistency analyses were conducted to determine the correct rank order of the response options within the most and least effective response conditions. In the most effective condition, raters reached consensus on the correct ranking of the response options for 7 of the 12 items. In the least effective condition, raters reached consensus on the correct ranking of the response options for 9 of the 12 items. The highest ranked response option was identified as the “correct” response and used as a scoring key in Study 2. This finding suggests individuals are generally better at identifying a single best ineffective solution to a business-related problem, but less effective at identifying a single best effective solution to a business-related problem. Thus, when using an SJT format to evaluate business-related problems, asking respondents to identify the least effective responses is likely to provide better identification of a “correct” response. Items for which the adult sample reached agreement were retained for further examination in Study 2. Study 2 was conducted to evaluate the impact of three response option instruction and scoring methodologies (i.e., “most effective”, least effective” or a combined “most and least effective”) on the reliability and validity of the EOPI measure. Using a sample of 188 undergraduate students, the construct and criterion validity of the EOPI measure as a unidimensional composite and at the item level was evaluated. Across the three conditions, the results of the construct and criterion validity analyses generally failed to support the EOPI instrument as an effective method to evaluate Entrepreneurial Orientation at the composite level. The modest correlation coefficients among the criteria variables suggest a potentially broader measurement issue with currently available measures of Entrepreneurship in general. Within the “least effective” response instruction condition, minor significant results were found at the item level. A review of these items provides insight into how modifications of EOPI items may facilitate future item development. Further, the current research also suggests that biographical data may provide insight into the measurement of Entrepreneurial Orientation. A biodata-based unidimensional composite of Entrepreneurial Behavior was found to be both marginally reliable and significantly related to an alternative measure of Entrepreneurial Orientation. The development of additional biodata items that correlate with the current items is likely to improve the psychometric properties of the Entrepreneurial Orientation composite and provide insight into the role of previous experience as a valid and reliable indicator of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurship behaviors.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychology / Donald A. Saucier / Individuals who associate with a stigmatized group may take on a “courtesy stigma”, and this may lead individuals to dissociate from stigmatized individuals for fear of also being stigmatized (Goffman, 1963). However many heterosexual individuals (i.e., straight allies) openly associate with lesbians and gay men (LG), and/or actively engage in LG social activism despite the risk of assuming a courtesy stigma. The current research examined the perceptions of and the identification processes associated with being straight allies. Results revealed that the willingness to take on a courtesy stigma may be influential in the process of straight ally identification. This research has implications for understanding the processes related to straight ally perceptions and identification. The current research will also promote general understanding of individuals who engage in prosocial behaviors despite possible negative consequences.

Master of Science / Department of Psychological Sciences / Donald A. Saucier / In recent American culture, expressions of racial prejudice have become increasingly subtle and ambiguous. Given such ambiguity, whether or not prejudice is perceived by observers may be related to individual differences in the tendency to make attributions to prejudice. The present set of studies test the hypothesis that the beliefs and expectations related to a propensity to make attributions to prejudice are moderated by different information about harm and intent that have been shown in previous research to influence observers’ attributions of prejudice. Study 1 manipulated information about the harm caused by a White actor to a Black target (no harm, ambiguous harm, clear harm). Study 2 manipulated information about a White actor’s intent to racially discriminate against a Black target (no intent, ambiguous intent, clear intent). Across both studies, evidence supported the conclusion that attributions of prejudice are related to observers’ beliefs and expectations about racial prejudice when they are given ambiguous information about harm and intent. Understanding when differences in observers’ propensity to make attributions to prejudice might influence their attributions will contribute to our understanding of when expressions of prejudice are perceived, and more generally about how and when beliefs influence how individuals interpret their social world.

Definition of neurodevelopmental outcome from early brain imaging remains a priority for survivors of very preterm (VPT) birth given their persistently high rates of cognitive and motor difficulties. Volumes of the deep grey matter (DGM) structures were measured longitudinally using magnetic resonance imaging from 96 VPT infants studied within 2 weeks of birth and 70 at term-equivalent age. At 4 years of age, 36 children returned for neuropsychological assessments evaluating IQ, language function, and visual motor integration. Multiple hierarchical regressions examined associations of DGM growth with neuropsychological measures. Overall DGM growth, primarily attributed to the caudate and thalamus, predicted Full Scale IQ, core language and VMI scores after controlling for sex and total brain volume. Thalamic growth was additionally associated with measures of neonatal clinical severity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and white matter lesions. Longitudinal growth of the DGM, particularly the caudate and thalamus were established as early markers of long-term outcomes.

Definition of neurodevelopmental outcome from early brain imaging remains a priority for survivors of very preterm (VPT) birth given their persistently high rates of cognitive and motor difficulties. Volumes of the deep grey matter (DGM) structures were measured longitudinally using magnetic resonance imaging from 96 VPT infants studied within 2 weeks of birth and 70 at term-equivalent age. At 4 years of age, 36 children returned for neuropsychological assessments evaluating IQ, language function, and visual motor integration. Multiple hierarchical regressions examined associations of DGM growth with neuropsychological measures. Overall DGM growth, primarily attributed to the caudate and thalamus, predicted Full Scale IQ, core language and VMI scores after controlling for sex and total brain volume. Thalamic growth was additionally associated with measures of neonatal clinical severity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and white matter lesions. Longitudinal growth of the DGM, particularly the caudate and thalamus were established as early markers of long-term outcomes.