While many jokes and sales of specialty merchandise have been made that make light of consumers who frequently shop and buy (e.g., "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping," or "I am a shopaholic"), for 18 million Americans suffering from compulsive buying, the process of shopping and buying has caused their lives to literally go out of control. The outcomes of this disease for individuals, families, and business are all negative. In a marketing era of social responsibility, if marketers either knowingly or unknowingly encourage increased consumption among compulsive buyers, potential negative outcomes stand to impact others well beyond the span of the personal psychological and financial situations of individual consumers. The purpose of this study was to explore in depth the structures of human consciousness of compulsive buyers by employing the qualitative research tradition of phenomenology. The study was framed by the social constructivist paradigm where my emphasis was on understanding how the essence of each individual consumer's sense of reality was shaped by her/his particular circumstances and lived experiences. From a theoretical perspective, the study offers an integrated framework by bringing together diverse constructs/data themes from previous research in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, sociology, and marketing. Personality antecedents and short- and long-term consequences of compulsive buying were presented in the framework. The study's research question was, "What are the essential structures of the lived experiences of compulsive buyers?" A criterion-purposive sample, where all participants currently experience or have experienced the phenomenon of compulsive buying, was selected. Data collection and analysis were performed from prolonged engagement at Debtors Anonymous meetings over a 12-month period, plus in-depth interviews from six volunteer participants. Individual participant models of compulsive buying were constructed and juxtaposed against the original theoretical model. Data theme frequencies across participants were tabulated and discussed for comparisons against the theoretical model. Results indicated that while each participant's lived experience of the disease shared most theoretical themes identified by previous research, participants also revealed additional data themes unique to her/him. Marketing implications and recommendations for improved marketing strategy were offered.

This study investigated the utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) for diagnosing and discriminating between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with university counseling center clients. Participants were 1541 male and female students who received services at a student counseling center at a large university. Participants were classified as MDD, GAD, or Other Diagnosis (OD) based on the diagnosis determined by the treating clinician, and PAI profiles were compared between the three groups. The PAI Structural Summary-Revised contains Diagnostic Consider Clusters (DCC) that were designed to identify PAI scales/subscales that are typically elevated or suppressed when a particular disorder is present. The DCC’s for MDD and GAD were examined and the results demonstrated that the criteria for the DCC for MDD were met by 2.2% of the MDD group, and the criteria for the DCC for GAD were met by 3.8% of the GAD group. A discussion of these findings is offered, and the appropriateness of using the DCC’s for the purpose of diagnosis with any population is questioned. Additionally, DCC’s for MDD and GAD for use with university counseling center clients are proposed. Finally, discriminant analysis (DA) was employed to develop various discriminant functions that can be used to classify individual PAI profile data into specific diagnostic groups. In particular, one discriminant function was created that is capable of examining any PAI profile, and classifying it as either MDD or OD. A second discriminant function was produced that can analyze any PAI profile and categorize it as either GAD or OD. The final discriminant function was developed to evaluate a PAI profile that represents either MDD or GAD and determine which diagnosis is appropriate. Each discriminant function was shown to accurately predict the associated diagnoses. A discussion of the various predictor variables is offered. Taken together, these results support the use of the PAI for diagnosing and discriminating between MDD and GAD with university counseling center clients.

This paper examined the effects of distance priming on test anxiety and judgment. Research suggests that individuals’ perceived distance can impact their affect and judgments, which sheds light on the principle of “distance equals safety” (Williams & Bargh, 2008). Taking an exam invokes both cognitive and emotional anxiety, such as worry, panic, and tension. It is hypothesized that the distance priming may reduce test anxiety—particularly, the emotionality aspect—as well as perceived test difficulty. The results showed that, counter to the hypotheses, there was no significant difference among the three priming groups in their emotional test anxiety or perceived test difficulty. There is a significant correlation between ACT score and cognitive test anxiety, supporting past literature that as one’s intellectual ability increases, their cognitive test anxiety decreases. Further research needs to be conducted to replicate the efficacy of the priming method by Williams and Bargh (2008) and to use more effective ways of provoking performance anxiety.

Previous studies have shown that children’s social goals are influenced byemotion and that emotions can be manipulated using relationships. The present study combines these previous findings by examining the effect of children’s relationships on social goals. Social goals were examined in second and fifth grade children using hypothetical ambiguous provocation situations in which the relationship between the participant and the provocateur was manipulated by inserting the name of a friend, enemy, or a neutral peer into the story. After each situation, children rated the importance of four different social goals, indicating which of the four would be the most important to accomplish. Results indicated that within each goal type, importance ratings varied depending on the nature of the relationship. Social relational goals were rated as much more important when the provocateur was a friend versus an enemy or neutral peer, instrumental goals, however, were rated as more important when the provocateur was an enemy or a neutral peer, and avoidant and revenge goals were rated as more important when the provocateur was an enemy. Goal hierarchy was also found to vary across relationships; social relational goals were the most important when the provocateur was a friend, yet instrumental goals became equally important when the provocateur was a neutral peer and were rated as most important when the provocateur was an enemy.

The goal of this thesis is to explain the nature of ethnic humor in American society. This will be achieved through three different processes. First, this thesis will explain the history of African American humor and recount it’s development into it’s own brand of comedy. Second, it will explain the nature of African American humor and how it is a tool used to revolt against the oppressive and hegemonic nature of western society. Additionally, this paper aims to prove that African American humor is a coping mechanism for African Americans. This thesis will also discuss the duality of African American humor as both comedy and social critique. Another aspect this work will explore is how comedians deal with unintended stereotype perpetuation and also how different audiences respond to the racial jokes of the comedians. Finally, this thesis will outline how to better present jokes so that the perpetuation of racism and stereotypes does not happen. As a coping mechanism, African American humor takes stereotypes about African Americans, both positive and negative, and converts them into humorous topics that can make the stereotypes positive (Daube, 2010). This play on stereotypes, although it can be incredibly funny and also makes for great social commentary, is also very dangerous (Apte, 1987). Without proper context and understanding of the joke, it is possible that the intended social critique is not conveyed to the audience and instead the humor unintentionally perpetuates negative stereotypes. The value of African American humor as both entertainment and a coping mechanism is immeasurable (Cater, May, & Bird, 2012)

Over the last two decades, research has identified factors that foster versus undermine human motivation and well being with important implications for learning and performance. Much of the research is concerned with intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation and autonomous versus non-autonomous learning environments. The data suggests that learning and performance are often significantly enhanced in autonomy-supportive environments that foster intrinsic motivational perspectives. This study examines the lived experience of Abraham Lincoln in the context of his adult learning motivation, forming a qualitative narrative around his adult educational experiences. It was hypothesized that Abraham Lincoln benefited from learning experiences with high levels of both intrinsic motivation and autonomy-supportive contexts. Results indicate that Abraham Lincoln experienced near total autonomy in his learning activities and that most of his adult learning activities were intrinsically-motivated. A discussion section explores the relevance of the findings to select topics in adult education.

Oggetto di studio è la ceramica Attica a figure nere inquadrabile fra il 630 e il 560/550 a.C. rinvenuta in Italia. Il materiale documentario è attinto dall'edito. Gli obiettivi della ricerca sono: aggiornare il campione di dati raccolto nei repertori editi da J. Beazley (Attic Black-Figure Vase-Painting, Oxford 1956; Paralipomena. Additions to Attic Black-Figure Vase Painters and to Red-Figure Vase Painters, Oxford 1971) e nella monografia a cura di R. Rosati (La ceramica attica nel Mediterraneo. Analisi computerizzata della diffusione. Le fasi iniziali (630-560 a.C.), Bologna 1989); proporre una lettura della documentazione censita che tenga conto delle informazioni sui contesti di rinvenimento per comprendere funzione e significato della ceramica Attica nelle aree culturali individuabili nel territorio e nel periodo esaminati. Il lavoro di censimento dei materiali e dei contesti ha consentito di individuare più di 400 esemplari attici a figure nere, provenienti da cinquantanove siti che ricadono nell'area padana, nelle regioni adriatiche, nell'ambito ionico, in quello tirrenico, nelle aree della Sicilia e della Sardegna. L'esame delle forme e delle immagini attestate negli spazi funerari, sacri e abitativi offre spunti per riflettere sulle dinamiche che regolano l'acquisizione dei manufatti ateniesi nelle varie aree culturali e stimola ipotesi sul significato rivestito da tali oggetti nel periodo preso in esame. / The subject-matter of this study is the Attic black-figured pottery recovered in Italy, that can be set between 630 and 560/550 B.C. The documentary material is derived from the published one. The objectives of the research are: to update the data sample collected in the indexes published by J. Beazley (Attic Black-Figure Vase-Painting, Oxford 1956; Paralipomena. Additions to Attic Black-Figure Vase Painters and to Red-Figure Vase Painters, Oxford 1971) and in the monograph edited by R. Rosati (La ceramica Attica nel Mediterraneo. Analisi computerizzata della diffusione. Le fasi iniziali (630-560 a.C.), Bologna 1989); to propose a reading of the classified documentation that takes into account information about the recovery contexts in order to understand function and meaning of the Attic pottery in the cultural areas that can be located in the territory and the period taken into consideration. The work of census of material and contexts has made it possible to identify more than 400 Attic black-figured patterns, coming from fifty-nine places that situated in the Po area, in the Adriatic regions, in the Ionian ambit, in the Tyrrhenian one, in the areas of Sicily and Sardinia. The examination of the forms and the images attested in the funeral, sacred and habitable spaces give an opportunity of reflecting upon the dynamics that regulate the acquisition of the Athenian manufactured articles in the various cultural areas and stimulates suppositions on the meaning of these objects in the period taken into consideration.

The Claremont Autism Center is a 23 minute documentary on the strengths and benefits the Center brings to Claremont McKenna students, as well as children and families from the Inland Empire that deal with Autism on a daily basis.

New and experienced leaders sometimes underestimate the importance of the follower and context in their ability to be effective and successful in the long term. During an organization crisis or in a conflict situation, a leaders’ verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors and an awareness of the contextual factors and followers’ feelings involved may contribute more to long-term effectiveness and success more generally than certain characteristics or type of leadership, even if that style is the prevalent model of leadership within the organization. In theory, every leader should benefit from a greater understanding of the evolving study and theory of leadership psychology, but to put the knowledge into practice is a completely different story. This case study depicts some of the new and existing challenges facing leaders today, in hopes that the way in which the information is presented through a story will better help in illustrating the mistakes that all leaders can and do make, so the events and people in the story serve to prevent these mistakes from being made.

Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) is defined as employee behavior that benefits others yet is not required by the employee’s job description. OCB can be divided into two categories: behavior that is either directed toward individuals (OCBI) or behavior that is directed toward the organization (OCBO). Researchers have posited that there are three different motives behind OCB: impression management, prosocial values, and organizational concern. Additionally, researchers have recognized the importance of coworker relationships within organizations and have suggested that the degree to which one likes his or her coworkers may serve as an additional source of motivation to engage in different types of OCB. This research consisted of two studies investigating the effect of motive and coworker liking on intention to engage in OCBO and OCBI. Participants in both studies read a vignette manipulating motive and degree of coworker liking. The second study incorporated two additional items in the manipulation check to increase the saliency of the coworker liking manipulation. In both Study 1 and Study 2 participants were more likely to engage in OCBO than in OCBI. Both studies failed to support the hypotheses that either motive or degree of liking would predict the type of OCB performed.