<p> <b>Scope of Study:</b> This study was designed to investigate the lived experiences of middle to executive level leaders who participated in positive psychology coaching during midlife. Through personal interviews, participants shared comprehensive descriptions of their experiences in an effort to provide a deep understanding of the ways in which they benefited both personally and professionally while facing challenges typically associated with middle age. </p><p> <b>Findings and Conclusions:</b> This study generated three major findings that support this effort (1) participating in positive psychology executive coaching provides focus and confidence that facilitates personal and professional growth during midlife by helping clients identify and overcome real life and work challenges while pursuing their over-arching goals; (2) the coaching experience and associated results largely vary from participant to participant based on their wants, goals and aspirations for the future; and (3) the client&rsquo;s perception of coaching impact was tied, at least in part to the length of coaching, the quality of their relationship with the coach and a perceived positive experience. These results support the employment of positive psychology interventions as part of an executive coaching engagement, showing that to do so with midlife clients not only supports their goal achievement, but also facilitates resolution of other work and life challenges over time and within a quality client-coach relationship. </p><p>

<p> Emotional Reaction of Experiencing Crisis in Virtual Reality (VR)/360&deg; Immersive technology is being used to provoke emotion and move millions of people to action. Because organizations and filmmakers are exploring more ways to use the immersive technology of VR and 360-degree video to evoke emotion, it is important to investigate what emotional reactions are experienced. Both VR and 360&deg; fall under the category of immersive media and the terms are used interchangeably in this study. NVivo 11 is used for the analysis of 1,700 Twitter texts between the years 2015 and 2017 after people view the crisis <i> Clouds Over Sidra</i> in VR/360&deg;. The appraisal theory of emotion serves as the framework to explore the interpretation of the subject&rsquo;s emotional reactions. Sentiment and thematic analysis reveal (a) an increase in empathy, (b) reports of emotional reactions including feelings of sadness, grief and anger, (c) greater understanding of the crisis (d) intentions to act related to the crisis, (e) importance of VR/360&deg; for educational use, and (f) the power of VR/360&deg; and its ability to alter fields of education, humanitarian work, and politics. This study finds the immersive experience of viewing a crisis in VR/360&deg; generates a range of highly emotional reactions. It is an important goal to understand the role VR/360&deg; plays in generating emotional reactions and behavioral change, particularly in view of the accelerating development of emotional VR/360&deg; content and people&rsquo;s access to immersive technology. </p><p>

<p> Basal forebrain corticopetal cholinergic neurons are critical for contextual and cued fear memory in the conditioned suppression paradigm, but neural mechanisms that alter these neurons in fear memory remain unknown. Interestingly, basal forebrain cholinergic lesions have no effect on behavioral performance in commonly-studied fear conditioning paradigms like Pavlovian conditioned freezing or fear-potentiated startle, yet impair fear memory in the conditioned suppression paradigm. Many studies conducted have experimented with lesions of cell bodies of corticopetal cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), but there is a void in the literature defining which specific projections may be responsible for their discrepant role in different fear memory paradigms. The basal forebrain projects to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex. The ACC is a well-established portion of the fear circuit across all fear conditioning paradigms and has a clear role in decision-making in the conditioned suppression paradigm. Given the role in choice conflict that the ACC plays in operant tasks involved in the conditioned suppression paradigm, it is plausible that it may be a region that allows basal forebrain cholinergic neurons to alter a fear memory in the conditioned suppression paradigm. The goal of this study is to examine the specific roles that basal forebrain cholinergic projections to the ACC play in fear memory, specifically in the conditioned suppression paradigm. These lesions may target specific cholinergic input to the ACC from the NBM in the basal forebrain and this may isolate a specific fear circuit involved in fear memory in the conditioned suppression paradigm. Data have suggested that ACC lesioned animals demonstrate less fear-conditioned suppression over sham animals, but further experiments and cohorts of animals are required. If ACC cholinergic lesions are shown to produce deficits in fear memory in the conditioned suppression paradigm, it may suggest that the presence of the appetitive task, which only occurs in the conditioned suppression paradigm and not in any of the other commonly studied fear paradigms, may be able to elicit changes in functional connectivity to incorporate this projection from the NBM to the ACC to the fear circuit. Discrepancies in fear memory between fear conditioning paradigms demand to be addressed because assumptions about functional connectivity across different paradigms are assumed to be similar in the literature. If the notion of paradigmdependent functional connectivity presented here is true, deductions about this functional connectivity may only be made in the context of one fear paradigm and may not necessarily be applicable across paradigms. In other words, to say that Pavlovian fear conditioning and fear-potentiated startle are indicative of the broad neurobiology of fear memory would only be looking at a fraction of the reality behind how fear circuitry operates. In order to further the literature to propose holistic circuits, molecular processes and constructs that apply to all fear memory regardless of protocol or paradigm, it is necessary to investigate neural involvement across alternative fear paradigms, like conditioned suppression. This study supports the novel idea that neural circuitry that supports fear can expand with new learning tasks or events and therefore, may be more susceptible to change than previously considered, but future studies are required</p><p>

<p> This work explores the limiting beliefs that modern American man is surrounded by that create suffering and isolation for him. Utilizing heuristic and hermeneutic methodologies, this thesis leans into the primary feelings of anger, guilt, and shame typically expressed by American males. It examines how these feelings came to the forefront of his expressions and how he can allow himself to find ways to safely express the other feelings repressed inside him. Just as the blind man when given a matzo turned it over and over, examining it with his fingers and exclaiming &ldquo;who wrote this?&rdquo;, this thesis suggests new interpretations regarding how males express themselves. Through awareness of the value of rituals and metaphors, this natural language of men can serve as a beginning toward his feeling safe in expressing his repressed feelings. This thesis tempts the reader to see beyond the mask of the American male</p><p>

<p> Individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) and eating disorders (ED) are at increased risk for poor treatment outcomes. Therefore, proper screening for EDs is essential within SUD treatment facilities. Standard ED screening tools have only been validated on females. Eating disorder symptomology often presents differently in males demonstrating the need for a male specific ED screening tool. This need has been addressed in the preliminary screening tool, Eating Disorder Assessment for Males (EDAM). The purpose of this study is to compare the outcome of two ED screening tools, EAT-26 and EDAM, among males in SUD treatment, specifically to evaluate the level of agreement between the surveys. </p><p> No significant correlation exists between the EDAM&rsquo;s muscle dysmorphia component and EAT-26. Preoccupation with muscularity is a distinct characteristic of ED symptomology among males. The muscle dysmorphia component is a unique element within EDAM, illustrating the need for male specific ED screening tools.</p>

<p> Current literature suggests secure attachment and forgiveness are positively correlated. However, to date, the relationship of adult attachment, forgiveness, and generativity has not been explored. In this current study, middle-aged adults, ages 45-80 from the George Fox University Alumni were surveyed to explore attachment (anxious and avoidant), generativity, and forgiveness. Since generativity is a prosocial trait, synonymous with altruism, suggesting one&rsquo;s selfless service and concern for the well-being for others, it is predicted that generativity will have a positive relationship with forgiveness, and secure attachment. Further, multiple regression statistics were used to explore which of the independent variables (anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and generativity) has the greatest effect on the dependent variable of trait forgiveness.</p><p> Results indicated that there was a medium positive relationship between forgiveness and secure attachment, between generativity and secure attachment, and between forgiveness and generativity. Multiple regression found that each of the independent variables (anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and generativity) were significant predictors of forgiveness with anxious attachment being the strongest predictor of forgiveness</p><p>

<p> Each year millions of people face the medical decision-making cycle that comes with a diagnosis of cancer. For patients and their families, this can be a rollercoaster of confusion and fear. Researchers have indicated that the complexity of the decision-making process is underrepresented in the current approach of informed decision-making. The purpose of this study was to add to scientifically-validated research expanding the identification of factors that influence decision-making for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Fuzzy trace theory (FTT) is the dual process memory theory used as the framework for this study. Qualitative data were collected using semistructured interviews with 10 participants. The sampling strategy included purposeful sampling and snowball or chain sampling. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Software tools were used to aid in the creation of word mapping and clusters and a naming structure emerged. A comprehensive thematic analysis was completed. Participants detailed experiences with family and social dynamics, psychological or emotional stress, external influencing factors to the decision-making process, and experiences with cancer advertising. This research can create positive social change through the advancement of scientifically-validated research to support patients during the decision-making process.</p><p>

<p> As care for the elderly continues to be a significant social concern, this study examines the experiences, gratifications, and frustrations of adult children suffering from a mental illness and become the primary caregivers of their aging parent within the home. In addition, the study explored the role of trauma as part of the adult children's decision to become the primary caregivers of their aging parent. Adult children and their aging parents were of Jewish descent and currently residing in a large metropolitan area. A total of 9 adult Jewish children, 6 males and 3 females, were recruited from a non-profit, community-funded social service agency for this qualitative study. The nine participants were asked to complete a short demographic questionnaire, asked general background information, and were administered a semi-structured caregiving interview. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory methodology.</p><p> The major themes that emerged from this qualitative study provide insight into the adult child's experience as a caregiver with respect to their caregiving responsibilities, additional assistance from outside agencies or individuals, issues related to mental health and wellness, positive and negative aspects of the caregiving role, religion, and loss. Minor themes that emerged in the data were developmental task achievement and the impact of legal difficulties on the experience of caregiving. The results indicate that the adult child's role as the primary caregiver likely fulfills a purpose in this mentally ill adult child's life. There seems to be a relationship between the adult child's lack of normative development within the life cycle and adopting the role of caregiver. This role is also influenced by other factors such as trauma/stress, social constriction, parenting style, lack of support, and co-dependency between adult and child. Therefore, this study was able to provide a greater understanding of the factors that contribute to the trend of mentally ill adult Jewish children taking on the caregiver role for their aging parents.</p>

Excitation and inhibition in the nervous system must be carefully balanced. I utilized the zebrafish (Danio rerio) in order to study this balance in the vertebrate motor system. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) can be used effectively for both forward and reverse genetics. My primary interest lies in genes involved in neural network development and function. Forward genetic mutagenesis screens are particularly powerful as they are unbiased. Using this approach we characterized a mutant based on its abnormal motor behavior. However, mutants identified with abnormal motor behavior may have mutations in muscle proteins. We identified a semi-dominant mutation in the atp2a1 gene, which encodes a protein vital for normal muscle function, from a previously completed mutagenesis screen. In order to investigate genes directly involved in neuronal signaling I used a reverse genetics approach to study GABAA receptors. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major source of inhibition in the motor system. In order to test the effect of blockade of GABAA receptors, I injected gabazine, a GABAA receptor antagonist, into zebrafish embryos. Injected embryos display an abnormal escape response later in development. To determine the GABAA receptor subunits responsible for the observed phenotype, I utilized RNA in situ hybridization to examine the expression of the &agr; class of GABAA receptor subunits. I found that the gabra5 gene, which encodes the GABAA &agr;5 subunit, was expressed in the hindbrain of larvae. To examine the role of the &agr;5 subunit I designed anti-sense morpholinos to target the start codon of the gabra5 gene. Knockdown of the gabra5 gene caused abnormal behavior in larvae similar to that seen in gabazine injected larvae. I have characterized a novel semi-dominant atp2a1 mutant in zebrafish. This mutant completes a zebrafish model system of the human disease Brody's disease. Turning toward a reverse genetic approach I investigated the expression of several GABAA receptor &agr; subunits. I have characterized the behavior of GABAA &agr;5 subunit knockdown embryos and larvae and begun work to generate a stable knockout line. This line will be useful in exploring the function of the &agr;5 subunit and compounds that interact with it.

No description available.