The present study empirically examined the effects of four fatiguing task domains on executive function through participants' reaction time, accuracy, and brain activity in prefrontal cortex (PFC). Forty college-age participants were collected (16 males and 24 females), of which eleven were examined using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging system. The present study used a 4×2 mixed factorial design consisting of fatiguing task (arm contractions task, vigilance task, distance-manipulated Fitts' task, size-manipulated Fitts' task) as a between-participant variable and n-back testing period (pre-test versus post-test 3-back task) as a within-participant variable. Results indicated significant increases in 3-back performance after the fatiguing tasks, and significant increases in 3-back compensatory brain activity in dorsomedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dmPFC and dlPFC) after the fatiguing tasks. Furthermore, results showed an interaction between 3-back target type and fatiguing task on standardized changes in reaction time, and an interaction between fatiguing task and testing period on brain activity in dmPFC. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Findings from this study may be used to help draw the boundaries on different domains of fatigue and their effects on the brain and body.

Research on infidelity has suffered from inconsistency in how infidelity has been operationalized across studies. This study was designed to advance methodological considerations for defining infidelity and identifying offending spouses. A subjective definition of infidelity was obtained from each respondent via both closed- and open-ended items. The open-ended responses were applied to explore the definition of infidelity. Additionally, an indirect questioning method was adopted to identify offending spouses according to their own subjective definitions of cheating and test the effectiveness of this approach relative to direct questioning for identifying offending spouses. Furthermore, gender differences in acknowledging infidelity through both direct and indirect approaches in general as well as across the four self-defined categorical infidelity were examined. A community sample of 465 married or divorced individuals anonymously completed the survey via MTurk. Results showed two defining characteristics of infidelity that cut across modes of infidelity (sexual, emotional, computer-mediated, and solitary) were that infidelity occurs outside the relationship and without consent. The definition of infidelity of infidelity provided in response to an open-ended inquiry tended to be shorter among offending spouses—especially male offending spouses—than among non-offending spouses. More offending spouses were found via the indirect (42.9%) approach than the direct approach (12.7%), and more men than women acknowledged engaging in infidelity behaviors according to both the direct (16.6% vs. 9.1%) and indirect (48.2% vs. 38.0%) approaches. That said, gender-based statistical differences in propensity to commit self-defined infidelity were only found in sexual and computer-mediated forms of infidelity; propensity to commit self-defined emotional and solitary infidelity did not statistically differ between men and women; in all cases, however, gender differences were small. Results suggested that the indirect approach is better than direct questioning for identifying infidelity behaviors; the indirect approach elicited less social desirability bias. Implications for research and clinical practice are provided.

Although humans engage in committed, long-term pair bonds, many romantic relationships end because one partner no longer desires to be in the relationship. Much of the literature on romantic relationship psychology and behavior has focused on mechanisms related to maintaining a partner. Mate retention behavior functions to deter romantic partners from defection and fend off potential alternative partners. However, when individuals are in a relationship where the costs of remaining in the relationship outweigh the benefits of leaving the relationship, mate expulsion, not retention, may be the desired goal. The present thesis examines mate expulsion behavior and psychology with the goal of developing a measure of mate expulsion to parallel a widely-used measure of mate retention. In my pilot studies, participants (n= 103) nominated behaviors and tactics that people use to reduce commitment in and terminate relationships. I identified 168 unique mate expulsion behaviors from these nominations that fell in the following four categories:signaling a lack of commitment to their partner, signaling their availability to others potential partners, extracting oneself from shared relationship commitments or investments, and reducing dependency on one’s partner or relationship. A separate set of participants (n= 131) rated the frequency with which they had used the behaviors, or had seen their partner use the behaviors, in their actual past break-ups. This procedure reduced the list of utilized tactics to 51 mate expulsion behaviors. A third set of participants (n = 290) in relationships rated the frequency with which they engaged in the 51 behaviors in their current relationship and completed measures of relationships satisfaction and mate retention. As expected, mate expulsion was negatively related to relationship satisfaction. I conducted a preliminary factor analysis using these data, which revealed 7 clusters of mate expulsion behavior: For my thesis, I collected a larger, less gender-biased sample to 1) confirm the factor structure of the mate expulsion inventory and 2) examine the relationships between the mate expulsion inventory, mate retention, and relationship satisfaction. Participants (n = 410) completed the Couple Satisfaction Index-16, the Mate Retention Inventory Short-Form, and the Mate Expulsion Inventory. Mate expulsion was again negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction and a similar, small positive correlation was replicated between mate expulsion and mate retention. My hypothesized model for the confirmatory factor analysis was acceptable but not excellent. I attempted several modifications to improve the measures of fit. Ultimately, the best model included the removal of specific items and eliminating a latent variable. This thesis produced a concise list of mate expulsion behaviors and has expanded on the literature of mating psychology in respect to relationship termination. These results suggest human mating psychology may include mechanisms that function to terminate and maintain relationships.

Gottman identified the phenomenon accepting influence in couple relationships, defining it as the action of letting one’s partner influence their opinions, as well as the approach of being open-minded towards one’s partner. In this study, we examine accepting influence among a dyadic sample of military couples (N=242 couples). We first replicate Gottman’s findings which link accepting influence to couple satisfaction, and then expand this area of research by examining how accepting influence within the couple relationship relates to family-level outcomes based on theoretical underpinnings from systems theory and the spillover hypothesis. To model relationships within and between partners, we utilize an actor-partner interdependence model. Results demonstrate that accepting influence is related to both couple and family satisfaction in military families, although these were primarily actor effects (i.e., perceptions of accepting influence were primarily associated with personal reports of couple and family satisfaction). Implications for practice and research will be discussed.

In couple relationships, the phenomenon of accepting influence is both an observable action, seen in couples compromising and respecting each other, as well as an approach to the relationship, one’s perception that their partner is someone worthy of sharing power with. This study utilizes a life course perspective to examine the mediated relationship between childhood experiences, partners accepting influence, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of military couples. An actor partner interdependence mediation model was fit in Amos to examine the relationships. Civilian spouses’ childhood experiences were related to their perception their partner accepts influence and service members’ perception their partner accepts influence; this was then related to both partners’ relationship satisfaction. Accepting influence is a potential leverage point for improving relationship satisfaction in military couples who may be at an increased risk due to the nature of military life.

Automated systems are integral in the development of modern aircraft, especially for complex military aircraft. Pilot Trust in Automation (TIA) in these systems is vital for optimizing the pilot-vehicle interface and ensuring pilots use the systems appropriately to complete required tasks. The objective of this research was to develop and validate a TIA scale and survey methodology to identify and mitigate trust deficiencies with automated systems for use in Army Aviation testing. There is currently no standard TIA assessment methodology for U.S. Army aviation pilots that identifies trust deficiencies and potential mitigations. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify prominent TIA factors present in similar studies. The compiled list of factors and associated definitions were used in a validation study that utilized the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a pair-wise comparison tool to identify TIA factors most relevant to Army pilots. A notional survey, the Aviation Systems – Trust Survey (AS-TS), was developed from the identified factors and pilots were used as subjects in scenario-based testing to establish construct validity for the survey. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted after data collection and a validated survey was produced. A follow-on study interviewed Army test and evaluation experts to refine the survey methodology and ensure appropriate context for the recommended mitigations. A final packet was developed that included instructions for the rating scale, associated item definitions, and recommended mitigations for trust deficiencies. Future research will focus on other Army demographics to determine the generalizability of the AS-TS.

As enrollment rates for students with learning disabilities steadily increase, post-secondary institutions must become more inclusive. Current literature reveals a gap in studies between post-secondary education and student views on access programs. Our endeavor focused on this community. The survey was distributed using SONA and by the Student Accessibility Services Office via Qualtrics. Our study looked at 312 participants, aged from 18 - over 30 years old and who varied in sex. More satisfaction with accommodations equated to more academic competence towards goals. However, the results showed less satisfaction with personal lives and self-acceptance. This is possibly due to participants having greater help with learning disabilities and less help with adjustments in their personal lives. Hopefully, this research will open new conversations between students with learning disabilities and universities, in order to better understand this special needs population.

A primary design goal of companion social robots is to increase a user's perceived level of companionship. One way to examine perceived companionship is through parasocial presence. In the scope of human-technology interactions, parasocial presence can be defined as the extent to which the technology promotes, whether as a medium or by itself, the perception of understanding, social connection, engagement, and intimacy. One specific aspect of parasocial relationships which has been explored in human-robot interaction is para-friendship, or the sense of self-disclosure and social support a person perceives in a parasocial relationship. The present research examined how the relationship between a user's personality and the perceived personality of a companion social robot influences the relationship of intimacy, understanding, enjoyability, and involvement on para-friendship. This research also investigated whether the user and robot's personalities affect para-friendship and the intention to use the robot as a social companion. Due to their designed goal of serving as social companions, understanding the relationship of a user's personality and perceived robot personality on parasocial presence, parasocial friendship, and use intention is one important link to improve Human-Robot Interaction design (HRI) and increase the marketability of social robots. Results showed that personality similarity predicted parasocial presence, but may not be as critical as perceived robot personality. Additionally, while parasocial presence predicted parasocial friendship, this effect was limited for parasocial involvement. Finally, higher feelings of parasocial presence promoted greater use intention. Implications for robot development, personality aspects of robot friendship formation, and opinions of human-robot relationships are discussed.

This research examined the processes involved when one is acquiring spatial knowledge while traversing an environment, integrating that knowledge into mental representations, and subsequently relying on that knowledge to successfully perform wayfinding. Particularly, the conducted studies aimed to provide evidence reflecting on two ongoing debates: the distinctions between types of knowledge embedded in mental maps, and the unconfirmed sequential or simultaneous nature of the acquisition and integration of those types. The experiments reported in this manuscript addressed drawbacks in existing research by manipulating opportunities for the acquisition of point and route knowledge (two of the potentially distinct knowledge types), and by testing participants' capacity to integrate their acquired knowledge in the context of environmental affordances. Participants in the conducted studies underwent environmental training exposures targeted at providing a) primarily point knowledge or b) route knowledge acquisition, and they also completed a set of knowledge measures tapping point, route, and configuration knowledge. Finally, participants completed tests of wayfinding capacity to demonstrate their ability to rely on integrated mental maps for successful wayfinding. Results of the two conducted studies provided substantial evidence that there are distinct types of knowledge that may be acquired and quantifiably measured, and that spatial knowledge can be acquired in parallel, not necessarily in sequence, across knowledge types. Critically, some knowledge types may also develop in exclusion to others especially for individuals with particular spatial abilities and predispositions. Accordingly, it is likely that previous research indicating sequential spatial knowledge development may be reflecting differential acquisition as a combination of population capabilities and knowledge measurement research methodologies. Finally, the results demonstrate that individual differences, training modalities, and environment iv features have complex, interacting effects on spatial cognition and that no one factor predominantly determines individuals' ability to acquire, integrate, or employ spatial knowledge.

The increased accessibility of cyber technology has resulted in advancements in international communications and information sharing never seen in human history. With this new age of digital software comes the proliferation of illegal online activity and cyber terrorism. Repercussions of cyber-attacks have ranged from identity theft to leaks of classified state secrets. To combat this threat, the Department of Defense (DoD) established the Cyber Mission Force (CMF) to head operations in the interests of protecting against cyber-attacks. One of the CMF’s initial projects involves the creation of a Performance Assessment Suite (PAS), a training program designed to improve the training of cyber team members via modeling behaviors and physiological data. One of the primary objectives of the PAS is to evaluate the efficacy of select physiological recording equipment in order to implement in cyber training missions. This project serves to determine the viability of the Empatica E4 as an HRV recording device by comparing its quality of data to another, reliable data collection device – the Equivital EQ02 by leveraging a project involving resonance breathing training with police cadets. The results of this project determined that the E4 was unable to compare favorably for some time domain indices to the EQ02 but did have some slight similarities in data with broader time domain metrics.