All posts by mkclary

Congratulations Ben!

Ben Campbell, class of 2022, completed a project titled Effects of Elicited Jealousy on Threatened Masculinity and Relational Aggression in Emerging Adult Men. This project was supervised by Dr. Findley-Van Nostrand and Ben received a grant for his research from Psi Chi!

Below is the abstract so you can learn more about the study and all of the great work Ben did!

“This paper is a two-study investigation of the effects of jealousy on threatened masculinity and relational aggression use in emerging adult men (Study 1, age 18-25, N = 151;Study 2, N = 163). The project aimed to expand on previous literature of precarious manhood theory (Vandello et al., 2008) and jealousy (DeSteno et al., 2006), but examining relational aggression instead of overt forms. The goal of Study 1 was to see if friendship jealousy with a friendship dyad affected felt masculinity and relational aggression use. Study 2 aimed to expand on findings from Study 1, and investigate if there were also differences based on friend group size (i.e., friendship dyad vs friend group). A jealousy manipulation was created to elicit feelings of friendship jealousy on feelings of threatened masculinity and relational aggression. Results from Study 1 found that participants in the jealousy condition reported feeling less masculine, used more relational aggression towards their peer, and also felt several negative emotions(anger, distress, discomfort, threatened). Study 2 findings replicated those of Study 1, but also found that relational aggression was particularly high for those who felt jealousy within the context of a friendship group, rather than friendship dyad, and threatened masculinity mediated the effect of jealousy on relational aggression use. This project provides evidence that men feeling jealousy towards a friend, or group of friends, may result in an increased threat to their masculinity, and cause them to be more relationally aggressive towards their friend(s).”

I asked Ben about his experience doing this project and he said,
“This experience has been amazing. I worked on this project for over a year, so being able to present the final product felt incredible. I’m so happy to have had such a supportive group of faculty and friends to show interest in and listen to the findings and importance of my study!”

Ben, your future is bright and we cannot wait to see what is in store for you!

Finish the Semester Strong!!!!

When you should study and helpful tips ?

  • try to study at least a week before your exam
  • it is best to study each day for a shorter amount of time than to cram the night before
  • if your professor has not posted a study guide: begin reviewing your notes and old quizzes
  • study smarter not harder.. set an alarm for how long you are going to study and do not check your phone during that time (put on airplane mode)
  • study with someone in your class
  • truly test yourself- ask yourself questions and answer them without notes in front of you
  • writing out notes seems to be more effective in remembering information than typing

Resources:

Take Care of Yourself

  • make sure to get enough sleep (ideally 8 hours)
  • eat a good meal before an exam
  • exercise can help reduce stress and is a good study break
  • keep your room and desk clean and tidy , there is the saying “Cluttered desk means cluttered mind” for a reason
  • and remember these tests do not define you!
  • Study hard and then relax on winter break 🙂

Good Luck !

New Majors Orientation

When? Thursday, November 18th from 4:30pm-5:30pm

Where? Life Science Room 502

This event is for anyone who is planning to major in Psychology, recently declared their major in the Psych Department, or is a psychology major and has not been able to attend this event previously.

This meeting will be very informative because we will be discussing topics such as requirements for a degree in Psychology, internship opportunities, concentrations within the major, research, and studying abroad.

If you are not sure what direction you want to go with your degree, that is okay! We are going to be talking about the many different options there are.

P.S. When you attend this event you get to sign the major’s board!

making the most of Your time as a psychology student

  • Research

If research in the field interests you, there are many ways to get involved here at Roanoke!

Also check out the Psychology Blog: http://psych.pages.roanoke.edu/

Areas of Psychology

Roanoke College offers so many amazing psychology courses for their students. Anyone can find a topic that peaks their interest; from Intro to Psychology to Principles of Neuroscience we have it all!

Seven major perspectives of modern psychology
https://www.verywellmind.com/perspectives-in-modern-psychology-2795595

Want to learn all about memory, attention, language, and how we solve problems? If so, you should consider taking Cognitive Psychology. If you want to go further with these topics consider enrolling in Human Memory, 342 Learning, Creative Thinking and Problem- Solving, or Topics in Cognitive Psychology.

Developmental Psychology goes in depth about each life period- discussing cognitive abilities, social setting, work/school situations, health, common obstacles faced, etc . If one specific age range of this class interests you, you can dive deeper by enrolling in Child Development, Adolescent development, or Adult Development and Aging.

Social psychology focuses on relationships and interactions between people. Biological Psychology teaches us that the brain has an impact on our behavior, decision making, etc. This class discusses the research that has explained how different parts of the brain are responsible for different tasks.

Research Methods in Psychology gives students an understanding of how research is conducted, different types of studies, safety of participants, and examining the reliability and validity of a study.

Similar to a statistics class, Quantitative Methods in Psychology interprets data that measures behavior and uses computer programs to discover trends, standard error, median, mean, etc.

Clinical Psychology discusses the history of clinical psychology and the diagnosis of psychological disorders and how to treat them.

These are just some of the courses offered in our Psychology department for a full list and more details you can visit https://www.roanoke.edu/inside/a-z_index/psychology/course_information/psychology_course_descriptions

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Get Connected!

Blog: https://psych.pages.roanoke.edu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcpsychology
Twitter: @RC_Psychology

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/RC-Psychology-8140491/about
Website: http://www.roanoke.edu/inside/a-z_index/psychology

Instagram: rcpsychology

UVA’s openhouse

On December 13th at 4 pm UVA will be having a virtual open house about their applied developmental science graduate program!

To learn more about this program go to: https://education.virginia.edu/academics/educational-psychology-applied-developmental-science

This meeting is an amazing opportunity to ask questions, learn more about what a graduate program entails, and hear other people’s thoughts and perspectives!

To register go to: https://virginia.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtf-qvqjgvHNfmUovnid98ylltkv-Jygws

We hope to see your faces on zoom!

Looking for Spring Classes?

APA recently uploaded an article about “The superpowers of the psychology major” (read more at:https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psychology-teacher-network/introductory-psychology/superpowers-psychology-major ). Author, Dr. Stephen Chew, writes that there are 6 “superpowers” that are learned in a psychology degree. Psychology students are taught: how to learn effectively, manage stress and anxiety, become efficient with completing complex tasks, understand personality traits and differences in people, scientific literacy, and knowledge on biases and prejudices. All of these skills can be effectively applied to almost every aspect of life. Whether that be one’s professional life, family life, home life, social life, etc.

Now it’s time to focus on how YOU can get involved in psychology and achieve these superpowers. This upcoming Spring semester (2022), there will be a total of 11 psychology courses being offered! If you are new to the discipline and need an INQ260, consider taking INQ 260PY – Psyc of Agression. Or enroll in Psyc 101-Intro Psych, which will have multiple time slots. Intro Psyc will teach you the basics of psychology, and help you explore all of the different areas of study. If you have already taken the intro course, the department offers several courses on specific areas of the discipline including: developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, adolescent psychology, research methods, quantitative methods, history of psychology, psychology and the law, and research seminars in social development and neuroscience. There are also opportunities to get involved in research with professors!

If any of these opportunities sound interesting to you, reach out to one of the Psychology Department faculty and/or add one or more of the classes to your Spring schedule. You, too, can achieve the special superpowers of a psychology student!

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Get Connected!

Blog: https://psych.pages.roanoke.edu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcpsychology
Twitter: @RC_Psychology

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/RC-Psychology-8140491/about
Website: http://www.roanoke.edu/inside/a-z_index/psychology

Instagram: rcpsychology

out of the darkness walk

This month is Suicide Prevention month. Roanoke College has decided to organize a walk to spread awareness, show support, and hopefully raise money to help reduce suicide rates.

The walk is on campus from 10-12 and anyone is welcome to participate.

If you want more information or are able to donate please go to https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=281966

I hope to see you guys there!

Graduate school panel

This is a great opportunity for all Roanoke students! At this panel you can ask any questions you have in regards to graduate school. This event takes place tomorrow (9/28) from 12-1 in life science 502! Bonus- there will be pizza for everyone! I hope to see you there!

Dr. Andrea Burchfield

Meet Dr. Andrea Burchfield!
We are excited for her to join our psychology team this year 🙂

Dr. Burchfield gives us a little background information about herself when she writes, “I grew up in Northern Virginia before finding my home in the Roanoke Valley. I earned a BS in Psychology from Radford University in 2006, and then worked as an ABA Therapist with the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center before returning to school. I earned a MA (2012) and PhD (2018) in Psychology from George Mason University, where my research focused on the effects of a mindfulness-based program for parents of children with autism.

I enjoy bringing my clinical experiences into the classroom through sharing relatable stories, exposing students to the practice of mindful meditation, and by using the science of behaviorism to teach course material effectively. My favorite thing about teaching is building relationships with students, and watching them learn and succeed. Therefore, I’m passionate about discovering ways to enhance access to connections, education, and opportunities on campus, particularly for students with disabilities.”

We are lucky to have her here at Roanoke College!

Congratulations to Ben Campbell!

Ben was just granted funding from Psi Chi, the International Honors Society in Psychology, for his research!

Benjamin Campbell ‘22 was recently a part of our Summer Scholars program here at Roanoke, during which he conducted a study that was built from previous work he completed in the Social Development Lab. Ben’s project is titled “Effects of Peer-Elicited Jealousy on Relational Aggression in Men: The Roles of Contingent and Threatened Masculinity”.  He worked very hard on this project, supervised by Dr. Danielle Findley-Van Nostrand. Leading up to the summer, they applied for and were successfully granted $1,118 to fund this and subsequent studies including Ben’s Honors in the Major Project. 

Project Abstract:

I asked Ben to give a summary of his research and he wrote,

“So, this summer I conducted a research project as a Summer Scholar at Roanoke. The study looked at how jealousy affects threatened masculinity and relational aggression use in men. In other words, does feeling jealous in a friendship context with other men also produce feeling less masculine, and thus result in using relational aggression? My results found that following jealousy provoked by male peers, men felt less masculine and used more relational aggression relative to men who were not in the jealousy condition. But, some effects did not emerge as expected. I applied for funding from the “Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant” and was awarded it. So, I got funding to continue my project. In my honors in the major, I plan on expanding on the summer project and potentially investigating other variables that may play into the effects I found this summer. Overall, I thought the summer scholars experience was great, and the funding from Psi Chi is amazing.”

Congratulations again to Benjamin Campbell, keep up the great work and we are excited for what your future has in store.

Welcome Back Social!

When? This Friday ! (September 3rd from 11:45-1:15)

Where? Courtyard between Life Science and Trexler!

Please join your fellow Psychology students and faculty at a Welcome Back social on Friday, 9/3! We will meet in the courtyard area between Life Science and Trexler between 11:45a and 1:15p. Snacks and drinks will be provided, plus you can purchase an RC Psychology shirt! All students are welcome – majors, minors, concentrators, students currently in psychology classes, and students who may potentially take psychology classes in the future! Hope to see you there!

Get connected:

Instagram & Twitter:  #PsychRC
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rcpsychology
Blog:  https://psych.pages.roanoke.edu/
Linked In:  https://www.linkedin.com/groups/RC-Psychology-8140491/about
Website:  http://www.roanoke.edu/inside/a-z_index/psychology