Self-Disclosure and Relational Outcomes: The Context-Dependent Disclosure Intimacy Satisfaction (CDDIS) Model

To further the understanding of disclosure’s role in close relationships I conducted five studies guided by a new theoretical model—the Context-Dependent Disclosure, Intimacy, Satisfaction (CDDIS) model. According to the CDDIS model, disclosure, intimacy, and satisfaction are all connected, and the valence and strength of associations between the constructs depend on the context in which disclosure occurs. Furthermore, the model suggests a developmental trajectory, where disclosure leads to intimacy in one’s relationship, which in turn leads to satisfaction. Specifically I tested three hypotheses: (1) Levels of disclosure are directly associated with levels of intimacy, (2) the strength and valence of these associations between disclosure and intimacy depend on context, and (3) levels of disclosure are indirectly associated with levels of satisfaction. I tested the influence of context on the model by comparing disclosure in online vs. offline contexts, and disclosure in romantic vs. friend relationships. I also examined how different content (self-focused vs. partner-focused) influences the model. The five studies revealed that greater disclosure was associated with higher intimacy when done offline (Studies 1 and 4), and lower intimacy when done online (Studies 1-4), in both the discloser (Study 1) and partner (Studies 2-4). The negative association of online disclosure and intimacy was present in romantic relationships, but not in friendships (Study 1), and it did not hold when the disclosure content focused on one’s partner (Study 5). One factor that helped explain the differences between the outcomes of online and offline disclosure was perceived inclusivity of recipients (Study 4). Finally, as expected, the association between disclosure and satisfaction was mediated through intimacy (Studies 1-5). Implications for disclosure, relational processes, and close relationships are discussed

Social connectivity and HIV risk behavior: mobile phones and sexuality in Yaoundé youth culture

This study is about changing culture. It deals with the acquisition of a mobile phone by young people in Yaoundé (Cameroon), its level of usage or of social connectivity, and the role it might have in HIV transmission. I examine how the use of a mobile phone impacts courtship, and how it creates and facilitates not only flirtatious behavior, but also unwanted sexual solicitations. Data results prove that young people embark on social connectivity to attain three social goals, (1) to increase longer-term life chances, (2) to increase means to gain material support and (3) to increase means to maintain self-status in the eyes of peers. They use mobile phones to create social ties that might result in sexual relations where barriers to condom use are involved, and as such it might lead to unsafe sexual encounters. Due to the economic and socio-cultural factors that obstruct the communication for safer sex between young people and their sexual partners – especially sugar daddies/mummies or mbomas – the power to enforce condom use is rarely equal. Data results prove that in Yaoundé, young people’s risky sexual practices are exacerbated by the mboma syndrome. Through a cross-cultural conceptual approach, I compare sexual risk behaviors related to the use of mobile phone among young people of Yaoundé with those of Ghent (Belgium), enabling me to assess distinctive sexual values that exist in different cultural backgrounds

Purely Scientific Terms

Purely Scientific Terms is a collection of personal and memoir essays that explore themes of identity, place, and important relationships

Winthrop University Undergraduate Scholarship & Creative Activity 2018

University College and Winthrop University proudly present Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Activity 2018. This seventh annual University-wide compilation of undergraduate work chronicles the accomplishments of students and faculty mentors from at least 32 academic departments and programs, spanning all five colleges of the university: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Business Administration (CBA), College of Education (COE), College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) and University College (UC).https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/undergradresearch_abstractbooks/1016/thumbnail.jp

The Experience of the Self in Cyberspace: An Experiential Perspective on Social Networking Sites

The growth of social networking sites (SNSs) has led to significant alterations in the dynamics of our interpersonal relationships as well as how we present and experience ourselves (Alloway, Runac, Quershi, & Kemp, 2014). These transformations have important implications for researchers and practitioners in the field of counselling psychology. SNSs have become an integral aspect of many people’s lives and have grown faster and changed more than any other Internet activity over the last decade (Lup, Trub, & Rosenthal, 2015). The primary aim of this study was to explore the experience of the self on SNSs with a focus on understanding online interpersonal interactions and how participants experience their relationship to social media (SM) from an experiential perspective. Eight participants were recruited for this study between the ages of 20 – 41. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to explore participants’ experiences on these platforms. An experiential inductive thematic analysis was utilised to analyse participants’ accounts. The epistemological position adopted was phenomenology and the ontological position was critical realism. Analysis generated five themes and seven sub-themes representing patterned meaning throughout their accounts with a central theme ‘double- edged sword’. The themes were the following: ‘active versus passive use’ (sub-themes: ‘numbing versus stimulating - positive versus negative stimulation’, ‘recognition – social comparison’, ‘perception of oversharing’), ‘perception of control versus loss of control’ (sub-theme: ‘more control in the presentation of the self’, ‘addictive’), ‘virtual versus physical presence’ (sub-theme: ‘virtual versus sensory connectedness’), ‘bridge versus loss of connection’ (sub-theme: ‘surface-level platform’). Findings indicated that participants’ experience of and their relationship to SNSs can be described as a ‘double-edged sword’. Although they experienced positive aspects to SM, including positive ways of connecting to others, all their narratives of their lived experiences included negative consequences of engaging in the use of SM. The findings of the study offer some important insights into the role of SM within these participants’ lives, providing a potential guideline for other therapists and researchers to build upon. The results bring to light the vast complexity of individual and relational experiences that are taking place on SNSs and thus, highlight the potential value in exploring the experiences of clients’ who utilise these sites within a therapeutic setting (Gowen, Deschaine, Gruttadara, & Markey, 2012)

"Crazy B****": Discriminatory Language, Radio Censorship, Regulation, and Enforcement Policies in Canada

This thesis focuses on the censorship, or lack thereof, of discriminatory language on Canadian radio stations. In addition to purely discriminatory based language, this project also investigated the ways in which race, gender, sexuality, and ability were employed in popular music. Two data sets were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively to find that private and public radio stations in Canada are more likely to censor discriminatory or explicit content than their community station counterparts. Further, discriminatory language based on gender, is not only more likely to be contained in popular music, but it is also less likely to be censored in comparison to language based on racial or sexual orientation based discrimination. The first data set included 485 songs from the Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1985 and 2015. The second data set included 2818 songs from a six-month period (May-October 2015) of the top twenty charts from 27 different radio stations in Canada, including private, public, and community stations

The Cowl - v. 75 - n. 13 - Jan 27, 2011

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 75 - Number 1 - January 27, 2011. 36 pages

Working towards 'Gaytopia' in LGBTQ+ young adult literature : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Creative Writing, Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

Master of Creative Writing thesis consists of a critical essay titled "Working Towards 'Gaytopia' in LGBTQ+ Young Adult Literature", and the opening section of a contemporary young adult novel titled Skybourne. Both sections explore the ways in which LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in young adult (YA) literature and provide insight into the complexities of LGBTQ+ identity. The critical component investigates how the treatment of LGBTQ+ characters in YA literature has evolved over time through an analysis of core texts from each stage of the literature's development. Since the first depiction of YA homosexuality in 1969, pioneering LGBTQ+ YA texts have been plagued by isolated and lonely queer characters who undergo painful romantic experiences and traumatic ‘coming out’ story arcs with explicit links to death. This thesis demonstrates that over the subsequent decades, LGBTQ+ YA literature has evolved to portray LGBTQ+ characters who are able to form supportive friendships, feel a sense of LGBTQ+ community, have an affirming queer romantic experience, and exhibit more diverse LGBTQ+ and ethnic identities. I argue that this significant development in LGBTQ+ YA literature indicates a continued deepening of understanding of the complexity of queer identities and hopefully points towards a brighter, rainbow-coloured future for both LGBTQ+ YA characters and LGBTQ+ young people in society. Skybourne, the creative component of the thesis, is the first section of what will be a complete young adult novel. Skybourne is closely related to the critical component in that it contemplates many of the same ideas surrounding the portrayal of LGBTQ+ YA characters. It centres around 17-year-old Faatina and her uncertainties regarding her own sexuality, and her resulting discovery and acceptance of her asexual identity. Running parallel to this is the out-and-proud Shiloh, who identifies as genderfluid, and who complicates Faatina's LGBTQ+ journey when they form a strong connection with each other. Weaved throughout the issues of queer sexual and gender identities are many other aspects to the characters' storylines and personalities. These include: struggles with anxiety and stress; the tensions that arise between people of different ethnicities, different classes, and different life experiences; and the courage required to follow your passion in spite of adversity and self-doubt. Skybourne aims to join the ongoing conversation within the LGBTQ+ YA genre by adding to the growing diversity in LGBTQ+ YA literature and hope for a real-life 'gaytopia'

The romantic baby boomer: A successful aging analysis of romantic comedy film trailers

On any given Friday night, theaters across the United States are filled with teenagers and young adults, often to see the new Blockbuster that has just been released. The film industry has responded by producing content specifically targeted to this demographic. Unfortunately, this has left a major portion of the population waiting for material that is relatable. Even when there is a character over the age of 50, they are regularly for comic relief or portrayed as weak and incapable. The recent trend of romantic comedies incorporating storylines for older adults is still underrepresented in academic research. This thesis set out to understand the extent of successful aging content in romantic comedies with leading actresses and actors of the baby boomer generation. Content and textual analysis of 41 film trailers found a lack of individuality with many adhering to successful aging concepts and traditional gender roles. Additionally, age and associated effects including anxiety of death and the midlife transformation are supposed to be overcome, often with romance. Nevertheless, as directed in successful aging active engagement, sexual lives, high wealth and prime physical bodies was expected. However, the older characters are continuously compared to younger characters and both men and women desire the youthful bodies. This participatory research adds to the body of research on film trailers and aging in film, but is also applicable to the film industry as new films should include a variety of older characters in roles that embrace aging instead of pitying older adults