Student Poster Session

 This study investigated the relationship between taking Psychology courses and measures of empathy and alter-centrism. We hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between completion of psychology courses and measures of empathy and alter-centrism. Participants (n=1,248) were recruited through the 2019-20 Psi Beta National Research Project. 

 In a time of heightened tension in the United States, we explored how defendant race (White vs. Black/African American) impacts verdicts, culpability ratings, and credibility ratings in an aggravated battery trial. 

 This study explored the effect of defendant race on guilt in the context of a murder trial. Participants read a trial vignette with either a Black or White defendant. Contrary to predictions the White defendant was viewed as more culpable, less credible, and more likely to receive a guilty verdict. 

 The basic purpose of color vision is to differentiate objects; however, color has also become a translation of emotion, evoking certain emotions based on hue and saturation (Zenter, 2001). Review of literature reveals more recent studies have shown that color choices can be driven by emotion (Jonauskaite, Althaus, Dael, Dan, & Mohr, 2019). Given that color is a constant environmental factor it is important to continue researching the concept of color's impact on emotion and vice versa because color can positively affect cognitive abilities in people (Brooker & Franklin, 2016). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine how color is associated with emotion in addition to how shade preference can impact those associations specifically in the child population. All of the children will be given a shade questionnaire prior to the coloring experiment, then will be read stories that represent different emotions and ask the children to color the page using up to three colors to demonstrate the emotion they are given. 

  The present study sought to examine whether exposing a defendant’s gender and sexual orientation would influence jury verdicts in terms of guilt, confidence, and sentence length. Results and implications are discussed. 

 The Impact of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion on Mental Health: 

 The purpose of this study to examine the effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on the mental health of college students. It is predicted that students who are more likely to seek out support from others and/or engage in self-care practices will experience lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. 

   Navigating adolescence is a difficult task and the film Heathers provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the enigma that is the teenage brain. This research explores the decision making processes of teenagers from a biopsychosocial standpoint all while using Heathers as a pop culture point of reference. 

  The study conducted highlights whether athletes or non-athletes would have a decrease of anxiety and depression from the mindful meditation practice. Participants take a baseline survey, then they watch a 10 minute mindful meditation video. and then they take a post test with the same test from the baseline test.