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Volume 20, Issue 2 Spring 2019

Congratulations to the new members and Executive Board of Psi Chi!

This Spring, Providence College’s chapter of the International Psychology Honor Society, Psi Chi, welcomes 26 new members. These 26 members have earned an average cumulative GPA of 3.72 and psychology GPA of 3.74. This dedication to scholarship has ranked these members in the top 17% of their fellow students. The new members are Carina Alessandro, Sydney Amaral, Alexandra Baker, Veronica Bohl, Ella Clifford, Graham Collopy, Kellie Condon, Sabrina Cunnane, Alexandra DeFrance, Kayla Egan, Patrick Fuller, Mia Gheduzzi, Elliot Gohn, Ellen Griffin, Katherine Mandarakas, Marisa Marino, Samantha Matzerath, Cameron McCauley, Elizabeth McNulty, Joanna Meyer, Cassandra Phillips, Kate Spitalnic, Caroline Tietz, Charlotte Tully, and Brianna Waldmann.

Psi Chi has also had a recent transition of power, with a new Executive Board recently being appointed. Psi Chi’s new executive board is comprised of Annie Archard (president), Allie Powers (vice president), Allyson Goldstein (secretary), and Mary Manganaro (treasurer).

Congratulations to both the new inductees and executive board members on your incredible accomplishments!

Psychology Department Newsletter �1

Table of Contents

New Psi Chi Members 1

The Psychology Class…. 2

How I Want to Revolt… 5

Classical Conditioning… 6

How to Turn Lemons to…. 9

Phenomenol(ogical) Moon 11

The Importance of Mindset 11

Healthy Living tips… 13

Perspective on Healing… 15

Combining Future Passions… 16

Oh, the Places They’ll Go 19

Faculty Announcements 21

Letter from the Editor 23

ANALYZE THIS PROVIDENCE COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY


The Psychology Class That Changed the Way I See Myself and Others

Ella Clifford

Over the course of the past three years at PC, I have taken countless psychology courses in order to better understand the behavior of human beings. I have memorized key psychological principles and theories, examined the most pervasive mental illnesses and disorders, and identified the gold standard of research methodology. But until this past semester, I had never questioned the effect of societal expectations on my behavior. Psychology of Gender (POG) was the first course that demanded this of me.

I had wanted to take POG since I was a freshman at PC. Not only because it fulfilled one of my major’s requirements, but also because it seemed truly relevant considering contemporary social and political discussions concerning the distinction between social gender and biological sex. Arguments over how to identify oneself and the disparity of natural rights between various gender groups had been a staple in the media and daily news reports, and POG presented itself as an opportunity to become better informed about those issues.

Before taking POG, I believed that I was a person who had an accurate understanding of my own beliefs and who had been able to evade social stereotypes—remaining untouched from society’s expectations for someone of my gender, my class, and my race. However, within the first few weeks of the semester, I was struck with how naïve I had been. Not only had I failed to see the multivariate ways that my life had been shaped by my place and identity in society, but I also had never questioned how my unconscious perceptions and actions had affected others.

My lack of awareness first became evident during a video challenge my professor asked each of us to complete: The Gender Tag. The Gender Tag is a set of questions that was created to prompt conversations about gender. Individuals who want to participate may upload a video of their answers, and their video will be added to a playlist of other responses. The playlist serves as a resource for anyone who wants to hear another’s perspective on gender or learn more about how gender influences our lives. The tag begins with questions such as “What pronouns honor you?” and “How do you self-identify your gender?” – questions that have innumerable answers and validations. These came easy to me: she, her, hers, and cis-female (I was assigned female at birth and I identify as female), but then the tag asks about the deeper choices you make. “Talk about your choices with body hair. What do you choose to shave, or choose not to shave?” and “Do you want to be the primary caretaker for any children you may have?” These questions are as complicated as they are straightforward because I suspect many, including myself, have never asked ourselves why we do certain things. Do I shave because I like the feeling of smooth legs or do I shave because it is “expected” of me? Do I want to be at home with any children I may



have because I want that time with them more than I want to work or do I want to stay home because I believe that is how it is “supposed” to be? I rambled through my responses and completed my video before the due date, but I continued to think about my explanation for my actions for the next few weeks. I have since reached some conclusions, but I still have many unanswered questions.

POG also highlighted my lack of understanding about how society, including other members of society, shapes each and every one of us. Your feelings concerning another person may subconsciously influence how you act toward that individual, subsequently influencing how they behave—and that is a lot of power to wield. A quintessential example of this unconscious influence can be found in any Child Psychology textbook, the idea that a parent’s attitude toward his or her child will influence the child’s behavior. If a parent holds a traditional mindset concerning the behavior of males, believing that boys are inclined to play more and read less, one may provide one’s sons with more outdoor toys and less books. As a result, one’s son may develop athletic skills while his reading potential fades into the background. Now this seems like a basic psychological principle (unconscious thoughts influencing conscious actions), but I had never before considered how it took form in my own life.

I quickly descended down a mental spiral as I wondered which pieces of myself were genuine choices I made and which decisions resulted as a consequence of societal beliefs. Was my whole life simply a proof of the theory of self-fulfilling prophecies?

Do I like to wear heels because I enjoy the experience or do I wear heels because I have been conditioned to see it as an acceptable shoe choice for a young woman?

Do I buy toy trucks for my younger male cousin because he truly enjoys them or because the blue colored aisle at the children’s store reinforces the association between boys and “outdoorsy” activities?

If I had been raised somewhere else, surrounded by a different culture and different social norms, would I even be pursuing my current degree?

While most of these questions remain unanswered, I have now learned to be more aware of the choices I make and how they may impact others.

Finally, POG taught me a lesson that I believe our nation and the world needs a refresher course on: stereotypes are overgeneralized beliefs that don’t hold true when researched. Many of the gender stereotypes that are a constant fixture in movies and television shows, such as “women are more emotional than men,” “women are more nurturing than men,” and “women are more social than men,” are horribly inaccurate. There is no way to quantifiably say that all women are more emotional than all men. There is no way to quantifiably say that all men are more assertive than all women. There is no perfect population that can be generalized to “all.” “All” also does not allow for any outliers, and



there are exceptions to “social rules” everywhere you look. Have you ever felt like you do not fit into the categories that society has placed you in?

I have, and I know that this normal because stereotypes are not facts, but rather they are misguided assumptions created in an attempt to categorize people. This societal categorization occurs not because it is accurate, but because it is easier for our minds to manage and accept organized information. By labeling people, we draw lines and create codes of behavior. While this allows for a more relaxed set of social maneuvers for some, this categorization can be harmful to others because it bases everyday conduct on a few overarching characteristics that do not apply to all members of a group. It is here where POG outlines a large issue in our acceptance of colloquial opinions—common beliefs about men and women do not acknowledge the variability in human beings. We all possess certain discrepancies when we compare ourselves to the socially accepted characteristics of what it means to be “male” and “female” because these roles are over-generalizations.

Psychology of Gender, despite causing me initial discomfort because I was challenged to identify why I act and feel the way I do, is one of the most rewarding classes I have taken because it has made me aware of my influence on others. I know when I leave PC it is a class that I will carry with me and I sincerely recommend it to all psychology majors. In 2019, I hope that our country, and our world as whole, learns to consider the impact we have on others and to step back and question if the beliefs we that we have adamantly clung to still make sense in the context of our modern world. Even if society’s leaders make grand claims about a particular group or standard, each of us should take it upon ourselves to determine our beliefs for ourselves because too often the repetition of one person’s ideas leads to the perpetuation of wrongful and unethical beliefs. So I encourage you to ask yourself, what does gender mean to me? Start the conversation.

For more information on the gender tag:

https://ashleywylde.com/videos/the-gender-tag-project/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjzpRvXNh7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf9h0y6QoCw


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf9h0y6QoCw


How I Want to Revolt: The Need for Greater Coordination Shamir Desir

During freshman year, I declared a Psychology major and Spanish minor. After taking Human Physiology and Health Sciences in high school and HPM 101 my freshman year, I developed an interest in the healthcare system and the care of individual patients, and have maintained that throughout my studies. This semester for my internship, I was a community organizer through the Health Care Revolt at the George Wiley Center in Pawtucket. Entering this position, my three goals were to gain a greater understanding of the healthcare system (specifically regarding individuals suffering from inadequate resources), develop the capacity to organize and mobilize individuals and organizations around healthcare, and to gain experiential insight into the academic realm of Psychology. My specific tasks consisted of attending various meetings, assisting with administrative tasks, and developing the Capitol Hill multidisciplinary team.

Being hands-on with my learning about the healthcare system and experiences patients encounter on a daily basis was a priority for me. I’m glad I met and built relationships with people in the community, like LaJuan Allen from City Hall and Malaysia King from the Sojourner House. LaJuan Allene is the Community Relations Coordinator at City Hall. Malaysia King is a Healthy Families Advocate at the Sojourner House, which aims to promote healthy relationships by providing support, advocacy, and education for victims of sexual and domestic violence. My favorite memory from this internship was attending the Trinity Square multidisciplinary team. Everyone at the table spoke so passionately about the issues and were persistent in creating attainable solutions for the patients. You’re probably wondering what exactly a multidisciplinary is. According to the Health Care Revolt MDT explanation document, a multidisciplinary team can be described as “teams of care professionals who gather regularly to communicate about and coordinate the care of local community residents.” Generally, a multidisciplinary team consists of health care professionals, community organizers, representatives from various organizations, police officers, and more. But it can also depend on the mission of the team. I had the privilege of developing one for the Capitol Hill/ Smith Hill area in Providence.

“… a multidisciplinary team can be described as ‘teams of care professionals who gather regularly to communicate about and coordinate the care of local community residents’.”



Classical Conditioning Conned me of $3000 Ava Dussault

Have you ever purchased a top that you absolutely adored when you saw it on the rack, only to take it home and have it sit in the bottom of a drawer? Have you gone to a restaurant and ordered twice the amount of food you could consume because those truffle fries just looked so delicious in the picture on the menu? Have you ordered the newest gadget online because it advertised that it would make your life a hundred times simpler, just to have the item sit on your desk collecting dust? We’ve all been there. Why? We are all subject to classical conditioning.


Although there were several frustrations, I learned a lot about myself with regards to punctuality and organization. I tried not to let the problems of my internship affect me personally, but it did at times. As a PC student, it’s so different stepping off campus because it feels like a totally different world. We’re not too far from the State House, but we’re in the Smith Hill community. Did you know Smith Hill is the part of Providence with the highest rates of mental illness? Even after a semester at my internship, I still couldn’t tell you what exactly is being done about it. Through this internship, I’ve been thinking about my future and what kind of environment I would like to work in. Being one of the first people to work at a grassroots organization was hard, but needed. The intentions, goals, and purpose are there, but executing the plans effectively was the hard part. We don’t have a healthcare system, we have a market. We need more people who genuinely care about people more than they do getting money. A dream of mine would be to open my own counseling center, and I feel I can do it. Through my counseling center, I would

reach out to all groups of people, especially people of color because of the stigmas and experiences they face. I would have control over my own schedule, create my own values, hire people face-to-face, and develop a more coordinated care system in my community.

“A dream of mine would be to open my own consoling center, and I feel I can do it”

By attending several meetings, one of the many things I’ve learned is that people have problems that are multidimensional, whether it’s housing, income insecurities, alcohol or substance abuse, mental or physical abuse, the list goes on. One problem can cause another. People don’t always get the help they need because they might not want it, it’s not easily accessible to them. Even though I had a lot of frustrations during my internship, I learned a lot professionally and personally, and will use my knowledge to better aid the community in the future.


“Here, the Coachella advertisers use classical conditioning to

predispose their audience to buy Coachella tickets… Coachella is

not physically selling a good time, they are selling tickets to a music

festival. ”

When Coachella begins advertising ticket sales for its musical extravaganza, it floods social media outlets such as Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube with sponsored posts highlighting only the best part of the event. They show people in their late teens and early twenties having the time of their lives in the beautiful Californian weather in lavish outfits—passing celebrities, watching starts perform, and munching on unique and delectable foods. Here, the Coachella advertisers use classical conditioning to predispose their audience to buy Coachella tickets. The unconditioned stimulus is having a good time and the unconditioned response is attempting to attain that good time. Seeking fun or happiness is part of the human condition, so most humans would have this


Originally discovered, accidentally, by Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov, classical conditioning introduces a new stimulus to an already naturally occurring stimulus and response sequence so as to eventually elicit that same response from just the introduced stimulus. Many marketing companies use this technique to sell their brands, foods, events, and gadgets without us even realizing it. Recently I made a $3,000 dent in my bank account after making one snap decision that I was unknowingly being classically conditioned to make for months. I bought Coachella tickets. If you’ve never heard of this event, it’s one of the world’s largest music festivals, boasting three days of the best food, fashion, and famous celebrities to the sound of nearly 200 different performers. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the deserts of Palm Springs, California and some spend obscene amounts of money for VIP tickets and other luxurious living accommodations. Others scrape together what they can to buy general admissions tickets and camp in 110-degree weather just to experience the Coachella magic. This year Ariana Grande, one of the biggest stars in the music industry, is the festival’s featured headliner, but a majority of the performers are relatively obscure and many of the average festival-goers don’t even know who they are.


response to most “fun” situations, not solely Coachella. The Coachella advertisers receive this inherent quality and target it be parting a good time with Coachella tickets, the tickets being the conditioned stimulus. Coachella is not physically selling a good time, they are selling tickets to a music festival. As college-aged kids like me continue to see these ads constantly in the media, we

eventually begin to associate having a good time with Coachella. This elicits the new conditioned response of buying the Coachella tickets (attempting to attain the good time).


Before learning about Pavlov and his classical conditioning, I really thought that this phenomenon

only occurred in laboratory settings. Upon further learning about this method, however, it makes perfect sense that classical conditioning would be used to sell new inventions and products because people are unfamiliar with them and therefore don’t know have a natural response. Through classical conditioning, the merchants are able to associate their products with something that their audience has a natural response to—the response that will bring in the most money. Coachella is extremely talented at using the naturally occurring stimulus of people having a good time with the naturally occurring response of having a good time in order to sell their tickets, making people think that the best way to have a good time is through their experience. It is an extremely smart method because it can sell nearly anything. After realizing that Coachella probably is not as extravagant and as much of a good time as it is advertised (even though we already had tickets), my friends and I decided to do the same thing Coachella did to sell us our tickets: we put ads on our Instagram accounts of young people having a good time, and found buyers to purchase all six of our tickets!

Think About It! Isn’t it crazy how many different ways Pavlov’s classical conditioning has been applied

to other fields and used in various mediums? We are surrounded by psychological phenomena everyday! Psychology is not only an interesting area of study, but also a

source of information that fuels our every day experiences.


“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”


How to Turn Lemons into Lemonade Marisa Marino

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is the quintessential solution phrase adults often relay to young children when teaching them how to persevere in the face of obstacles. From a young age, we are taught to work with the ingredients life hands us. Coping s k i l l s a r e e s s e n t i a l t o understanding life’s recipe, helping us turn life’s lemons into a sweet glass of lemonade.

As an intern at the Hasbro Children’s Hospital for the Partial Hospital Program, I have been able to observe how the program staff provides patients with the proper tools and strategies to live at home safely. Teaching the patients coping skills to handle different types of challenges they face on a daily basis

is a crucial factor in accomplishing

this goal.

As a patient begins to shut down, withdrawing physically and mentally from a community meeting, a milieu therapist asks the patient if she would like to “take space.” Before lunch another patient grabs his cup of play doh, slowly mending it in his hands, as this helps him to finish eating his meal consisting of pudding, cheese and crackers. Another patient frequents in her diary, writing down her feelings and thoughts, which for her is easier than verbally expressing the voice inside her head. Although each patient is unique in their behaviors and the experiences they face each day, they all share one commonality: the use of coping skills to handle challenges.

Coping skills are methods and strategies that help us manage stress or difficult emotions. They can be emotion-focused mechanisms, which help us to manage our emotions when stress, anxiety, anger, or any negative feeling begins to manifest within due to an external event. They can also be problem-focused mechanisms, a process in which a person identifies and removes the cause of the stress they experience. Each day at the program during the “Skills


Building” block patients learn how to use adaptive coping mechanisms, which are healthy and effective skills that help us to manage stressful situations. From listening to a Color Walk CD to meditating to speaking privately with a staff member, the patients learn a variety of methods to cope with their thoughts and emotions. Patients are also taught how to use a creative activity as a coping mechanism during stressful or frustrating times. I often watch some of the patients molding play doh, drawing, journaling, taking space, and coloring mandalas to cope with negative thoughts, manage emotions and prevent behavior from manifesting into maladaptive behavior. Each patient has a specific program plan that allows them to use different coping skills specific to their needs. For example, one patient loves to color and draw, so her go-to coping skill is a crayon and paper. One coping skill I particularly love is the “Zen table,” where you draw random lines on a sheet paper and fill in those abstract shapes by drawing in different patterns. Although I felt somewhat elementary when I began drawing patterns and shapes with crayola markers to create my own Zen table, I quickly found myself thoroughly enjoying this coping mechanism. I now currently use it in my personal life. Zen tables have been especially helpful this semester with regards to coping with any negative emotions and heightened levels of stress that result from my school work. When I feel myself becoming anxious or overwhelmed by the amount of assignments I have due, I break out my markers and begin to draw. What I love about Zen tables is that they eliminate the pressure to strive for perfection. Often, I struggle to finish projects because I feel as though I can always make them better. My Zen tables are certainly not the next Picasso, however, I am perfectly content with that because when I create a Zen table I feel a sense of calm as I de-stress. Undoubtedly, another reason why coping mechanisms are important is because they play a significant role in developing resilience. Last semester I took a Psychology of Resilience course where I learned about how psychologists define resilience, what factors impact resilience, and how to develop resilience. In essence, resilience is the ability to positively adapt to adversity and to persevere when faced with obstacles. Interning at the Partial Hospital Program has allowed me to witness how coping skills have helped the patients develop resilience. By using the various coping skills they are taught, the patients are able to handle a challenge, rather than caving into their emotional response. Coping skills are ordinary skills that we all have the ability to incorporate into our own lives. Next time you feel stressed sketch a picture, find a peaceful space when you feel angry, or mold play doh when you feel anxious. Discover what coping skills work best for you, and let them help you make lemons into lemonade.



The Importance of Mindset in Solving Problems Liz Perrone

Completing an internship had never been on the short list of my college goals. I thought they were experiences vital to the world of business students, but did not have a place in my world of psychology, where I have known since freshman year I wanted to pursue higher education, and naively assumed no facility would let me intern without some higher level certification. However, the more I thought about it, I realized an internship in psychology is “a choose your own adventure” opportunity. The applications of psychology to the real world are endless, which means you could find an internship in untraditional places. For me, I knew I was interested in pursuing occupational therapy, and would need observation hours to apply to graduate programs. A light bulb moment spurred me to seek out occupational therapy clinics willing to have me as an intern, and I found the Providence VA Medical Center. I figured this was the perfect opportunity to gain observation hours, learn about psychology and biology in occupational therapy, and complete PSY 350: Psychology Internship.

At first, I felt I was cheating the system a bit, because I did not know how much point blank classic psychology I would observe compared to someone interning at a mental health clinic or in a psychiatrist’s office. For some background, occupational therapy at the VA helps veterans with physical or cognitive disabilities utilize adaptive equipment to continue their


Phenomenol(ogical) Moon

One thousand seventy-nine miles wide

With craters deeper than 4 miles

Is the moon that causes our ocean tides

And the harvesting farmers to smile

Its immensity is undeniable

Its massiveness is quantifiable

But when I put my hand to my face

An interesting thought takes place

And no truer truth could ever be rung:

The moon is smaller than my thumb Written by Dara Cuffe



activities of daily living. To my surprise, as early as day one, I saw concepts I had learned in psychology classes being applied to OT. For example, aA patient with dementia was given brightly colored plates and utensils to help with eating, and. I learned in Psychology of Aging that these bright colors attract the attention of people with dementia, making them want to eat. Once I learned psychology plays a huge role in occupational therapy, there was no containing my enthusiasm and eagerness to continue uncovering more connections between the two fields.

One of the major themes that underlies both psychology and occupational therapy, and that I consistently observed throughout my internship, is the importance of mindset. One of the most common appointments at the VA is a DME, or durable medical equipment, assessment. Patients are asked several questions about their ability to complete everyday activities, like dressing, cooking, cleaning, driving, or bathing. If they have difficulty completing any of these tasks, OTs issue adaptive equipment which can help in performing the tasks. Now you usually see two reactions among patients to the distribution of this equipment. The first group walks out with everything offered to them, overjoyed, claiming, “It’s like Christmas!” The second group is hesitant to accept equipment, or brushes off their need for it altogether. They fear losing their independence if they become reliable on using a cane or shower chair. The mindset difference between the two groups involves how they view the equipment’s purpose. Adaptive equipment for activities of daily living does not eliminate independence, but enhances it, something recognized by the first group, who had an optimistic mindset.

The importance of mindset is a central lesson I learned during my internship, and its application extends beyond OT and psychology, but to any career field or

goal setting in general. Your mindset is the precursor to any challenge you face. Approaching your goals with an optimistic mindset sets you up for success. I observed that patients with a positive mindset were more likely to notice and be excited about their treatment progress. How these patients perceived challenges was half the battle to overcoming them. Additionally, their mindset trickled over to their attitudes towards life, and they were the patients most likely to enthusiastically ask questions about my career plans, and share stories about their past experiences.

My original worry about not knowing how much psychology could be found in occupational therapy is easily swept aside by this lesson of mindset. Mindset is a psychology aspect that permeates not only occupational therapy, but any career from the sciences to the business world. You could sit and worry about the future, wondering if you’re taking the right steps for success, or you can reframe how you view situations. An optimistic mindset and a positive attitude are not only necessary in becoming an occupational therapist, but becoming someone who is capable of handling the challenges life throws their way.

Retrospectively, I would not have even considered taking PSY 350 if it had not been for my change in mindset. At first, I viewed an internship as an unnecessary step towards achieving my goals. However, with a change in mindset, I was able to reframe how I looked at the “traditional” path for a psychology degree. Internships are not just a business school requirement, but can provide beneficial experience to a psychology student as well.


Healthy Living Tips for College Students Michael Pettinato

The difficulty of being a college student and living on campus is often disregarded. Noisy dorms, restricted food options, stressful exams, and a busy social life—college students have to juggle it all. Living in traditional dorms for two years, experiencing two years of DWC, and being involved in a plethora of organizations on campus have all led me to appreciate all of the work that a college student does. Being a psychology major, I have learned a great deal about little tips and tricks that we can do as students to try and live healthier lives here on campus. Through making small adjustments to your everyday life such as exercising, deep breathing, and sprucing up your living space, you can enhance your time here at college. Between having classes, studying, and wanting to spend time with friends, it isn’t always easy to make it to the gym. However, there are many proven benefits that stem from exercise. Even if it’s being at the gym or track for 30 minutes, taking a walk around campus, or taking the stairs to your dorm room, fitting those little activities into your schedule can help. Exercise can make you feel happier, help increase your energy levels, reduce your risk for chronic diseases, and even help your brain health and memory as well. Personally, I find that I don’t have time to go to the gym during the day due to my class schedule. So, I go to the gym late at night. By going at the end of the day, I find that it is nice to have the time to reflect on how the day went as I exercise. Also, I recommend brining a friend with you, for it motivates you, makes it more exciting, and makes it more enjoyable. I always leave feeing refreshed, clear-minded, and ready for a good night’s sleep. Another thing that you can introduce into your daily routine as a college student is the idea of deep-breathing techniques. In fact, Providence College’s own Dr. O’Keeffe, the chair of the Psychology Department, utilizes this technique in her classes. At the beginning of each class, Dr. O’Keeffe has her students either lower or close their eyes. Then, the students partake in the first deep breath called “release”, which is used to release all the anxiety, negative feelings, and other things that are going on in our lives that do not pertain to class. The second deep breath, “ground”, is to center ourselves in the space that we are in (the classroom). Finally, the third deep breath “open” is used to open us up to all of the learning opportunities that we are about to encounter in class. I met with Dr. O’Keeffe to ask her some questions about how she adopted this technique. As a Health Psychologist, Dr. O’Keeffe explained to me how she has always been one to promote student



health. She described the idea behind it to me: “to infuse promotion of wellbeing across the curriculum, more than just the student health center, and everyone can do little things to help this.” Dr. O’Keeffe once attended an academic resilience session that started off with three deep breaths, and she fell in love with the idea. That idea being to promote mindfulness in class, allowing students to become comfortable and attentive.

Dr. O’Keeffe tries “to infuse promotion of wellbeing across the curriculum, more than just the student health center, and everyone can do little things to help this.”

This idea of deep-breathing is helpful not only inside the classroom, but outside the classroom as well. After reading a Student Health 101 article titled “3 Stress Reduction Techniques to Calm Your Interview Anxiety” I learned of other ways to utilize this technique. The article recommends taking six deep breaths before an interview to calm the anxiety you might have beforehand. Recently, I applied to be an Orientation Leader here on campus and I tried this technique before my final interview. After my six deep breaths, I felt calmed, clear- minded, and ready for the interview. In the interview, I felt prepared and ready for whatever questions they had for me! On campus, you likely have at least one roommate. On top of that, you have a whole floor of people that you live with as well. Zooming out even more, you are a part of an entire building full of fellow students. More often than not, there is something happening in your general vicinity that makes it difficult to sleep. There are many techniques that you can do as a person to help improve your sleep quality, and along with that there are also many things that you can do to improve your sleeping space to help this as well. Let’s discuss a few. Regarding your room or living space, it’s recommended to decorate with blue or yellow toned colors because they are more calming as opposed to red for example. Along with this, getting your own lamp that has a yellowish, more subtle tint to it is more conducive for sleeping as opposed to the bright, fluorescent lights that we have in our dorms. Keeping your space clear and free of clutter will allow for your mind to feel the same, because if you have a messy room it will most likely add to your stress which is unhelpful for your sleep. To add,


Want to know more about Student Health

101?

Providence College’s Student Health 101 is a newsletter

dedicated to discussing and promoting student health. Its

tropics range from healthy meals at Ray to ways in which to stop procrastinating to the effects of caffeine on health. Take a look at some of these

amazing pieces athttps://providence.readsh101.com


having your bed looking appealing sets the tone for wanting to go to bed at night, whereas if it’s unmade and plain then you are less likely to desire to spend time in it. Finally, and most importantly, it is important that we only associate our beds with sleep. Try to do homework at your desk or in the library, rather than in bed. All of this may seem like a lot as a reader but taking small steps toward these suggestions makes it easy and possible. Through adding deep-breathing techniques in our daily lives, tweaking our spaces, and increasing our exercise time we can begin to live a healthier college life.

The Power of Perspective and the Healing Process Jake Whitney

In Dr. Spiegler’s Personality course, we discussed the ways in which the phenomenological strategy is one of several approaches to describe, predict, and explain each person’s behaviors and psychological uniqueness. According to this strategy, two realities are used to view the world: objective reality and subjective reality. The objective reality is what most people would agree is occurring in a given situation. The subjective reality is more interesting and involves only how a particular individual perceives that situation. At the core of the phenomenological strategy is the idea that personality is characterized by our own internal frame of reference which creates our subjective reality. The phenomenological psychologist George Kelly contributes to this strategy the concept of constructive alternativism, which states that there are always alternative ways to viewing the world. In

other words, we are able to willfully perceive our everyday problems differently, equipping us with more control over situations than we may be aware of. Kelly’s theory that there are varying perspectives on the world extends beyond personality and can be applied to health and the healing process. In the Netflix documentary, Heal, spiritual healers, physicians, and scientists come together to discuss the power of the mind and how it may be more involved in healing from disease than we acknowledge. In this way, despite what modern Western medicine would suggest, the mind may be capable of expediting the healing process when we accept

alternative views of the nature of disease. Even when we feel hopeless following a devastatingly poor diagnosis and subsequent prognosis, there may still be other ways of increasing our lifespan by changing the way we perceive our condition. According to the experts in this documentary, we can only heal properly if our mind is



in the right state of mind because that is the time when the helpful chemicals in our bodies are at their highest and the harmful chemicals at their lowest. Chronic stress and other emotions like fear and anxiety overwhelm our bodies and prevent us from properly healing. Long-term heightened stress responses are really effective at derailing our body’s natural homeostasis leading to a myriad of conditions you hear friends and family being diagnosed with everyday.

One mechanism by which poor physiological conditions can manifest in chronic illness and an inability for the body to heal is through deregulated sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system control. Our bodies are given the tools to heal only when the parasympathetic nervous system is dominating because our mind and our organs are at ease to function normally. However, sympathetic nervous system domination throws our bodies into a state of alarm and our organs do not function

normally because all of the resources are being used to fight or escape from a threat. In the 21st

century, chronic stress and thus prolonged states of sympathetic control are due to threats related to social anxiety, financial security, caring for children, and so much more. If you are better equipped to handle your responsibilities and life’s challenges, perhaps by meditating or doing yoga regularly, your body will be allowed to relax more often and return itself to a state of natural healing. It is by no means an easy task, but changing how we view our reality may have direct implications on our health. A woman recovering from cancer who is shown throughout the documentary is quoted saying that she has realized “life is as beautiful or as terrible as you make it.” Her journey testifies to how someone given literally months to live can beat the odds and live for years to come by changing our perspective on everyday living to be conducive to healing. Taken together, both Kelly’s contributions to psychology and the testimonies of experts and patients in Heal give hope to those who have received life changing diagnoses or those who wish to prevent disease in their everyday lives.

Combining Future Passions and Future Dreams: Hippotherapy Allie Powers

I continue to be amazed by the vastly different types of therapies that are available to individuals struggling with their mental and/or physical health. Everything from clinical therapy to therapeutic swimming has been used help individuals overcome their diagnoses. I have begun to realize that the field of psychology has endless opportunities to combine what you currently love with what you hope to do in the future. Within this realization, I have come to find the value in combining the things you love with future hopes and dreams. When adding in true love and desire, you become more passionate about what you are doing and how you are pursuing your dreams. You also become more invested in your work and are able to further your education on your own, you enjoy telling others about your experiences, and are able to see beyond the face value of your work. This is not



only true for professions under the umbrella of psychology, but all occupations in the professional world.

This semester I was able to combine my my love for horses and my hope to become a pediatric occupational therapist in my internship. In searching for internships, I wanted to apply to programs that I was genuinely interested in and would look forward to each day throughout the semester. By simply typing “therapeutic horseback riding” into Google, I found hippotherapy at Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center. Throughout my internship I have realized my passion for horses in a completely new way. My altered passion and true desire to become a pediatric occupational therapist have fueled my excitement about hippotherapy. Hippotherapy employs equine-related activities for the benefit of individuals with physical, developmental, and emotional differences. During the course of my internship at Greenlock I was able to work with children of varying diagnoses and directly see the life-changing effects hippotherapy has on individuals of all ages. The majority of clients I worked with were children. Depending on the diagnosis of the child, I learned the different ways in which the horse can be used as an extension of the therapist and how the movement of a horse can help develop muscle tone, increase attention, stimulate speech, and regulate the sensory system. I also gained an understanding of how varying diagnoses affect the physical, cognitive, and emotional development of an individual and how resilient children can be, despite many challenges. The sensory system and attention span are especially affected in children who have been diagnosed with low functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The movement of the horse helps to regulate and fulfill the exaggerated sensory needs of children diagnosed with ASD and other similar disorders effecting sensory regulation. Each week, I have been working with a boy named Timmy* who was diagnosed ASD; he has drastically changed my outlook on autism. While walking, the horse’s movement from side to side creates enough sensory input to offset any existing anxiety from lack of input. When Timmy is having an especially anxious day or is in need of even higher sensory input, we can trot the horse. He will sometimes start to yell and violently thrash his body while on the horse. There is no way to refocus his attention… until we start trotting. Trotting is when the horse’s



legs move in parallel with a second of suspension between each stride; it creates a long and drawn out vibration throughout the rider’s body. This is especially helpful in children who need high levels of sensory input. Once we start trotting, Timmy immediately calms down and is able to refocus his attention. I have worked with another young boy, Michael*, diagnosed with ASD; however, he is not as high on the spectrum as Timmy. When he is riding, Michael often begins to script animals, he is able to completely block out everything around him and go deeper and deeper into his own world. However, we are able to bring him back to attention by making the horse stop and go in short spurts. The sudden stop and start of the horse’s movement is triggering enough to pull him out of his world. He is able to speak with us and repeat what we are saying to him rather than scripting animals. In hippotherapy, the horse’s movement is a key tool in the treatment of ASD along the entire spectrum. Different clients use the movement in different ways to satisfy their sensory and attentional needs. Another way an occupational therapist can use the movement of the horse is to strengthen muscle tone and help prevent the further deterioration of muscles found in a variety of diagnoses. Clients are able to sit sideways and backwards on the horse, ride on their hands and knees, stand up

while the horse is walking, or do other upper body exercises while keeping their balance on the moving horse. By riding the horse in different positions, the same movement of the horse is able to target different muscle groups throughout the body. Along with strengthening overall muscle tone, children are able to further develop their fine and gross motor skills. Developing fine motor skills was my favorite part about working with the

kids. Most clients learn how to brush the horse, hold their reigns and are able to run their fingers through the horse’s mane. These equine-related activities directly affect the development of fine and gross motor skills. At Greenlock, there are different games that children can play while riding; they can work on puzzles, play basketball, use a magnetic dart board, ring bells, and feed the “dogs.” All these games work in different aspects of muscle strength and motor skills. Hippotherapy can be adapted to the individual’s personal needs and goals. I have worked with a variety of children including those who were born premature, and those who have been diagnosed with ASD, SMA, fetal alcohol syndrome, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, or anxiety and depression. The diversity of children who use hippotherapy as a means of treatment demonstrates how versatile the field can be. Speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists all employ the



same movement of the horse in different ways to help reach therapeutic goals. In hippotherapy, the opportunities for treatment are endless. I have been able to see clients reach and surpass the goals that have been set for them in the short time that I have been at Greenlock. I believe that hippotherapy is a very under-recognized branch of therapy. I would have never heard of it if I had not explored my passion for horses in combination with a profession in occupational therapy. This highlights the importance of exploring your passions and desires, you never know what you may find.

Oh, The Places They’ll Go

As graduation quickly approaches, members of the senior class have had to figure out what they want to once they conclude their Undergraduate studies here at Providence College. We have asked senior psychology members to submit their plans post-graduation.Without further ado, this is where the class of 2019 Psychology majors are going!

Hannah Abrantes will attend graduate school at UMass Boston for her M.Ed. is school psychology and work in Boston Public Schools.

Sydney Brigido will be working as a full-time research assistant at the Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology at the Providence VA Medical Center. Molly Conway will be joining Teach for America in Massachusetts to teach in an underprivileged elementary school while getting her Master’s in Education. Katrina Dayaw has been accepted to William James College PsyD Program. Judith Dayaw has been accepted to William James College PsyD Program. Amy Geller will be working as a paralegal at Chisholm, Chisholm, and Kilpatrick Law Firm in Providence, RI. Ellen Griffin will pursue a Masters of Education in Psychological Counseling: School Counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University. Matthew Johnson has been accepted to William Paterson’s MA in Clinical/Counseling Psychology program. Mackay Kanaley will be working as a Medical Assistant at Dr. Shapur Ameri’s Neurosurgery getting clinical patient hours that are required for applying to PA school. Kari Moyer will be attending the Chicago School go Psychology’s Masters Program in Forensic Psychology: Professional Counselor Licensure Track. Zoe Pavoncello-Kelly will be working as a full-time research assistant at Women and Infants Hospital/The Miriam Hospital. She will be working on the infant team in Dr. Laura Stroud’s Maternal



and Infant Studies Lab, which focuses on psychological research on substance use in pregnancy and its effects on infant neuro-behavior. Isabel Ortiz will be going to Tufts University this fall to obtain a M.A. and Ed.S. in School Psychology. Natalie Phelps will be a Teacher-in-Residence at Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Middle School. Morgan Richards will be starting the MBA program here at Providence College. Jessica Rogers will be a teaching fellow within the Alliance for Catholic Education at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She will be teaching art at Cardinal O’Hara High School outside of Philly for two years towards receiving her Masters in Education. Caroline Royal is going to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania for her Masters in Counseling & Mental Health Services within Penn’s Graduate School of Education. Emma Sardinskas will be attending Jefferson University in Philadelphia in the fall to complete a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy program. This is a two-year program. Julianna Szemko will be attending Florida Institute of Technology in the fall of 2019 where she will pursue her Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology and plans to specialize in Geriatrics. Ariana Tomasi accepted a position as a dancer/performer in Walt Disney World in Orland, Florida! She has been contracted through the Disney College Program, and her time at Disney begins June 3rd! Josette Tugander will be working as a research assistant in a developmental psychology lab at NYU! She plans to pursue a graduate degree in school psychology after working in this position for one or two years.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!



Faculty Announcements

Dr. Saaid Mendoza This spring, I was on a pre-tenure sabbatical and have several papers accepted for publication. One was a review article on how subtle bias infects the law, another looked at strategies for reducing sexism in the workplace, and a third focused on best practices for conducting publishable research with undergraduates, which was co-authored by our former student, Lauren Martone. In addition, I spent a week as a visiting scholar at my alma-mater, Rice University, where I gave a talk and began new research collaborations. Lastly, members of my SPA Lab had projects accepted as poster presentations at two national conferences: Association for Psychological Science in Washington, DC and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues in San Diego, CA.

Dr. Mary O’Keeffe Working with Student Services and the Center for Engaged Learning, I am delighted to be coordinating the Riccobono Academic Resilience mini-grant program. As part of the PC Lifelines Suicide prevention project, the mini-grants will support efforts to infuse well-being promotion throughout the curriculum and integrate classroom experiences that enhance student well-being across a variety of majors and programs. We will be announcing our first group of RAR fellows soon, and we look forward to working together to promote academic resilience at Providence College.

Dr. Michael Spiegler I’ve had a very good semester teaching Personality through interteaching with four outstanding interteaching coaches (Sydney Brigido, Ellen Griffin, Matt Johnson, and Mackay Kanaley) and began collecting observational data on optimal coaching strategies to facilitate students’ learning. I also was delighted to be named the first honorary track coach (along with Dr. Bill Hogan of the English Department) for our stellar track and field team.

Dr. Victoria Templer I have been enjoying time with Jack, my new baby. Research in the Neuroscience and Animal Cognition (NAC lab) is ongoing as the lab is doing brain histological analyses. Four students from the lab and I presented original research at the Internal Comparative Cognition Conference in April in Melbourne Beach, FL.

Dr. Jennifer Van Reet This semester, I presented a poster on the relationship between executive functioning and understanding pretense in toddlers at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child



Development. I was also a co-author on a talk presented by Dr. Lin Zhang at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association about our study of science learning in early elementary school. Finally, I was asked to serve as a scientific advisor on a new project being proposed by the Boston Children's Museum on the role of empathy in preschool engineering education.

Dr. Kelly Warmth This semester, I have been on pre-tenure research leave and have been working on various publications (one already under review and another in preparation) and have been collecting data on a new study. My invited chapter in the Handbook of Parenting on "Parenting and Attachment" was finally printed. And in March 2019, a few of my research assistants (Hannah Abrantes, Abby Fielding, Liz Perrone, Amanda Piechota, and Zoe Pavoncello-Kelley) in the Family & Development Lab traveled to NYC for the Eastern Psychological Association Conference where they presented two posters ("Differences in Mothers’ and Fathers’ Coping Strategies in Response to Marital Disagreements" and "Parents’ Love and Affection Towards their Partners and Their Positive Parenting"). It has been wonderful getting to work on so much research, but I'm looking forward to seeing students every day when I start teaching again the fall!




Letter from the Editor Ellen Griffin

The one phrase that comes to mind as I reflect on my four years as a Psychology major here

at Providence College is “Thank You.” The supportive, friendly, intelligent, and inspiring

department members that I have been lucky enough to be taught by expanded both my knowledge of

and desire to learn more about psychology. Each of them has provided me with some tool, ranging

from study skills to mental health maintenance practices, that I will carry with me for the rest of my

life. I thank each of you, and the entire psychology faculty, for everything you all do for your

students.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Spiegler. You were my assigned advisor, I

took your class freshman year to fulfill a requirement, and you have provided nothing but

encouragement, challenges, and opportunities since then. I have had the pleasure of being your

research assistant, inter-teaching coach, editor, and student, and those experiences have taught me

invaluable lessons. I can truly say I am both the student and person I am today in part because of

you. Thank you.

Lastly, I would like to thank Mrs. Mullen for ensuring that the faculty department runs

smoothly. Without you, we would fall apart.

I encourage each psychology major to reflect upon the amazing group of people that you are

blessed with being able to work with day-in and day-out, and think about the impact they have made

on you. On behalf of the Class of 2019, thank you to the Psychology department and thank you

Providence College.

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