Kwantlen Psychology Student Journal

Are Humans Naturally Monogamous?

Tanicia Remillard — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 19:57:36 -0700

This paper explores the concept of monogamy as a social construct imposed on humans rather than a natural behavior. While monogamous relationships are common in all human societies, exceptions exist, and consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is growing in popularity. CNM includes various relationship models that allow individuals to love multiple partners, negotiate agreements for what is permitted outside of the partnership, and minimize infidelity and its negative outcomes. Economic resources and mortality rates can influence mating systems in societies, with areas with more resources showing more promiscuous systems. The paper highlights the controversy surrounding typical mating patterns in humans, with evidence suggesting that our common ancestor engaged in sex for pleasure, and humans gradually moved away from a “free love” society into an agricultural society. The rise of agriculture allowed individuals to own land and initiated the institution of monogamous marriage as an economic arrangement. However, it remains unclear why patriarchal societies limited themselves to monogamy as increasing wealth could have increased reproductive success in polygynous males with multiple wives. The paper concludes that monogamy is not a natural behavior, and there is a growing movement for CNM as an alternative.

Panpsychism and the Cosmic Non-Self

Pearl Meredith — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 19:57:07 -0700

Arguments against panpsychism are assessed and critiqued, and potential directions for panpsychism are explored.

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Teamwork Expectations and Attitudes Measure (TEAM)

Brittney Stobbe, Jonathan Lau, Brandon Justus , Shayna Minosky — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 19:57:20 -0700

Teamwork is essential for success in any group project and understanding how well a team functions can assist both students and teachers with learning. This paper outlines the development and preliminary validation of a new self-report measure of students’ perceptions of working in a team, the Teamwork Expectations and Attitudes Measure (TEAM). Two pilot studies, sampling a total of 438 undergraduate students, were conducted to develop and refine the initial items into a 14-item unidimensional measure. A validation study was then conducted with a sample of 226 undergraduate students. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the revealed unidimensional structure with high internal consistency. Correlations between the TEAM and other theoretically relevant variables provide evidence of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Our results suggest that the TEAM has acceptable psychometric properties and may be useful to students, educators, and researchers as a tool for assessing team functioning.

Attitudes about Vaccination: A Covid-19 Study

Hailey Walter, Merna Elias, Karla Murillo Cruz — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:39:15 -0700

Research suggests that mass vaccine acceptance is required for Covid-19 eradication. Unfortunately however, an increasing number of the worldwide population has demonstrated hesitancy towards the Covid-19 vaccine. The present study investigated whether individual Covid-19 vaccine knowledge, general anxiety and feelings about the government pressure to become vaccinated affected one’s vaccine hesitancy. Results indicated that the more negative emotions one felt towards government pressure, the more hesitant they were to become vaccinated. These results suggest that a decrease in government pressure may help to maximize the overall willingness to become vaccinated.These results can hopefully expedite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychology Practicum with KPU Central Advising

Sabrena Boyal — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:39:42 -0700

This poster illustrates my practicum experience with KPU Central Advising and working alongside the central advising team. My role included working as a student assistant and a peer advisor for first and second-year KPU students. In my role, I took on several projects such as creating social media posts, assisting advisors in the course planning workshops and family orientation day workshop and meeting with students. I also discuss what psychology classes were applicable and utilized in my practicum experience and the challenges, skills, and learnings I acquired. Finally, I discuss future career endeavors this experience can assist me in securing the foundational skillsets it provided me in my pursuit of becoming a therapist.