Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Moral Violations On Parasocial Relationships With Influencers, Julie Aprill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Morality impacts relationships in complex and highly contextual ways. Moral violations specifically can lead to a variety of reactions in social and parasocial relationships. This study extends past research on morality and parasocial relationships to examine the impacts of moral violations on parasocial relationships with influencers. Drawing on affective disposition theory, and expectancy violations theory, this study employs a 3-condition between subjects experiment to determine this relationship. The results indicate that a moral violation can result in a decrease in enjoyment of the influencer’s content and a parasocial breakup. The results also suggest that a moral difference between fan and …

Living In Death: Creating Trans Non-Binary Futures, Larissa Little

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The central question in my paper is how trans non-binary people produce their identities from a space of social death. This is important because much of the conversation around transgender identities in the field of Communication has been focused in media studies and health communication. These literatures take care in exposing the ways the transgender population has been systematically excluded and stereotyped. Research produced has great utility for understanding how society can be inclusive of the transgender community. However, I question the extent this literature includes non-binary identities in research, and if so, how non binarism is defined. I question …

Linking Engagement, Science Communication, And Community Science Theory And Practice: Insights From Three Place Based Community Science Projects In Maine, Abby Jane Roche

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the face of mounting environmental challenges, Maine residents and scientific institutions have valuable roles in collaborating to gather actionable data for improved decision-making. Research increasingly suggests that participatory research methods, often called community science or citizen science (CS), involving partnerships between scientists and the public, are effective for addressing environmental challenges. However, successful data collection requires careful consideration of how individuals interact with each other and project elements to achieve objectives. This dissertation comprises three chapters reporting on qualitative research within three distinct Maine-based CS initiatives, offering process-oriented and practice-based accounts of engagement. Chapter two reports on an exploratory …

The Impact Of Prejudice On Women's Wellbeing: A Moderated-Mediation Rejection Identification Model On Feminist Identity, Liana Shaw

Honors College

The study’s purpose was to assess sexism’s impact on women’s wellbeing based on the Rejection-Identification Model (Branscombe et al., 1999), in which perceived prejudice increases group identification, which in turn buffers the negative consequences of prejudice on wellbeing. Surveys were administered via Qualtrics. Using PROCESS analyses in SPSS, Study 1 (n = 1,083) investigated whether or not these relationships between prejudice, group identification, and wellbeing were moderated by feminist identity (Model 59; Hayes, 2018). Results showed that while women higher in feminist identity do experience greater depression in response to perceived prejudice, they also have a significantly stronger relationship between …

Playing History: How Video Games Can Change The Way We Understand The Past, Chapman Hall

Honors College

Video games are a wildly popular and growing form of art and entertainment. Yet they are often overlooked within academic fields like history. This thesis examines the unique qualities of video games that make them powerful tools to understand history in a different manner. The interpretative frameworks of simulation and agency are central to this analysis, and they are applied to the history-based video game Europa Universalis IV as a case study of how video games facilitate rich and rewarding historical sensibilities that deepen the connection between past and present, a long-standing goal of professional and popular historians. The study …

Why Do Rebel And Criminal Groups Provide Social Services?, Sydney Lorom

Honors College

This work analyzes the approaches taken by rebel and criminal groups to provide social services to the geographic regions they control. It presents the case studies of a rebel organization, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and a former criminal group, the Medellin Cartel of Colombia. My comparison between these armed non-state actors is intended to explore why rebel and criminal groups respond to the needs of citizens within the boundaries of their control in various ways, as well as understand what factors primarily shape differing approaches. Possible explanations for the extent of a group’s responses are presented after distinguishing the operation styles …

The Permaculture Discussion Group: Participatory Learning For Community Connection And Systems Transformation, Belu Katz

Honors College

There is a need in our society to have a more holistic understanding of the polycrisis, the intertwining of environmental and social crises that create compounding effects, and the underlying issues that have temporarily and psychologically separated humans from our local ecosystems and biophysical limits. This requires creating space to deeply discuss these issues and possible responses. Permaculture is an ethical framework for designing regenerative and resilient human systems that work within, instead of against, nature. The Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center is a student housing project where four resident stewards run the Permaculture & Gardening Club (PGC) …

Exploring And Understanding The Experience Of Transitional Supports By Former Youth In Care, Abigail Bagley

Honors College

This study investigates the implications and impact of the experiences of former youth in care with transitional resources and support. It also investigates what kinds of resources or support are given to former foster care youth (transitional supports) and whether they felt ready enough to start adulthood. Structured interviews were conducted with 5 participants and the analysis showed that the participants that had the most preparation felt the most ready to transition out of care. It was concluded that the participants with the least preparation felt the least prepared and that having a mentor or advocate was beneficial in helping …

Are Rural States Equipped For The Youth Mental Health Crisis? An Investigation Of The Mental Health Attitudes And Stigma Beliefs Of Caregivers, Benjamin Roseman

Honors College

There are clear mental health treatment disparities between rural and urban communities, especially in accessing quality mental health care and youth suicide prevention services. In 2021, the CDC reported an increase in youth mental health concern rates and alarmingly, a rise in youth suicidality rates. Considering these trends, and that rural people already experience higher suicide rates, the status of caregivers’ readiness and ability to access mental health services for their children must be examined. The present study aimed to investigate how caregiver mental health stigma and knowledge drives rural-urban disparities in suicide rates and access to quality mental health …

Snap Acceptance And Food Insecurity At The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Farmers' Market, Abigail Powers

Honors College

Food insecurity is a problem in the state of Maine, with recent data concluding that just under 150,000 Maine residents were food insecure. In a state with 155 farmers’ markets during the summer growing season, an intersection between the local food movement and food security efforts may prove fruitful in increasing access to nutritious and healthy food for low-income Mainers. While farmers’ markets are typically associated with an air of exclusivity, they have the potential to provide access to the fresh fruits and vegetables that are often lacking in food-insecure households. The Brunswick- Topsham Land Trust Farmers’ Market is the …

Relations Among Self-Disclosure, Digital Communications Behavior, And Mental Health In College Students During And After Covid-19, Estephanie Baez-Vazquez

Honors College

This study aimed to investigate adolescents’ comfort in self-disclosing (i.e., sharing personal information with another) in both face-to-face and electronic communication contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently. In addition, the role of several possible moderating factors, including gender, sexuality, depression, and social anxiety, was examined. Participants were 137 college students between 18 and 20 years of age who responded to an online survey assessing their depressive symptomatology, social anxiety symptomatology, and comfort in several aspects of self- disclosure within electronic and face-to-face settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently.

Results indicated that there were no significant differences in comfort …

Characteristics And Motivations Of Passengers On Board A Puffin Tour Boat In Maine, Skye Howard

Honors College

The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a visually attractive seabird found in the North Atlantic Ocean. While research in the Eastern North Atlantic indicates that Puffins attract visitors to areas where the species can be viewed, less is known about visitor interest in Atlantic puffins in the Western North Atlantic. This study helps fill a gap in the literature regarding visitor interest in Atlantic puffins in the Western North Atlantic. The purpose of this study is to provide an understanding of the characteristics of passengers on board a puffin tour boat visiting Petit Manan Island, Maine, and the importance of …

What Is Marxian Communism? Limning The Post-Revolutionary Utopia By Implication, Teodora Blejeru

Honors College

This thesis aims to discover the facts of Marxian communism by implication. By analyzing the works of Marx, this project outlines the contradictions within capitalism and explains how these problems will be solved within Marxian communism. This pro- ject explains historical materialism and how it can be used to explain Marxian com- munism as not only the end of history, but as the end of class antagonisms. It also aims to explain why twentieth century communist regimes cannot be considered truthful exam- ples of Marxian communism. After the introductory chapter, the thesis analyzes The Communist Manifesto, The German Ideology, and …

The Conservation Project: An Exploration Of Multimedia In Ocean Conservation, Ilaria Bardini

Honors College

The Conservation Project ties in many elements of multimedia and its possible applications in marine conservation. The purpose of this thesis was to develop new skills in videography, photography, podcast production, and website development through which to deepen my understanding of the multimedia as a tool in science, through the development of a website.

The Man-Hating Woman: Studying Bystander Perceptions Of Social Media Sexism Confrontations, Erika Hipsky

Honors College

Social media platforms enable users to perpetuate discriminatory rhetoric and oppressive structures, including sexism. While previous research on sexism confrontations has mainly focused on face-to-face interactions, there is little information available on how confrontations operate within the context of social media. This thesis examines the influence of confronter approach (HATE or CARE) and identity (man or woman) on TikTok sexism confrontations. Female participants, acting as bystanders (N = 57), were surveyed on their perceptions of four TikTok confrontations: HATE Woman, CARE Woman, HATE Man, and CARE Man. Regardless of confronter gender, participants viewed CARE confrontations as more likable than HATE …

Sustaining Community And Identity Through Food At The University Of Maine, Elizabeth Dudevoir

Honors College

International students often travel thousands of miles to attend the University of Maine. Foodways become a way to sustain one’s communal and self-identity. Food is more than nourishment: certain dishes also tell stories and become building blocks for conversation. Here, I focus on how international students use food as a vehicle to build community and understand the role of food to comfort and engage individuals. I also consider access to culturally significant ingredients, as the greater Orono/Bangor area lacks markets and stores that carry certain products. Through interviews, individuals shared their foodways and experiences as international graduate students at the …

Intrinsically Career-Motivated Women & Motherhood, Paige Allen

Honors College

The goal of the present study was to identify whether maternal regret was present among career-oriented mothers and understand how intrinsically-career motivated women experience motherhood. Data from 20 qualitative interviews with working mothers were analyzed with modified grounded theory and strategies using open, axial, and selective coding. The study identified four themes and fifteen associated subthemes that represent working mothers’ experiences: qualities, skills, conditions, and resources. These themes and the theoretical frames of Bowen’s family systems theory, rational choice theory, and intersectionality led to several implications for working mothers. While it is possible to contribute to both work and family, …

Program Evaluation Of The International Attachment Theory Workshop: An Analysis Of Evaluation Methods Used With People Who Are Low-And-Non-Literate, Ashley Cray

Honors College

The purpose of this research is to conduct a program evaluation of the Attachment Theory Workshop’s proposed Evaluation Tool and to draw conclusions about the evaluation of people who are low-and-non-literate in human development workshop settings. The primary focus of the program evaluation is to determine if the Evaluation Tool will work as intended to gain usable data about the change in knowledge and skills of the caregivers participating in the Attachment Theory Workshop. Prior to presenting the program evaluation, this thesis reviews the standard process of a program evaluation, examines relevant sources regarding the evaluation of people who are …

Pride Week Event Schedule, 2024, Office Of Diversity And Inclusion

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

2024 Pride Week Schedule running from March 25 to March 30, 2024.

Theoretical Foundations For Archaeological Pedagogy With Digital 3d, Virtual, Augmented, And Mixed Reality Technologies, Peter J. Cobb, Elvan Cobb, Jiafang Liang, Ryushi Kiyama, Jeremy Ng

Journal of Archaeology and Education

Archaeology is inherently a visual and spatial discipline and thus we should strive to center student learning within visual and spatial media. Apart from museum work, site visits, and fieldtrips, the traditional tools of the classroom, however, tend to only convey textual or two-dimensional abstractions of primary archaeological data. The latest digital 3D and eXtended Reality (XR) technologies (Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed) hold the potential for engagement with information in ways that more closely represent the true three-dimensional and visual nature of archaeological objects, spaces, and landscapes. This should allow for an embodied mode of interaction that significantly improves understandings …

Franco Gathering, 2024 : Rassemblement, 2024, University Of Maine Franco-American Programs

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Every year, Franco American Programs organizes a “rassemblement” or gathering of Franco American artists, writers, and creatives. This annual event aims to create a culturally supportive space in which members of the Franco-American creative community can share their work.

Observance Of Religious Holidays: Ramadan, John C. Volin, Robert Q. Dana

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Observance of Religious Holidays/Events: The University of Maine recognizes that when students are observing significant religious holidays, some may be unable to attend classes or labs, study, take tests, or work on other assignments.

Current Practices And Future Use Of Virtual Volunteerism Among Older Adults: Interviews With Rsvp Programs And Key Informants In Technology And Volunteerism, Jennifer Crittenden, Sandra Butler, Eve Flippen, Nathan Tarbox, Leah Campbell, Chelsea Chapman, Adrienna Thorne

Maine Center on Aging Education and Training

Participation in volunteering has been linked to positive health and well-being improvements for older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults were at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infections and adverse effects resulting in social isolation. Virtual volunteering began gaining momentum as a way to meaningfully engage older adults and support non-profit organizations impacted by shutdowns. However, now as the pandemic enters a new phase, questions remain about the current use of virtual volunteerism and its future within older adult volunteer programming. The goal of this study was to better understand the benefits and challenges that have come with …

Disclosing A Disability At Work: Respect, Discrimination, And The Ethics Of Informal Attitudes, Honors College, Department Of Philosophy

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Adam Cureton is an internationally recognized disability scholar and activist who specializes in ethics and the philosophy of disability. His books, which draw on his own experiences as a legally blind person, include Disability and Disadvantage, Disability in Practice, The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy and Disability, and the forthcoming Respecting Disability. He founded and served as president of the Society for Philosophy and Disability and helped to create the American Philosophical Association’s Committee on the Status of Disabled People. He is a Rhodes Scholar and currently serves as the Lindsay Young Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tennessee.

Spring 2024 Dei Training For Umaine Employees, Office For Diversity And Inclusion, Taylor Matthew Ashley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Office for Diversity and Inclusion is excited to invite you to join us at our Spring 2024 training sessions! These trainings are intended for all UMaine Community Members, which includes: Students, Staff, and Faculty.

Maine Lobstermen's Association Whale Update, Amber-Jean Nickel, Maine Lobstermen's Association

Fisheries

The Maine Lobstermen's Association “has been closely following the death of Right Whale 5120 found dead on Martha’s Vineyard on January 28th. The MLA was shocked and dismayed when NOAA Fisheries announced on February 14th that the rope removed from the deceased whale 'is consistent with the rope used in Maine state water trap/pot buoy lines.’”

“Maine lobstermen have made many changes to how we fish to avoid harming a Right whale which makes this news hard to believe. As we move forward, MLA will push back on NOAA’s finding until the industry’s questions about the entanglement and how NOAA …

Aquaculture Research Institute Newsletter, January 19, 2024, Aquaculture Research Institute

General University of Maine Publications

2024 Women in Aquaculture Series. We're eager to spotlight the 2024 Women's Workshop Series for aquaculture, an opportunity brought to you by the Maine Aquaculture Hub in collaboration with Aquaculture in Shared Waters. Tailored for women and nonbinary aquaculturists, this series isn't just a learning journey—it's a chance to forge your path in Maine's aquaculture scene. Dive into a curriculum brimming with expertise in seamanship, business acumen, and safety protocols. Beyond the skills, it's a community waiting to unfold.

The Ethno-Categories Of A Regional Khipu, John Victor Murra, Monica Barnes, Heather Lechtman

Andean Past Special Publications

The work of John V. Murra remains fundamental to an understanding of Andean human ecology and Inca economics. Nevertheless, some of his most important articles have never been published in English. At the request of Heather Lechtman, Murra translated “Las etno-categories de un khipu estatal”. In this work, Murra reconstructed a quipu prepared and maintained by the lords of Xauxa (Jauja) in the central Peruvian highlands during the early Colonial Period and explored what it may have recorded in terms of Andean thought. We publish Murra’s translation for the first time. In addition to John Murra’s translation, Andean Past Special …

Regional Folk Beliefs, Edward D. Ives

Dr. Edward D. Ives Papers

This accession contains over 4,000 folk beliefs organized on individual, 4x6-inch index cards. A majority of the belief cards were collected by students participating during the 1960s as part of the American Folklore course taught by Dr. Edward D. “Sandy” Ives. Folk beliefs originate primarily from Maine and the Maritimes, but occasionally extend into other areas. Each download contains a copy of the 1965 syllabus for American Folklore, explaining the assignment given to students.

Please Note: A significant number of these cards are handwritten and are not currently available as typed transcriptions. The belief cards are organized into categories noted …

Mindfulness Based Interventions To Reduce Burnout And Ptsd Symptoms In Critical Care Nursing, Kelly A. Pellegrino, Libby M. Colley, Carly R. Fazendin, Emma R. Parrotta, Mollie Johnson

Non-Thesis Student Work

Within the medical field, nursing is a career that can be very taxing on both one’s physical and mental wellbeing, especially in regards to critical care. The life-threatening situations and strenuous work that critical care nurses are met with everyday make them especially susceptible to struggling with burnout, compassion fatigue, and PTSD-like symptoms. This not only puts their own safety at risk, but the safety of their patients as well. This raises the question: In critical care nursing, does the utilization of mindfulness based interventions, compared to no intervention, aid in the reduction of nursing burnout and PTSD symptoms? In …