Saturday, April 26 marks the 38th annual MUPC at Bethel College.  The event is an opportunity for students to share their research with others and  learn somethng about the research conducted by other students. Additionally students had opportunities to speak with professionals (and potential employers) to get feedback on their work.  Students participating this year are:

Paper presentations:

• "The Effects of Play on Problem-Solving and Creativity in Children" -- Michelle Anderson and Heidi Root

• "Self-esteem and Group Participation:  How much does a person really think they contribute to a group" -- Nicki Shay

• "Comparing the Effects of Suggestive Interview Techniques on False Memory Development" -- Laura Schultz

• "Cognitive Dissonence and the Forced Confabulation Effect" -- Jessica Rye

• "The cognitive representation of religious values" -- Matthew Carlson

• The Effect of Hair Color on Rated Attractiveness, Personal Attributes, in Respect to Various Environments" -- Jennifer Thingvold

Poster presentations:

• "Impact of Self-Disclosure of Negative Feelings in Close Friendships" -- Ann Marie Miller, Lindsey Weis, Allison Wold
• "The effects of generating versus choosing misinformation and the consequences of confirmatory feedback on false memory development" -- Heidi Lawson, Jessica Rye, Laura Schultz, Erin Boole, Laura Moses
• "Self-Other Recognition as a Function of Hemisphere" -- Gemma Soderholm, Kathleen Johnson, Dr. Clark Ohnesorge
• "Co-rumination in Romantic Relationships" -- Kimberly Assad, Melissa Haley

 Disclaimer: This is all just in fun, personality traits do not necessarily apply to the professors of the department. The color personalities were taken from various websites. This is in no way, shape, or form scientific.

As my final article, I thought that it would be fun to venture into the world of "want to be" psychology.  I searched through many different color personality tests, then pestered each of the professors for their favorite colors. So, this is a fun peek into the personalities of our faculty according to their favorite color.
 
 

 I don't want the professors to feel too picked on, so to even the score -- I will give you a few insights into my personality according to my favorite color, purple. There are three main characteristics of a purple person: creative, mysterious, and moody. There is no question, moody describes me, just ask my parents. I am one of those people that can go from happy to angry in about 2.4 seconds. Purple people have a tendency to be mysterious and are hard to get to know. I think that this describes me judging by the reactions my friends have to me. Once in a while I will say or do something that my friends will just look at me and say, "Where did that come from?" It also says that purple people are witty. After reading this article, I'll let you make the decision if I follow that or not.   -- Kristen.
 

On Tuesday, April 15, old and new members of Psi Chi joined together for the spring induction of new members.  Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology and is made up of over 700 college chapters across the USA. Psi Chi was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Current requirements include a declared major in Psychology, an overall 3.5 GPA,completion of five Psychology courses and a minimum grade of B in all Psychology courses. 

Gustavus Psi Chi co-presidents Jennifer Thingvold and Kristie Campana welcomed the inductees by explaining Psi Chi and what the organization has accomplished in the past.  Members are encouraged to take an active role in Psi Chi by attending meetings, talking with other Psi Chi members and psychology faculty, and attending activities put on by the club.  Each of the inductees received a certificate of membership and lit a small candle from the large Psi Chi candle.  Members attempted to sing the Psi Chi song (somewhat successfully) and finished up the evening with refreshments.  Each new member of Psi Chi is congratulated on their outstanding work in the department and in the field of psychology. 

Keep up the great work and congratulations to all new Psi Chi inductees: Morgan Barkus, John Birkland, Corinne Carlson, Jessica Case, Nicole Hinds, Kathleen Johnson, Stacy Langworthy, Meghan LaVelle, Molly McIntyre, Laura Moses, Darcie Thomsen, Luke Winskowski, Aaltje Baumgart, Teresa Brown, Matthew Carlson, Melissa Haley, Karalynn Johnson, Jana Knutson, Tracy Larson, Heidi Lawson, Ann Marie Miller, Nicole Shay, Lindsey Weis.

Prior current members: Kristie Campana, Aaron Dickson, Rhiannon Fermoyle, Elise Getter, Ria Lindor, Sarah Lorentz, Katie Pelleymounter, Elizabeth Powers, Melissa Radniecki, Jessica Rye, Larura Schultz, Jennifer Thingvold, Jennifer Westermeyer.

    There was never any doubt in my mind that psychology was the major for me, although my vision of the end result has changed.  When I
started college at Nicolet Area Technical College in Rhinelander, WI, only general psychology was available as a university transfer credit, so that class, and meeting a couple Ph.D. psychologists was my only exposure to the discipline.  Since I have transferred to Gustavus I have discovered the unlimited opportunities psychology majors have available to them.
    In the beginning I imagined going to work in a smart suit, carrying my briefcase, counseling people in my cozy office about their difficulties with marriage, or life in general.  This vision drastically changed when I came to Gustavus.  My advisor told me, as a psychology major, and a potential Ph.D. student, I should get  involved in, and work with, as many different kinds of people as I could.  I ended up tutoring adult ESL classes, mentoring Somali children, and going to the Regional Treatment Center each Wednesday, but what was most influential in my current career plans was the internship I did through the Career Center at a family and children's service non-profit organization in the Twin Cities area.  Psychology classes in college give the basic overview of major fields of study in psychology, but I am a more direct service/hands-on person, so the internship allowed me to apply what I had learned in class, but also expand my knowledge about the real world two-fold.  I learned how non-profit organizations start and operate, and the many services they provide.  I also found out that the needs of people are endless, and wide in variety, from basic needs like shelter, food, and clothes, to monetary needs, mental needs, social needs, physical needs.
One afternoon I was at a meeting with the Community Builder who I was "shadowing" for my internship, and the discussion among the many organization representatives present centered around the dilemma facing some African immigrants/refugees trying to get apartments in the area. The apartment owners did not understand their culture, or their language, and showed no patience or understanding of their situation.  This is when I realized that my path in psychology was to serve as a support system and resource for immigrants/refugees in the non-profit sector. 
   Back at Gustavus I searched through books I had purchased for graduate schools offering Ph.D or Psy. D. degrees stressing multicultural programs, I flipped through books in the Career Center that had information about non-profit organizations I might be able to get a job with, and I also applied to the Peace Corps. Above all options, the Peace Corps was on  the top of my priority list.  Going abroad and experiencing what an immigrant would, coming to America, will better help me do my job in the future, and certainly my knowledge and understanding, and passion, for psychology and relating to a variety of people, will serve me well while I am abroad.  At the moment I am "on hold" in terms of my Peace Corps application status, while all my medical information is under review, and I have yet to find out what country I am going to, but as far as my plans go, I am off to Africa on June 23, 2003 for 2 years and 3 months to teach secondary education-English.

During this year's spring break, I purchased more shell necklaces and beaded bracelets than anyone would need in a lifetime.  I don't usually even wear jewelry but, for some reason, I felt compelled to buy a lot of it this spring break.  I took a trip to Mazatlan, Mexico for three nights and during this short time, I was bombarded by vendors on the beach carrying hats, beach towels, jewelry, tattoo markers, sunglasses, and watches.  Each vendor could immediately tell that my friends and I were American tourists, given our pale Minnesota skin and bad spanish accents.  When vendors approached, they would politely look us in the eye, saying "Senorita, a necklace?"  or catch our attention with some other equally charming phrase.  How could we resist?  During the first day in Mazatlan, we probably talked to twenty different vendors and bought at least one item from half of them.  My friends and I are not impulse shoppers in America, so why did we feel compelled to keep buying goods in Mexico?  I think there is a general belief that when an American goes to Mexico, he or she must buy tons of souveniers simply because they are inexpensive.  Another possible reason that I purchased so  much is because the vendors are quite skilled at using persuasive techniques.  We psychology majors know that there are several effective techniques for persuading people, such as the "foot-in-the-door" technique, where a saleperson begins with a small request, and gradually makes larger requests.  I think the vendors in Mazatlan use a technique called "and that's-not-all."  With this technique, the salesperson begins with an inflated request, then decreases the request by offering a discount or a special deal.  The vendors in Mazatlan would offer vacationers a necklace for seven dollars, and minutes later come down in their price, offering a "deal." The customer always knows that the vendor will come down in price, the the routine of bartering is always performed.  The more the price decreases, the more satisfied the customer becomes and the more the vendor sells.  Both the buyer and seller are satisfied with their "deal."  Bartering with vendors was fun and exciting at first, but by the fourth day, I was ready to come back to America where items have price tags and a set price.  Mazatlan was fun and I loved every minute of it, but it was nice coming back to family and friends.  Now that I'm home I can show off all my new shell bracelets!

This  symposium wll provide an opportunity for psychology majors (and anyone else who may be interested) to learn about the research that has been conducted by students in our department this year.  To this end, all senior honors students will deliver a short (10-12 minute) oral presentation describing their honors research.  Methods students, research apprentices, and those conducting directed research projects will prepare poster presentations describing their research. 
Oral presentations will be held between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. at 10-15 minute increments.  Poster sessions will be ongoing before and after that time from about 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Please make plans to stop by the department and acquaint yourself with research currently being conducted by  fellow psych students. 

Taco Bar (tribute to Cinco de Mayo) and 

Sundae Bar (tribute to ice cream) 

Games, prizes (sorry, token gifts only - no cars this year)

All Psych Majors are invited but remember to register to help us in our planning!

This March, more than thirty Gusties attended the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The three-day conference offers undergraduate students a chance to present the research projects on which they  have worked long and hard.  Students came from all over the country- even Puerto Rico- and all academic disciplines to share their research and learn about the research of others.  Presenters were able to choose to do oral or poster presentations.  It was a long and boring bus ride, but I had a wonderful experience and recommend that all psych majors at least consider attending a research conference.  This does not necessarily entail a lot of extra work- you can use your methods project if you do not do any independent research.  The conference was a great educational experience.  Additionally, we had ample free time to explore Salt Lake City during our three-day stay.  The bus ride back was broken up with a stay in Keystone, South Dakota where we were able to see Mount Rushmore. Next year's conference will be in Indianapolis, Indiana.  I encourage other students to think about submitting an abstract.  I can  promise you that it's a worthwhile experience and a lot  more enjoyable than you might otherwise think.

Psychology majors who presented at the NUCR spring 2003 Conference at the University of Utah were:

• Jessica Rye - poster - "Cognitive Dissonance and the Forced Confabulation Effect"

• Nicki Shay - presentation - "Responses to Relationships: Sexual Experience as a Factor in Sexual Jealousy"

• Sarah Lorentz - poster - "Gender Differences and Emotion in Mother-child Conversations of Traumatic and Non-Traumatic Events"

• Heidi Root and Michelle Anderson - presentation - "Effects of Structured, Unstructured, and Inactive Play on Creativity in Children.

We all need advice at times so here is some advice for you from our brilliant senior psychology majors.  If this is not enough advice for you, come to the Psi Chi Senior Advice Night on April 30, 2003 at 7pm in Banquet Room C.  Come hear what seniors have to say and maybe learn something new!  And now for the advice.

• "Go to class and call your parents!" 

~Nicki Shay
 
• "Find two to three Professors you like and get to know them well so they can write recommendations for you."  ~Kristen Fichtner

• "Take methods early and be happy."  ~Jessica Rye

• "I would say that the most important thing that I did was get a j-term internship.  Going to the career center and finding an organization that interested me was the first step, and actually doing the internship was remarkable.  Not only did I discover exactly what I wanted to do with my major when I graduated from Gustavus, I learned how the psychology applies to the real world."  ~Morgan Barkus

"Find a work study job that you enjoy." 

Mark Lammers, Music and Mark Kruger, Psychology have had an article accepted for publication in a forthcoming issue of the NACWPI Journal, a quarterly published by the National Association of College Wind and 
Percussion Instructors.  The article titled, Second Instrument Study reports results of a study done of student practice habits at liberal arts colleges and schools of music at major universities in the United States, and conservatories in Japan and Norway. 
[Gustavus Yellowsheet]

• Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology
• Gourman Report on Graduate Programs (Princeton Review)
• Perfect Personal Statements and Graduate School Essays (Arco)

• The APA Graduate Study in Psychology 2002 - 

and is available for checkout.

• "Get Psyched!  Successful Strategies for Getting Into Graduate School In Psychology"is a new audio tape training series available for checkout in the department.    Dr. Greg Neimeyer, Professor of Psychology and Graduate Coordinator at the University of Florida has put together these six topics:

1) A Vital Overview
2) 10 Critical Things You need to Know
3) Distinguing Clinical and Counseling
4) Personal Statements, Resumes
5) Effective Interviewing
6) Expert Advice:  Questions and Answers

Magic Eye Image of the Week 
http://www.magiceye.com/3dfun/stwkdisp.shtml

Optical Illusions 
http://www.gilesgreenwood.freeserve.co.uk/illusion.html

Psychology Jokes and Cartoons 
http://www.psy.pdx.edu/PsiCafe/Just4Fun/Jokes/

Fun Psychology Tests 
http://www.psychnet-uk.com/software/fun.htm