3:00-4:15 Poster Session III

The Effects of Sexualized Imagery and Nonstereotypic Personality Information on Women’s Judgments of Women AMANDA M. EASTON & SHEILA GAROS, Texas Tech University Sexually explicit images of women are thought to contribute to judgments about sexual behavior and personality characteristics of women. The present study examined the influence of traditional versus non-traditional sexualized images and traditional versus non-traditional biographical information on inferences made about the personality characteristics and moral behavior of women. The findings suggested that women view traditional, more feminine portrayals of women’s sexuality more favorably than non-traditional portrayals.

Reliance on a Perfect Automated Decision Aid JENNIFER BATKA, Cameron University & EMILY BEADLES, Cameron University (Faculty Sponsor: MARY DZINDOLET, Cameron University) Combat identification systems were designed to reduce fratricide by providing soldiers the ability to "interrogate" a potential target by sending a signal that, if returned, identifies the target as a "friend." Unfortunately, past research indicates that soldiers may ignore or overly rely on these automated aids. The purpose of this study was to determine automation reliance rates on a perfect aid. Results indicated that participants relied on the perfect aid only 92% of the time.

Allobathing in Humans JESSICA G0LIGHTLY, Cameron University (Faculty Sponsor: STANLEY N. BURSTEN, Cameron University) Many species, including humans, self-bathe using a head-to-toe or cephalocaudal progression of movements. This pattern may have evolved under selection pressures resulting from hygienic considerations, i.e., alternative patterns may be associated with higher risks of self-contamination. If so, then allobathing (bathing others) should follow the same pattern. Adults retrospectively reported more often using cephalocaudal rather than other progressions when allobathing infants. In addition, most respondents reported washing the infant's anterior surface before the posterior.

Controlling the Attentional Gate: Desynchronizing Target Features of Target Identity During Visual Search JENNIFER E. HALEY, Texas Tech University (Faculty Sponsor: WILLIAM S. MAKI, Texas Tech University) During the process of target identification the opening and closing of an attentional gate regulates the flow of visual information. We controlled the opening of this gate by varying the onset of the target feature relative to the target identity during visual search. The temporal position of the target feature, either early or late during the period that the target appeared, determined which stimulus was reported as the target.

Differences in Alcohol, Anger, and Sexual-preoccupation among College Men Involved in Violence to Partners and Non-partners SANDRA M. KNIGHT, Texas Tech University (Faculty Sponsor: ROSEMARY COGAN, Texas Tech University) Among 154 college men, 65.6% reported committing violence in the past year, usually toward non-partners. Men violent to non-partners were sexually preoccupied, whether or not they were violent to partners, which extends and clarifies the earlier findings of Hurlbert and Apt (1991) who did not differentiate partner and general violence.

The Relationship Between Stress and College Success RACHEL LOWERY (Southwestern Oklahoma State University) (Faculty Sponsor: STEPHEN BURGESS, Southwestern Oklahoma State University) We investigated the causes of stress (e.g., personality variables, workload, family, and study habits) in 54 college students and how they were related to academic success (i.e., GPA). Four of five stress tests used supported the notion that those with more hassles than uplifts will have higher stress levels. We hypothesized that people with internal locus of control would have lower stress levels; but this was not supported.

Working Memory Capacity and Allocation of Visual Attention: Object Versus Space-Based CURTIS A. PAYNE, JR. & LAKENDRA DISNEY-PENICK, Texas Tech University (Faculty Sponsor: KATHRYN BLECKLEY, Texas Tech University) Previous researchers used a selective attention task to discover that visual attention allocation differed between individuals scoring high or low in working memory capacity. It was revealed that low spans have a spotlight attention allocation; whereas, high spans have a more flexible attention allocation. When a secondary attention demanding task was introduced, high spans no longer allocated attention discontiguously. This experiment examines whether these differences are a result of high spans using object-based and low spans using spaced-based allocation. Preliminary results support this hypothesis.

Sexual Attitudes, Values, and Behaviors JULIE SANTIAGO, Cameron University (Faculty Sponsor:MARY DZINDOLET, Cameron University) Previous research has shown that sex differences exist in sexual experiences and values. The purpose of this study was to examine sexual values at a nontraditional university. A survey consisting of various questions concerning first sexual intercourse experience, sexual values, and general background information was completed by 28 women and 13 men enrolled in undergraduate classes. Significant age and sex differences were found for sexual values and first sexual intercourse experience.