Research

The quiet ego refers to a self-identity that transcends egoism and identifies with a less defensive, balanced stance toward the self and others. This paper investigates the benefits of a balanced self-identity and introduces a 14-item Quiet Ego Scale (QES). Results from six studies demonstrate that the QES measures an identity that strikes a balance between a strong sense of agency (but not egoism) and a strong concern for the welfare of others. Although QES was correlated with a number of related characteristics (e.g., self-compassion, self-determination, authenticity, self-transcendence), it was a distinct predictor of outcomes such as resilience, coping efficacy, and indices of well-being that could aid investigations of human happiness.Dr. Wayment also collaborated with Dr. Bauer on another paper investigating a related construct, Growth Motivation, which is the desire for personal growth. This paper describes five studies that examine two facets of growth motivation (reflective and experiential) that aim respectively toward two paths of eudaimonic self-development (maturity/wisdom and well-being/meaningfulness). This paper also appears in the Journal of Happiness Studies. Taken together, Dr. Wayment and colleagues’ research suggest that the path to eudaimonic well-being lies in a sense of self that can balance the concerns of both self and others, and is oriented toward growth. Most recently, her research suggests that a brief intervention that helps individuals achieve this balance is associated with reduced stress and well-being.

This research was a collaboration with faculty at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Dr. Barger and his colleagues Jürgen Barth and Nadine Messerli-Bürgy found that participants who reported being sometimes or very often lonely had a much higher incidence of a recent major depressive episode. In addition, participants perceiving that their support needs were not being met and those who were not living with a romantic partner were also at higher risk. Other social relationship resources, such as having a confidant, seeing friends or family regularly and/or someone to help with daily activities (tangible support) were unrelated to major depression. In contrast, all of the social relationship characteristics examined, with the exception of living with a romantic partner, were associated with depressive symptoms. That is, people who lacked a confidant, perceived their social support needs were unmet, lacked tangible support and regular contact with friends and family were more likely to have depressive symptoms. Thus, a broader range of social relationship elements were related to depressive symptoms as compared to major depression. Overall loneliness was the strongest predictor of major depression and depressive symptoms in Switzerland, replicating associations found in nationally representative studies from the US and Australia. In addition, a broad set of markers for relationship quality and quantity were associated with sub-clinical depression. Thus, when characterizing the types of social relationships that are associated with mental health, it is important to evaluate a number of social relationship domains and distinguish between clinical versus sub-clinical depression. A manuscript based upon this research was published in an issue of BMC Public Health, a BioMed Central journal.

• Sylaska, K. M., & Walters, A. S.  (2014).  Testing the extent of the gender trap: College students’ perceptions of and reactions to intimate partner violence. Sex Roles, 70, 134-145;
• Sharpe, D. I., Walters, A. S., & Goren, M. J.  (2013).  Effect of cheating experience on attitudes toward infidelity.  Sexuality and Culture, 17, 643-658.
• Walters, A. S., & Valenzuela, I.  (2013).  Under the watchful eye: Masculinity among Latino men in the wake of Arizona 1070.  In J. M. Aston & E. Vasquez (Eds.), Masculinity and femininity: Stereotypes and myths, psychology, and the role of culture (pp. 51-69). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.,
• Walters, A. S., & Burger, B. D.  (2013).  “I love you, and I cheated”: Investigating disclosures of infidelity to primary partners.  Sexuality and Culture, 17, 20-49.

She was recently awarded an NAU Faculty Grants Program grant (“Developing a Culturally-Sensitive Obesity Intervention for Pacific Island Families Using a Community-Based Participatory Research Paradigm”) and will continue to work with colleagues both in Palau and through the Pacific Island Health Officers’ Association (PIHOA). Dr. Collier is also a co-investigator on a grant awarded to Dr. Leslie Schulz and Dr. Catherine Propper  titled “Native Americans Exploring Global Health Disparities;” (NIH Minority International Research Training Grants program). This program will allow 1-2 students a year to work with Dr. Collier in Palau during the summer. Dr. Collier is also using community-based participatory research models to create culturally-sensitive obesity interventions for Native American people living in rural areas, especially North Eastern Arizona.

Hojooba’ bee la’ hooniil is a Navajo expression meaning “loving kindness as healing for the suffering of others” and our REU internship seeks to better understand, through well-designed psychosocial research, the nature of this important construct.  Each summer, the principal investigator, Dr. Larry Stevens, oversees a program of eight undergraduate students from around the country.  Each of the students works with an NAU Department of Psychology faculty research mentor to design, to conduct, and to present, both locally and nationally at the annual APA convention, outcomes of a Compassion research project.  Past research topics have included Effects of Compassion Training on Electrocortical (EEG) and Questionnaire Measures, Compassion for Others: The Road to Happiness, Effects of a Compassion Intervention, Determination and Compassion: The Psychological Effects of Belief in Free Will, The Relationship between Self-Compassion and Exercise, Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal and Compassion, Compassion for Others, Friendship Experiences, and Happiness Among Students and Non-Students, Self-Other Discrimination and Emphatic Abilities, and many others.

The edited volume, entitled “Green Organizations: Driving Change with I-O Psychology,” reflects expert opinion from the fields leading researchers who embrace a scientist/practitioner model to solve real-world issues.  This volume has been called a “landmark” publication that will serve as a “catalyst and vanguard” in the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology.  Dr. Huffman is also the 2015 Division Program Chairperson for the American Psychological Association, Division 14 (Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology) to be held in Toronto.