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Community Centred Approach to Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees
Get PDFOn September 8, 2022, Mr. Navaid Aziz, an Imam and Director at the Islamic Information Society of Calgary, presented Community Centred Approach to Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees at the 2022 CASIS Vancouver Defence and Security Advisory Network (DSAN). The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience. The key points discussed were the holistic approach involving community-based rehabilitation to help returnees reintegrate into society and utilizing a religious-based approach in addressing the role that religion had played in radicalization
Talking Heads: Forecasting Russian Aggression in ‘Frozen’ Separatist Conflicts
Get PDFIn the last 14 years, Russia has militarily intervened in three ‘frozen’—where hostilities have ceased, but the resolution of a conflict has end in sight— separatist conflicts in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. These conflicts have caused mass casualties, disrupted the lives of people living in these regions, and unsettled regional security. Further, the outbreak of a wider international conflict is a real possibility, as seen by the presence of NATO member Turkey’s involvement in the most recent conflict in Azerbaijan. If we could forecast when Russia will militarily intervene next, policy makers could take more decisive actions—to prevent a more serious international conflict. Through analyzing Russian elite rhetoric, this project hopes to show that future Russian military aggression in ‘frozen’ separatist conflicts can potentially be forecasted. This project will compare Russian elite’s quotes in news articles regarding the separatists regions in Georgia in Moldova, in three distinct time periods—1992-2002, 2003-2008, 2009-the present. Through computer-assisted text analysis methods, this project aims to clarify whether, between 2003-2008—during the Rose Revolution—in Georgia, Russian elite rhetoric could have forecasted Russia’s 2008 war with Georgia. Through the growing revolution of text analysis in political science research, this paper will be able to survey large amounts of text, in ways that were once inaccessible or required arduous efforts to understand the meaning of text. This paper hopes to provide a mechanism to forewarn of impending Russian military aggression, while applying text analyses methods in a new application.
Faculty Supervisor:Dr. Edana Bauvais, Department of Political Science, Simon Fraser Universit
The Emotional and Relational Correlates of Prosocial Fantasies
Get PDFHumans are often characterized as selfish creatures, primarily acting to improve their own self-interest with little care or concern for other’s well-being. However, when we asked a sample of 227 adults (M = 37.92, SD = 9.99, 58.1% M, 41.4% F, 0.4% NB) recruited on MTurk if they spend time fantasizing about how they can help others – engaging in prosocial fantasies – a significant majority (62%) reported doing so (X2(1) = 13.33, p < .001). In fact, individuals who reported having prosocial fantasies stated having more than one per day, on average. Prosocial fantasies were most commonly directed towards family members and romantic partners, but some people also reported prosocial fantasies directed at their pets, their community, and sometimes even strangers. Importantly, individuals who reported having more prosocial fantasies were happier (r = .20, p = .02), indicated having more satisfying relationships (r = .36, p < .001), and were more willing to help others in general (r = .21, p = .01). These findings challenge the dominant narrative that humans are selfish actors by showing that a significant majority of people may spend time fantasizing about the ways in which they can help others and offer a new way to consider the link between prosociality and well-being.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Lara B. Aknin, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser Universit
Does Maltreatment and Parent-Child Attachment Predict Teen Dating Violence and Risky Sexual Behaviour?
Get PDFDating during adolescence can promote positive social and emotional development, but not all adolescent romantic relationships provide these benefits. Dating violence (DV) and risky sexual behaviour (RSB) often co-occur in unhealthy romantic relationships, posing significant threat to adolescent mental and physical health. Adolescents with maltreatment histories are at greater risk for DV and RSB, while research shows that secure parent-child attachment reduces risk for these outcomes. However, few studies have examined these associations longitudinally, with well-validated attachment measures, or among high-risk teens. First, we aimed to determine whether maltreatment and parent-child attachment predicted DV and RSB over five years later. Second, we aimed to determine whether parent-child attachment security moderated the association between maltreatment and DV and RSB. We hypothesized that maltreatment would predict greater reports of DV and RSB, and that parent-child attachment security would moderate this association, leading to fewer reports of DV and RSB. Participants were 179 adolescents (54% boys; Mage=15.34) at-risk for antisocial behaviour. Adolescents reported their maltreatment histories (e.g., physical/emotional abuse, neglect) and attachment; five years later, they reported DV perpetration and victimization and engagement in RSB. This Honours thesis addresses several methodological limitations of previous research. A key strength is our consideration of normative versus risky behaviour, allowing a developmentally-appropriate exploration of sex to be distinguished from RSB. Non-binary and sexual minority teens are at greater risk for DV and RSB; future research should include these teens to identify protective factors and explore their unique experiences. Implications for research and practice will be discussed.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Marlene Moretti, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University
Research Team Members: Natalie Goulter, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser Universit
Personality and Involvement in Gangs: Membership, Embeddedness, Centrality and Ties
Get PDFThe association between psychopathy and gang involvement remains uncertain. Despite criticisms for the Boldness domain, several Triarchic Model of Psychopathy (TriPM) domain traits show potential for associations with gang membership and membership qualities. The present study aims to add to a growing body of literature by assessing the relationships between psychopathic traits, gang involvement and gang membership qualities. Five hypotheses are proposed: (1) Individuals who experience moderate to high levels of Boldness will experience greater levels of gang membership, (2) Individuals who exhibit optimal levels of leadership traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, centrality, and leadership roles, (3) Individuals who exhibit optimal levels of general criminality traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, and centrality, (4) Individuals who exhibit high levels of the necessary gang traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, centrality, and emotional gang ties, and (5) Individuals who exhibit high levels of social ability traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, centrality, leadership roles and social ties. In the data analytics plan, hypothesis 1 will be tested using logistic regression, hypothesis 2 and 3 will be tested using quadratic regression, and hypothesis 4 and 5 will be tested using linear regression. Significant bivariate associations in hypothesis 2-5 will also be assessed using a multivariate regression. Boldness may indirectly relate to group-based antisocial behavior through gang involvement. Although this research may not be representative, it is novel. Future research should assess for the directionality of the potential resulting associations.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Kevin Douglas, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser Universit
Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Investigate a Novel CPVT-Related RyR2 Variant
Get PDFCatecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited cardiac disorder that results in stress/exercise-induced irregular heart beating known as ventricular arrhythmia. Most CPVT cases have been linked to genetic variants in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RYR2). We introduced a novel RYR2 genetic variant, R417L, that has been associated with CPVT into human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). HiPSCs can be turned into a multitude of different cell types through a process called differentiation. We differentiated these hiPSCs into beating ventricular cardiomyocytes which are muscular heart cells. To study the electrical properties of these cells, we used a microelectrode array assay (MEA) which uses a grid of electrodes to detect and record the electrical activity of the overlying cells during beating. The MEA can also stimulate the cells to train them to beat at a certain frequency. The goal of our research was to recapitulate the CPVT phenotype in our differentiated ventricular cardiomyocytes carrying the CPVT genetic variant and optimize the MEA protocol for research and drug testing on CPVT pathogenic variants. Initial experimentation found that stress/exercise conditions resulted in a significant increase in the number of arrhythmic wells among the CPVT variant cardiomyocytes. However, these results were not replicated in two subsequent trials using the same cells. Proper electrode coverage, stimulation parameters and health of the cells remain to be optimized for future research using the MEA to investigate CPVT variants. Gaining insight into this novel CPVT variant may have important implications towards improving the treatment of patients with CPVT.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Glen Tibbits, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser Universit
Young Adults Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Relationship Effects
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many and has brought changes that created romantic relationship challenges. We were halfway through a trial of a relationship education workshop when the pandemic began, and we asked young adult participants how COVID-19 affected their romantic relationships. Participants completed questionnaires before (n = 85) and after the two-week workshop (n = 69) and three (n = 71) and six months later (n = 72). Participants averaged 22.7 years of age, most were female (83.5%) and fewer than half were White (43.5%). A thematic analysis (Braun & Clark, 2012) will be completed by the time of the conference. Results thus far indicate that participants identified changes in time together (22%), relationship changes (16%), and activity changes (12%) as a result of the pandemic. Specifically, participants said they had more quality time with their partner, “It has been nice to spend the pandemic with my partner. We have been supporting each other…and keeping each other company.” Relationship changes were also common, “The pandemic may have pulled us apart physically, but emotionally we've grown much closer.” Although less common, participants also experienced changes in activities, “Since we both go to school online, we got to do a lot of cooking together or find hobbies that we can enjoy together and it has been good for our relationship.” Thus, although the pandemic was stressful for people and their relationship, they reported unexpected benefits that may have ultimately fostered a sense of closeness and support with their partner.
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Cobb, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University
Reseach Team Members:Kaelin Toth, Dylan Murray, Simon Fraser University
Morphed, Entangled and United: Introducing the Hybridity of Radicalization in the COVID-19 era
Get PDFCOVID-19 misinformation has been resonating with right-wing extremist beliefs, transnationally. This study aimed to uncover the potential overlaps across COVID-19 misinformation and right-wing extremist beliefs, and their strengths. 500 tweets leading up to the 6th World Wide Freedom Rally (WWFR) and the Freedom Convoy protests were inductively coded for themes. Through qualitative thematic content analysis, patterns of Grievance, Conspiratorial Thinking, Anti-science, and Collective Action Frame were found. Through social network analysis, Grievance demonstrated the most and strongest overlaps with other themes, particularly Collective Action Frame. Findings suggest that Collective Action Frame served as an avenue primarily for expressing grievances, and for expressing other themes but to a lesser degree. The overlaps highlight the susceptibility of the patterns to each other’s influences, and broadly, how fluid radicalization can be. Future research should examine the impact of collective identity building in the radicalization process.
Faculty Supervisor:Dr. Richard Frank, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser Universit
Development of highly sensitive pressure sensor using 3D printed gyroid models
No full textThe gyroid design is an infinitely connected bi-continuous triply periodic minimal surface. This structure can be found in nature such as butterfly wings and lipids. It’s a continuously curved surface that repeats sinusoidally in 3D dimensions. Due to the desirable mechanical properties of the Gyroid and the complex geometry of its lattice, research about its fabrication 3D printing has been of high interest in recent years. When fabricating a gyroid by 3D printing of flexible materials, the properties of flexibility, durability and uniform compressibility can be tuned for the sensor requirements. 3D printing of gyroid lattice structures with different parameters yields different compressibility behaviors. By extruding conductive traces on the surface of a gyroid lattice structure, it is possible to fabricate highly sensitive pressure sensors. By placing conductive traces on either side of a gyroid lattice and using electromagnetic sensing, we are able to find the correlation between the level of compression of the gyroid structure and the sensor output. This is useful mechanism for pressure sensing applications such as gait analysis or robot arm gripper clamping.
Faculty Supervisor:Dr. Woo Soo Kim, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University
Research Team Members:Taeil Kim and Hnat Cheung, Simon Fraser Universit
Torn
Get PDFThe fictional short story “Torn” touches on the themes of “evil” in children being an outlet for their internal struggles and the ugly discovery of self-awareness. The narrative follows the actions and impulses of a young girl and a monster that lives atop her shoulder. She is faced with several conflicts where the monster will act against her will, to defend her, only ever doing more harm than good. Over time, she comes to think of being less of a guardian, and more of a parasite. Though after thinking of the monster as a protector, she is unable to reach out for help. The weight of the monster grows along with its hostility. The girl must choose if she can survive while those around her suffer, or if she will force the monster out of her life. She must tear it from her body.