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Barriers Beyond Bars: Examining Experiences of Students with Criminal Records
No full textAs educational opportunities, particularly prison education programs, continue to expand for incarcerated individuals, this study, which included two participants, one formerly incarcerated and one who pleaded guilty to avoid incarceration, suggests that those who plead guilty to avoid prison may enter college without the structured reintegration resources available to their incarcerated peers. While substantial research has explored the school-to-prison pipeline phenomenon in K-12 settings, fewer studies have examined its impact on students with criminal records navigating higher education. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT) in education, this study seeks to understand the experiences of carceral system-impacted students of color in college, focusing on their sense of community and how they perceive and make sense of their identity. Data collection involved semi-structured qualitative interviews. I employed counterstorytelling to understand how system-impacted students navigate systemic barriers in their academic journeys. Overall, there were three themes: (1) institutional barriers and exclusion, (2) resilience and resistance to deficit narratives, and (3) the importance of community support and networks. Thus, rather than being defined by their criminal records, these system-impacted students actively reshape their roles in academia by leveraging their lived experiences to challenge institutions and advocate for systemic change. The conclusions drawn from this can inform recommendations for university faculty and policy stakeholders that serve as gatekeepers for students with criminal records
Mental Health in Prisons: Examining Variations in Disorders Across Custody Levels
No full textThe United States has a significantly large prison population with the number of people currently in a correctional facility being 1.9 million. Concern has been increasingly growing related to treatment of individuals in prison, particularly when it comes to solitary confinement. Many people believe that solitary confinement is unnecessarily cruel and debilitating to AIC\u27s mental health. Studies have found contradicting information as to whether solitary impacts mental health. Part of the reason for this contradiction stems from the lack of measurement systems that are appropriate for AICs. The measures used in studies are meant for the general population, not individuals in prison. It is essential to find and implement a measurement system that can properly examine the experiences faced in custody. This study uses the SCL90 and Stuart Grassian\u27s concept of isolation syndrome to develop a measure for mental health in prisons. This measure was created through a factor analysis that looked at fear/paranoia and hostility/obsessive compulsive behaviors. It was further found that both factors were positively correlated with negative coping mechanisms and being placed in maximum confinement. Being placed in a lower custody level was negatively correlated as was being more emotionally stable. Finally, it was examined how the aspects of the created measure changed over time. It was determined that fear/paranoia decreased over time while hostility/obsessive compulsiveness increased over time
Trauma-Born Generations and Intergenerational Conflict: A Study of Tensions in the Contemporary South Korean
No full textThis paper analyzes how traumatic events that have been repeated in modern Korean history have affected each generation\u27s identity and emotional structure, and how intergenerational conflicts arise, are structured, and reproduced. This study divides the groups of people born in the period from The Liberation in 1945 to 2025 into four generations: the Industrialization Generation, the Democratization Generation, the Capitalist Generation, and the Isolation Generation. Each generation has remembered major historical events such as the Korean War, the Gwangju Democratization Movement, the IMF foreign exchange crisis, the Sewol ferry and the Itaewon disaster in a unique way, thereby forming an emotional structure and collective identity.
My theoretical framework consists largely of two axes. First, I examine how to understand \u27how individual generations formed their identity.\u27 Karl Mannheim\u27s generational theory and Strauss-How\u27s generational cycle theory were applied to lay the foundation for generational division, and Jeffrey Alexander\u27s social trauma theory and Dominic LaCapra\u27s trauma memory theory explained how the painful collective experiences experienced by generations form emotional structures and are internalized to identity. Furthermore, Jerome Bruner and Paul Ricohr\u27s narrative composition theory provides a key framework for understanding the process by which these trauma experiences go beyond mere memory dimensions to create generation-specific narrative structures and world perceptions. These theories reveal that generational identity is constructed not just in the passage of time, but in repetitive and shared traumatic events and the way they are interpreted.
Second, how the axis works as a theory for understanding and converting generational conflicts. This axis was organized around the theory of relationship interpretation. These theories provide a methodological possibility to transform the incomprehensibility and disconnection arising from differences in emotional structures and memory methods between generations through mutual understanding and ethical dialogue. By combining these two axes, this study aims to look at the formation of generational identity and the occurrence and transition process of intergenerational conflict.
In particular, the modern political trauma of the Yoon Suk Yeol government\u27s declaration of martial law in 2024 was used as an application case, and differences in interpretation of memories and emotional responses by each generation were compared and analyzed. The industrialization generation responded with a stability-seeking attitude based on order and nationalism, the democratization generation responded from the perspective of justice and moral responsibility, the capitalist generation responded with system distrust and individualistic cynicism, and the isolation generation responded with emotion-based empathetic politics and digital mourning culture. This study shows that these differences in responses are not merely explained by differences in positions, but stem from differences in narrative memory, emotional structure, and experience-based interpretation frameworks formed by each generation.
This paper does not reduce intergenerational conflict to mere differences in political orientation or values, but rather interprets it as a structural disconnection in interpretation, stemming from divergent emotional frameworks and modes of memory shaped by each generation\u27s shared traumatic experiences. This shows that conflict is not just a problem to be overcome or eliminated, but a complex problem in which different memories and emotions collide and new social meanings and ethical relationships must be reconstructed. Conflict between generations stems from differences in how they view the past and acts as a key factor deeply involved in the formation of each generation\u27s identity and worldview. Therefore, conflict can be understood as a new starting point for exploring the possibility of mutual understanding among members of society, not just a division.
Hence, this study suggests that through three practical interventions: restorative justice, emotional literacy, and the construction of an intergenerational public sphere, this structure of non-interpretability can be transformed into a space of meaningful dialogue. This is not just aimed at generational integration, but a process of converting each other\u27s memories and emotions into understandable narratives, weaving them into ethically acceptable forms, and the practice of social imagination to use conflict as a starting point for community maturity.
For South Korean society to move toward a healthier democracy and a more cohesive community, it is essential not to simply problematize or morally condemn intergenerational conflict. Instead, there must be public mechanisms and discursive structures that connect and render interpretable the differing modes of memory and emotional frameworks of each generation. This study aims to make a meaningful academic and social contribution to the discourse on memory politics and generational conflict in Korea by presenting the theoretical foundations and practical case analyses that support this approach
The Effect of Mesoscale Frontal Waves on Landfalling Atmospheric Rivers and Their Associated Precipitation Over the Green River Watershed, Washington
No full textIn this study, the effect of mesoscale frontal waves (MFWs) on extreme precipitation (EP) in the Upper Green River Watershed (UGRW), Washington is investigated. 205 EP days (\u3e95th percentile) are identified in the UGRW between the years 1980 and 2021. To characterize the range of large-scale meteorological conditions associated with EP days, the self-organizing map (SOM) approach is used to cluster daily integrated water vapor transport (IVT) on EP days. To further diagnose the meteorological drivers, composites of several other diagnostic fields are constructed for each SOM node and the preceding days. Together, these results illustrate common orientations of IVT capable of producing EP in the UGRW. Out of 205 EP days, an AR was present during 188 days, 91.7%. A twenty-year catalog of mesoscale frontal waves (MFWs) that formed on U.S. West Coast landfalling ARs from 1999 to 2019 is created. The catalog is used to identify ARs that caused EP in the UGRW (n=56). The ARs are divided into two groups -- those without MFWs (n=30) and those with MFWs (n=26). The groups are compared to determine a statistically significant difference in total-event precipitation, maximum daily-accumulated precipitation, storm duration, maximum IVT, and a widely-used categorical AR scale. When an MFW was present, total-event precipitation increased by 34.1 mm, duration increased by 25.7 hours, max IVT increased by 138 kg m-1 s-1, and categorization on the AR scale increased by an average of 0.9. There was no difference in maximum daily-accumulated precipitation between groups. Five case studies are conducted on ARs with associated MFWs that resulted in the greatest total-event precipitation levels in the UGRW. This research highlights the important role MFWs play in modulating AR intensity and duration
Exploring Impacts of Diversity Ideologies on Allyship (Intergroup Responsiveness)
No full textColorblindness and multiculturalism are widely studied diversity ideologies that reflect prominent attitudes about how diversity should be understood and managed, as they can help predict individual behavior. Colorblindness proposes that distinct group identities should be ignored, and can be used to exclude minoritized groups and downplay racial minorities\u27 experiences, whereas multiculturalism embraces and values group differences, can foster inclusive environments for minority groups, and leads to positive intergroup outcomes such as reduced prejudice. Despite much research dedicated to exploring the intergroup outcomes of diversity ideologies, few studies have examined their impacts on specific interpersonal interactions, particularly allyship. Research has defined allyship from the perspectives of majority group members who are providing allyship and minority group members who are on the receiving end. The interpersonal nature of allyship, namely the perspectives of the allyship enactor and receiver, remains unexplored. This thesis conceptualized allyship as intergroup responsiveness to further investigate perceptions of allyship effectiveness in a two-part study. Results found that allies\u27 levels of colorblindness (controlling for multiculturalism) did not predict how they perceived their enacted responsiveness, nor did it predict how people of color perceived their response quality. However, further exploratory analyses did find significant effects of colorblindness on allies\u27 perceptions of their own responsiveness and response quality when not covarying multiculturalism, as well as some evidence that colorblind allies may overestimate their responsiveness. Additionally, allies\u27 multiculturalism (controlling for colorblindness) predicted both allies\u27 and people of color\u27s perceptions of allyship quality. The study has implications for the relevance of colorblindness and multiculturalism as predictors of allyship behavior and perceptions, differences in how allies versus allyship recipients interpret interactions, and potential benefits of multiculturalism for effective allyship interactions
Sex Worker Stigma, Morality and Ambivalent Sexism
No full textSex worker stigma has received limited attention in psychological research. Although stigma is often theorized to relate to moral concerns, the relationship between stigma and moral concerns has not been empirically established. This study aims to address these gaps by developing a measurement tool for attitudes towards sex workers--specifically an implicit association test (IAT)--and explore the relationships between sex worker stigma, moral concerns, and ambivalent sexism. Mock policy questions on the criminalization and punishment of sex workers were also included to approximate behavioral intentions of participants. A cross-sectional correlational study of 168 community members found evidence that both moral concerns and sexism were associated with implicit and explicit attitudes toward sex workers. The newly developed Sex Worker IAT correlated with all explicit measures of attitudes toward sex workers, evidencing convergent validity, while also demonstrating a negative bias toward sex workers more strongly than the explicit measures, supporting discriminant validity. Together, the zero-order correlations suggest the construct validity of the Sex Worker IAT in measuring implicit attitudes toward sex workers. The purity/sanctity Moral Foundations dyad consistently emerged as the strongest unique predictor of both implicit and explicit attitudes toward sex workers, outperforming other moral foundations as well as measures of sexism. Hostile sexism predicted only explicit attitudes toward sex workers, suggesting that morals may be more closely related to implicit reasoning than explicit attitudes. The purity/sanctity, authority/respect, and harm/care foundations were predictive of policy choices, as well as benevolent sexism. This study not only establishes a valid measure of implicit sex worker attitudes, but also adds to the limited research linking moral concerns and stigma. Despite the highly politically liberal sample, this study demonstrated the prevalence of negative attitudes toward sex workers. Future work should validate the Sex Worker IAT with a larger and more diverse sample, as well as assess the impacts of intersectionality on the stigmatization of sex workers
Comparison of Depression Risk and Depression-Related Ambulatory Care Utilization in Sarcopenia Patients with and Without Chinese Herbal Medicine.
No full textThe impact of psychiatric disorder, especially depression, on the prognosis of sarcopenic patients is gaining prominence. Yet, there have been very few studies focusing on this issue, let alone the related targeted mental health prevention. This cohort-based nested case-control study is geared to compare risk of depression and the depression-related ambulatory care utilization for sarcopenia persons with and without receiving add-on Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) treatment
The Role of Environment in Conflict Discourse: Analyzing Nagorno-Karabakh
No full textThis paper explores the role of ecological narratives in the long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus. This paper argues that environmental narratives do not only reflect but also shape the conflict\u27s trajectory--most notably in relation to Azerbaijan\u27s 2023 territorial gains and their aftermath. Much of the existing scholarship focuses on the territorial, ethnic, and political dimensions of the conflict, however this study examines how environmental discourse has been employed by both sides to frame grievances and influence domestic and international opinion. By analyzing the discourse of ecocide and recent case studies, including the 2022 environmental protests in Lachin, COP29, and international trials, this research highlights how the environment has functioned as more than just a passive backdrop. The environment has become a politicized object within a broader narrative struggle, that is a barrier to conflict reconciliation and peace
Bridging Boundaries: Integration of Culturally Relevant Resources
No full textThis qualitative study examines the impact of culturally relevant resources on student engagement, motivation, and academic achievement in a language arts classroom. Since school curricula are increasingly scrutinized for their ability to reflect the historical and cultural diversity of student populations, this study investigates how integrating culturally relevant pedagogy can enhance learning outcomes. The study explores the student impact of blending culturally relevant teaching materials with traditional educational frameworks to foster a more inclusive and equitable classroom environment. By analyzing student feedback from a writing-intensive English course that utilized culturally relevant resources, the study seeks to provide insights into how such resources can influence student motivation and writing abilities, especially in diverse populations. The findings aim to contribute to the broader conversation on how educators can effectively meet the needs of all learners, offering an understanding of how culturally attuned teaching resources and practices can bridge the gap between students\u27 cultural identities and academic expectations
Expanderizing Higher-Order Random Walks
No full textWe study a variant of the down-up (also known as the Glauber dynamics) and up-down walks over an -partite simplicial complex, which we call expanderized higher-order random walks—where the sequence of updated coordinates corresponds to the sequence of vertices visited by a random walk over an auxiliary expander graph . When is the clique with self-loops on [], this random walk reduces to the usual down-up walk, and when is the directed cycle on [], this random walk reduces to the well-known systematic scan Glauber dynamics. We show that whenever the usual higher-order random walks satisfy a log-Sobolev inequality or a Poincaré inequality, the expanderized walks satisfy the same inequalities with a loss of quality related to the two-sided expansion of the auxiliary graph . Our construction can be thought of as a higher-order random walk generalization of the derandomized squaring algorithm of Rozenman and Vadhan (RANDOM 2005). We study the mixing times of our expanderized walks in two example cases: We show that when initiated with an expander graph our expanderized random walks have mixing time (i) ( log ) for sampling uniformly random list colorings of a graph of maximum degree Δ = (1) where each vertex has at least 1.809Δ and at most (Δ) colors, (ii) ( log (1−||J||op)2 ) for sampling the Ising model with a PSD interaction matrix J ∈ ℝ× satisfying ||J||op ≤ 1 and the external field ∈ ℝ—here the (•) notation hides a constant that depends linearly on the largest entry of . As expander graphs can be very sparse, this decreases the amount of randomness required to simulate the down-up walks by a logarithmic factor. We also prove some simple results which enable us to argue about log-Sobolev constants of higher-order random walks and provide a simple and self-contained analysis of local-to-global Φ-entropy contraction in simplicial complexes—giving simpler proofs for many pre-existing results