DALTON QUICK
PTSD & Prejudice
Race is traditionally viewed as a pre-trauma factor of war in the development of posttrumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, this view limits our understanding of how prejudice and discrimination (the result of racial diversity) affect minority soldiers, thereby influencing poorer mental health. I argue for a model whereby prejudice is viewed as the triple-edged sword of PTSD – acting as a pre-, peri-, and post-trauma factor. Understanding that race is not a causal component of PTSD, but rather the result of institutional and interpersonal prejudice will allow us to see areas where further research should be performed to influence systematic changes within the Armed Forces to better the mental health outlook of minority soldiers.
"The How of Happiness" Review
This book report (which has been reviewed by social psychologist Dr. Anne Moyer), details methods in which the positive psychology strategies presented in the book are applicable for laypeople and working mental health practitioners. The report compiles work by Lyubomirsky outside of the book alone as well as multiple other academic sources in the field of positive psychology (spanning topics such as mindfulness, social belonging, and wellbeing) to offer insight on how this book could be used as an effective tool in therapeutic practice.
"Three Pounds" Blog
“Three Pounds” is a blog that works to break down complex psychological concepts into easily understood realities for people who have never had official education or training in psychological science. I am the creator of the blog and actively write, edit, and publish, typically focusing my efforts on topics relative to health and clinical psychology.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Under the guidance of clinical psychologist Dr. Julianne G. Ludlam, my senior thesis at the University of Missouri assessed the history, risk factors and treatment options for combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sex Sells (or does it)
While in attendance at the University of Missouri, I completed an experiment alongside two other students to test the cognitive effects of objectification in advertising on male and female consumers. Using Qualtrics we showed male and female participants ads that objectified both their own and their opposite gender before using a series of (valid) likert scale and bipolar scale measures to test the conscious and subconscious effects of the advertisements on purchase intent, memory and attraction.
In the end, we yielded all statistical results showing that men were more willing to purchase a product based on, remember and find attractive an advertisement that objectified a female. We also found that women were less likely to purchase a product based on, yet more likely to remember and find attractive an advertisement that objectified a male.
We plan to continue this experiment at a future date.