Faculty Books and Book Chapters
This is a select list of works produced by the faculty of the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University
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Wisdom
Victor Tran, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Historically, wisdom (sagacity) has its roots tied to religious traditions. From India’s Vedas, to Egyptian proverbs, and to Christian and Islamic psalms, various religions have attempted to define wisdom and have professed the importance of fostering it. While these contributions to the understanding of wisdom cannot be ignored, it was not until philosophers intervened that the world began to attempt to systematically define and analyze wisdom as its own construct.
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Altruism and Children
Brizel Trinidad, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Altruism is the combination of willingly and spontaneously helping others. Many studies have focused on the origin of these traits, whether they are innate or learned. Researchers are examining inborn altruism and studying the influence of external forces, such as parental role modeling and prosocial tendencies, that have an influence on children's altruistic behavior (Clay, 2006). Altruism is often associated with altering levels of trust however, in children altruism takes on various forms and definitions with each developmental stage and as more complex interactions with others take place.
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Blended Families
Brizel Trinidad, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Blended families are more common than ever. Recent statistics show that more than half of marriages end in divorce, with the eventual merge of two new families. The families go through several stages to create their new family structure. Several models resemble the integration of family members into the newly defined family. In 2001, Braithwaite and his colleagues identified five developmental pathways or trajectories that blended families followed as they become a family: accelerated, prolonged, stagnating, declining, and high-amplitude turbulent.
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Emotions – The Basics
Brizel Trinidad, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Charles Darwin theorized that emotions were universally experienced. This idea acknowledged that emotions can be experienced similarly and communicated via many different cultures and backgrounds. Evidence supports the concept that emotions are also biologically based therefore, they must in some sense be universal (Ortony, 1990). Emotions are recognized universally in the bases of social and biological interactions. Darwin also recognized emotions as a trait that is continuously evolving. The basic emotions become more complex and build upon each other via experiences and exposure. In the 1960’s Paul Ekman was able to combine several studies and identify six basic human emotions. These six basic emotions have been recognized by most psychologists. The six basic emotions are anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. All these factors mature and enhance with age and development.
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Friendship – Adulthood
Brizel Trinidad, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Friendship in adulthood is difficult to precisely define. Adulthood brings many life experiences that require different levels of support and needs from friends. Experiences such as marriage, child-bearing, and divorce can attract different types of friendships. Adults who do not marry or are of differing sexual orientations face different experiences making friendships unique. Adulthood can also look very different for both males and females deepening the differences in types of friendships.
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Systematic Observation
Brizel Trinidad, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Systematic observation is the process of explicitly defining desired target behaviors and observing them using a systematic set of guidelines. Systematic observation assists in reducing or eliminating bias in experimental designs. The reduction allows for increased reliability and validity therefore, an integral part in experimental designs. This process is widely used in school, home, and clinical settings. The process allows preset rules and guidelines to be to be followed prior to beginning the experiment. The rules and guidelines maintain the design within reasonable boundaries. All the preset rules are inferred prior to starting the experiment.
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Introduction to forensic psychology: Clinical and social psychological perspectives
Lenore E. Walker, David L. Shapiro, and Stephanie Akl
This book provides a broad overview of the history and practice of forensic psychology, illustrating the principles of how psychological knowledge can inform judges and juries in the U.S. legal system with reference to several high publicity cases. The second edition contains new case law and discusses its implications in the major areas of forensics, examining new developments in juvenile justice, malpractice complaints, and reproductive rights, among other topics.
The authors address specific aspects of forensic psychology within seven distinct sections:
- What is Forensic Psychology?
- Understanding the Criminal Mind
- Can Psychologists Measure Pain and Suffering?
- Family Law and Fitness to Parent
- Juvenile Justice
- Legal Consultation Based on Social Psychology
- Practical Tips for Forensic Psychology Experts
An essential resource for current and aspiring forensic psychologists, the second edition of Introduction to Forensic Psychology serves as a thorough introduction to a complex field, featuring updated cases and related legal developments.
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Cohabitation
Shanna K. Williams, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Cohabitation is defined as the act of an unmarried romantic couple (of any sexual orientation) residing together under one roof. The concept of cohabitation is not new and the rates with which it is occurring have been growing throughout the United States over the past several decades. The idea to live as unmarried romantic partners first became popular in Scandinavian countries where, for a variety of reasons, cohabitation remains an accepted and even valued option.
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Death Anxiety
Shanna K. Williams, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Just as humans are sentient creatures, aware of their beingness in this world, they are also cognizant of their eventual and inevitable death. With this knowledge comes the natural dread and anxiety associated with being aware that on any given day one will cease to exist. Indeed, one of the fundamental existential conflicts, or causes for existential angst, is the tension caused when an individual is aware of their inevitable death while also yearning for their continued life. Just as anxiety is a natural emotion, so too, is the anxiety surrounding death and its associated existential conflict.
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Assisted Living
Rachel Zachar-Tirado, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Assisted living refers to long-term residences for older adults who need extra support and care in activities of daily living while also allowing for some personal autonomy, independence, and privacy. There are around 31,000 assisted living communities in the United States presently, with around one million Americans occupying these facilities. With the older adult population constantly growing, this statistic is predicted to double by 2030. As the elderly population increases, the likelihood for disability and need for long-term care facilities also increases. Many older adults who live in assisted living facilities have either a functional difficulty in their ability to live independently, or a disability which requires the extra help provided by assisted living facilities.
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Physiological Changes in Old Age
Rachel Zachar-Tirado, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Beginning in the third and fourth decades of life, subtle physiological changes start to occur with progressive decline as age increases. Some changes are visible such as wrinkling of the skin or whitening of hair, but the majority of physiological changes due to aging are internal. Many changes occur within the cardiovascular system. Boss and Seegmiller (1981) explain that with aging, cardiac output decreases as diastolic and systolic myocardial stiffness increases. These changes have been associated with increased blood pressure in older adults, leading to hypertension. This age-related change can be safely managed by antihypertensive therapy that is monitored regularly. In addition to these changes, lipid content of vessels increases, usually from increased cholesterol. While other factors play a part in myocardial infarctions, this change may increase the likelihood of myocardial infarctions in older adults.
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Stephen J. Ceci
Rachel Zachar-Tirado, Lisa K. Lashley, and Charles J. Golden
Excerpt
Stephen J. Ceci was born on March 22, 1950, and while not much information is available on his early years, his life’s work has focused on studies surrounding the validity of children’s courtroom testimony, gender studies, and intelligence. Ceci received his bachelor’s degree in general psychology from the University of Delaware in 1973, earning his master’s degree in developmental psychology two years later in 1975 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his doctoral degree in developmental psychology in 1978 at the University of Exeter in England.
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Working with Cuban American Families
Trinidad Arguelles and Soledad Argüelles-Borge
In recent years, the literature on the topic of ethnic and racial issues in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias has increased dramatically. At the same time, the need for cultural competence in all of geriatric care, including dementia care, is increasingly being acknowledged. Dementia is a large societal problem affecting all communities, regardless of race or ethnicity, and understanding dementia for specific groups is tremendously important for both clinical knowledge and for health planning as a nation. This third edition of Ethnicity and the Dementias offers invaluable background information in this area, while also examining how those suffering from dementia and their family members respond or adapt to the challenges that follow. Thoroughly updated and revised throughout, the book features contributions from leading clinicians and researchers in the field, with particular attention given to genetic and cultural factors related to dementia, effective prevention and treatment strategies, and issues in caregiving and family support.
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Physical Disabilities
Kelley Aucello, Sarah A. Valley-Gray, and Ralph E. Cash
Excerpt
An estimated 15 percent of the world's population lives with some form of disability, with a higher prevalence of disability among older people ( World Health Organization [WHO] 2011 ). Physical disabilities most often affect a person's ability to perform tasks involving mobility and self-care (e.g., walking, driving, maintaining hygiene, and cooking). Some individuals are born with specific infirmities, referred to as congenital disabilities, whereas others experience physical limitations later in life, referred to as acquired disabilities. Physical disability categories include musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disabilities (Handicaps Welfare Association n.d.) as well as visual and hearing impairments such as blindness and deafness.
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Learning Disorders
Stephen Beard, Sarah A. Valley-Gray, and Ralph E. Cash
Excerpt
Specific learning disorders (SLDs) affect an estimated 5 to 15 percent of school-age children (APA 2018), and these disorders can have a significant impact on an individual’s functioning beyond classroom performance. SLDs can impact one’s social skills, peer relationships, family functioning, and socioemotional functioning. The APA’s fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2013) delineates several criteria for the diagnosis of an SLD. First, an individual experiences difficulties with learning and using academic skills in at least one of the following areas: (1) reading; (2) understanding the meaning of what is read; (3) spelling; (4) written expression; (5) mastering number sense, number facts, or calculation; or (6) mathematical reasoning. Second, the affected academic skills are substantially less competent than expected for the individual’s age, and the deficits cause significant interference in academic functioning, occupational performance, or activities of daily living. Males are nearly twice as likely as females to be diagnosed with an SLD, at a ratio of nine to five (Cortiella and Horowitz 2014).
Skills deficits due to an SLD must be confirmed through individually administered academic and cognitive measures or a documented history of impaired learning if the individual is seventeen years of age or older. The difficulties must emerge during the school-age years but may not fully manifest until the daily demands exceed the individual's capabilities. Finally, these deficits cannot be explained by an intellectual disability, visual or auditory deficits, lack of proficiency in the language of instruction, or a psychological or neurological disorder. Should an individual meet the criteria for an SLD, it must be specified whether the impairment lies in the area of reading, written expression, or mathematics.
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Addictive Disorders
Myron J. Burns
Human beings seek relief and pleasure in their lives, whether it is by taking an aspirin for pain relief, having a drink and bite to eat after a long day of work, or enjoying an evening on the town with family or friends. However, there is a saying that “too much of anything is not good for you.” Historically, people have always engaged in addictive behaviors like drinking, eating, gambling, and sex.
Addictive disorders are described as compulsive and impulsive behaviors. Compulsive behaviors involve performing an act persistently and repetitively without it necessarily leading to a reward or pleasure. Impulsive behaviors involve rapid and automatic responses to urges without much thought or reflection about the consequences of one's behaviors. Both behaviors, even more so when combined, can lead to problematic behaviors that put the individual at risk or in danger and possibly lead to a psychological disorder.
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Behavioral Addictions
Myron J. Burns
As human beings we seek relief and pleasure in our lives, whether that is having a drink or a bite to eat after a long hard day of work or enjoying family and friends during a night on the town. However, as the old saying goes, "Too much of anything is not good for you." Historically, people have excessively engaged in addictive behaviors like drinking, gambling, sex, and shopping. Behavioral addictions can lead to problematic behaviors that put the individual at risk or in danger and possibly lead to other psychological disorders.
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Quantum Processes in Neurophotonics and the Origin of the Brain's Spatiotemporal Hierarchy
Travis J. Craddock, Philip Kurian, Jack A. Tuszynski, and Stuart R. Hameroff
We review the brain's complex dynamical organization necessary for cognition and consciousness and conclude that, rather than a linear computer of neuronal synapses, the brain seems to function more as a nonlinear spatiotemporal hierarchy of interacting, dynamically layered systems. The brain's hierarchy apparently spans multiple layers covering at least 12 orders of magnitude reaching from large (nearly brain-wide, ∼10 cm), relatively slow (<100>Hertz, “Hz”) processes based on neuronal membranes and synaptic network activities (e.g., electroencephalography, “EEG”), downward and inward to increasingly smaller and faster molecular scales inside neurons including kilohertz (103 Hz), megahertz (106 Hz), gigahertz (109 Hz), and terahertz (1012 Hz) dynamics of cytoskeletal filaments and their constituents at micrometer, nanometer and subnanometer size scales. These faster, smaller processes delve into biomolecular quantum states whose properties are suggested to offer solutions to questions related to cognition and consciousness, but also in the traditional view considered unlikely in the “warm, wet, and noisy” biological brain milieu. Here we contend that functional neurological quantum states—nontrivial in their manifestation at mesoscopic and macroscopic scales and possibly useful for signaling and information processing—can originate in either (1) photoexcited transition-state dipoles of aromatic networks, driven by endogenous photon emissions generated during aerobic processes, or (2) collective electronic behaviors due to van der Waals interactions in such aromatic networks, which can result in a hierarchical cascade of coherent oscillations spanning 12 or more orders of magnitude. Cognitive processing and consciousness may occur in this cascade due to nonlinear amplification of resonances among coherent brain states.
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Charles J. Golden and Matthew R. Zusman
The term chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has recently gained a significant amount of media coverage. However, a large proportion of the information disseminated through the media pertaining to the etiology, neuropathology, and clinical manifestations of CTE are not corroborated by empirical research, and are disputed by prominent researchers who study sports related head injury.
This book reviews the existing literature pertaining to these components of CTE and includes unique case studies of several retired NFL players that received a comprehensive neuropsychological battery from a board certified neuropsychologist, among other populations. It investigates the claim that CTE causes depression, violent behavior, and an increased risk for suicide by providing an in depth discussion using empirical data. Highlighting the importance of adhering to post concussion protocol and appreciating the long-term consequences of repeated head trauma, this unique review of the current research on CTE will be useful to students and professionals in psychology and neurology.