Honors Theses and Projects

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A collection of theses and projects submitted to the Centennial Honors College in various disciplines.

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The Self-Conversion Phenomenon as A Treatment for Behavior Change
(Western Illinois University, 2007) Mazias, Melissa G.
The self-conversion phenomenon states that when one tries to convince another, one convinces themselves. This phenomenon can be utilized to make treatment methods more effective. This method can be used as an aid in alcohol, drug, and criminal treatments for improving outcomes and everyday lifestyle changes including weight loss. Utilizing this method could make current treatment programs less costly, more available, and more effective. Participants were introductory psychology students attending a mid-sized, Midwestern university. Participants filled out a demographic questionnaire and an attitude assessment before the experiment. Participants were asked to give speeches to convince a student in which they believed was at risk for alcohol related problems. They were then asked to take another version of the attitudes assessment. The difference in scores between the two assessments was the measure of self-conversion. The control group gave the same speech to a video camera. The hypothesis was that the experimental group would have a larger measure of self-conversion. The study showed that the hypothesis was correct for four of the assessment items.