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Recent Submissions
Ego-tribalism in religion, politics, and media : a changing landscape calls for a new theory of trust.
(August 2022) Burtt, Jason John, 1979-; Dougherty, Kevin D.
Scholarship on individual manifestations of social trust typically emphasize three theoretical frameworks: rational choice, psychological/epistemological capacity, or network distribution. In this dissertation, I argue that these approaches have limited explanatory power, and instead put forth a new theory of trust that harmonizes and improves on them. I submit ego-tribalism as a new model for understanding social trust, where egocentrism and tribal identities are often in tension. Several hypotheses are drawn from this framing and are tested in three separate studies. Using data from the 2017 Baylor Religion Survey, I analyze the impact of Internet usage, moral authority, and religiosity on generalized social trust. I find that moral individualism is negatively associated with social trust. Increasing religiosity is not significant, challenging previous research that suggested religiosity predicts an increase in generalized trust. Also, moderate religiosity amplifies the effects of a judgmental God-image on social trust relative to high religiosity. The theory of ego-tribal trust distribution illustrates how individual religiosity and moral authority relate to generalized trust as they depend on levels of self-interest vis-à-vis tribal bonding over certain beliefs and behaviors. A second study uses data from the 2021 Baylor Religion Survey to explore the effects of political identity, generalized trust, social media usage, and increased online political activism during COVID-19 on the belief a political party threatens the unity of the United States. An increase in social trust predicts a lower probability of perceived outgroup threat. Increased social media usage is not predictive but an increase in online activism predicts lower trust. Online activism amplifies the effect of political liberalism but not conservatism. This I suggest, is an effect of liberal ideological tribalism in concert with unilateral disclosure of personal sentiment. Data for the final study also come from the 2021 Baylor Religion Survey. I analyze the extent to which beliefs about mainstream media and the consumption of politically biased media predict distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine. Consumption of conservative media is associated with distrust in the vaccine. Believing media exaggerate the dangers of COVID-19 significantly attenuates the negative effect of education on distrust of the vaccine. Increasing age significantly attenuates the effect of conservative media. Older conservatives are exposed to the tribal narrative that predicts distrust in the COVID-19 vaccine, but self-interest to protect personal health overrides that influence. I conclude the dissertation with a summary of findings, a review of ego-tribalism, and avenues for future research.
The Black Community in Waco, Texas: a study of place, family, and work, 1880-1900
(1988) Xie, Jingjing; LeMaster, J. R.; Baylor University.
"The Black Community in Waco, Texas: A Study of Place,
Family, and Work, 1880-1900," is a-local study which analyzes
residential patterns, family structures, and occupational
status of the city's black population in the late nineteenth
century. Comparisons between 1880 and 1900 are made
concerning these different aspects of life.
This study relies heavily on data for Waco recorded in
the United States Manuscript Census of 1880 and of 1900. The
census documented basic information on family and household
composition, kin relations, occupational background, and
residential patterns. City directories of Waco for the time
period from 1880 to 1900 provided another important source of
information. These volumes contain a brief history of the
city, identify the location of black businesses, and
introduce black social organizations.
This research project results in a five-chapter thesis.
The introductory chapter provides a brief history of Waco's
blacks and discusses the development of the black community
from the 1830s (when Negro slaves were brought to the central
part of Texas for the first time) to the post-Civil War
period, which witnessed a great increase in Waco's black
population and brought about a more diversified social life
in the city's black community.
The 1870 census indicates that the population of Waco
was almost equally divided between blacks and whites. Soon
the balance was broken as more white people moved into Waco,
and the 1880 census shows that blacks represented about one
third of the total population. By 1900, black Wacoans made
up only twenty-eight percent of the total population.
The distribution of these blacks in the city was
relatively even among the five wards, and there was not much
change in the residential patterns during the twenty-year
period under study. Most of the blacks in the city lived on
the west side of the Brazos River, with the largest number
residing in the Fourth Ward. The findings also suggest that
whites comprised a majority of the residents of East Waco, an
area traditionally considered as a "black district."
Through the distribution of the blacks in the city, the
situation of residential segregation was revealed. On some
streets, there were no blacks. On others, the only Negroes
were single women or men working for white families. On the
other hand, some streets were chiefly occupied by blacks,
only a few white families could be found.
Contributing to the development of a sense of community
was the educational and religious life of black Wacoans.
After the Civil War, black Wacoans built their own public
schools, among which was the first black liberal arts college
in the state—Paul Quinn College. They also organized their
own church organizations, where ministers and pastors became
leaders of black people. There were also social
organizations, such as clubs and a musical band. It is
through family, education, religion, and other social
activities that the black Wacoans began to overcome
difficulties on their way to improve themselves.
During the last two decades of the nineteenth century,
the black family structure in Waco did not change much. Twoparent
nuclear families were in the majority, followed by
female-headed nuclear families. From 1880 to 1900, however,
the number of nuclear families decreased, and the extendedaugmented
families increased. Families in this latter
category were characterized by the presence of relatives or
boarders. Some sociologists suggest that extended-kinship
relations played an important part in the black family life,
especially in the development of a black child's character.
The data also reveals a decrease in the number of
families consisting solely of mothers and children. This
perhaps reflected the sex and age structure of black Wacoans
in which females outnumbered males in almost all age groups.
The ratio of females to males, however, decreased from 1880
to 1900. Moreover, Waco's black household size followed the
national trend toward smaller households from 1880 to 1900.
The largest percentage of households consisted of single
blacks who either lived alone or with a white family.
An examination of occupational status reveals few
surprises. Most black Wacoans worked in the areas of service
or manual labor as cooks, servants, washwomen, and laborers,
occupations which did not require much skill. Most blackowned
businesses were limited to grocery stores, barber
shops, and restaurants. The percentage of blacks in
professional, proprietary, and skilled occupational
categories to the total working population was also limited.
The narrow range toward low-paying and less-skilled
occupations reflects the blacks' relatively low position in
the city's social and economic ladder. It also reveals that
the city's black community was not large nor strong enough to
reflect a distinct social, political, and economic division
within the community.
This study suggests that after the Civil War, black
Wacoans made some progress in improving their social
conditions and organizing their own community life. In order
to raise their social status and to become equal to whites in
every respect, it seems that they still have a long way to
go.
The Role of Gaia Pelore in Hesiod's Theogony
(2023-08-18) Hollinger, Alan; Heckenlively, Timothy; Greek.
Gaia Pelore plays a crucial role in shaping the order of the cosmos and is described by a unique epithet: pelore. Though defined as 'monstrous,' this epithet is often translated as 'big' or 'vast' and is regarded by some scholars as a mere formula. Chapter 1 shows how Gaia Pelore is a marked epithet and has a significant role in each Succession by engaging in a close reading of the three Successions in the Theogony. Chapter 2 explores the relationship between Gaia Pelore and metis by analyzing the uses of her cunning intelligence. Chapter 3 explores the relationship between Gaia Pelore and gender by analyzing the gender dynamics in the Theogony. Chapter 4 explores the relationship between Gaia Pelore and monstrosity by comparing her to other monsters in Archaic Greek literature, particularly those with the epithet peloros.
The Benefits of Yoga for Enhancement of Self-Regulation: A Case Report
(2023-08-02) Parks, Emily Elise; Collins, Kayla; Baylor University. Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Occupational Therapy; Baylor University.; Baylor University. Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Occupational Therapy
Many affirmative benefits are cited on yoga’s effectiveness in
promoting self-regulation skills in children through reducing
maladaptive behaviors, improving focus and attention and providing
sensory input (Ehleringer, 2010; Goldberg, 2004; Pascoe & Bauer,
2015). In conjunction with typical occupational therapy intervention,
the daily yoga intervention was beneficial for the participant with
emotional dysregulation in promoting improved self-regulation skills
in regards to improving emotional regulation and decreasing
behavioral outbursts. Incorporating yoga techniques including
physical postures, breath regulation, and mindfulness techniques
shows potential to support healthier overall well-being and improved
participation in daily activities for the participant. Increased time
engagement in the yoga program may be beneficial for the child to
experience greater advancements in self-regulation.
Incorporating Digital Technologies in the Classroom
(2023-08-02) Sandel, Jodie M.; Collins, Kayla; Baylor University. Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Occupational Therapy; Baylor University.; Baylor University. Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Occupational Therapy
Technology has changed significantly
and due to the advances in technology,
it is necessary for educators to learn
along with the students they are
serving (Hawthorn, 2017). In order to
deliver technology assisted educational
practices (Donlan and Alpert, 2017),
educators must first develop and
enhance their own competencies in
digital learning (Stewart, 2017). As
educators add assignments
incorporating more digital technology
they begin to see that student’s
participation and communication
increases as well as new opportunities
and innovation in teaching (Barnard et
al., 2018).