Date of Award

Spring 2015

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Randolph Lee

Second Advisor

Judy Dworin

Abstract

Many people anecdotally report positive personal effects as a result of participating in social service projects. Few programs, if any, in the country exist that brings together formerly incarcerated women and college students to engage in multi-arts activities that are designed to be interactive and build relationship, self confidence and self-expression for both the women and the college students involved. The purpose of this study is to examine whether semester-long participation in a group that works to help reintegrate formerly incarcerated women, called New Beginnings, affects levels of empathy, self-disclosure, self-esteem and anxiety. 12 students who will be involved in the program were given established instruments to measure these characteristics before beginning the program, as were 12 control participants. It was hypothesized that students who participate in this group will demonstrate higher empathy, self-esteem, self-disclosure and lower anxiety at the end of the program compared to controls.

Comments

Senior thesis completed at Trinity College for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

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