Shanna Suttington and Ashley Stovell, students in Barry’s MS in clinical psychology program, recently presented their master’s thesis research at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Washington, DC. Suttington and Stovell both received their BS in psychology with a specialization in forensic psychology at Barry University where they began their research projects as undergraduate students.
Suttington’s presentation, conceptually linked to the doctrine of separation of church and state, was titled “Should I Go to My Shrink or to My Priest?” Her research found that people who rated themselves high on religiosity or spirituality preferred to seek help for personal problems from a priest or minister rather than a psychotherapist.
Stovell conducted a series of studies examining factors affecting attribution of blame on the victims of rape. This year she presented a study titled “Does Resistance Affect Attribution of Responsibility in Cases of Rape?” Stovell’s research found that there were no differences in the attribution of blame on the victim of rape whether she resisted the assailant or not. This study was a follow up to a study she presented at the 2013 APA Convention titled “Rape Victim Responsibility: Rape or Not?”
Suttington and Stovell are working under the supervision of Linda Bacheller, PsyD, JD. Both students will enhance their forensic psychology expertise with a clinical practicum in the Teen Court of Miami-Dade County.
For more information about Barry’s Department of Psychology, visit http://www.barry.edu/psychology/.