PhD Oral Exam - Sandra Krause, Psychology

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

Mental contamination refers to contamination-related symptoms, common in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and in survivors of sexual trauma, that arise in the absence of direct contact with a physical contaminant. Cognitive models of mental contamination highlight the central role of perceptions of violation in the onset and maintenance of these feelings. That said, little research has been conducted to operationally define the construct of violation and systematically examine its different manifestations. Maladaptive appraisals of the self have been identified as maintaining factors in cognitive models of both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Thus, perceptions of violation of one’s self-concept may represent an aspect of violation appraisal relevant to the experience of mental contamination. The aim of the proposed program of research was to expand upon key components of this model using a multimethod approach. Study 1 involved a qualitative analysis of the experience of violation in a sample of 20 participants with OCD and/or trauma histories. Three overarching categories emerged from the interviews, each with several themes and sub-themes – qualities of violation, violation-related appraisals, and violation-related behaviour. Specific self-focused appraisal sub-themes (i.e., permanence of consequences; self-worth; and responsibility, self-blame, and regret) were most closely related to emotions tied to mental contamination. Following from the results from Study 1, Study 2 comprised the development and validation of a novel self-report questionnaire of violation appraisals, the Violation Appraisal Measure (VAM). Results from validation in an undergraduate sample (N = 300) suggested a four-factor structure for the VAM, which was confirmed in a second undergraduate sample (N = 300) and sound psychometric properties were demonstrated. Study 3 consisted of an experimental manipulation of perceptions of moral self-violation in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 150). Overall, self-violation, as compared to self-bolstering and a negative mood induction, led to heightened mental contamination feelings, but not heightened urges to wash. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.