Headshot of Kayla Blevins

Author: Kayla Blevins | Major: Psychology | Semester: Fall 2024

My name is Kayla Blevins, and I am a senior at the University of Arkansas. I am currently finishing my B.A. in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Gender Studies. I am in the final stages of completing my honors thesis under the guidance of Dr. Scott Eidelman. My research focuses on conspiracy theories; specifically, whether social exclusion can increase people’s likelihood of adopting them. After defending my thesis, I plan to take a gap year before applying to graduate programs where I can work towards a Ph.D. in experimental psychology.

During the second semester of my freshman year, I was fortunate enough to take a class titled Social Psychology with Dr. Scott Eidelman. I was just starting to explore the field of psychology, and this class opened my eyes to the complex social forces that shape individual thoughts and behaviors. This intersection between social experience and personal belief fascinated me, which led me to join Dr. Eidelman’s Social and Political Science (SAPP) lab. Over the past three years in this lab, I had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with Marie Altgilbers, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas whose research centers around conspiratorial thinking. I worked as a research assistant on one of her projects examining whether social ostracism can make someone more prone to conspiratorial attitudes and ideas. This experience developed my love for the research process, as I found myself having ideas on how to possibly dive deeper into this concept. With the help of Marie and Dr. Eidelman, I designed my own investigation into conspiracies and social exclusion, with all of the changes and additions I had mentally accumulated while running participants.

In the construction of this project, I spent a lot of time reviewing existing research to better understand how other studies had approached the manipulation of social exclusion. After a lot of searching for projects and conversing with Marie and Dr. Eidelman, I decided to use a writing task that asked participants to recall and describe a time in which they felt excluded from a group. I was interested to see if this more personalized technique may be more effective with our specific sample of General Psychology students. This manipulation would require me to consider new aspects the research project in terms of participant wellbeing that I had not considered as a research assistant. Because of the emotional nature of the writing exercise for those in the exclusion condition, Marie suggested that we include a follow up activity to help to offset any upsetting feelings caused. Participants in the exclusion condition were asked to complete a brief positive writing activity—listing 3 good things in their life—to ensure that no participant left the study feeling worse than when they started.

Beyond examining how social exclusion might influence our belief systems, there were many other factors me and my mentors considered that could play a role in the metal process. Previous research has identified variables like the need for uniqueness and loneliness as being key predictors of conspiratorial mindsets, so I included validated scales for each in my survey. As I explored alternative forms of exclusion manipulation, I discovered that many studies touch on, but do not directly address self esteem. Self esteem, as one of the more foundational components of our personal identity, I wondered if someone with lower self esteem might be more vulnerable to adopting conspiratorial beliefs.

Now that my study has been conducted both in the lab and online, I am in the final stages of writing my thesis and preparing for my defense. Although my results were modest, they provided important insights into the complexities of measuring belief systems and social experiences. Reflecting on the process of my research project thus far, I am deeply grateful for all the support and opportunities the honors college has afforded me. This academic journey has strengthened my passion for psychological research and affirmed my commitment to contributing to the field of knowledge. The guidance I have received from faculty and staff has been instrumental in my success and growth from a student to an independent researcher. As I look ahead to the conclusion of my undergraduate experience and beyond, I feel confident and excited to carry on in my pursuit of meaningful political research and social discovery.