The age has dawned upon us in which many youths spend their free time playing video games. However, many video games lack in-depth female character development and actively categorize them into stereotypes, such as a damsel-in-distress or sexual object. This research project will rely on previous studies on the harmful effects of such characterization on youth, including desensitization and misinformation. The research results will be utilized as a storyboard for a new video game with a better developed female protagonist.

Nearly one billion males worldwide are affected by substance abuse, twice the number of females affected (Kloos, Weller, Weller, and Chan, 2009). Despite the belief that substance abuse is a problem for the entire population, there is no doubt that there is a gender gap in substance abuse. A factor of this problem comes from the pressures that create toxic masculinity. Boys' influences, such as their fathers, often create unrealistic expectations of masculinity to reach, creating "toxically" masculine men (Harrington, 2021). By investigating the factors leading to this serious issue, which is negatively influencing boys' risk for addiction and dependence, an observational case study research can identify how strong the linear relationship between substance abuse in men and toxic masculinity is. In addition, the findings of this research will help schools all over the country implement more resources available to males to enable students to feel safe and live free from masculine pressure, ultimately reducing the amount of substance abuse.

"For those Sunday afternoons caught between doing nothing and everything, for the insomnia-driven, for the wanderers and wonderers, for the unwritten stories of a blank page: please—tell us your story."

Anser Journal is a literary journal established in February 2020 by Gunn seniors Joshua Yang and Rachel Sun. Since the journal's founding, Anser has attracted an audience of 1000+ and has been listed on Duotrope; 50+ teen and adult contributors from across four continents help create a diverse, eclectic narrative that, indeed, has told stories tinged with grief, joy, and wonder. Find Anser Journal here: https://anserjournal.org/

This research project will explore the growth of individual queer identity in the form of a one-act play. It follows the story of a lesbian couple as they unpack their past and present selves. The play is formatted to showcase both their high school and college-aged years through use of magical realism.

7.7million children between the ages of 10-17 are diagnosed with a mental health illness. With these numbers only increasing, the limited number of prevention methods such as raising awareness and early risk screening are not sufficient in slowing down the growing cases. To stop the spread, it's important to focus on the 8 factors that contribute to overall wellness: physical wellness, intellect, emotion, social relations, spirit, vocation, finance, environment. Nowadays teens are turning to music as it helps emotion management and expression as well as social relations, 2 of the wellness factors. This research will collect data from students through a survey and daily log to understand how students are using music and to investigate the impact music listening has on all 8 wellness factors. A review of related research will be used to explain the science behind music's relationship with wellness to determine the extent music can be used as a mental health prevention method.

Referred to by The New York Times as “the most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now,” Jordan Peterson is a highly controversial figure with ideas that draw both critique and praise. Due to his influence over a great number of followers, it is imperative to examine whether his ideas should be adhered to. This research paper examines the validity of Peterson’s ideas on the meaning of life. It will draw upon Peterson’s written books and his YouTube lectures, as well as sources from other intellectual figures to see how their ideas counter or support Peterson’s.

In the United States, consumer culture is prevalent and many indulge in it as a “new and improved” way of life. Consumer culture focuses on the spending of money by customers, specifically on material goods to obtain a certain lifestyle within a capitalist or mixed economy. Many believe that they are bettering themselves by shifting their attention towards buying material goods, while in reality, it is causing consumers to develop mental health issues. Through analyzing consumer trends in the US, this research project aims to find statistics showing increased consumerism in the US over the last 20 years along with statistics on increasing mental health issues. Using these values, the project will use correlational data to draw conclusions regarding the effects of toxic consumer culture in America. Ultimately, the goal is to contradict the theory which states that consumerism is a form of therapy. This will unravel while identifying that excessive consumerism can lead to mental health issues thereby preventing many in the future from indulging in this way of life.

A successful business requires precision marketing to gain customers, and those that do not market effectively often go out of business. Thousands of businesses close each year—a number that is only growing in recent months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, determining consumer behavior and creating a marketing strategy is difficult due to the plethora of factors that affect a customer’s mind. This study aims to determine the psychological factors that affect consumer behavior and how effectively companies match them. A combination of surveys and interviews with external research will determine whether companies are successful in their marketing or not.