Barbara F. Turnage, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Social Work Middle Tennessee State University

1. Domestic Violence and Self-Perception: Remaking A LifeCollege of Behavioral and Health SciencesResearch Lunch SeriesOctober 18, 2013 Barbara F. Turnage, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Social Work Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee

2. Purpose • This presentation focuses on how women living in violent homes integrate relationship violence into their self-perception. • Considered is the use of adaptation as opposed to coping • In particular, this presentation discusses how impression management is used to adjust interpersonal and intrapersonal identities.

3. Impression Management • Through impression management, we attempt to control self-view and other’s view of us • Types of Scripts • Episodic: involves storing a single experience • Categorical: subsuming an experience under a construct • Hypothetical: involves dealing with lists of features that can be reasoned about

4. Use of Scripts • When a script is evoked without conscious attention, blind adherence to it is likely to follow • When scripts are engaged in with conscious attention, people examine them critically and engage in hypothetical processing of information

5. Methods • The researcher met with the Director of the DV Center to request permission to conduct the study • Director provided letter of support • IRB permission was sought and granted • The DV staff asked available women if they would participate • Each participant was interviewed individually at the DV shelter

6. Participants • 4 Females between the ages of 19 to 48 (m=39) • Ethnicity/Race • 2 African American • 1 Asian American • 1 European American • Martial Status • 2 Single • 1 Married • 1 Divorced • 3 High School, 1 HS grad • Weeks at DV Shelter • 1 to 16

7. What did you say to yourself after the first violent incident? • S1—WOW!! I was stunned, I couldn’t believe he did it. • S2—I blamed it on the drugs and alcohol • S3—I was disgusted, angry, mad, I wanted justice • S4—I felt scared. I didn’t believe that it was happening, I didn’t do anything to make it happen.

8. When was the first time you felt you were a battered woman? • S1—I have never called myself that. I see myself as misused, worthless, can't do anything • S2—As a child, my stepdad beat me. Back then I though life was going to be like that for the rest of my life. • S3—Since I was little, I was abused. My dad was very abusive to me. • S4—When I was slapped & shoved, I was outside cleaning my car.

9. How did this realization impact your view of who you are? • S1—Like it is going to take me a long time to get all of those things out of my head • S2—I couldn’t even look at people in the eye. I had no self-esteem. I felt worthless. • S3—Since its always been there, I used to think it was what I deserved • S4—It didn’t make me feel low or anything. I was scared, started to think about my kids because I wanted to bring my kids back

10. Partner Selection • Partners may be selected because they fit the categorical script the person has of herself. Therefore, she does not have to alter this script. • The person may not have the emotional/cognitive ability to change a script • For the four women in this pilot study, the DV interaction fits with their Categorical scripts of how relationships work

11. How to use Information • A person’s identity/personal script can be damaged in many ways • Personal • Interactional • Societal • The goal of this research is to: • Identify scripts that support DV • Replace limiting scripts

12. References Ellsberg, M., Heise, L., Pena, R., Agurto, S., & Winkvist, A. (2013, Feb.). Researching domestic violence against women: Methodological and ethical considerations. Studies in Family Planning, 32(1), 1-16. Maslow, A. H. (1968). Toward a psychology of being. New York: Litton Education Publishing, Inc. Schlenker, B. R. (1980). Impression management: The self-concept, social identity, and interpersonal relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.