Utilizing the Rorschach in Analyzing Characteristics of Women Who Have Experienced Domestic ...

136 Pages·2015·1.1 MB·English

Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
2015
Utilizing the Rorschach in Analyzing
Characteristics of Women Who Have Experienced
Domestic Violence
Mary Aleksandra Iwanski
Walden University
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Walden University

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Mary Iwanski

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Matthew Fearrington, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Susan Rarick, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Mitchell Hicks, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2015
Abstract
Utilizing the Rorschach in Analyzing Characteristics of Women Who Have Experienced
Domestic Violence
by
Mary A. Iwanski

MS, Walden University, 2013
MA, Texas Wesleyan University, 2011
BS, Campbell University, 2008

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology

Walden University
November 2015
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions of women, men, and families throughout
the world each year, with more than a million incidents of domestic partner abuse
reported to law enforcement officials each year in the United States. Being able to
accurately assess and help a woman who is experiencing this type of violence can be
difficult for even a seasoned mental health or medical professional. The purpose of this
study was to determine whether clinicians can gain insight into the personality structure
of women who have experienced IPV by clinical interview and administration of the
Rorschach alone. This study analyzed the Rorschach responses of 52 participants: 26
participants who had experienced violence and 26 who had not. The relationship
between the Rorschach responses and variables was then analyzed using a series of
ANOVAs. Results of this study indicated that there were significant differences in
morbid content scores (MOR) and aggressive content scores (AG) in the women who had
experienced intimate partner violence compared to women who had not. This may be
significant in that women who have experienced partner violence may see more
morbidity and aggressiveness in their everyday lives or from a neutral stimulus. This
study may impact social change by bringing attention to an understudied population in
order to increase awareness of this issue. In being able to link a woman’s response
patterns on the Rorschach to her personality traits and ultimately her behavior in abusive
relationships, it is anticipated that it will be possible for clinicians to personalize
treatment plans to a specific woman’s needs and personality to increase the probability
that she will leave an abusive situation.
Utilizing the Rorschach in Analyzing Characteristics of Women Who Have Experienced
Domestic Violence
by
Mary A. Iwanski

MS, Walden University, 2013
MA, Texas Wesleyan University, 2011
BS, Campbell University, 2008

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology

Walden University
November 2015
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my husband, Jarrett Patton, for all of his encouragement and
patience as he stood by me on my doctoral journey. I would also like to thank my
parents, Roman and Katie Iwanski, for their unconditional love and for always believing
in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.
I would also like to thank my dissertation chair, Dr. Matthew Fearrington, for his
guidance and encouraging words through this dissertation process. I would like to
acknowledge and remember Dr. Thomas Trocchio for all his hard work and dedication to
getting me to the midway point of this dissertation process. Although he passed away
before I could complete this journey, I want him to know that I will eat a piece of
chocolate cake in his honor upon completing this process.
Table of Contents
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v
Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................1
Introduction ....................................................................................................................1
Background ....................................................................................................................3
Problem Statement .........................................................................................................5
Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................6
Research Question and Hypotheses ...............................................................................6
Research Question .................................................................................................. 7
Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................8
Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................10
Assumptions .................................................................................................................11
Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................12
Limitations ...................................................................................................................14
Significance..................................................................................................................15
Summary ......................................................................................................................16
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................18
Introduction ..................................................................................................................18
Personality Components/Characteristics of Abused Women ......................................19
Dependency........................................................................................................... 20
Weakened Support Systems .................................................................................. 24
Passivity/Submissiveness ...................................................................................... 28
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Selected Rorschach Variables and Their Relationship to Personality
Components .....................................................................................................30
The Relationship Between Domestic Violence and the Community...........................35
Festinger’s Theory of Cognitive Dissonance ...............................................................37
The Rorschach Inkblot Test .........................................................................................39
Exner Comprehensive System .....................................................................................41
Rorschach Utilization in Other Studies........................................................................42
Critiques of the Rorschach and the Comprehensive System .......................................48
Summary ......................................................................................................................50
Chapter 3: Methodology ....................................................................................................52
Introduction ..................................................................................................................52
Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................52
Population ....................................................................................................................53
Participants and Selection ............................................................................................54
Sampling Procedures ...................................................................................................55
Power Analysis ............................................................................................................55
Sample Recruitment .....................................................................................................56
Informed Consent.........................................................................................................57
Instrumentation ............................................................................................................58
Rorschach Inkblot Test ......................................................................................... 58
Data Collection Method ...............................................................................................61
Operational Definitions ................................................................................................63
Data Analysis Plan .......................................................................................................67
ii
Research Question ................................................................................................ 69
Hypotheses ............................................................................................................ 69
Ethical Procedures .......................................................................................................71
Participant Protections .......................................................................................... 71
Incentives .............................................................................................................. 72
Threats to Validity .......................................................................................................72
External Validity ................................................................................................... 72
Internal Validity .................................................................................................... 73
Statistical Validity ................................................................................................. 73
Summary ......................................................................................................................74
Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................75
Preanalysis Data Screening ..........................................................................................75
Descriptive Statistics ....................................................................................................76
Summary of Results .....................................................................................................77
Detailed Analysis .........................................................................................................78
Research Question ................................................................................................ 78
Hypothesis 1.......................................................................................................... 79
Hypothesis 2.......................................................................................................... 81
Hypothesis 3.......................................................................................................... 83
Hypothesis 4.......................................................................................................... 84
Hypothesis 5.......................................................................................................... 85
Hypothesis 6.......................................................................................................... 86
Hypothesis 7.......................................................................................................... 88
iii
Summary ......................................................................................................................90
Chapter 5: Conclusions ......................................................................................................91
Introduction ..................................................................................................................91
Interpretations of the Findings .....................................................................................91
Limitations of the Study...............................................................................................95
Recommendations ........................................................................................................96
Implications..................................................................................................................97
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................99
References ........................................................................................................................101
Appendix A: ROD Scale ..................................................................................................113
Appendix B: Letter of Site Cooperation ..........................................................................114
Appendix C: Informed Consent Document .....................................................................115
Appendix D: Rorschach Course Completion Certificate .................................................118
Appendix E: Hogrefe Publishers Approval Letter ...........................................................119
Appendix F: Flyer ............................................................................................................120
Appendix G: Interview Questions ...................................................................................121
Appendix H: Debriefing Form .........................................................................................123
Appendix I: Letter of Site Cooperation ...........................................................................125

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