Psychological variables in battered women's stay/leave decisions : risk-taking perceived control, and optimistic bias
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Vanessa A. Handsel (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
- Advisor
- Caroline Clements
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to assess the roles that risk-taking behavior, perceived
control, optimistic bias, and intermittent relationship reinforcement play in determining
the likelihood that a victim will return to or remain with her abuser. Surveys were
administered to 71 battered women receiving services at various domestic violence
shelters in North Carolina. Participants were divided into two groups based on their odds
of return, resulting in one group with a less than 50 percent chance of leaving (will
return) and a second group with an above 50 percent chance of leaving (will not return).
The return criterion was measured and analyzed in terms of the aforementioned variables.
While no one variable predicted the criterion, in the group more likely to return, greater
perceived risk of unsafe sexual activity and higher perceived control over future events
predicted increased likelihood of return to abuser. Within the group indicating they
would probably not return, higher perceived benefits of risky sexual behavior predicted
an increased likelihood of return as compared to others in that group. Findings suggest
that risk-taking and perceived control are significant indicators of return for women who
admit they will go back to their abusive partner, while perceived risk of unsafe sexual
behavior and higher perceived control can help identify those within the group of who
say they are not going back. This highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to
dealing with the issue of domestic violence.
Psychological variables in battered women's stay/leave decisions : risk-taking perceived control, and optimistic bias
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters of Arts
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Abused women, Decision making, Family violence--Psychology, Risk assessment
- Subjects
- Abused women
- Family violence -- Psychology
- Risk assessment
- Decision making