DOI: 10.3886/icpsr38496.v1
title: Perceptual Distortions, Contempt, and Intimate Partner Aggression, Kentucky, 2006-2007
title: Version 1

description: In relationships characterized by control, abuse, or violence, many appraisal distortions occur including denial and minimization. However, the nature of the distortion varies depending on the individual's role in the relationship (i.e., abuser or victim). Reducing these distortions is an important component in treatment success and involves accepting responsibility for actions and attributions. Relying on semi-structured interviews with 29 individuals who had been in abusive relationships, this study uses constructivist grounded theory methods to explore the following questions: What are the types of distortions that are used by individuals who have been in violent or abusive relationships? What are the gender and power differences in the appraisal distortions used? What are the functions and interactions of the distortions in the relationship dynamics?
description: The main purpose of this study is to explore the process of cognitive appraisal distortions within violent or abusive relationships: how they occur between partners, how they contribute to violence, their functions, and how gender and power differentials are reflected in their use.
description: Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, the research team conducted semi-structured individual interviews with participants either on-site (a university campus clinic) or at an approved off-campus research site. Interviews lasted about an hour and were audio-recorded and transcribed. Analysis began with line-by-line open coding of transcripts. The research team separately coded initial interviews, then discussed their interpretations, engaging in code checking for validity. Axial coding and dimensionalizing were used to further refine concepts and groupings. The interview guide was slightly modified through data collection to add questions about emerging concepts. All coding and memoing was done in NVivo software.
description: Participants were first asked to describe how an abusive incident in their relationship would normally play out, including frequency, intensity, and forms of abuse experienced and/or perpetrated. From there, the interviews focused on how often and in what ways they employed several types of distortions, as abuser or victim: denials, minimizations, rationalizations/blame, and contempt-control. Two vignettes were presented to participants to help provide examples of distortions. The interview closed with questions on the psychological impact of the relationship, including how gender may have influenced their perceptions of their and their partner's behaviors. Demographic items include sex, age, years in relationship where abuse happened, ethnicity, marital status, number of children, and occupation.
description: Participants were recruited through several sources. The first was an onsite clinic at a university training program. The second site was a local center that provided services (group and individual therapy) for women who had been in abusive relationships. The third site was a local clinic that provided batterer intervention programs to court-mandated men who had been violent with partners. A flyer with the inclusion criteria on it was distributed, and an incentive was offered for participation (either two free therapy sessions or $20). The final sample included 29 individuals, all of whom had been in heterosexual relationships (16 females and 13 males). The majority (21) of participants self-identified as White, and the average age was 37 years old.
description: Datasets: DS1: Perceptual Distortions, Contempt, and Intimate Partner Aggression, Kentucky, 2006-2007
description: Inclusion criteria were individuals who (1) had been in abusive relationships, either as a perpetrator or as a victim (or both); (2) had addressed the abuse or violence in some type of treatment format, such as individual or group work; and (3) were not currently being abused.
description: face-to-face interviewThis study is part of Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) Qualitative Data Sharing (QDS) project.ICPSR has zipped the 29 interview transcripts into a single qualitative data package. The package is available for restricted download. Please refer to the ICPSR README documentation for more information.Content/trigger warning: The data in this collection contain accounts of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and violence.