Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Debra R. Wilson

Abstract

Despite decades of preventive education and services for intimate partner violence, such violence continues. Studies have shown mixed evidence regarding the effectiveness of current treatment options and prevention remains paramount. If victims seek therapy, the focus is typically on a single diagnosis, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, rather than cause-and-effect. Emotional intelligence in abusers of intimate partner violence has been tested and studied. There is literature on victims, but they are rare, regional, and examined only female participants resulting in conflicting findings. There is a gap in research in the review of the nuances of emotional intelligence in participants of both genders. The present quantitative study explored the branches of emotional intelligence differences in intimate partner violence victim-survivor participants (N = 180) using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. The 4 branches explored were perception, use, understanding, and management of emotions. Using linear regressions, any differences in emotional intelligence in partner violence victim-survivors were compared to the normative population by gender, length of time a victim was abused, and the types of abuses experienced. Both genders resulted in finding lower levels of the understanding branch when compared to the normative population. Male levels were higher in use, perception, and understanding than females. The length of time in an abusive relationship and types of abuse experienced showed no significance. Testing victim-survivors' emotional intelligence levels could effect social change with personal data focusing on enhancing skills in introspection, healthier emotional responses, and help to dissuade a victim from returning to their abusive relationship.

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