Research hypothesis:
1. Many victims of domestic violence have difficulty remembering instances and details of abuse. Accessing such details are helpful and/or necessary in court cases.
2. People who tend to utilize certain classes of attachment “A”-oriented patterns have difficulty remembering instances and details of past things that are associated with negativity. Accessing those details is further impaired by an interviewer’s use of certain types of questions, and improved by use other types of questions.
3. Question: Are domestic violence victims who have difficulty accessing memory of negative events typically utilizing attachment A-patterns?
4. Question: What percentage of domestic violence victims are utilizing attachment A-patterns (or cognitive-oriented attachment patterns)?
5. Question: For domestic violence victims who are utilizing attachment A-patterns as they recall negative events, what types of questions tend to further inhibit memory and what types tend to promote better access to memory.
This research project is designed to work with a domestic violence agency, where legal advice is provided to a set number of clients needing help obtaining a domestic violence protection order. Clients will have a consultation and be given advice and help with filling out forms, but will not be represented in court. Advice can be provided in-house, or by telephone/Skype. As part of the project, agency staff members can be offered training in relevant attachment and neuroscience information that sheds light on all sides of interpersonal violence. Please contact ICCI if your agency is interested or has questions.