Exploring single/noncohabiting professional women's expression of self through the interior design of their residential environments

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation was to understand the process single, noncohabiting, professional women used to express their selves through the interior design of their residential environments. The primary research questions explored were: (a) What are the decision-making processes women use when deciding how and where to express their identity through the interior design of their residential environments?; (b) What messages do women convey about their selves and to whom are they conveying them to with the interior design of their residential environments?; and (c) What methods do women employ to express their selves with the interior design of their residential environments?

This research employed a mixed method approach. The primary research design was based on Glaser and Strauss’ grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Data also were collected using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, a standardized instrument that provides a multidimensional description of self-concept, defined as “who am I” (Fitts and Warren, 1996). The research question associated with this quantitative instrument was: Is there a difference between the sample group in terms of their Identity Score and Total Self-Concept Score and the standardized population with similar demographic characteristics?

Findings indicate that homes act as the setting in which single women express who they are and what they are all about. Participants recognized the socially constructed meaning of the objects they chose to display in their homes, and used those objects and other interior design features to represent who they are to others, and to reinforce their identity to themselves. Decisions about self-expression were determined by distinguishing the objects that were representative of self and using them to communicate messages about personal characteristics, interests, important relationships, personal accomplishments, and significant memories. Participants recognized the power of their environments to express their selves. They articulated the process by which they chose objects that said something about who they were, and often, they only displayed items that were meaningful to them. A grounded theory and associated model was proposed. This theory and model was interpreted through three existing theoretical perspectives: (a) symbolic interaction (Mead, 1934); (b) dramaturgy (Goffman, 1959); and (c) symbolic self-completion (Wicklund & Gollvveitzer, 1982).