Date
4-29-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
James C Guy
Keywords
Inner-tainment, enactment, positive thought adjustment, GHETTO
Disciplines
Physiology | Practical Theology
Recommended Citation
Graham, Shontae L., "Evaluating Inner-tainment With a GHETTO Perspective For Positive Thought Adjustment In Ghetto Communities" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8223.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8223
Abstract
Environmental challenges and disadvantages impact cognitive scripts and develop persistent frustration. Frustration is both mental and physical and can be negative or positive. It evokes emotion, which is prompted by memory and its associated level of importance. The integration of emotion, memory, and imagination can set the stage and create an act to transition negative frustration and align past experiences with new perspectives. This study used a qualitative Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach to investigate the use of self-scripted enactment as a self-help technique for positive thought adjustment. The technique is called Inner-tainment and was used to determine if there were positive effects of the script theory and its dramaturgical benefits in nontraditional settings. A post intervention survey was used to answer: Does Inner-tainment help to identify and improve emotional regulation in individuals experiencing various forms of disparity? How do low SES adults describe the therapeutic value of Inner-tainment as a self-help technique for mental well-being? Is Inner-tainment an effective self-help technique for mental well-being? How does video-recorded Inner-tainment impact self-awareness for positive thought adjustment? Inner-tainment fostered a sense of self-permission; a therapeutic “yes” that empowered low SES adults to reflect and explore their unresolved experiences. Participants reframed their frustrating experiences and negative thought patterns through the practice of self-scripted video-recorded enactment in nontraditional settings. Study findings indicated that reflective self-awareness, emotional regulation and coping skills, rooted spirituality, and creative expression contributed to participants perceived positive thought adjustment.
