Department of Psychology

Dr. Martz will be accepting a doctoral student for the Fall of 2022.

For information on the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), visit clinicalpsychpsyd.appstate.edu

Priority review date for admission is December 1st. Applications that are not complete by the priority date risk denial of admission; however, if seats remain for the invitation only on-campus interviews in February, applications not complete by December 1st will be considered.

Research Interests

Fat Talk

Fat talk and body snarking -- as our Feminine Enemies -- are veiled adversaries for modern women.  Fat talk is critical dialogue about one's physical appearance, which for feminists, it is an unintentional way women have become their own enemies.  Body snarking is when people critique other women's appearance, which for feminists represents contemporary aggression against women, and has contributed to our inability to elect politicians who represent feminist activism.  Furthermore, most Americans are unaware of the power and pervasiveness of these hidden enemies on our psyches and society.  This book will reconcile historical conflict between evolutionary psychology and feminist scholars to help us understand how genetics and culture make women's beauty germane and explain fat talking and body snarling as consequences.  It will overview the vast literature on the effects of fat talk and body snarking on women and offer potential solutions including evidence-based personal therapies and community interventions.  The goal is to lead readers in personal reflection of themselves, as well as to form a feminist agenda of strategic activism that helps our society move beyond these toxic forces fueling sexism and misogyny in our culture.  It is time to understand and end our Feminine Enemies.

We currently have studies focusing on fat talk in relationships, the link between weight teasing, fat talk, and eating disorders, and feminist responses to end fat talk.

Interpersonal Violence

My lab has conducted several studies on rural high school students to understand how interpersonal violence specifically affects students of color and LGBT students. We have researched the relationship between IPV and body image, eating disorders, anabolic steroid abuse, suicidal ideation, and poorer academic grades. We have found that polyvictimization in college women is particularly associated with bodily somatization and suicidal ideation.

We currently have studies focusing on juror decisions for a rape victim based on her mental health and body weight change following the trauma, as well as research on contemporary cyberbullying.

Education

• Clinical Psychology Internship Specializing in Behavioral Medicine, 1993-1994, Medical University of South Carolina
• Ph.D., 1994, Virginia Tech, Clinical Health Psychology
• M.S., 1991, Virginia Tech, Clinical Health Psychology
• B.S., 1989, Virginia Tech, Honors Psychology

Popular Press on "Fat Talk"

Resisting Fat Talk

https://cpb-us-west-2-juc1ugur1qwqqqo4.stackpathdns.com/u.osu.edu/dist/1/10560/files/2015/08/MartzAPAFatTalk2015-10mqxhw.pdf

Psych Central 10 Ways to Stop Fat Talk

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/weightless/2010/08/body-image-fat-talk-qa-with-expert-denise-martz/

Operation Beautiful

http://www.today.com/popculture/operation-beautiful-just-say-no-fat-talk-wbna38560934

Fat Talk on Bottom Line

https://bottomlineinc.com/health/weight/be-fat-talk-freefinally

Our Bodies Ourselves

https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/2007/03/research-round-up-fat-talk-early-puberty-and/

Books

• Martz, D.M. (2019). Fat Talk: A Feminist Perspective. McFarland Publishing: Jefferson, NC.

Order the book here

Also available via the ASU library here

Publications

• Sandoval, C.M., Martz, D.M., Bazzini, D.G., Webb, R.M., Hinkle, M.M., & Francis, L. (2022). Does fat talk affect relationship and sexual satisfaction? Adults’ perceptions of fat talk in a fictional romantic relationship. Eating Behaviors, https://doi.org/10.1016./j.eatbeh.2022.101603.
• Arroyo, A., Stillion Southard, B., & Martz, D. (2022). Feminist embodiment, body talk, and body image among mothers and daughters. Body Image, 41, 354-366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.04.005.
• Batchelder, H., Martz, D.M., Curtin, L.A., & Jameson, J.P. (2021). Interpersonal Violence is Associated with Eating Disorder Behaviors in Rural Adolescents. Journal of Rural Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000186.
• Ellis, J.M, Schenk, R., Galloway, A.T., Zickgraf, H., Webb, R.M., & Martz, D.M. (2018). A multidimensional approach to understanding the potential risk factors and covariates of adult picky eating. Appetite, 125, 1-9. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2018.01.016
• Ballard, M.E., Jameson, J. P., & Martz, D.M. (2017). Sexual identity and risk behaviors among adolescents in the rural southern United States. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 41(1), 17-29. doi:10.1037/rmh0000068
• Rogers, C., Martz, D.M., Webb, R.M., & Galloway, A. (2017). Everyone else is doing it (I think): The power of perception in fat talk. Body Image. DOI10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.01.004
• Martz, D.M., Jameson, J.P., & Page, A.D. (2016). Psychological health and academic success in rural adolescents exposed to physical and sexual violence. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, DOI: 10.1037/ort0000174
• Martz, D.M., & Rogers, C.B. (2016). Understanding and treating women's body image and eating disorders. North Carolina Medicine Journal, November.
• Mikell, C. M., & Martz, D.M. (2016). Women's Fat Talk Can Kill the Mood for Men. Eating Behaviors, 21, 211-213. doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.03.007
• Fiery, M., Martz, D.M., Webb, R.M., & Curtin, L.A. (2016). "She's (and He's) Got it Going On:" An Exploration of Racial Differences in Favorable and Unfavorable Body Talk. Eating Behaviors, 21, 232-235. doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.03.004
• Ellis, J.M., Galloway, A.T., Webb, R.M., & Martz, D.M. (2016). Measuring adult picky eating: The development of a multidimensional self-report instrument. Psychological Assessment. 19. doi.org.10.1037/pas0000387.
• Ellis, J.M., Galloway, A.T., Webb, R.M., Martz, D. M., & Farrow, C.V. (2016). Recollections of pressure to eat during childhood, but not picky eating, predict young adult eating behavior. Appetite, 97, 58-63.
• Barwick, A., Bazzini, D., Martz, D., Rocheleau, C., & Curtin, L. (2013). Testing the Norm to Fat Talk for Women of Varying Size: What's Weight Got to Do with It? Body Image: An International Journal of Research.
• Maphis, L., Martz, D., Bergman, S., Curtin, L., & Webb, R.M. (2013). Body size dissatisfaction and avoidance behavior: How gender, age, ethnicity, and relative clothing size predict what some won't try. Body Image: An International Journal of Research.
• Martz, D., Curtin, L., & Bazzini, D. (2012). Fat talk and body image. Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance.
• Petroff, A., Martz, D., Webb, R. M., & Galloway, A. (2011). Predicting ideal BMI: What does clothing size have to do with it? Body Image: International Journal of Research.
• Payne, L., Martz, D., Tompkins, K.B., Petroff, A., & Farrow, C. (2010). Fat talk in the United Kingdom and the United States. Sex Role: A Journal of Research.
• Galloway, A., Farrow, C., & Martz, D. (2010). Retrospective reports of child feeding practices, current eating behaviors, and BMI in college students. Obesity. DOI 10.1038.
• Bolger, K., Carter, K., Curtin, L., Martz, D. M., Gagnon, S. G., & Michael, K.D. (2010). Motivational Interviewing for Smoking Cessation Among College Students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy.
• Bazzini, D., Curtin, L., Joslin, S., Regan, S., & Martz, D. (2010). Do animated Disney characters portray and promote the beauty-goodness stereotype? Journal of Applied Social Psychology.
• Tompkins, K.B., Martz, D., Rocheleau, C., & Bazzini, D. (2009). Social likeability, conformity, and body talk: Does fat talk have a normative rival in female body image conversations? Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 6, 292-298.
• Martz, D. M., Petroff, A.G., Curtin, L.A., & Bazzini, D.G. (2009). Gender differences in fat talk among American adults: Results from the Psychology of Size Survey. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 61, 34-41.
• Curtin, L., & Martz, D. (2007). Health Psychology. In S. F. Davis & W. Buskist (Eds.). 21st century psychology (pp. 100-119). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Tucker, K., Martz, D., Curtin, L., & Bazzini, D. (2007). Examining "Fat Talk" experimentally in a female dyad: How are women influenced by another woman's body presentational style? Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 4, 157-174.
• Martz, D., Baker, G., Knott, N., DeStefano, J., Wallace, A., & Greenfield, K. (2006). Physician's personal and practice use of CAM Therapies in a rural community in the southeast U.S. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12, 715-716.
• Britton, L., Martz, D., Bazzini, D., Curtin, L., & LeaShomb, A. (2006). Fat talk and self-presentation of body image: Is there a social norm for women to self-degrade? Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 3, 244-250.
• Broadwater, K., Curtin, L., Martz, D., & Zrull, M. (2006). College student drinking: Perception of the norm and behavioral intentions. Addictive Behaviors, 31, 632-640.
• Craig, A., Martz, D., & Bazzini, D. (2006). Peer pressure to "fat talk": Does audience type influence how women portray their body image? Eating Behaviors, 244-250.