This study explores the phenomenon of serial murder from the perspective of narrative psychology. Using a case study approach and a grounded theory analytical process this qualitative study utilised the narrative concept of the imago to explore the motivation and development of those who commit serial murder in South Africa. The aim is increase our theoretical understanding of serial murder in directions that support offender profiling. Semi-structured interviews with two South African men who committed serial murder were undertaken and analysed alongside archival data. Their imagoes formed the focus of the analysis. This analysis included a consideration of how the individual’s motivations and developmental patterns were reflected in their crime scenes. This study demonstrated that imagoes play a significant role in the motives for offending, and development of offence behaviours, in men who commit serial murder. The imagoes help create motives; then embody these motives by encouraging and justifying certain types of behaviour in the individual. Interactions between imagoes were particularly significant in this regard. The dominant imago associated with the individual’s self was also associated with the development of a behavioural template for offending, and was thus especially significant in embodying motive. The development of offending was further encouraged by the separation between imagoes involved in offending and those that are not. However differences between the case studies were also observed, such as the extent to which imagoes develop in interaction with others and the roles played by their imagoes in the developmental narrative of their offending. These findings shed novel theoretical light on the study of serial murder in South Africa. It suggests directions for research into the role of narrative and culture in offending, and for the study of the imago as an embodied mode of interpersonal interaction. It also offers opportunities for research aiming to support offender profiling, and proposes a possible synthesis of competing conceptions of serial murder. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted

(in English) This thesis examines erosive elements (counterproductive behaviour or dishonesty) within the organization culture. The study is based on organization theories and criminology and also on studies on a same or similar topics not only from Czechia but also from foreign researches. The practical part of this study works with data file of Quality of life research (Štohanzlová, 2016), which includes the battery of thirteen erosive elements that were explored. The analysis of the occurrence, tolerance and unacceptability of these elements was conducted. Its context and influence on the perceived frequency of respondent's stress at work environment were analysed too. Connections with erosive elements were tested with basic socio-demographic variables and with sizes of organizations and it was often argued by industries in which respondents work. There were identified differences in an appearance and tolerance of observed phenomena. Based on the analysis was found that relationship problems at workplaces proved to be problematic: The relationship problems have significant influence on a frequency of perceived stress of respondents at work.