The research was undertaken to determine the way in which the Black adolescent forms a pupil identity. Special attention was focussed on the various relationships formed by th~ Black adolescent within and outside the school environment. Literature indicates that pupil-identity is one of a variety of identities formed. Once a positive pupil-identity is established, the adolescent is in a position to actualise himself adequately. The empirical research was undertaken by administering a questionnaire to 555 Black secondary school pupils. The questionnaire comprised four categories namely, the adolescent's relationship with the self, parents, peer-group and the school. It was found that each of the four categories showed a significant positive correlation with pupil-identity formation. As this research project could not cover all aspects of the Black adolescent, recommendations for future research have been made. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Discourses about identity framed in terms of questions about autochthons and the Other are on the ascendance in the contemporary socio-political and cultural milieu. Migration, by virtue of its transgression of national boundaries and bounded communities, stands as a contentious site with respect to the politics of identity. South Africa is one case in point, where migrants – particularly those of African origin – have been at the centre of a storm of Otherization, which climaxed in the May 2008 attacks (now widely termed ‗xenophobic attacks‘). ―Amakwerekwere”, as African migrants in South Africa are derogatively referred to, face exclusionary tendencies from various fronts in South Africa. Using language as an entry point, this thesis investigates how Zimbabwean migrants – who by virtue of a multifaceted crisis in their country have a marked presence in South Africa – experience and navigate the politics of identity in Johannesburg. Through a multi-sited ethnography, relying on the triangulation of participant observation and interviews, the thesis focuses on Ndebele and Shona speaking migrants in five neighbourhoods. Framing the analysis within an eclectic theoretical apparatus that hinges on Bourdieu‘s economy of social practice, it is argued that each neighbourhood is a social universe of struggle that is inscribed with its own internal logic and relational matrix of recognition, and each ascertains what constitutes a legitimate language and by extension legitimate identity. This relational matrix is undergirded by a specific distributional and evaluative structure with corresponding symbolic, economic and socio-cultural capitals (embodied practices) that constitute the requisite entry fees and currency for belonging, as well as the negative capitals that attract designations of the strange and the Other. Zimbabwean migrants‘ experiences as the Other in South Africa take on diverse and differentiated forms. It was observed how experiences of Otherness and being the Other are neither homogenous nor static across the different social universes that make up Johannesburg; rather they are fluid and shifting and occur along an elastic continuum. Consequently the responses of migrants are also based on a reading of – and response to – the various scripts of existence in these different social universes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Diskoerse oor identiteit, uitgedruk in terme van vrae oor autochthons en die Ander, is aan die toeneem in die huidige sosio-politieke en kulturele milieu. Migrasie, wat met die oortreding van nasionale grense en begrensde gemeenskappe geassosieer word, is 'n omstrede terrein met betrekking tot die politiek van identiteit. Suid-Afrika is 'n goeie voorbeeld hiervan, waar migrante – veral dié van Afrika-oorsprong – in die middel van 'n storm van Anderisering beland het. Hierdie situasie het 'n hoogtepunt bereik in die Mei 2008-aanvalle – nou algemeen bekend as "xenofobiese geweld." "Amakwerekwere", soos Afrika-migrante in Suid-Afrika neerhalend beskryf word, word vanuit verskeie oorde in Suid-Afrika gekonfronteer met uitsluitingstendense. Die tesis gebruik taal as beginpunt vir 'n ondersoek oor hoe Zimbabwiese migrante – wat as 'n gevolg van 'n veelsydige krisis in hul land 'n merkbare teenwoordigheid in Suid-Afrika het – die politiek van identiteit in Johannesburg ervaar en navigeer. Deur middel van 'n multi-terrein etnografie, wat staatmaak op die triangulering van etnografiese waarneming en onderhoude, word Ndebele- en Sjonasprekende migrante in vyf woonbuurte ondersoek. Gebaseer op 'n eklektiese teoretiese apparaat, hoofsaaklik gewortel in Bourdieu se ekonomie van sosiale praktyk, word voorgestel dat elke woonbuurt 'n sosiale universum van stryd is waarop 'n eie interne logika en verhoudingsmatriks van herkenning ingeskryf is, en dat elkeen sy eie legitieme taal en by implikasie, eie legitieme identiteit het. Hierdie verhoudingsmatriks word ondervang deur 'n spesifieke verspreidings- en evalueringstruktuur met ooreenstemmende simboliese-, ekonomiese-, en kulturele-kapitaal (beliggaamde praktyke), wat dien as 'n soort inskrywingsfooi of geldeenheid vir insluiting, sowel as die negatiewe kapitaal wat toeskrywings van andersheid en die Ander aantrek. Zimbabwiese migrante se ervarings as die Ander in Suid-Afrika neem verskillende vorme aan. Daar is waargeneem hoedat ervarings van Andersheid in die verskillende sosiale kontekste van Johannesburg nie homogeen of staties is nie, maar eerder vloeibaar en skuiwend op 'n elastiese kontinuum. As 'n gevolg is die gedrag van migrante ook gebaseer op 'n lesing van – en reaksie op – die verskeie spelreëls van hierdie verskillende sosiale omgewings.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Duisende jong Suid-Afrikaners vertrek jaarliks op ‘n gapingsjaar (”gap year”) oorsee. ‘n Populêre siening in die media asook die wyer publiek is dat hierdie gapingsjaar die ideale tydperk is vir jongmense waar hulle hulleself kan “vind”. ’n Gapingsjaar word tipies onderneem in laat adolessensie (tussen 18 en 25 jaar). Die idee dat laat adolessente hulleself moet “vind” sluit aan by die ontwikkelingsteoretici se psigososiale konsep van identiteitsformasie. Die mees belangrike ontwikkelingstaak tydens laat adolessensie is die vestiging van ’n koherente identiteit en is ’n redelike mate van identiteitsverwerwing na afloop van adolessensie kritiek. ’n Belemmerde identiteitsverwerwing kan hul persoonlike selfstandigheid en outonomie wesenlik inperk. Die vraag het ontstaan of laat adolessente hulleself wérklik “vind” in ’n gapingsjaar soos die media-ideologie dit uitbeeld? Tot op hede (nasionaal en internasionaal) kon geen navorsing gevind word wat verband hou met ʼn gapingsjaar en identiteitsontwikkeling nie. Die doelstelling van hierdie studie was om die identiteitsontwikkelingstatus van Suid-Afrikaanse laat adolessente na ’n gapingsjaar te bepaal. Die basiese veronderstelling en populêre siening dat laat adolessente na afloop van ’n gapingsjaar ’n verworwe status van identiteitsontwikkeling het, is ondersoek. Om die identiteitstatus te assesseer is 288 Suid-Afrikaanse gapingsjaar laat adolessente genader en ’n kwantitatiewe opname metode is gebruik. Die gekose instrument vir die identiteitstatus ondersoek is die Extended Version of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-II). ’n Demografiese vraelys is geadministreer om beskrywende data verkry en te kyk watter demografiese eienskappe statisties korreleer met die onderskeie identiteitsontwikkelingstatusse van respondente. Die gestruktureerde vraelys is via ʼn webtuiste, met pen en papier of telefonies voltooi. In stryd met die populêre siening en media-ideologie is die bevinding dat die minderheid respondente (slegs 14.5%) geklassifiseer kon word in die verworwe identiteitstatus na ‘n gapingsjaar. Die meerderheid val binne die moratorium- en diffusestatus wat beteken dat hulle nie ‘n binding gemaak het tot ‘n identiteit na hul gapingsjaar nie. Gapingsjaar adolessente se ouderdom, tyd terug na hul gapingsjaar, die behoort aan ‘n religieuse groep (tydens hul gapingsjaar) of hul verhoudingstatus (tydens hul gapingsjaar) is eerder geassosieer met ‘n verworwe identiteitstatus. Vroegtydige en pro-aktiewe terapeutiese en opvoedkundige ondersteuning tydens hierdie ontvanklike periode, kan bydra tot ’n groter positiewe identiteitsontwikkeling van jongmense. Hierdie studie kan bydra tot die kennisbasis vir Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: Thousands of young South-Africans embark every year on a gap year overseas. A popular notion in the media as well as the wider public is that the gap year is the ideal period for young people to ‘find themselves”. A gap year is typically undertaken in late adolescence (age between 18 and 25). The idea that adolescents should ‘find’ themselves relates to developmental theorists’ psychosocial concept of identity formation. The most important development task during late adolescence is the forming of a coherent identity and a reasonable amount of identity formation after adolescence is critical. Impeded identity formation can severely curb their self-dependency and autonomy. The question is raised whether adolescents really ‘find’ themselves during a gap year, as the media would have us believe. No research (nationally and internationally) could be found which relates to the gap year and identity formation. The aim of this study was to determine the identity development status of late adolescents having been on gap year. The basic assumption and popular view that adolescents would have an achieved status of identity formation, is investigated. To assess the identity status, 288 South-African late adolescents who has taken a gap year was asked to participate in a quantitative survey. The chosen instrument for the identity status investigation is the Extended Version of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-II). A demographic questionnaire was also included to gain descriptive data. The data was used to test which demographic properties correlate with the respective identity formation statuses of participants. The structured questionnaire could be completed via a website, with pen and paper or telephonically. Contrary to the popular notion in the media and public, the finding is that the minority respondents (only 14.5%) could be classified in the achieved identity status after the gap year. The majority falls in the moratorium- and diffused statuses, which means that a binding was not formed with their identity after their gap years. Rather, demographics like age, time back after gap year, religious affiliation (during gap year) and relationship status was found to be associated with an achieved identity status. Early and pro-active therapeutic and educational support during this receptive period (adolescence), can contribute to better identity development of young people and this study can therefore contribute to the South- African research knowledgebase.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

This master’s thesis has the intent of showing that the tattoo can be regarded as an individuals document according to prevailing notions in archival science. Suzanne Briets definition of the concept of document is used in this thesis as a widening definition, a document does not have to presented in a defined form, it is only required to represent an object or intellectual phenomenon and to be informative. Tattoos are presented in this thesis as informative with regard to the status and position of russian/soviet convicts and as such presenting an individuals identity within a specific context. As documents they also provide the individual with the essential evidence of his or her endeavours in a criminal environment. Also, they have the ability to function as an individuals memories of relationships, hardships and comradeships. Memory, evidence and identity are concepts upon which archival theorists are reworking the role of archives and documents in society and culture. The method presented in this thesis is image analysis applied to a selected number of photographs and drawings owned and published by a design and publishing company in London. The image analysis has as its focus the tattoos visible upon individuals bodies, these tattoos are interpreted and made relevant with regard to historical circumstances and the prison environment. The image analysis in this thesis is complemented by litterature studies. The thesis also provides a recapitulation regarding previous research concerning tattoos within the human and social studies. The conclusion this thesis presents is that it is possible to view the tattoo as a document, bound to an individual, which mirrors the society and culture in which the individual finds himself. It is also possible to view the tattoo as mirroring indivudals possibilities, wishes and memories. Finally, the tattoo presents itself, in this context, as a document that may represent a critique of a dominant society or simply the voice of the alienated.

The purpose of the present investigation was to explore the relationship of the adolescent experience of parental death to the variables of identity formation, adjustment, and coping. The inclusion of adolescents who had experienced parental divorce and those who had not experienced either loss condition allowed for group comparisons.

In this paper, I examine the connection between race and the morality of action. I argue that moral racial identitarianism, where this is the position that in some cases the moral status of a person’s actions depends on their race, is false. / A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Art in Applied Ethics for Professionals), 2017 / GR2018

This research report investigates the experience of identity construction of a young Deaf man born into a hearing family in the township of Bluegumbosch, QwaQwa in the Free State Province of South Africa. Through the science of ethnography and an intensive study of a single family unit, focus is given to personal narratives in understanding the impact a Deaf young man has on his hearing family members operating within wider socio-political frameworks. This research report aims to bridge the gap in the paucity of family-oriented research in a Black township community, and with providing South African mainstream society with an understanding of Deaf children and the manner in which they contemporarily construct their identity, alongside the use and acknowledgement that SASL is a natural and complete language.

Research Report: Masters in psychology - Coursework and research report , 07 June 2017 / The study investigated the challenges that black middle class men experience in negotiating the masculine identities within the South African context. The adopted understanding was that of Connell in that there are many ways of being a man. The findings were that men are given a standard or expectations to live by but there are never guided on how to go about meeting them. This was portrayed by the interwoven themes and discourse that in some instances work against each other and render the black middle class men vulnerable in terms of identities. / MT2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Johannesburg, 2017 / This research investigates real names, pseudonyms, and anonymity online. From its small beginning as a research tool, the internet has grown radically and been increasingly incorporated into people’s daily lives. Simultaneously, as the internet has grown and changed, so have its uses, and perceptions of the naming practices used on it. Attitudes towards acceptable name use online have changed over time. Social networking sites have had a strong influence on name usage policies. This research examines how these attitudes have changed, and the implications of real names, pseudonyms and anonymity for behaviour on the internet and privacy. The radically disembodied nature of online communication lends itself to disinhibition, which in turn has resulted in online communications’ reputation for trolls and abusers. Contrary to the common assumption that the use of real names offline indicates the legitimacy of using real names online, online and offline communications are radically different. Online communications have very different considerations regarding privacy, identity theft, the digital footprint, and collapsed context, many of which are not present in offline communications. This paper examines naming policies and site structure through two case studies. The first case focuses on News24 and the Daily Maverick, both of which are South African news sites. Due to the need for rational and polite discourse, these implemented real name policies in order to enforce good behaviour amongst their users. In both cases, the real name policies failed. The second case study is that of 4chan, the American image board site. 4chan does not require any login process, and its users are typically anonymous. Despite being notorious for trolls, illegal content, and its image board /b/, the site’s architecture, along with the way that posts are created and then kept alive, mean that the site can be effective at moderating the kinds of content that it deems appropriate for each of its boards. Despite the contrasting nature and purposes of the news sites and 4chan, there are lessons to be learnt from the failure of real name policies, and the architecture and set up of sites which can be used to enforce particular behaviours. Furthermore, despite the ephemeral and shifting nature of 4chan, identity and a sense of belonging remain important to its users, hinting at the importance of a sense of identity to site members and the role of this identity in ensuring that users adhere to the norms. / XL2018