The aim of the study was to explicate the experience of interracial love relationships between Blacks and Whites in South Africa. As a point of departure, a basic question was established which would elicit the actual experience of this phenomenon. The researcher conducted twelve interviews and chose the six psychologically richest accounts. The researcher then analysed in detail (using the phenomenological method) the resulting protocols comprising the interviews. The researcher then explicated the experience and discovered that interracial love was a historical process of going through a relationship over time. The subjects experienced a particular historical background in the face of which they felt unfulfilled which brought about the potential to search for authenticity in a particular way. The subjects were placed in a situation where interracial love became a possibility. The subjects saw the other as human and fell in love. A new horizon emerged and a learning experience, about themselves and the world, occurred. The element of conflict was always present which was exacerbated by the South African Apartheid system. Subjects experienced fulfillment and disappointment depending on whether or not their historical demand was met. This structure of the experience was dialogued with the writings of existential-phenomenological philosophers and psychologists and also with that of previous research in the context of discussing particular areas of psychological significance such as historical background and Apartheid, racism, alienation, motives for interracial love, love and the universality of human nature and interracial love as a learning experience.

Thesis (MSc (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the causal relationship between levels of direct and indirect aggression and the presence of social competence (specifically the ability to initiate relationships, portray negative assertion, disclose personal information, provide emotional support and advice, and to manage social conflict) among different cultural groups in South Africa. Two questionnaires, the RCRQ (Richardson Conflict Response Questionnaire) the ICQ (Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire) measuring respectively aggression and social competence were administered to 729 black, coloured and white pregraduate university students from the University of the Western Cape and the University of Stellenbosch. The results showed poor but significant relationships between aggression and social competence. Strong significant cultural, gender and interaction effects were found. It was found that direct aggression is positively associated with the ability to initiate relationships as well as negative assertion, but there was a negative correlation with empathy. Indirect aggression was found to be negatively correlated with negative assertion. However, less significant results were found between cultural groups that do not fully reflect the results obtained for the total group. Significant gender differences for direct aggression were reported by the coloured and white groups with females engaging in less direct aggression than males. For indirect aggression it was reported that coloured females display significantly less aggression than males. The only significant cross-cultural difference in aggression for males was found for direct aggression where coloured males reported higher levels than the other groups. White females displayed significantly less direct aggression whilst coloured females reported significantly lower levels of indirect aggression than the other groups. Regarding social competence, significant gender differences were found in the black group for negative assertion and interpersonal conflict and within all three groups for empathy. Finally, significant cross-cultural differences were reported in four of the five domains of social competence. Enough evidence was found for high social competence to be associated with relatively low levels of aggression. These findings can make a significant contribution towards further research in this field and the subsequent development and implementation of more social skills programmes aimed at children. Such social competence training programmes may equip the next generation with sufficient skills to handle conflict and aggression in an acceptable manner and may subsequently reduce violence in our society.

This study on the friendships of young men aimed to explore how young men perceive and experience their friendships. It also sought to understand whether and how young men negotiate issues of care and support in their friendships. The sample consisted of 10 students aged between 18 and 25 years old. The study was guided by a qualitative design. Semi - structured in - depth interviews were conducted with the young men. Thematic analysis was used as the method of data analysis. It was found that young men value elements within their friendships such as the opportunity to confide personal information, receive guidance and empathy from friends. The young men value care and support in their friendships, and these are expressed through both relational and instrumental means. While the young men acknowledge the importance of emotional support, they report that it is a precarious matter which needs to be negotiated within the friendship. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

This study on the friendships of young men aimed to explore how young men perceive and experience their friendships. It also sought to understand whether and how young men negotiate issues of care and support in their friendships. The sample consisted of 10 students aged between 18 and 25 years old. The study was guided by a qualitative design. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the young men. Thematic analysis was used as the method of data analysis. It was found that young men value elements within their friendships such as the opportunity to confide personal information, receive guidance and empathy from friends. The young men value care and support in their friendships, and these are expressed through both relational and instrumental means. While the young men acknowledge the importance of emotional support, they report that it is a precarious matter which needs to be negotiated within the friendship. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

This research study aims to investigate the impact of gender roles and social behaviour towards women in marginalised communities in Newlands Location. The researcher used a qualitative research method to conduct the study through interviews. The study has five chapters: Chapter 1 focuses on the introduction and the background of the study; Chapter 2 is the literature review, where it clarifies the meaning of gender inequality and discusses gender inequality in education, economic growth and violence against women; Chapter 3 is the description of the methods used in assessing the impact of gender inequality in Newlands Location and outlines the processes followed in the study'; Chapter 4 are the findings and the achievements of aim and objectives of the study; Lastly, Chapter 5 focuses on the Conclusion, Limitations and Recommendations of the study. Newlands location need a serious intermediation to address the gender inequality issues.

A study is made of the ever-growing worldwide social pandemic of workplace bullying. We define workplace bullying in terms of its characteristics and distinguish it from unfair discrimination in the form of harassment. A survey is presented of its occurrence worldwide and how it manifests as an organisational conflict, both as hierarchical and horizontal abuse. This is analysed in terms of a social science perspective. We consider grievance reporting as an indication of trends in workplace bullying and discuss the limitations of such reporting. We review the consequent effects of such limitations on the health of workers and workplace efficiency and note the shortcomings of existing labour law in dealing with this inadequacy. Our findings are summarised, with recommendations for resolving this conflict situation.

Consulting to the RIDE from a systems psychodynamic stance is different from other group relations training events. Consultants found it difficult to take up their roles as consultants and containers. They were not prepared for the impact of the island on the event and especially on themselves as consultants. The consultants had to work harder to contain their own feelings and anxieties in order to take up their roles. The symbolically laden setting of the RIDE predetermined that the diversities of race and gender were worked with while other diversities were largely ignored. During the RIDE, the consultants felt more anxious, fearful and inhibited. The consultants had to provide containment for the event as a whole, for the group and their fellow consultants as well as for themselves. The consultants found that they had never experienced a more enriching experience than they did with the RIDE. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This study explored factors associated with the reluctance of people living with HIV (PLWH) to disclose their (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) statuses to their sexual partners at Galeshewe Day Hospital in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The study was an in-depth interview based qualitative research; and purposive sampling technique was utilised to select 13 PLWH aged between 18 and 45. Among males, factors contributing to the reluctance of disclosure to sexual partners are ignorance, fear of rejection, not knowing where to start when disclosing and secrecy. Despite the complexity of disclosure, all participants understood the importance of disclosing to sexual partners as this will prevent new infections. There is a need for HIV prevention strategies to focus on males particularly, to strengthen disclosure counselling services provided to PLWH and to advocate strongly for partner testing / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conflict is an integral part of relationships in the workplace. This study supports the pluralistic view that states that people with different values, views and aims come to the workplace and therefore conflict can be expected. This assumption puts challenges to any business to manage conflict constructively and to keep it within controllable levels. The study was done amongst team leaders on five table grape export farms in the vicinity of Piketberg. It showed that increased conflict is a clear indication of deficiencies on management level regarding skills and the execution of management tasks. Team leaders with inadequate or no management or technical training find it extremely difficult to cope with conflict assertively. The change in the composition of the workforce over a period of a couple of years to comprise of a majority Xhosa speaking workers has brought unmanageable challenges, even to senior team leaders. Their limited ability to communicate and to give clear instructions to people of an unknown language and culture is stretch to the edge and often leads to serious conflict. It poses a number of challenges to companies to keep a positive atmosphere for conflict resolution and to equip base line management to deal successful with conflict. The following themes will need urgent attention: • The acknowledgement and management of diversity in the workplace; • The development of a positive organisational culture and values; • Skills training and the development of self image; • The setting up of communication channels and participation of workers in management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konflik is ʼn inherente deel van verhoudinge in die werksplek. Die pluralistiese siening word onderskryf dat mense met verskillende waardes, sieninge en doelwitte die werksplek betree en daarom is konflik te verwagte. Hierdie aanname stel uitdagings aan die onderneming om konflik kontruktief te bestuur en dit op beheerbare vlakke te hou. Die studie op vyf tafeldruifuitvoerplase in die Piketberg omgewing onder spanleiers het aangetoon dat verhoogde konflik ʼn duidelike aanwysing is van tekorte op bestuurvlak t.o.v. vaardighede en uitvoering van bestuurstake. Spanleiers met gebrekkige of geen bestuurs- en tegniese opleiding vind dit uiters moeilik om konflik op ʼn assertiewe manier te hanteer. Die verandering in die samestelling van die werksmag oor ʼn periode van enkele jare om nou uit ʼn meerderheid Xhosa-sprekendes te bestaan, bring onhanteerbare uitdagings, selfs aan senior spanleiers. Hulle beperkte vermoë om te kommunikeer en duidelike instruksies te gee binne die vreemde taal en kultuur, word tot die uiterste beproef en lei dikwels tot ernstige konflik. Dit laat die ondernemings met verskeie uitdagings om beide ʼn gesonde atmosfeer vir konflikhantering daar te stel sowel as om die vaardighede aan grondvlakbestuur te gee om dit suksesvol te hanteer. Die volgende temas sal ernstige aandag moet kry: • Erkenning en bestuur van diversiteit in die werksplek; • Ontwikkeling van ʼn positiewe organisasie-kultuur en –waardes; • Vaardigheidsopleiding en selfbeeldontwikkeling; • Skep van kommunikasie-kanale en werkersinspraak by bestuur.

Consulting to the RIDE from a systems psychodynamic stance is different from other group relations training events. Consultants found it difficult to take up their roles as consultants and containers. They were not prepared for the impact of the island on the event and especially on themselves as consultants. The consultants had to work harder to contain their own feelings and anxieties in order to take up their roles. The symbolically laden setting of the RIDE predetermined that the diversities of race and gender were worked with while other diversities were largely ignored. During the RIDE, the consultants felt more anxious, fearful and inhibited. The consultants had to provide containment for the event as a whole, for the group and their fellow consultants as well as for themselves. The consultants found that they had never experienced a more enriching experience than they did with the RIDE. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)