A research Report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements toward the degree of Master of Arts in Social and Psychological Research by Coursework and Research Report, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, School of Human and Community Development. / Current research on fatherhood in South Africa highlighted a shift in the perceptions of the fathering role entailing an increase in emotional involvement with their children. In addition, existing research on fatherhood indicated ways in which the fathers’ experience of emotional support systems influence their fathering roles, in terms of paternal involvement. This research explores young fathers’ perceptions of the importance their emotional involvement with their children. In addition, it explores young fathers’ experience of emotional support systems. This further highlight how such support influences participants’ perceptions of the importance of the father’s emotional involvement with his child. The sample for this study consisted of four young fathers between the ages of 18 to 22 years old. With the use of semistructured interviews as the method of data collection, interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. This study used a social constructionist approach as its theoretical framework. The findings of this study suggest that these young fathers perceived the importance of the father’s emotional involvement and the formation of the bond between father and child as the personal growth that they experienced. Both types of growth resulted in emotional rewards for participants. In addition, the young fathers’ constructions of a ‘good father’ and their constructed understanding of fatherhood as a form of ‘ownership’, accompanied their strong sense of duty to fulfil these roles. This involved being emotionally invested in their child’s lives. For these young fathers their emotional support systems consisted of friends, family members, the mother of their child and the mother of their child’s family. This emotional support was in the form of advice and behaviour. This behaviour consisted of their behaviour toward the fathers, such as… In addition, it also included their behaviours as role models, for example these fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives were actively learnt through the guidance of their support systems. It was found that such support assisted the transition into fatherhood and provided these young fathers with a sense of reassurance of their roles and duties, prompting their emotional involvement with their children. / NG (2020)

M.A. (Social Work) / This dissertation centers on attachment. The focus is on four adolescent girls and how their attachment style is impacted by the experience of parental separation. A qualitative research process is applied by means of a two-part semi-structured interview. The first interview focuses more on the experience of the parental separation, and the second interview on the present social attachments of the adolescent girl. This study is informed by phenomenology as it analyses the adolescent experience of the parental separation by means of the change in the physical and emotional presence of her mother and father. It then explores her subjective experiences with and perception of her attachment to others. The study endeavours to reach a deeper understanding of how a break in the relationship with a parent as a consequence of a parental separation, even at the adolescent phase of development, can impact the adolescent's inner sense of security and in turn, other present social attachments. In light of the above, past literature together with attachment theory research on initial attachments with one's main care-givers is reviewed, looking at the development of a secure versus insecure attachment style. It is hoped that this dissertation serves to enrich the existing body of knowledge on attachment with regards to parental separation, and is of use to clinical professionals in the field.