This thesis investigates how environmental meaning is constructed within families, considered as units of socialisation, and what role family members play in it. Family socialisation is a dynamic moment in which family members interact and generate meanings, values, beliefs and habits. Drawing on theories of the social construction of reality, symbolisation and symbolic interactionism, the thesis examines sustainable symbols and shared beliefs among parents and young adult children, considered relevant both for understanding how the family social group feels towards the environment and for understanding what motivations can be found behind the family's environmental habits. By conducting semi-structured interviews with parents and young adult children, recurring patterns of sustainable meanings and symbols were identified. The results show that the family context is regarded as the first site of environmental awareness and education, where sustainability discourses take the form of open conversations focused on individual behaviour and family values. In these conversation, parents and young adult children cover specific roles that dynamically contribute to the creation of environmental meanings. The thesis is considered relevant in that it creates a solid understanding of both the form that environmental discourse takes within families and the intrinsic motivations that justify this form, so that more conscious environmental communication and education can be developed.

This study served to highlight the aggressive nature of learners in the Foundation Phase, namely of those who are between the ages of 5 to 6 years. The project is based on qualitative research, and the data were collected from three primary schools in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Interviews were conducted with two principals, three educators and three parents. Four learners were used in order to gather further information on the causes of the aggressive behaviour of learners. Their input assisted the researcher to understand the various discipline structures within the school and also, how parents and educators manage the aggressive behaviour of learners. The study sought to identify whether primary and secondary socialisation, and the influence of the media are related to learners behaving aggressively. The information collected confirmed that children model the behaviour of adults and of their peers. The principals and the educators were of the opinion that positive primary socialisation is of the utmost importance, as it lays the foundation for future socialisation. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

This study served to highlight the aggressive nature of learners in the Foundation Phase, namely of those who are between the ages of 5 to 6 years. The project is based on qualitative research, and the data were collected from three primary schools in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Interviews were conducted with two principals, three educators and three parents. Four learners were used in order to gather further information on the causes of the aggressive behaviour of learners. Their input assisted the researcher to understand the various discipline structures within the school and also, how parents and educators manage the aggressive behaviour of learners. The study sought to identify whether primary and secondary socialisation, and the influence of the media are related to learners behaving aggressively. The information collected confirmed that children model the behaviour of adults and of their peers. The principals and the educators were of the opinion that positive primary socialisation is of the utmost importance, as it lays the foundation for future socialisation. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)