This thesis includes a full length play and a separate section describing the creation of this play. The play depicts family members struggling with the direct and indirect ramifications of alcoholism, depression, and suicide. The play is composed of two acts; act one contains eight scenes, and act two contains six scenes. It is set in the 1950s and 1960s and takes place in various areas of the family home, at a wedding reception, and at a funeral. The essay section includes a description of the process, a record of changes in the play's direction, notations of personal discoveries, and a self evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the play.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Postmodernistic thinking supports the existence of various realities rather than the existence of an universally accepted objective truth. Knowledge is seen as an aspect of a constructed truth which may change over time, context, therapist and client and is therefore relative. An ethical approach, according to which the observer takes responsibility for his participation in what he observes, replaces the search for "the cause" or "the truth" constructionism and ecosystemic thinking are offered as ways of creating a postmodernistic interpretive framework. In using these frameworks or ways of thinking, the observer's participation in what he observes, as well as the existence of multiple realities and the influence of context, become recognized. The therapist that functions according to a postmodernistic perspective, gives up the idea that therapy is only about diagnosing an objective static condition. The therapists acknowledges that the observed condition always exists within the interaction between people. The therapist assumes a co-operative, respecting, therapeutic stance. The therapist sees himself as a catalyst rather than an expert who forces the therapy in a theoretically chosen direction. The therapist refrains from prescribing solutions, relying rather on the client himself to find new options and realities. Although this thesis focused primarily on a critique of Selvini Palazzoli's theoretical approach, it also comments on the pragmatic application of theories in general. A postmodernistic framework is offered as a broader more functional framework under which a variety of theories can be applied. within this framework already existing theories can be reconsidered and differently applied without rejecting their praqmatic value. A systemic perception of changing ideas replaces a systemic perception of things or objects. A debate about which school of theory is the most effective in dealing with a specific client, is replaced by an ethical approach according to which the observer takes responsibility for his choice of lenses in making distinctions and decisions.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

D.Phil. (Social Work) / Both woman and child abuse are pervasive social phenomena that affect woman and children of all races, nationalities, socio-economic groups and cultures. The co-occurrence of woman and child abuse is a social phenomenon that remains largely misunderstood by the public. Although the two categories of abuse often occur together, they are dealt with separately at an intervention level and managed by different institutions, non-governmental organisations and agencies. Child welfare organisations focus on child abuse often misdiagnosing or,ignoring woman abuse and women's organisations focus on woman abuse not making the link between woman and child abuse. This study assumes that the intervention of social workers isinfluenced by their theoretical framework and that a third theoretical framework is required to address this bifurcation in services to abused women and 'children. . This study examines the phenomenon of woman and child abuse co-occurring in the same family system and the implications that this has for practice. The findings of the study show a definite split in services provided to abused children and those provided to abused women. This split is seen not only in service provision but also in the theoretical frameworks of the social workers concerned, as well as the philosophies and mandates of the organisations for which they work. In addition, it was found that the phenomenon of woman and child abuse co-occurring is not well recognised or understood by social workers often leading to inappropriate and ineffective responses. The generalist practice framework is put forward as a means of addressing this phenomenon holistically and effectively. This framework is used to draw on aspects of the child welfare approach as well as the feminist approach and includes aspects of the strengths perspective and developmental social welfare to ensure a contextually appropriate framework. The Generalist Practice Model as described by Kirst, Ashman & Hull (2002) is utilized as a guideline for addressing woman and child abuse in same family systems.

The developmental impact of the family system on a child varies according to the functional status of the family. Harter, Pamela, and Neimeyer (1988) found that sexually abused children reported perceptions of significantly less cohesion and adaptability than nonabused children within their families of origin.

M.Cur. / Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness and probably the most distressing and disabling mental disorder. It is not the condition of the ill person alone but also of the family which is placed in a crucial and pivotal role and which must take care of the ill relative with schizophrenia. This is so because of the disillusional thinking, altered thought process and distractions of internal stimuli that may interfere with the planning, commitment and rationale for actions, making it difficult for everyone involved. The effects of the illness may be confusing and shocking to families. Parents suffer from great disruptions to their lives and children can struggle with the implications of having a parent suffering from schizophrenia. Siblings of the ill person suffering from chronic schizophrenia are not spared, they even suffer because issues of their own survivorship. The family becomes case managers and primary carers. Family caregivers are vulnerable to emotional manipulation by their mentally ill relative. They are rarely trained/helped to manage difficult circumstances. The family members are called upon for provision of psychological and social therapies, occupational and recreational therapy and attendant care for which they are not trained. The family is also seriously affected and distressed because of the effect schizophrenia has on their relative and the burden of caring. Coping with schizophrenia can especially be difficult for relatives who remember their relative before he or she became ill, giving rise to chronic grieving and sorrow and because of the cyclic nature of schizophrenia giving no definite end point or lengthy respite to complete mourning. The reminders of the "might have been" can be distressing. There is an obvious need for research on the family's experience. It is essential to understand their emotional tones and specific needs in relation to living with a member suffering from chronic schizophrenia as well as to formulate guidelines. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe family member's experiences and to formulate guidelines of care for families living with a member with chronic schizophrenia. The research design was based on qualitative research because of its explorative descriptive and contextual nature. Data were collected by means of indepth phenomenological interviews and naïve sketches. Field notes were written for reflecting upon methods used and the personal notes for the researcher's personal inflections. Literature was used to compare and complement the results. Guba's model on trustworthiness ensured the trustworthiness of the research.

AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie is daar primêr vasgestel op watter wyse die skool 'n bydrae kan lewer om gesinslewe in Suid-Afrika te bevorder. Tegnologiese, industriële en ekonomiese ontwikkeling het daartoe gelei dat ouers dikwels nie hulle opvoedingsverant-woordelikheid na behore nakom nie, sodat die skool in 'n toenemende mate ook opvoedingstake soos vredes-, verkeersveiligheids-, geslags- en gesinsopvoeding moet oomeem. Die belangrike rol van die skool as 'n instansie wat in diens van die gemeenskap bestaan en wat ook as aanvullende ouer vir die kind moet dien, het baie duidelik in die studie na vore gekom. Die feit dat die skool daarom ook die gesinsproblematiek in die samelewing behoort aan te spreek, het, tesame met die feit dat die Interim Kernsillabus vir Voorligting emstige tekorte toon en onvoldoende leiding aan die opvoeder gee, aanleiding gegee tot die primêre navorsingsvraag: Hoe moet 'n Gesinsopvoedingsprogram vir leerders daaruit sien om hulle voor te berei vir verryking van hulle huidige asook hulle toekomstige persoonlike en gesinslewe? In Hoofstuk 2 is daar deur 'n situasie-analise 'n studie gemaak van die eietydse gesinsproblematiek. Die kwesbaarheid van die moderne gesin het 'n sterk kontras gevorm met die hegte pre-industriële gesin. Die wyse waarop maatskaplike druk en tegnologiese vooruitgang bygedra het tot die ontaarding van en funksieverskuiwing in die eietydse gesinslewe, het bygedra tot groter begrip vir die disfunksionering van die gesin van die een-en-twintigste eeu. Deur 'n studie van die manifestasies van bovermelde disfunksionering in die gesin is gesinspatologieë geïdentifiseer. In Hoofstuk 3 is Gesinsopvoeding vanuit internasionale perspektief bestudeer. Uit die studie het dit duidelik geword dat Gesinsopvoedingsprogramme in die buiteland ook daarop gemik is om sowel die persoonlike as die gesinslewe van die kind te bevorder. Die Histories-Opvoedkundige studie van Gesinsopvoeding in Suid-Afrika, word in Hoofstuk 4 beskryf. Die Interim Kernsillabus vir Voorligting van die Departement van Onderwys is ook bestudeer en tekorte en gebreke is geïdentifiseer. Een van die opvallendste gebreke in die vroeë sillabusse vir Gesinsopvoeding op Nasionale vlak, is die miskenning van die multikulturele behoeftes van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing. Die ontwerp van 'n leerprogram vir Gesinsopvoeding in skole is in Hoofstuk 5 gedoen. Gesinsopvoeding is op wetenskaplike wyse en ooreenkomstig pedagogiese grondstrukture, gefundeer. Die mees resente Onderwyswetgewing en beleidsdokument wat betrekking kan hê op die kurrikulering van 'n leerprogram vir Gesinsopvoeding is in ag geneem en 'n uitgebreide studie van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys en riglyne vir opvoeders is verskaf aan die hand waarvan leergeleenthede ooreenkomstig die Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderrigbenadering en die behoeftes van elke besondere klasgroep beplan kan word. 'n Leerprogram vir die Grondslagfase, Intermediêre Fase, Senior Fase en Verdere Onderwys en Opleidingsband is ontwerp. Die onderskeie temas is verbesonder met die oog op die vervulling van die Kritieke Uitkomstes en Spesifieke Uitkomstes. Die Gesinsopvoedingsprogram is ontwerp om aan die eise en behoeftes van die gemeenskap, soos in die situasie-analise geopenbaar, asook aan die vereistes wat deur onderwysowerhede gestel word, byvoorbeeld die eis van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys te voldoen. Die totale ontwerp is uitgevoer ooreenkomstig wetenskaplike vereistes soos daargestel deur 'n verantwoordelike kurrikuleringsproses. ENGLISH: This study primarily aimed to determine how the school could contribute towards promoting family life in South Africa. Technological, industrial and economic development led to parents often not fulfilling their responsibility to bring up their children adequately. This resulted in the school progressively taking over upbringing tasks such as teaching traffic safety, peace, sex education and family education. The important role of the school as an institution serving society and its complementary parental role emerged very clearly in this study. The fact that the school should address family problems in society, together with serious shortcomings and inadequate guidance to the educator in the Interim Core Syllabus for Guidance, gave rise to the formulation of the primary research problem: What should a Family Education Programme for learners be like in order to prepare them for the enrichment of their present and their future personal and family life? Chapter 2 presented a study of contemporary family problems by way of a situation analysis. The vulnerability of the family formed a sharp contrast with the close pre¬industrial family. The way in which social pressure and economic development contributed to the degeneration and shift in function of contemporary family life, contributed to greater understanding of the disfunctioning of the family in the twentieth century. Through a study of the manifestations of the above-mentioned disfunctionings in the family, family pathologies were identified. In Chapter 3 Family Education was studied from international perspective. It became apparent that Family Education Programmes abroad were aimed at promoting both the personal and the family life of the child. In Chapter 4 the historical educational study of Family Education in South Africa was described. The Interim Core Syllabus for Guidance of the Department of Education was also studied and shortcomings and flaws were identified. One of the most conspicuous flaws in the earlier syllabuses for Family Education on national level was the disregard for multicultural needs of the South African society. In Chapter 5 a learning programme for Family Education in schools was developed. It was based on scientific principles and founded according to pedagogic ground structures. The most recent legislation concerning education and policy documents regarding the curriculation of a learning programme for Family Education were taken into account and an extended study of Outcomes-Based Education was undertaken and applied to Family Education. Examples and guidelines for educators were provided according to which learning opportunities in accordance with Outcomes-Based Education and the needs of every particular class group may be planned. Learning programmes were designed for the Foundation, Intermediate, Senior Phases and the Further Education and Training Band. Different themes were specified with a view to meeting the Critical and the Specific Outcomes. The Family Education Programme was designed to fulfill the demands and needs of society as revealed in the situation analysis as well as the demands made by education authorities, for example, the demand for Outcomes-Based Education. The entire design was executed according to the demands made by a responsible curriculum process. / Thesis (PhD (Educational Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / Unrestricted