In recent decades, men’s violence against women has been perceived as an increasing problem in our societies. Men’s violence against women are nowadays also classified as a serious crime against human rights. The violence in an intimate relationship between a man and a woman restricts the woman’s sense of freedom and justice. The violence results in violation of the women’s rights to a private life.  It's usually the physical and sexual abuse of women that is the center in legal contexts within the scope of domestic violence against women. It’s therefore necessary to examine other specific forms of domestic violence within the legal scope in Sweden and the European Convention on Human Rights. This study has focused on the psychological abuse against women as a form of domestic violence. The psychological abuse against women is a serious matter in the Swedish society. This study has examined whether the psychological abuse against women is included in the Swedish criminal classifications. It has also examined whether the psychological abuse is, or should, apply within the state’s positive obligations especially in article 8 in the European Convention.  The results of this study have shown that Sweden do not have legal security for all forms included in psychological violence even though it’s such a serious issue in the Swedish society today. It has also shown that the right to privacy and a private life may be one of the reasons why Sweden hasn’t come up with a criminal provision against psychological abuse against women. Women’s right to a private life and freedom from all forms of abuse are therefore not fulfilled under the state’s positive obligations without this criminal provision, according to the positive obligations that article 8 in the European Convention should provide to all individuals.  Key words: Human rights, Women’s rights, State’s positive obligation, Domestic violence, Psychological abuse, Intimate relationship, Private life, European Court, European Convention on Human Rights, Swedish legal context.

This study investigated coercive and high risk sexual practices in South African adolescent dating relationships. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected from secondary school learners in a community near Johannesburg. Of 928 learners surveyed, 23.5% of females and 53.7% of males ever had sex. Of these, 57.8% of females and 44.2% of males reported sexual victimisation, and 46.8% of females and 50% of males reported perpetrating sexual coercion in a relationship. Significantly more males engaged in risky sex than females. Among females, sexual coercion was significantly linked to risky sexual behaviour. Among males, alcohol and perpetration of sexual coercion were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour. Focus group data reveal how dominant constructions of gender normalise male coercion and contribute to risky sexual practices. Recommendations for sexual health initiatives include introducing alternative discourses of female sexual desire and male sexual responsibility as a means for building healthier adolescent dating relationships. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Emotional abuse is a problem experienced worldwide, crossing all economic, educational, social and ethnic segments of all societies. Overtime, many empirical researchers concentrated on studying the occurrence and impact of physical abuse on women but neglected to study the effects of emotional abuse on the woman's physical and mental health. But with time, researchers began to realise that emotional abuse also had a great impact on the lives of women. Therefore, a detailed exploration of emotional abuse between intimate adult partners has only recently emerged in the literature. Though it is difficult to separate emotional abuse from other forms of abuse, many women in our research who were provided with a definition of emotional abuse identified and confirmed that they have been emotionally abused in their past or are being abused in their current intimate relationships. This research project focused mainly on women who suffered and have survived the wounds of emotional abuse in intimate relationships. Group work is aimed at the growth and development of the individual. This study reports on an in-depth analysis of the arrangements and formulation of the structure of support groups, and the effectiveness of the functioning of these groups. Participants who joined the support groups in this research, were women who have undergone therapeutic intervention and are/or were engaged in a healing process that involved reintegration, implementation and maintenance of therapeutic goals. Support groups do provide a place where people can share their experiences in a safe environment, and where they can symbolise their experiences and consequently make them more acceptable to the self. It has been concluded in this research that support groups were effective in giving members the opportunity of helping each other to heal from the wounds of emotional abuse by being supportive, giving feedback, making helpful suggestions and providing useful information necessary for their growth and development. Therefore, participants who joined the support groups agreed that they have benefited by receiving the encouragement and support from one another, which contributed towards their process of healing emotionally, and in turn, caused them to change from being helpless victims to survivors of emotional abuse. / Sociology / D. Phil (Sociology)

This study investigated coercive and high risk sexual practices in South African adolescent dating relationships. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected from secondary school learners in a community near Johannesburg. Of 928 learners surveyed, 23.5% of females and 53.7% of males ever had sex. Of these, 57.8% of females and 44.2% of males reported sexual victimisation, and 46.8% of females and 50% of males reported perpetrating sexual coercion in a relationship. Significantly more males engaged in risky sex than females. Among females, sexual coercion was significantly linked to risky sexual behaviour. Among males, alcohol and perpetration of sexual coercion were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour. Focus group data reveal how dominant constructions of gender normalise male coercion and contribute to risky sexual practices. Recommendations for sexual health initiatives include introducing alternative discourses of female sexual desire and male sexual responsibility as a means for building healthier adolescent dating relationships. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Emotional abuse is a problem experienced worldwide, crossing all economic, educational, social and ethnic segments of all societies. Overtime, many empirical researchers concentrated on studying the occurrence and impact of physical abuse on women but neglected to study the effects of emotional abuse on the woman's physical and mental health. But with time, researchers began to realise that emotional abuse also had a great impact on the lives of women. Therefore, a detailed exploration of emotional abuse between intimate adult partners has only recently emerged in the literature. Though it is difficult to separate emotional abuse from other forms of abuse, many women in our research who were provided with a definition of emotional abuse identified and confirmed that they have been emotionally abused in their past or are being abused in their current intimate relationships. This research project focused mainly on women who suffered and have survived the wounds of emotional abuse in intimate relationships. Group work is aimed at the growth and development of the individual. This study reports on an in-depth analysis of the arrangements and formulation of the structure of support groups, and the effectiveness of the functioning of these groups. Participants who joined the support groups in this research, were women who have undergone therapeutic intervention and are/or were engaged in a healing process that involved reintegration, implementation and maintenance of therapeutic goals. Support groups do provide a place where people can share their experiences in a safe environment, and where they can symbolise their experiences and consequently make them more acceptable to the self. It has been concluded in this research that support groups were effective in giving members the opportunity of helping each other to heal from the wounds of emotional abuse by being supportive, giving feedback, making helpful suggestions and providing useful information necessary for their growth and development. Therefore, participants who joined the support groups agreed that they have benefited by receiving the encouragement and support from one another, which contributed towards their process of healing emotionally, and in turn, caused them to change from being helpless victims to survivors of emotional abuse. / Sociology / D. Phil (Sociology)

Text in English / The rationale for the study was to investigate the symbiotic connection of trauma and addiction. The focus is on childhood trauma and the turn to addictive practices to quell the memories and experiences endured as children. Chapter One discusses the methodology regarding the approach of the study and includes an introductory literature review of the phenomena. Additional literature is included in the ensuing chapters. A personal account of the motivation behind the research is chronicled in Chapter Two. In this chapter, I share with the readers my personal experiences around trauma and addiction in my family of origin. The notion of the blending of trauma and addiction is the focus of Chapter Three. It includes the approach to treatment of trauma and addiction as well as addiction counsellor training in the South African context. The storied lives of the participants and their experiences of trauma and addiction are encapsulated in Chapter Four. Finally, Chapter Five rounds off the study with the analyses of the narratives of the unique individuals who contributed to this research undertaking. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of alcohol abuse on intimate partner violence (IPV) committed in Kibera, Kenya. The study is premised on the high prevalence of IPV and alcohol abuse in Kenya, especially among informal settlement dwellers. Kenya is geographically located in Eastern Africa. Kibera is an informal settlement in the country’s capital city, Nairobi, and is plagued by extreme poverty, unemployment and crime. A qualitative approach was implemented and a case study research design employed. Non-probability sampling, using purposive and snowball techniques, was used to select research participants. A total of 32 female victims of IPV made up the sample used in the study. Although the study did not intend to exclude males from the sample, no male victims of IPV could be located. Semi-structured interviews were held individually with each participant. Ethical considerations were actively applied throughout the duration of the study. The raw data collected were thematically analysed. The findings of the study revealed that most of the participants were under 40 years old, married, and had at least one child. Their educational levels were limited, and their occupations as well as their partners’ occupations generated low incomes. Physical and psychological abuse were cited as the most common types of abuse. However, sexual abuse was still prevalent and in some cases was extended to the children. The physical and psychological impacts were identified as the most prevalent effects of IPV. The effects on the children and family were also explored. The study found a strong link between alcohol use and IPV. However, alcohol use and/or abuse could not be identified as the only causal factor of IPV. Interestingly, the participants’ experiences highlighted the patriarchal and cultural milieu significant to Kibera. It was found that the patriarchal nature maintained in Kibera is one of the factors contributing to IPV and its perpetuation. / Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza athari za pombe kwa dhuluma zinazosababishwa na mpenzi unayeshiriki naye ngono (IPV) katika eneo la Kibera nchini Kenya. Utafiti huu unatokana na kiwango cha juu cha hali ya IPV na unywaji wa pombe kupindukia nchini Kenya, hasa kwa wanaoishi kwenye mitaa ya mabanda. Kenya hupatikana katika eneo la kijiografia la Afrika Mashariki. Kibera ni mtaa wa mabanda ambao unapatikana katika mji mkuu wa Nairobi. Kibera inakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri, ukosefu wa ajira na uhalifu. Mbinu ya kutathmini ubora ilitumika, na uchunguzi kifani ulitumika. Sampuli isiyokuwa na welekeo wa uwezekano ilitumika, kwa kutumia mbinu za kimakusudi, na kwa kuongeza mambo utafiti unapoendelea wakati wa kuchagua watu wa kushiriki kwenye utafiti. Jumla ya waathiriwa wa IPV 32 wa kike walitumika kama sampuli katika utafiti huu. Ijapokuwa utafiti haukuwa na lengo la kutowashirikisha wanaume, hakuna muathiriwa wa IPV wa kiume alipatikana. Maswali yaliyokuwa na utaratibu maalum yalitumika kwa kila mshiriki. Maadili yalizingatiwa mno wakati wa mchakato mzima wa utafiti. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia mada. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionyesha kuwa wengi wa washiriki waliokuwa na umri usiozidi miaka 40, walikuwa wameolewa na angalau mtoto mmoja. Hawakuwa wamesoma mno, na wao pamoja na wapenzi wao walikuwa na ajira zenye ujira duni. Kupigwa na kuteswa kisaikolojia ni dhuluma zilizojitokeza mno. Hata hivyo, unyanyasaji wa kimapenzi bado ulishuhudiwa na hata wakati mwingine ulifanyiwa watoto. Madhara kwa mwili na ya kisaikolojia yalijitokeza kama athari kuu za IPV. Athari kwa watoto na kwa familia pia zilichunguzwa. Utafiti huu ulionyesha kuwa kuna uhusiano mkuu kati ya matumizi ya pombe kupindukia na IPV. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya pombe/au kulewa kupindukia siyo tu mambo yanayosababisha IPV. Cha kushangaza, hali zilizoelezwa na washiriki zilionyesha umuhimu wa mfumo dume kwa utamaduni wa watu wa Kibera. Iligunduliwa kuwa mfumo wa udume unaoendelea katika eneo la kibera, ni mojawapo wa mambo yanayochangia IPV na kuendelezwa kwake Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza athari za pombe kwa dhuluma zinazosababishwa na mpenzi unayeshiriki naye ngono (IPV) katika eneo la Kibera nchini Kenya. Utafiti huu unatokana na kiwango cha juu cha hali ya IPV na unywaji wa pombe kupindukia nchini Kenya, hasa kwa wanaoishi kwenye mitaa ya mabanda. Kenya hupatikana katika eneo la kijiografia la Afrika Mashariki. Kibera ni mtaa wa mabanda ambao unapatikana katika mji mkuu wa Nairobi. Kibera inakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri, ukosefu wa ajira na uhalifu. Mbinu ya kutathmini ubora ilitumika, na uchunguzi kifani ulitumika. Sampuli isiyokuwa na welekeo wa uwezekano ilitumika, kwa kutumia mbinu za kimakusudi, na kwa kuongeza mambo utafiti unapoendelea wakati wa kuchagua watu wa kushiriki kwenye utafiti. Jumla ya waathiriwa wa IPV 32 wa kike walitumika kama sampuli katika utafiti huu. Ijapokuwa utafiti haukuwa na lengo la kutowashirikisha wanaume, hakuna muathiriwa wa IPV wa kiume alipatikana. Maswali yaliyokuwa na utaratibu maalum yalitumika kwa kila mshiriki. Maadili yalizingatiwa mno wakati wa mchakato mzima wa utafiti. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia mada. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionyesha kuwa wengi wa washiriki waliokuwa na umri usiozidi miaka 40, walikuwa wameolewa na angalau mtoto mmoja. Hawakuwa wamesoma mno, na wao pamoja na wapenzi wao walikuwa na ajira zenye ujira duni. Kupigwa na kuteswa kisaikolojia ni dhuluma zilizojitokeza mno. Hata hivyo, unyanyasaji wa kimapenzi bado ulishuhudiwa na hata wakati mwingine ulifanyiwa watoto. Madhara kwa mwili na ya kisaikolojia yalijitokeza kama athari kuu za IPV. Athari kwa watoto na kwa familia pia zilichunguzwa. Utafiti huu ulionyesha kuwa kuna uhusiano mkuu kati ya matumizi ya pombe kupindukia na IPV. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya pombe/au kulewa kupindukia siyo tu mambo yanayosababisha IPV. Cha kushangaza, hali zilizoelezwa na washiriki zilionyesha umuhimu wa mfumo dume kwa utamaduni wa watu wa Kibera. Iligunduliwa kuwa mfumo wa udume unaoendelea katika eneo la kibera, ni mojawapo wa mambo yanayochangia IPV na kuendelezwa kwake Utafiti huu utakuwa na manufaa kwa waathiriwa wa IPV, jamii wanazotoka na watungaji wa sheria za kitaifa bila kusahau jamii ya watafiti wa kisayansi. / Maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso eno e ne e le go tlhotlhomisa tshusumetso ya tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi mo tirisodikgokeng ya balekane ba baratani (IPV) e e diragalang kwa Kibera, Kenya. Thutopatlisiso e theilwe mo tiragalong e e kwa godimo ya IPV le tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi kwa Kenya, bogolo segolo magareng ga banni ba mafelo a baipei. Kenya e fitlhelwa kwa Botlhaba jwa Aforika. Kibera ke lefelo la baipei mo motsemogolong wa naga, Nairobi, mme e aparetswe ke lehuma, botlhokatiro le bosenyi jo bo boitshegang. Go dirisitswe molebo o o lebelelang mabaka mme ga dirisiwa thadiso ya thutopatlisiso e e lebelelang kgetse. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa go tlhopha sampole moo baagi ba se nang tšhono e e tshwanang ya go nna le seabe le dithekeniki tsa go tlhopha sampole go ya ka maitlhomo le go letla banni-le-seabe ba pele go ngokela ba bangwe go tlhopha banni-le-seabe ba patlisiso. Palogotlhe ya batswasetlhabelo ba basadi ba IPV ba le 32 e nnile sampole e e dirisitsweng mo thutopatlisisong. Le fa thutopatlisiso e ne e sa ikaelela go se akaretse banna mo sampoleng, go ne go se na batswasetlhabelo bape ba IPV ba banna ba ba tlhageletseng. Go nnile le dipotsolotso tse di batlileng go rulagana tse di tshwerweng le monni-le-seabe mongwe le mongwe ka sebele. Go dirisitswe ntlha ya maitsholo a a siameng ka botlhaga mo tsamaong ya thutopatlisiso yotlhe. Data e e kokoantsweng e ne ya lokololwa go ya ka meono. Diphitlhelelo tsa thutopatlisiso di senotse gore bontsi jwa banni-le-seabe ba ne ba le dingwaga tse di kwa tlase ga 40, ba nyetswe mme ba na le bonnye ngwana a le mongwe. Seelo sa bona sa thuto se ne se lekanyeditswe mme ditiro tsa bona gammogo le tsa balekane ba bona di ne di tsenya letseno le le kwa tlase. Tshotlakako ya mo mmeleng le ya maikutlo di tlhagisitswe jaaka mefuta e e tlwaelegileng thata ya tshotlakako. Le gale, tshotlakako ya thobalano e ne e ntse e le teng mme mo mabakeng mangwe e ne e fetela le mo baneng. Ditlamorago tsa mo mmeleng le mo tlhaloganyong di supilwe jaaka ditlamorago tse di bonalang thata tsa IPV. Go lebeletswe le ditlamorago mo baneng le mo lelapeng. Thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse go na le kgolagano e e maatla magareng ga tiriso ya nnotagi le IPV. Le gale, tiriso le/gongwe tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi ga e a supiwa e le yona fela ntlha e e bakang xi IPV. Se se kgatlhisang ke gore maitemogelo a banni-le-seabe a senotse ka moo tsamaiso e e letlang banna go laola basadi le setso di laolang basadi ka gona mo loagong e leng se se maleba tota kwa Kiberia. Go fitlhetswe gore tsamaiso ya setšhaba e e letlang banna go laola basadi e e tswelediwang kwa Kiberia ke nngwe ya dintlha tse di tshwaelang le go etegetsa IPV. Thutopatlisiso e lebeletse go ungwela batswasetlhabelo ba IPV, baagi ba selegae le lekgotlataolo la bosetšhaba, gammogo le dipatlisiso tsa saense. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

The primary purpose of this study is to identify those people at most risk of being bullied at work. While much research is being conducted on school bullying, little has been conducted on workplace bullying. Using data gathered from a 2004 study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center for the General Social Survey, which included a Quality of Work Life (QWL) module for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), linear regressions indicated significant findings. As predicted, workers in lower level occupations, as ranked by prestige scoring developed at National Opinion Research, are more likely to be victimized. Data also suggest that being young, Black, and relatively uneducated may contribute to being bullied in certain situations. Future research is needed to examine influences of socio-economic, legal, and other demographic factors that may predict the chance of being bullied.