D.Ed. / Die motivering vir hierdie navorsing is die besef dat egskeiding 'n proses is wat noodwendig krisis en wanbalans in die lewens van alle betrokkenes in die gesin tot gevolg het. Dit kan die gesinslede etlike jare neem om weer aan te pas en selfvertroue in hul nuwe rolle en verhoudings te kry. Alle egskeidings word gekenmerk deur een belangrike eienskap, naamlik verandering. Sommige veranderings begin voor die fisieke skeiding en ander duur voort tot lank na die egskeiding. Verandering kan die klimaat in die gesin verbeter of verswak, maar dit dwing kinders altyd om aan te pas. Die sielkundige effek van egskeiding op kinders behoort dus op twee vlakke beskou te word. Die eerste vlak van verandering is waar kinders aanpas by die omwenteling wat die egskeiding meebring. In-diepte navorsing is reeds hieroor gedoen en toon dat die onmiddellike aanpassing na egskeiding vir kinders minder spanningsvol is — veral indien daar minder konflik en ontwrigting teenwoordig is. Die tweede vlak van verandering behels kinders se langtermyn-sielkundige aanpassing. Uit die literatuur is dit duidelik dat daar baie geskryf en gedoen is om ouers en kinders onmiddellik na hierdie krisis by te staan. Daar is egter min navorsing gedoen oor die langtermyneffek van egskeiding op kinders se lewens en hoe die egskeiding moontlik tydens volwassenheid onverwerkte trauma en emosionele probleme kan veroorsaak. Die navorser het die veld met haar eie stone as vertrekpunt betree. Hierna is fenomenologiese onderhoude met tien volwassenes tussen die ouderdomme van 28 en 35 jaar gevoer. Hul belewenis van hul ouers se egskeiding, wat tydens hul kinderjare plaasgevind het, is verken en beskryf. Die resultate toon dat hierdie volwassenes steeds worstel met onverwerkte wonde uit hul kinderjare, voortspruitend uit hul ouers se egskeidings. Hierdie onverwerkte wonde uit hul kinderjare het tot struikelblokke gelei wat hul verhoudings met hulself en met ander negatief beInvloed. Gevolglik is die geestesgesondheid van hierdie volwassenes nie bevorder nie en kon heelheid nie ervaar word nie. Hierdie navorsing het gelei tot die ontwikkeling van 'n model vir opvoedkundige sielkundiges om, tydens die proses van fasiliterende interaksie, volwassenes wie se ouers tydens hul kinderjare geskei is, tot heelheid te begelei ten einde geestesgesondheid te ervaar. Die ontwikkeling van die model het in vier stappe geskied. In Stap 1 is konsepte geldentifiseer, gedefinieer en geklassifiseer nadat die veldwerk afgehandel is. Guba se model is oorkoepelend gebruik om vertrouenswaardigheid in die kwalitatiewe metodologie te verseker. Dit verwys na die geloofwaardigheid, oordraagbaarheid, vertroubaarheid en bevestigbaarheid van die navorsing. In Stap 2 is die verhoudingstelling van konsepte gedoen, waarna Stap 3 gevolg het, wat die beskrywing van die model behels het. Riglyne om die model te operasionaliseer is in Stap 4 gestel. Stappe 3 en 4 is geIntegreer en is nie afsonderlik bespreek nie. Die model is gerig op die begeleiding aan volwassenes wie se ouers tydens hul kinderjare geskei is, deur die proses van fasiliterende interaksie. Tydens hierdie proses word die volwassenes begelei om die struikelblokke wat die egskeiding gelaat het, te identifiseer, hulle persoonlike hulpbronne optimaal te ontwikkel en hulle ware self te ontdek, tot persoonlike insig te kom en outonomie te verkry ten einde heelheid te ervaar en geestesgesond te leef.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the degree of Master of Art (Clinical Psychology), Johannesburg, June 1991 / The literature in this area suggest that the legal profession has inconsistent contradictory and essentially ambivalent attitudes towards psychological testimony in court. This study seeks to begin an exploration and descriptiion of the attitudes of a subsection of that profession viz advocates, to psychological testimony in court. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / GR2017

Adolescents in a children’s home are exposed to unique experiences from an early age. These adolescents develop in a system with early deprivation experiences, which may result in developmental and adjustment problems that impact on several spheres of their lives, including their career development. Given the lack of South African career research on adolescents, the present study aimed to explore and describe the career development of adolescents in a children’s home. Specifically, this exploration takes the perspective of the systems theory framework of career development which is comprised of three interrelated systems, namely the individual, social, and the environmental/societal systems. The research approach was exploratory and descriptive in nature and was conducted both within a qualitative and quantitative framework. A workbook titled My System of Career Influences (McMahon, Patton, & Watson, 2003a), was used to collect the data. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain the sample which consisted of 16 English-speaking adolescents, aged between 13 and17 years. Age, gender and culture were not considered in this study. The qualitative data was subjected to content analysis to identify themes, while frequency counts were used for the quantitative data. The results indicate that the present sample of adolescents is presently in the process of exploring and crystallizing their career choice, therefore fitting well within Super’s (1990) theoretical career stage of Exploration. The majority of the adolescents indicated that their present career situation involves making choices regarding schools, subjects, and participation in activities. Quantitative findings indicate that all influences within the three interrelated career systems have an influence on the career development of adolescents in a children’s home. Based on frequency counts, individual system influences such as personality, health, interests and abilities were identified as prominent influences. Within the social system, prominent xi influences included parents, friends, teachers and reading. Within the environmental/societal system, influences such as financial support, location of universities, availability of jobs, and opportunities to work overseas were identified as prominent influences. In addition, adolescents were able to reflect on their personalized diagram of system influences and thus to examine the inter-relatedness of the three systems. The present study highlights the applicability of both the systems theory framework and the My Systems of Career Influences measure in exploring and describing the career development of adolescents in the unique contexts within which they live. Limitations and recommendations for future research based on the present findings are suggested.

The aim of this study was to examine psychocultural factors that are related to unemployment amongst the black residents of Bethanie, which is a semi-rural village in the North West Province. The specific objectives were: <ul><li> to describe how values, belief systems and customs in the community where the study was done, are related to socio-economic development; this also involves changes in values, belief systems and customs due to the contact between the traditional African and Westem cultures; </li><li> to describe how socio-economic development is related to unemployment, and, accordingly, how values, belief systems and customs are related to unemployment; </li><li> to describe the role of the physical and. psychosocial environment with regard to socio¬economic development and unemployment.<br> </li></ul> A qualitative, ethnographic approach was used. This involved in-depth interviews with people with knowledge about the cultural, economic and social context in Bethanie, participant observation and psycholinguistic analyses. Bethanie is characterised by economic stagnation in spite of there being good potential for economic growth. Existing economic activities do not provide sufficient employment opportunities for the villagers, and they depend on the areas surrounding the village for employment. With regard to Hofstede's four value dimensions, it was found that individualism and collectivism are not opposite poles on a continuum, but are in a recursive relationship. Development that is exclusively based on either individualistic or collectivistic values is bound to fail. The value system in Bethanie is predominantly feminine by nature and this should form the basis for development; however, the actual implementation of development projects should be based on masculine values. Avoidance of uncertainty impedes new economic activities or expansion of current economic activities. In Bethanie there is a large power distance as well as inadequate linkages between the community and the power base that has decision-making power and control over resources that could be used for development. A non-linear experience of time, together with using time to maintain continuity rather than to create prosperity, inhibits social and economic development. Non-linear temporality restrains the implementation of developmental projects with a long-term future-orientation, an~ to be successful projects should render visible, short-term outcomes. Acculturation leads to diverse outcomes. Firstly, aspects of another culture can become assimilated with the indigenous culture, thereby creating new forms of cultural expression. Secondly, the new can be imposed on a community and replace existing customs. Thirdly, in parallelism both traditional and Western customs are followed. Socio-economic development can occur through all three these forms of change. However, irrespective of the way change occurs, during times of transition and uncertainty, and when the explanation for events is not evident, people may return to their culture. This could entail a positive redefinition of and identification with the values of the in-group, and efforts to regain control over one's own affairs. Some aspects of a culture are more susceptibje to change than others, and in addition sectors of the community are on different levels of development and acculturation. This must be accommodated in developmental initiatives. Value polymorphism can also lead to conflict and fragmentation of society. Structural unemployment, which results from a lack of job opportunities, must be distinguished from unemployment due to incomplete transition from an educational setting to an employment setting. Unemployment is also a social problem that requires immediate action to alleviate the poverty associated with unemployment. The type of unemployment determines the kinds of interventions that are necessary. Development can occur at either a sectional level (involving SUbgroups) or a communal level (involving the whole community). Development may be either evolutionary, or it could be revolutionary, or it could be based on direct interventions. systems and development must occur on a regional level and be linked with development in the larger context. If the larger context is accounted for, factors that influence and control local conditions, can be attended to. Developmental projects should have both an economic and social focus and be in synchrony with the community's level of development, local culture and leadership, facilitating and inhibiting factors in the physical environment, gender differentiation and the role of women in the community. Other factors that promote development include political stability and a sense of security; permeable boundaries between the setting and the external environment; adequate links between a setting and the power base; a focus on the functional development of people so that they can be employable and take charge of economic activities; exposure to middle-class values; dedifferentiation and greater involvement of the community in decision-making. / Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

Against the backdrop of the growing problem of AIDS orphans in South Africa and greater sub-Saharan Africa, this qualitative enquiry examines the lives of three South African orphaned children living with HIV / AIDS in a children's home in Cape Town. It aims to generate rich, child-centred descriptions of some of the significant experiences of the children's lives. Drawings, dialogue and narrative were employed to generate the primary data. This was supplemented by collateral interviews and other relevant records, e.g. medical and biographical. Existential-phenomenological theory informed the approach to data collection and analysis. Each child produced a series often to twelve impromptu drawings over a period often weeks. These drawings and transcripts of the children's verbal descriptions of their drawings were extensively analysed. Significant themes for each participant as well as themes common to all three were identified. Some of the central themes emerging include loss, abandonment, death, disease awareness and coping. The children's ability to develop adaptive coping mechanisms and resilience in the face of traumatic loss and terminal illness was a particularly outstanding feature of the findings. Recommendations are made regarding future research to address the lack of qualitative, child-focused investigations as well as appropriate interventions for addressing the psychosocial needs of orphaned children living with HIV/AIDS.

Downsizing is one of the most common organisational reactions to organisational change. The effects of global competition, mergers, and the privatisation of public sector companies, among others, are forcing organisations in South Africa to resort to workforce reduction. The purpose of the present study was to address the lack of research on the impact of downsizing on survivors. Specifically, the study examined the interactive effects of job insecurity, locus of control and sense of coherence on the organisational commitment of survivors.

This study explored the content, tone and amount of graffiti produced in South African bathrooms in KwaZulu-Natal. Raw graffiti was collected during 2008 from „institutions of higher education?. One of the primary aims of this study was to investigate if gender identities continue to operate in private, anonymous contexts. Politeness theory is utilized as a theoretical framework to generate hypotheses about the direction of influence gender may exert on graffiti if it continues to operate in private contexts. Inscriptions were written down in books. Thematic analysis was then applied, which led to the generation of content categories in content analysis on which chi-squared statistical procedures were applied. The categories were analysed in terms of amount, dominant content and tone, and were stratified in relation to gender. Ecosystems theory was used in an attempt to more holistically understand our sample within the context in which it was created. This study has found that gender had a significant influence on the amount, content, and tone of the graffiti produced. It was found that males dominantly produced tags and political graffiti content, and were more likely than females to produce neutral and negatively toned graffiti. Females produced significantly more graffiti than males and dominantly produced interpersonal content. We hypothesised that our findings were due to gender roles being internalised and continuing to operate in private contexts, especially in contexts where gender is salient, like a bathroom. We argued that the cognitive representation of an inscriber?s gendered audience influences them to behave in gendertypical ways, and in this behaviour their gender is performed, even in the private, anonymous context of the bathroom. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

Downsizing is one of the most common organisational reactions to organisational change. The effects of global competition, mergers, and the privatisation of public sector companies, among others, are forcing organisations in South Africa to resort to workforce reduction. The purpose of the present study was to address the lack of research on the impact of downsizing on survivors. Specifically, the study examined the interactive effects of job insecurity, locus of control and sense of coherence on the organisational commitment of survivors.

Concussion is a common form of brain injury, especially amongst sports players of all age groups. ImPACT is a valid and reliable measure of a variety of cognitive functions commonly affected by such injuries, which allows for objective return-to-play decision making (Iverson, Lovell, & Collins, 2003). However, studies show that the transfer of such tests from one ethnic group to another without appropriate standardization is highly problematic (Ardila, 1995). Thus, the relative absence of South African normative data for the ImPACT 3.0 programme is an issue for concern. Consequently, this study aimed to establish norms for semi-rural Xhosa-speaking schoolboys with an advantaged education (ages 14, 16 and 18) for the ImPACT 3.0 programme as administered in English. Administrative and linguistic difficulties that were experienced by individuals during completion of the battery were also identified. Finally, the study included a comparison of the percentile scores of this sample to the USA norms for boys of a similar age group. Subtests scores were generated for 70 schoolboys and the data were then subjected to statistical analysis. A significant difference between English proficiency of the Grade 8 and Grade 12 boys was found. This indicates the importance of including an English proficiency test with the ImPACT battery when assessing such populations. No other significant differences were found between these age group samples. Although this requires further investigation, the comparison of the USA and SA percentiles suggests the use of local norms for this population. South African boys in this study consistently scored lower than the USA sample. Finally, it is recommended that symptom selfreports should be verbally investigated with each boy after testing, given indications of comprehension problems. In closing, limitations and future possible studies are discussed.

This study sought to investigate the relevance of Person-Environment (P-E) fit amongst Human Resource (HR) graduates from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) within the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM). A secondary objective of this study was to determine whether P-E fit was a determinant of Human Resource (HR) graduates’ migration. The study comprised a pilot study and main study (n=50). The study was qualitative in nature, but incorporated a quantitative research component to support the qualitative research findings. Results showed that HR graduates from the NMMU perceived P-E fit as important. Immense emphasis was placed on achieving P-E fit by means of finding employment related to Human Resource Management (HRM). The lack of P-E fit, amongst HR graduates, was furthermore revealed as a determinant of graduate migration. HR graduates would relocate to pursue a career in HRM. Implications of the findings are that organisations should use the theoretical knowledge of HR graduates to develop their skills and broaden their practical knowledge. This will secure competent future HR managers for the NMM and help to combat scarce skills migrations from the area.