HIV/Aids is a worldwide pandemic and as South Africans we are at the epicentre of this global health crisis. The harrowing statistics are useful as a means to quantify a horrific situation; however, what these facts do not do is provide connection amidst the uncertainty surrounding the disease. This research aims to bridge the disconnection and break the silence that weaves a net around the illness and those infected by it. This is done by deconstructing one man’s story of his journey with HIV; by looking at his personal epistemology; and by contextualising his story within his family and within the society in which he lives, South Africa. Finally, it is my reflections and interpretations that form the bridge between a construct of HIV/Aids and a life lived with the disease. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

This study explores the world of human conflict in the workplace, the workplace (in this case) being a South African university. Using the academic tools of ethnography and autoethnography, I investigate the dimensions of human conflict management, which include intrapersonal, interpersonal and intra-group conflict management, from a psychological perspective. In this thesis I refer, in particular, to examples and extractions taken from case studies that focus on conflicts between employees. In doing so I used an eclectic, psychodynamic theoretical frame of reference. The data was collected and processed over a period of fourteen years. Another focus of this thesis is my reflections on my personal development as a counselling psychologist specialising in intrapersonal, interpersonal and intra-group conflict management within an institutional organisation. The participants‟ stories revealed intense emotional experiences and I have put forward suggestions on how these experiences could be explored and dealt with by means of psychologically orientated techniques and interventions within the boundaries of the ethical codes and values of counselling psychology. My eclectic choice of brief psychotherapy, strengths-based counselling, and psychodynamic-based intrapersonal, interpersonal and intra-group interventions are included in my personal narrative. This study serves only as a guideline to other counselling psychologists who deal with human conflicts in similar situations. I have not tried to present a generalised theory. In this study, I argue strongly that there is indeed a place for counselling psychologists and the application of psychological knowledge in the world of human resources departments in organisations. I believe that counselling psychologists can operate, alternatively, as individual counselling psychologists, workshop facilitators and co-facilitators, as consultants, and as members of multidisciplinary teams to address, among other, conflict management in a tertiary institution. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

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)

Existing literature identify betrayal as one of the major challenges that former SADF soldiers face in the “new” South Africa, and identify a need for studying the nature and types of betrayal and the effects it has on relationships. This study aimed to describe and interpret former SADF soldier‟s lived experience by focusing on the psychology of betrayal. A cross-sectional qualitative research methodology was used, guided by an interpretive phenomenological approach. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, and the data was analysed using Heidegger‟s hermeneutical principles. The identified themes are (1) in the belly of the beast, (2) different agendas, (3) volte-face, (4) keeping the score (5) and just carry on. The findings offer deeper insights and understanding into how former SADF soldiers experience betrayal and the impact it has on their everyday lives. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology, with specialisation in Research Consultation)

Text in English with abstracts in English, isiZulu and isiXhosa / The purpose of the current study was to determine the relationship between personality and employee engagement (EE) within a financial institution in South Africa. A quantitative correlational research approach was utilised and random sampling from a population of 516 identified 200 participants for whom personality scores as measured by the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32r) already existed as secondary data. A sample of 124 employees responded to the request to participate in the study. The participants were subsequently requested to complete a self-compiled biographical questionnaire and an employee engagement questionnaire (EEQ) as the measurement of EE. Reliability scores obtained in the current study for the OPQ32r was 0.95 and for the EEQ 0.97 (both p ≤ 0.5), indicating acceptable internal consistency. Results indicated a statistically significant relationship between an Overall OPQ32r Score and an Overall EE Score of 0.186 (p ≤ 0.5), but only one of the three core personality domains measured by the OPQ32r, namely feelings and emotions, had a statistically significant relationship with an Overall EE Score and four of the six EE subdimensions of EE. Results also indicated that the three core personality domains as measured by the OPQ32r are a statistically significant predictor of EE, predicting 4% of the variance of EE (r2 = 0.04, F (3; 120) = 2.72, p ≤ 0.05). Although all relationships obtained in the current study were statistically significant, all had a weak effect size and were thus of limited practical significance, indicating limited practical usefulness. The limitations of this study were the small sample size utilised (n = 124) due to the utilisation of secondary data and a survey sent out concurrent to this study, impacting employees’ willingness to fill in an additional survey. The fact that this study was done in only one division of a financial institution in South Africa, made the generalisation of results to other organisations problematic. There were limited studies measuring personality utilising the OPQ32r while the EE studies utilised different assessments to measure the construct, complicating the comparison of results. As personality and EE are important constructs for Industrial and Organisational Psychology, it was also recommended that additional research be undertaken to increase the knowledge base regarding these two constructs. / Inhloso yesifundo socwaningo samanje kwaye kukuthola ubudlelwano obuphakathi kobuntu kanye nendlela yokusebenzisana phakathi kwesisebenzi kanye nenhlangano (EE) ngaphakathi kwenhlangano yezezimali eNingizimu Afrika. Kwasetshenziswa indlela yocwaningo eqhathanisa izinga lokusebenzisana kwezinto (quantitative correlational research approach) kanye nendlela yocwaningo i-random sampling kwinani lonke labantu abayi 516 abakhethwe kwi-200 labadlalindima abahlolwe izinga lobuntu obulinganiswe ngokusebenzisa Umbhalo weMibuzo emayelana noBuntu (Occupational Personality Questionnaire) (OPQ32r) okuwulwazi olukade luvele lugcinwe njengedatha yesigaba sesibili. Isampuli yabasebenzi abayi-124 iphendule ngokuthi ivume ukuzibandakanye kucwaningo. Ngemuva kwalokho abadlalindima baye bacelwa ukuba bagcwalise umbhalo wemibuzo ebuza ngempilo yomuntu kanye nombhalo wemibuzo ebhekiswe kuhlobo lobudlelwano obuphakathi kwesisebenzi kanye nenhlangano (EEQ), lokhu kusetshenziswe njengophawu lokulinganisa izinga lokusebenzisana phakathi kwesisebenzi kanye nenhlangano (EE). Amaphuzu akhombisa ukwethembeka atholwe kucwaningo lwamanje kwi-OPQ32r ayekhombisa inani le 0.95 kanye ne EEQ 0.97 (zombili lezi zinto i-p ≤ 0.5), zikhombisa izinga lokungashintshi kwezinto ngaphakathi. Imiphumela yamanani iye yaveza ubudlelwano obuhle kakhulu phakathi kwamaPhuzu onke e-OPQ32r kanye namaPhuzu onke e-186 (p ≤ 0.5), kodwa-ke uwodwa kuphela umkhakha obalulekile kwezobuntu emikhakheni emithathu elinganiswe nge-OPQ32r, yona yimizwa kanye nommoya, lezi zimpawu zinobudlelwano bamanani obubaluleke kakhulu obukhombisa Amaphuzu onke kanye nezigatshana ezine kwizigatshana eziyisithupha ze-EE. Imiphumela nayo ikhombise ukuthi imikhakha ebalulekile yobuntu njengoba ilinganiswa nge-OPQ32r ngokwamanani iyisibikezeli esisemqoka kakhulu se-EE, ibikezele 4% yezinga lokwehluka kwi-EE (r2 = 0.04, F (3; 120) = 2.72, p ≤ 0.05). Yize zonke izinhlobo zobudlelwano ezitholakele kwisifundo socwaningo samanje ngokwamanani sasibalulekile, kodwa zonke lezi zinhlobo zobudlelwano zonke zikhombise ukuba nomthelela ongenamandla kanti ngokunjalo ubumqoka bazo obuphathekayo buncane kakhulu, bukhombisa izinga elincane lokusebenziseka ngendlela ephathekayo. Imingcele yalolu cwaningo kuye kwasetshenziswa amasampuli amancane (n = 124) ngenxa yokusetshenziswa kwedatha yesigaba sesibili kanye nesaveyi ethunyelwe kanye kanye kulolu cwaningo, iye yaba nomthelela kwizinga lesifiso sabasebenzi sokugcwalisa enye isaveyi eyengeziwe. Udaba lokuthi lolu cwaningo lwenziwe kwisigaba esisodwa kuphela kwiziko lezezimali eNingizimu Afrika, lokhu kuye kwenza ukuthi ukucaban ukuthi imiphumela isebenza kuzo zonke izinhlangano kube yinkinga. Kuye kwacaca ukuthi lincani kabi inani lezifundo zocwaningo ezisetshenziswa ukuhlola izimpawu zobuntu ngokusebenzisa i-OPQ32r kanti izifundo zocwaningo lwe-EE studies zisebenzise izinhlelo ezahlukene zokuhlola ukulinganisa izinga lokwakha, kanti lokhu kudidanisa indlela yokuqhathanisa imiphumela. Njengoba izimpawu zobuntu kanye ne-EE ziyizimpawu ezisemqoka kwisifundo seSayikholoji yezeZimboni kanye neNhlangano, kuye kwanconywa ukuthi futhi ukuthi kudingeka ukuthi kwenziwe olunye ucwaningo ukukhulisa umthombo wolwazi mayelana nalezi zinhlelo zokwakha ezimbili. / Injongo yesi sifundo yayikukuqonda ngolwalamano olwenzeka phakathi kwesimo adalwe esiso umqeshwa/ubuyena nendlela athatha ngayo inxaxheba okanye indlela azibandakanya ngayo nokwenzekayo kwiziko lezoqoqosho eMzantsi Afrika. Uphando luqhutywe ngokusebenzisa indlela yokuthelekisa amanani kwaye kwenziwa ukhetho lwabathathi nxaxheba olungalandeli migaqo itheni, kubantu abangama-516 nekwachongwa kubo abangama-200 ababesele benamanqaku abawafumana xa babebuzwa uluhlu lwemibuzo yesimo sendalo, iOccupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32r). Isampulu yabaqeshwa abali-124 yavuma ukuthatha inxaxheba kwesi sifundo. Aba bathathi nxaxheba bacelwa ukuba babhale imibuzo abazenzele ngokwabo, nemalunga nembali yobomi babo kunye neyendlela abazibandakanya ngayo (EEQ), oko kusenziwa njengomlinganiselo we-EE. Amanqaku okuthembeka e OPQ32r awafunyanwa kwesi sifundo aba li-0.95 aze awe-EEQ ali-0.97 (omabini enza p ≤ 0.5), nto leyo ikhombisa uzinzo. Iziphumo zadiza ulwalamano olubalulekileyo phakathi kwenqaku elongameleyo okanye iOverall OPQ32r Score kunye neOverall EE Score, lwalamano olo lwaba li-0.186 (p ≤ 0.5), kodwa linye qha inqanaba lesimo sendalo yomntu elalinganiselwa ngeOPQ32r, nqanaba elo ileleemvakalelo nesimo somphefumlo. Eli nqanaba laba nolwalamano olumandla nenqaku eliyiOverall EE Score kunye namacandelwana amathandathu e-EE. Iziphumo zaphinda zadiza ukuba amacandelo angundoqo amathathu obuyena nalinganiselwa ngeOPQ32r, aluqikelelo olubalulekileyo lwe-EE, eqikelela i-4% yogungqagungqo lwe-EE (r2 = 0.04, F (3; 120) = 2.72, p ≤ 0.05). Nangona zazibaluleke kakhulu zonke iindidi zolwalamano ezafumaneka kwesi sifundo, zonke zazinefuthe elibuthathaka, ngoko ke uncedo lwazo aluzange lube lukhulu kwaye zingenakusetyenziswa kangakanani. Ubuthathaka besi sifundo yaba bubuncinane besampulu eyasetyenziswayo (n = 124) ngenxa yokusetyenziswa kwedatha yomjikelo wesibini (isecondary data) nohlolo zimvo olwaqhutywa ngaxeshanye nesi sifundo, nto leyo yabatyhafisa abaqeshwa kuba babengathandi ukuphendula imibuzo yezifundo ezininzi. Into yokuba esi sifundo senziwa kwicandelo elinye kuphela kwiziko loqoqosho eMzantsi Afrika yenza ukuba kube yingxaki ukuthatha izigqibo ngamanye amaziko. Zazinganelanga izifundo ezilinganisela ubuyena bomntu, zisebenzisa iOPQ32r lo gama izifundo ze-EE zisebenzise iindidi zohlolo ezahlukeneyo ukulinganisela isimo esifanelekileyo, zibe ke zidala ingxaki ekuthelekiseni iziphumo. Njengokuba ubume bendalo/ubuyena kunye ne-EE buzizimo ezibalulekileyo kwiZifundo zeSimo Sengqondo Emsebenzini Nakulungiselelo (Industrial and Organisational Psychology), kwacetyiswa ukuba kuphinde kwenziwe olunye uphando ukuze kwandiswe isiseko solwazi malunga nezi zimo zibini. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Disputes concerning care and contact arrangements for the minor children of divorcing couples present special challenges for professionals in the legal and psychological professions. Care and contact (custody) disputes, which are complex undertakings, are a point of debate in the professional arena in South Africa. Clinical psychologists are often included in the professional cohort that assists the high court, as the upper guardian of minor children, in the decision making process regarding contested care arrangements of children. This field is further challenged by the lack of training programmes and practice guidelines, the intense adversarial nature of disputes and litigation processes, as well as the increase in board complaints levelled against psychologists at the Health Professions Council of South Africa. These challenges contribute to the reluctance of psychologists to become involved in care and contact matters. This study therefore aimed first to explore the current practices and contributions of clinical psychologists in care and contact disputes in South Africa, and second to evaluate the procedures used by clinical psychologists to inform their recommendations to the court. In such matters, clinical psychologists adhere to the best interest of the child (BIC) principle. The final aim of the study was to identify and propose guidelines for a model of better practice. The study was guided by a Constructivist Epistemology and a Social Constructionist paradigmatic framework. A qualitative research approach was employed. Data were collected through face- to-face interviews with clinical psychologists and advocates and were analysed using Thematic Network Analysis of Attride-Stirling. The findings, which indicated that that the practices of psychologists are plenteous, revealed significant shortfalls in current practices. In addition, the findings designated that creating a universal model for care and contact evaluations to fit with the legal professions’ empiricist tendency poses a paradigmatic dilemma and a practical challenge. A position of observer-dependence and a reflective position on the part of the psychologist is instead indicated. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

Background: Drug rehabilitation is crucial for drug addicts. As much as drug rehabilitation (rehab) centres are helping in dealing with drug addiction. Some drug addicts may find that some of the drug rehabs do not meet their needs. Therefore, the study explored the experience of caregivers caring for nyaope addicts. Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach and a case study design. The purposive sampling method was employed to select the sample. The sample comprised six caregivers. The structured interview and open-ended questionnaire were employed to collect data. An interview questionnaire was designed allowing the participants to respond at home and provide feedback. Their responses provided through this process were insufficient, participants were then requested face-to-face interviews and they agreed. Results: One of the main findings in this study was that caregiving affects the caregivers negatively. Caregiving has led to psychological and physical effects amongst the caregivers. Conclusion: A need was identified for support and awareness for the caregivers and rehabilitation centres in South Africa. This might reduce the relapse of substance abuse and help eradicate the number of substance abusers in South Africa. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology (Research Consultation))

In the light of the child's self-esteem that is affected by traumatic events, the goal of the research was to explore and describe the self-esteem of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The researcher made use of a quantitative research method. 30 (N=30) respondents, both male (n=16) and female (n=14), between the ages of 11 to 15, were randomly sampled for inclusion in the study. Each participant completed a self-report measure of self-esteem, The Culture-free Self-esteem Inventory for Children, which yielded a score of Global Self-esteem, as well as in four sub-domains including: General, Social, Academic and Parent-related Self-esteem. The results of this study demonstrated that the participants experienced a lowered self-esteem. These findings were explored in light of a literature review, after which conclusions and recommendations were provided. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Summary With the rise of the divorce rate and the decline of the nuclear family, boys are more frequently being deprived of a father-presence in their homes. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore and describe boys' experiences of their relationships with their absent fathers. Three boys from different racial and cultural groups were chosen as case studies and worked with from a Gestalt Play Therapy Perspective. Data was gathered from the therapeutic sessions, as well as from semi structured interviews with the childcare workers of the boys. The findings of the study appear to concur with existing literature, namely that boys with absent fathers experience difficulties in the areas of emotional, social, cognitive and moral development. Recommendations are made as to how boys with absent fathers may best be supported. Opsomming Met die toename in egskeidings en die afname van nukleêre gesinne, word daar gevind dat seuns meer dikwels die teenwoordigheid van die vader in die huis ontneem word. Die doel van hierdie studie is `n kwalitatiewe ondersoek en beskrywing van seuns se ervaring van hulle verhouding met hulle afwesige vaders. Drie seuns van erskillende rasse- en kulturele groepe is gekies vir die gevallestudies en vanuit `n Gestalt Spelterapeutiese perspektief is met hulle gewerk. Data is versamel vanuit die terapeutiese sessies sowel as vanuit semigestruktureerde onderhoude met die seuns se kinderoppassers. Die bevindinge van die studie blyk ooreen te stem met bestaande literatuur, naamlik dat seuns met afwesige vaders probleme ondervind ten opsigte van emosionele, sosiale, kognitiewe en morele ontwikkeling. Aanbevelings word gemaak oor hoe om dié seuns ten beste te ondersteun. / SOCIAL WORK / MDIAC (PLAY THERAPY)

This study was undertaken to determine whether a disrupted family life and school climate has an impact on the self-concept of the adolescent. This problem was tackled and investigated from different angles : factors within the home, factors outside the home, intrapsychic factors, interpersonal factors and school factors. An analysis of the above factors and their impact on the self-concept of the adolescent was done by means of measuring instruments in the form of a questionnaire. The results of the empirical research indicated that the more positive the family and school climate, the more positive the academic, social and emotional self-concept of the adolescent. The educational implications of the findings of the literature and the empirical study are discussed to assist teachers and parents to identify and eliminate factors that cause adolescents from disrupted families to underachieve and have negative self-concepts. / M.Ed. (Socio Education)