Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Background: Women who are suffering in abusive relationships is a societal problem and a tragedy. A third of the women in the world have been exposed to physical and/or sexual violence and every year in Sweden seventeen women are killed as a result of domestic violence. Nurses in every part of the healthcare system encounter abused women. Aim: This study aimed to illuminate the experiences abused women have of their encounter with nurses. Method: A literature-based study based on analysis of eleven qualitative scientific studies. Results: The results revealed that abused women were afraid and worried about the consequences a revelation of the abuse would have on their life. The results showed that women experienced that nurses failed to see them as persons and did not take the time to talk to them. The women experienced that the nurses had a lack of understanding and empathy for their situation. When a woman had a relationship with a nurse that were based on trust, this enabled the woman to disclose the abuse. Conclusion: The women are experiencing a lot of fear. When the women meet nurses who lack empathy, are stressed and only focus their care on injuries, this becomes a barrier for the exposure of violence. When women meet nurses who possess understanding, a will to listen and to build trust, this becomes an enabling factor to the exposure of violence

M.A. / This study originated from the researcher's interest in the affect of childhood emotional abuse on the adult. From practice experience there seemed to be a relationship between adult clients' current dysfunctional behavioural patterns and relationships and their experience of emotional abuse as a child. This research investigation aimed at detecting and exploring childhood experiences of emotional abuse in adult respondents. The various aspects of the adults' life that were affected by the experiences of childhood emotional abuse were explored and a theoretically discussion of this phenomenon was presented as an explanation for adult dysfunction. A qualitative research methodology was utilised to explore the diverse recollections of childhood experiences and their current functioning among the respondents. This choice of methodology was applied due to the exploratory aim of the study and its objectives: i.e. to capture the lived experiences of the respondents. The researcher utilized an entire adult caseload consulted during the period of March 2000 to July 2001, as respondents for the study. Data was collected by means of in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted with respondents. An interview schedule was used for this purpose. A second data-collection method was used. This was done by the interpretation of visual representations obtained during interviews. Data analysis was done according to coding schedules that were generated by the utilization of a computer programme for the analysis of qualitative research data. From this process of data coding central categories and sub-categories were identified. These categories and subcategories were discussed as the themes and sub-themes from the study. These themes were presented as the results ofthe study.

This study investigated the nature of the relationship among child sexual abuse, interpersonal relationship capacity and psychological adjustment. Interpersonal relationship capacity included the constructs of attachment, measured by the Relationship Questionnaire, and object relations functioning, measured by the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory. Psychological adjustment included the constructs of trauma-related symptoms, measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory and supplemented by the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, and interpersonal problems, measured by the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Participants were 118 women from a clinical and community sample, including 58 women who reported a history of child sexual abuse and 60 women who reported no such history. Thirty-three women reported a history of intrafamilial child sexual abuse or both intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse and 26 women reported a history of extrafamilial child sexual abuse only. The pattern of results indicated that child sexual abuse predicted both interpersonal relationship capacity and psychological adjustment and that interpersonal relationship capacity predicted psychological adjustment. In addition, a mediational model in which interpersonal relationship capacity mediates the relationship between child sexual abuse and psychological adjustment was supported. This suggests that relationship capacity may be a process through which the impact of child sexual abuse influences later psychological adjustment. No differences were found between women who had experienced intrafamilial child sexual abuse and women who had experienced extrafamilial child sexual abuse. When the separate components of each construct in the model were considered, attachment mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and trauma-related symptoms and also mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and interpersonal problems. Object relations functioning mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and trauma-related symptoms, but did not mediate the relationship between child sexual abuse and interpersonal problems. Again, no differences were found between women who had experienced intrafamilial child sexual abuse and women who had experienced extrafamilial child sexual abuse. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for appropriate therapy approaches with survivors of child sexual abuse. / Graduate

M.A. / The study aimed to investigate the subjective experiences of sexually abused children who testify in criminal courts in South Africa. As few research studies have addressed this problem, particularly from a qualitative perspective, the researcher identified a need to explore the issue further. In addition, it was believed that it would be useful to examine the topic from a both-and perspective. In other words, to investigate the positive and the negative aspects of the experience. The impact of other systems, such as courtroom preparation programmes, and individuals on the research participants was also addressed by the study. The researcher's intention was to honour the four participant's individual narratives. Thus, working from a social constructionist framework was appropriate, as such a framework highlights the existence of multiple realities. Although there are similarities across the four narratives, each one represents a unique reality as experienced by the respective participants. The following points reflect some of the most salient findings of the research: • There appears to be a strong link between receiving positive support and coping with the task of testifying. • Attending a courtroom preparation programme seems to impact very favourably on a child's ability to testify in criminal court. • Testifying in sexual abuse cases can be both traumatic or stressful, for example, having to see and identify the alleged perpetrator, and healing or empowering, for example, being able to put an end to the abuse by speaking out. • Courtroom reforms have gone a long way towards improving conditions for child witnesses. Nevertheless, the current situation is still far from ideal as many inconsistencies and obstacles characterize the legal domain as it relates to child witnesses. • The participants emphasized that they have a right to be respected and heard. In order to respect and satisfy the rights and needs of child witnesses, further research needs to be undertaken to ascertain their actual needs. Children need to become active participants in the reform process.

M. Tech. / My research, in support of my cultural practice approaches the notion of masquerade from the position of battered women who employ it socially as a vehicle that allows them to perform the traditionalist ‘happily-ever-after’ fantasy of marriage. I propose that their ‘masquerade’ functions as a performance of what they perceive they should be in the public domain, and as a defence against punishment in the private domain. Central to my research are interviews with battered women who masquerade socially, from a select group who have been battered for most of their married lives. In a response to these interviews, I refer to the prevalence of battery in South Africa and propose a psychological rationale for social masquerade in these particular battered women. As the masquerade of these women informs my art production I have included a discussion of alternative expressions of masquerade in the work of two artists, Tracey Rose and Cindy Sherman. This forms a counterpoint to the use of masquerade as explained in my own cultural practice, which highlights the importance of dress as an adjunct to communication and disguise.

D. Litt. et Phil. / This study aims to create a grounded model that can contribute to the knowledge about successfully coping with sexual molestation. Sexual molestation is a worldwide problem and is not unique to South Africa. In the past few decades, the problem of sexual molestation has emerged from the cloak of secrecy and has become an important theme in the social sciences and professions. Research on sexual molestation has mainly developed from a pathogenic perspective where the main function was to describe the nature and negative effects of sexual molestation, and to diagnose and treat sexual molestation as an illness. Recent research has however shown that not all sexually abused children develop psychopathology and therefore, a growing number of researchers have moved beyond psychopathology to a salutogenic perspective within the past two decades to explain why many people show signs of adaptation after traumatic experiences. The epistemological framework of this study is that of constructivism where the approaches of both modernism and post modernism are integrated. The dominating paradigm of the study is that of salutogenesis where the focus is on health and the successful adaptation of mankind. The grounded theory research methodology was used to develop a conceptual model about successfully coping with sexual molestation. This model can serve as a point of departure for future research and can contribute to the existing knowledge on resilience. Studying woman who have been sexually molested within a salutogenic paradigm, can have various implications for research and intervention strategies. Salutogenesis provides an optimistic alternative to the study of sexually molested woman and can help them to deal with the trauma in a more constructive way.

D.Litt. et Phil. / Ewing (1997) states that battered women who kill intimate male partners have not been the subject of much systematic research. In fact, Wilbanks (in Adinkrah, 2000) laments the lack of a systematic description of the patterns and trends of homicide by women. Furthermore, as with most studies of crime, the majority of the emerging research on women and lethal crime has focused on the United States and Great Britain (Adinkrah, 2000). There has been relatively little research directed towards the study of female homicide in small, third world countries. Research on women and intimate partner homicide in developing countries is sorely needed if criminal justice professionals are to realise the quest to understand homicide more fully and to formulate a conceptually broad and cross culturally valid theory of female homicide (Adinkrah, 2000). Furthermore, violence against women is a devastating social problem which commonly occurs in developing societies where gender roles are strictly defined and enforced (Ogbuji, 2004). Domestic violence becomes even more of a social concern when it leads to intimate partner violence. Prior research conducted on homicide committed by women suggests that when a woman kills a male partner it is often in response to a pattern of physical abuse at the hands of their mates (Adinkrah, 2000). The purpose of this exploratory study was to add to the small but hopefully growing body of research on battered women incarcerated for killing a male intimate partner. The Department of Correctional Services indicates that there are currently 163 women imprisoned for killing a male intimate partner. Yet the psychological issues surrounding female murderers go largely unexplored (Dept. of Correctional Services, personal communication, September 6, 2002). The aims of the study were as follows: • To form a biographical profile of a typical woman who kills her male intimate partner in the context of an abusive relationship. • To form a personality profile of a typical literate woman who kills her male intimate partner in the context of an abusive relationship. • To form a literacy profile of the typical literate abused woman who kills an intimate male partner in the context of an abusive relationship. • To compare women who employ a third party to commit the murder with women who commit the murder themselves in order to identify any significant differences between the two groups on either a contextual or personality level. • To formulate possible guidelines for a rehabilitation program suited to this group of women. • Finally, to describe two participants’ unique narratives to informally highlight possible themes as well as add context and depth to the quantitative findings of the study.

M.A. / Domestic abuse is a global and growing problem (World Health Organization WHO, 2002). The extent and magnitude, as well as effects of domestic abuse are, however, underreported especially within South Africa (Prinsloo, 2007). Awareness has been raised by initiatives such as Sixteen Days of Activism on Violence Against Women campaigns driven by POWA (People Opposed to Women Abuse), yet the rates of abuse stay alarming. In light of the occurrence of abuse as well as the limited resources available, some women kill an intimate partner after a prolonged period of abuse. The specific aim of the study was to uncover the psychological factors that contribute or are associated with the killing of an abusive partner by women. This was done by using multiple case studies and unstructured interviews. Participants were sourced from the Department of Correctional Service in the Western Cape Province. The participants utilised for the research included three women who killed their abusive intimate partner, and who were incarcerated at Pollsmoor Correctional Facility at the time of the interview. In-depth interviews were conducted and the data was analysed in order to derive themes. Once the themes were established, results were compared to relevant research in the field as a means to establish the psychological factors associated with women who kill an abusive intimate male partner. 5 The results indicated that certain primary psychological factors present in the sample group of interviewed women namely: development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, experiences of coercive control, interrelational conflict and substance abuse. Secondary themes or factors found included cultural perceptions and a lack of resources. From the results obtained, a conclusion was made that women who kill an abusive intimate male partner, are often compelled to do so due to underlying factors and as a means of survival. Furthermore, culture appears to have a prominent influence as it informs the manner and acceptable means to deal with domestic abuse. Although the research contributes to the pool of knowledge regarding women who kill an abusive intimate male partner in South Africa, more is needed especially in the development of intervention programs and support.

Psychobiographical researchers methodically formulate life histories and interpret them by means of psychological theories. The research typically focuses on exemplary and completed lives. The cases that are studied are usually of individuals who are of particular interest to society as a result of excelling in their particular fields, be they to society’s benefit or detriment. Antwone Fisher was chosen for this study using purposive sampling as he meets the psychobiographical requirement of being an extraordinary individual. Fisher grew up in the Foster Care System and faced many abusive experiences as child. Despite difficult beginnings, Fisher developed into a stable and creative adult who excels as a poet, screenwriter and film director. The primary aim of this study is to describe and interpret the life of Antwone Fisher through Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. The data was processed and analysed using Miles and Hubermans’ general view of qualitative analyses as well as Alexander’s method of asking the data questions. This study contributes to the development of psychobiographical research in South Africa as well as to personality and developmental theory.