Although much research has been conducted on violence, its effects, and which circumstances put an individual at risk of becoming a potential victim, there is a paucity of studies that focus on the perpetrators of violence. Much of the literature available on this subject is dated, providing information which is already dated and, frequently no longer relevant. This research has sought to explore and understand violent crimes from the psychological and emotional standpoint of the individual who perpetrated them. One objective of the study was to facilitate the development of a profile of youths who chronically commit crime, and more specifically crimes of violence. This study utilised the qualitative research design of Phenomenology, which allows for the exploration of the phenomena from the perspective of the participants. The sample for this study consisted of five male individuals who are currently incarcerated in a correctional institution situated in the Eastern Cape. The sample was chosen according to the non-probability purposive-sampling technique, based on their relevance to the study. The selected male offenders from the correctional institution ages ranged between 18 and 31. Specific criteria were identified against which participants were measured in order to be selected to participate in the research. Data was obtained from the participants via a questionnaire, a journal, and semi-structured interviews conducted by the researcher. Other data for the study was obtained from official documents. The study was embedded in the ecological theory of Bronfenbrenner, which provided the psychological framework in which to explain and understand the results of the study and the development of violence. The major findings of this study include; growing up violently, the reasons for violence, justificationa and perseptions of violence, society and the culture of 10 violence, and the environmental impact. These findings will contribute to the development of treatment programmes, which better facilitate the reformation and rehabilitation of criminals.

This thesis analyzes the subculture within the United States Marine Corps. It attempts to bring the traditional literature of criminal subculture and the subculture of violence together with literature of occupational subculture to explain many of the behaviors exhibited by Marines.

A multi-regression analysis was performed utilizing the variables, age, ethnicity, criminal background, and facets of treatment, but differentiated between the rapist and pedophile, examining the variance of recidivism.

MA ( Psychology) / Dpartment of Psychology

<p>Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group within the United States, and the present work studies the existence of intragroup biases within this community due to violations of prototypicality and the existence of colorism. The present work also explores identity denial as a possible mediator of the relationship between target prototypicality and negative social consequences. Specially, when presented with lighter-skin or darker-skin targets, Hispanic/Latinx individuals are more likely to see them as less likable, and less warm when compared to a prototypical target. There was no evidence to support that identity denial mediated this relationship. Additionally, this research extends previous literature on the content of stereotypes faced by individuals of differing skin colors and finds conflicting results using an intragroup sample. Unexpected results suggest prototypicality may trump phenotypic variations within this unique population.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>An increasing number of working age adults are choosing to delay or forego parenthood entirely, but little research has explored how voluntarily childfree adults are perceived and treated in the workplace. While a large body of research has examined the impacts of motherhood on working women, little work has been done to understand the experiences of voluntarily childfree women. This study explored perceptions of working women based on their reproductive choices and whether these perceptions relate to differences in promotion decisions. Based on social backlash theory, I hypothesized that voluntarily childfree (VCF) women would be penalized in promotion decisions, and that perceptions of agentic-dominance and communality would explain this relationship. Using a sample of 220 participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk, I tested my proposed mediation model and found no support for my hypotheses. Counter to expectations, no evidence of the motherhood penalty emerged either. Despite the lack of significant findings in this study, future work should consider assessing the relationships proposed with different experimental design.</p>

The purpose of Parole Supervision is in twofold, namely: ... The successful reintegration of the offender to the community; and ... The protection of the community against further criminal behaviour by parolees. The Department of Correctional Services endeavours to achieve the above mentioned objectives through stringent placement criteria and individualized parole conditions, and intensive supervision by surveillance officials of community corrections and volunteers. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

The purpose of Parole Supervision is in twofold, namely: ... The successful reintegration of the offender to the community; and ... The protection of the community against further criminal behaviour by parolees. The Department of Correctional Services endeavours to achieve the above mentioned objectives through stringent placement criteria and individualized parole conditions, and intensive supervision by surveillance officials of community corrections and volunteers. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

The mystery surrounding serial homicide is the apparent lack of motive for the murder. No extrinsic motive such as robbery, financial gain, passion or revenge exists, as there usually is in the case of other murders. Serial homicide is a serious, worldwide problem that has received a large amount of media attention, but only a relatively small amount of scientifically based research exists on this phenomenon. Since the 1970s various models such as the psychosocial theory model, learning theory, the motivational, fantasy, neurological theory, psychiatric, post-modern, feminist and the paranormal/demonological models were used to explain the phenomenon of serial homicide. The researcher, however, states that these models do not satisfactorily address the intrapsychic/object relation development of the serial killers personality. The structure of the research project consists of analysis of the background information of two serial killers which was gathered from one semi-structured personal interview, psychometric testing (Thematic Apperception Test, Test of Object Relations and the Picture Test of Separation and Individuation) as well as from relevant literary sources. The information was interpreted using the selected psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freund and the object relation theory of Melanie Klein and the data was then analysed, interpreted and tested against the following research questions: “What is the intrapsychic origin of serial homicide?”; “What is the parent-child relationship like?”; “How does the parent-child relationship influence the object relations of the serial killer?”; “How does the parental relationship influence the serial killer’s interpersonal relationships?”. These questions determine the specific internalised factors that may have contributed to the eventual development of a serial killer’s personality. The research method that is employed is a qualitative, exploratory case study method. A qualitative study was selected due to the fact that there are currently not enough incarcerated serial killers in South Africa and from those incarcerated serial killers only two were willing to participate in the research. The case study method was selected because it deals with contemporary events, multiple data sources may be used and the findings can be generalised to other case studies. Data gathering was done by psychometric testing (TAT, PTSI and TOR), a semi-structured interview and other biographical information on the subjects. The data was analysed by the descriptive-dialogic case study method. The data integration method that was selected is the data integration method of the descriptive-dialogic case study method. The data was discussed in relation to the already developed theories. This implies that parallels were drawn between the processed information and the theories. Similarities and differences between the two case studies were discussed and a general overview of the intrapsychic structure of the serial killer was stated. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

This study examines offender assessment from a criminological perspective. International and national research findings, as well as the Canadian (Level of Service Inventory - Revised, LSRI-R) and the British (Offender Assessment System, OASys) offender assessment structures, are used as guidelines to illustrate the practice of offender assessment. Offender needs and risk assessment targets are examined and highlighted for general (non-specific) as well as sex and other violent offenders. A qualitative research design, supported by explanatory, descriptive and exploratory goals, directs the methodology of this research project. Important assessment tools, such as interviewing, observation, document analysis and the application of theoretical explanations are used to assess and analyse four selected case studies (adult male offenders). These case studies are representative of the different dimensions of offender assessment, namely classification, intervention, risk management and pre-parole assessment. The offenders are individually assessed, analysed and evaluated to determine among other factors, the origin, onset, contributory factors, triggers, high-risk situations, and intervention indicators that can assist custodial therapists and the prison authorities with a more focused approach to the rehabilitation and management of offenders. Each case study is also supported by a theoretical explanation. This highlights the key role, function and contribution of criminologists in corrections, as well as the importance of a multi-fold perspective in the rehabilitation and correction of criminal behaviour. / Criminology / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology))