The problem of this study is to demonstrate a method of evaluating situations in textual materials that may assist pre-adolescent children in achieving certain developmental tasks. The problem involves the analysis of fifty stories taken from five state-adopted readers on the sixth-grade level, as well as the development of criteria for making such an analysis.

The problem of this study is to determine if there are fictional books usable by teachers in helping preadolescent boys solve their problems of adjustment. The problem involves the analyses of twenty-five fiction books taken from those books listed by Virginia Bryson Blair in her study, "Directed Reading through the Library for Improving the Social Adjustment of Older Children."

Statutory involvement with adolescents is based on the assumption that it is a means of serving the adolescent’s best interests. In South African society, the adolescent is placed in a place of safety as an interim measure, until the children’s court investigation is finalized. When the children’s court investigation has been finalized, the adolescent will be placed in a long-term placement for two years at a time. The ideal length of a children’s court investigation is six months. However, the reality is that adolescents remain in places of safety for periods far exceeding the legal and departmental guidelines. The adolescent developmental phase presents unique and varied developmental challenges. Adolescents develop a self-image, self-knowledge and knowledge of how and where they fit into society. The question arises whether placement in a place of safety serves the adolescents’ best interests, or whether it adds to the trauma that the adolescent experiences. The best interests of adolescents can only be served if their experiences within the place of safety placement are the central motivation for care in the place of safety. In order to develop insight into the experience of the adolescent in a place of safety, the researcher conducted a phenomenological study, based on the qualitative research design. The researcher conducted a literature study, which forms the knowledge base for this study. The literature study focuses on adolescents’ developmental tasks and adolescence as seen from a gestalt perspective. When an adolescent is not able to reach the important developmental milestones, this might impact negatively on the adolescent’s adult life. From a gestalt approach, the integrated functioning of the adolescent should form the basis of all care provision. The adolescent can only take control of his or her life if a state of homeostasis or organismic self-regulation has been achieved, by the creation of a full awareness of the self and of the surroundings. The study included in-depth interviews with eight (8) adolescents in places of safety. The in-depth interviews provided the researcher with the opportunity to explore, together with the adolescents, the experiences which they felt were important. By doing so, the researcher could gather data about the adolescents’ experiences from the adolescents’ perspectives. The empirical study, contributed to the knowledge base by providing evidence that the adolescents in a place of safety experience secondary trauma, based on their being ill-informed of the statutory process. Empirical evidence further showed that adolescents experience uncertainty, feelings of depression, isolation, and anxiety in places of safety. Because of the isolation they experience in a place of safety, they are denied the opportunity to feel part of the society, and also to develop a self-image and self-knowledge. Social workers and places of safety need to take responsibility to support adolescents in continuing with their development process in a healthy manner. If the adolescent is not supported in this way, he or she experiences feelings of anger and depression, as well as developmental difficulties, within an environment in which it is difficult to develop optimally. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The aim of the dissertation is to investigate the own narratives told by young adults in the age group 18 to 25 years old about strains in life, ideas about the background to these, and attitudes now and in an imagined future. The emerging recurrent phenomena form the basis for a deeper understanding of the developmental tasks of young adults. Gender variances and changes over time are focused upon. The investigation is based on three distinct theoretical perspectives: developmental psychology, social constructionism and personal epistemology. The methods used vary according to the focus in four separate studies: (1) The Interview study is based on the narratives of 23 informants. A qualitative analysis was carried out and central themes are presented at group level. (2) In the Questionnaire study, a bird’s eye view is taken. A quantitative analysis was performed on 611 respondents’ answers about their own attitudes and experienced background to strains. (3) In the Follow-up study, 21 informants from the Interview study were interviewed again after eighteen months. (4) The Case study scrutinizes in detail four informants’ narratives about strains and attitudes on three occasions, over a total of three years. The combination of three different theoretical and three different methodological perspectives was used to make recurrent phenomena more visible, enabling the formulation of developmental tasks during this period of life. The most prominent phenomenon concerning strains is to become someone in the world. This is interpreted as an individuation process, which is a specific developmental task. Depression-like conditions occur and are understood to be transitional expressions of developmental-related sorrow. A spectrum based on prominent attitudes is formulated: vegetative being – creative being – productive doing – warding-off doing. The spectrum includes both problem-solving and problem-distancing attitudes. Common for men and for women is a movement between the problem-distancing and the problem-solving attitudes. The attitudes differ between men and women. Over time, a greater range of problem-solving attitudes is used, and they become less gender-specific. The problem-distancing attitudes decrease, both within the group of women and the group of men, but are still as gender-specific. As time passes, the narratives about the background to strains and future attitudes gain an increased number of themes. These changes are interpreted as a maturity process within the age group. Most of the young adults convey a hopeful view of the future.

Rapid technological development has lead to an increase in the accessibility of pornography. Some professionals have labelled pornography as a social issue due to the increase in accessibility and exposure to pornography. In the past, extensive research has been conducted regarding the possible impact of pornography on adolescents as well as on adults. However, there is discrepancy among professionals with regard to the impact of pornography, as it seems as if there is little agreement on what effects or impact regular pornography consumption may have on the consumer. Some researchers regard pornography as a social issue with severe ramifications for the consumer. Other researchers view pornography as harmless time-consuming activities. Therefore, it seems that inadequate research was previously done to investigate what impact regular exposure to or consumption of pornography may have on the consumer’s life. Young adulthood is considered a crucial phase in human development. Critical developmental tasks such as reaching emotional and financial independence, defining morals, values and principles, establishing intimacy and dedication, choosing a life partner and having children and raise them, are prevalent during this life phase. There is little existing research regarding the impact of pornography on males in this life phase. The hypothesis was made that: should pornography consumption lead to any hindrance in the acquisition of any developmental tasks during this specific life phase, that it may have an effect on the person in a later life phase. The researcher thus endeavoured to address the gap by looking specifically at the possible impact of pornography on young adult males, but the researcher also attempted to contribute to the existing scholarly debate regarding the impact of pornography consumption on the consumer in general. The rationale for this study emanated from the researcher’s desire to add to the existing knowledge base, and to inform professionals in the therapeutic setting about the impact of pornography. The researcher undertook a qualitative, applied research study which enabled her to explore the perceptions of young adult males who have had prolonged experience to pornography consumption. Fifteen (15) young adult male participants were purposefully selected. Snowball sampling was applied as a sampling method to identify possible participants. The researcher utilised in-depth interviewing which is also known as unstructured interviewing as data collection method. One (1) openended question was directed to the participants and it was formulated as follows: “What are your perceptions as a young adult male, with regard to the impact of pornography on young adult males’ lives?” The researcher did a pilot test in order to ensure that this open-ended question provided adequate opportunity for the participants to respond unreservedly. The researcher followed the following steps during the process of data analysis: <ul> <li> Planning for the recording of data by means of audio recordings</li> <li> Managing and organising data by means of detailed transcripts and filing it in folders</li> <li> Reading and writing memos</li> <li> Generating categories, themes and patterns</li> <li> Representing, visualising and displaying the data by means of a complete research report.</li></ul> The research study revealed that pornography consumption may have a significant impact on the lives of young adult males. The following areas of the life of the young adult male were identified which may be affected by pornography consumption: <ul> <li> Self-value</li> <li> The development of a gender-identity (masculinity)</li> <li> Moral and Spiritual development</li> <li> Cognitive development</li> <li> Addiction</li> <li> Career development</li> <li> Sexual development in terms of sexual knowledge, sexual attitude and sexual behaviour</li> <li> Development of interpersonal relationships</li> <li> Development of mentors in society.</li> </ul> It was recommended that there should be improved service delivery for young adult males who are experiencing some of these effects of pornography consumption. Training for professionals and further research regarding this phenomenon will make this recommendation possible. AFRIKAANS : Snelle tegnologiese vooruitgang het ‘n verhoging in die toeganklikheid van pornografiese materiaal tot gevolg. Sekere kenners bestempel pornografie as ‘n maatskaplike probleem, juis as gevolg van die verhoging tot die blootstelling aan en toeganklikheid van hierdie materiaal. Bestaande navorsing oor hierdie fenomeen is grootliks uitgevoer met betrekking tot die moontlike impak van pornografie op adolessente en volwassenes. Dit blyk asof daar verskil in bevindinge en opinies onder professionele persone is met betrekking tot die impak van gereelde pornografiese blootstelling op die verbruiker. Sekere navorsers bestempel pornografie as ‘n maatskaplike probleem wat erge negatiewe gevolge vir die verbruiker mag inhou. Ander navorsers bestempel pornografie as onskuldige tydverdryf. Daarom blyk dit asof onvoldoende navorsing voorheen uitgevoer is om te ondersoek watter impak blootstelling aan, of verbruiking van pornografie op die verbruiker se lewe mag hê. Jong volwassenheid word as ‘n essensiële fase in menslike ontwikkeling bestempel. Kritieke ontwikkelingstake sluit onder andere die volgende in: om emosionele en finansiële onafhanklikheid te bereik, om morele waardes en beginsels te definieer, om intimiteit en toegewydheid te vestig en om ‘n lewensmaat te kies, kinders te baar en op te voed. Daar is min bestaande navorsing uitgevoer aangaande die impak van pornografie op mans in hierdie lewensfase. Die hipotese was soos volg geformuleer: sou pornografie tot enige obstruksie in die bereiking van enige van die ontwikkelingstake gedurende hierdie spesifieke lewensfase lei, dit ‘n effek op ‘n persoon in ‘n latere lewensfase mag hê. Die navorser het dus gepoog, om die gaping in bestaande navorsing oor die moontlike impak van pornografie op die jong volwassse man aan te spreek, maar die navorser het ook gepoog om ‘n bydrae tot die bestaande akademiese debat, met betrekking tot die impak van pornografie op die verbruiker in die algemeen, te lewer. Die motivering vir hierdie studie het uit die navorser se begeerte om ‘n bydrae tot die bestaande kennisbasis te lewer en om professionele persone in die terapeutiese omgewing rakende die impak van pornografie in te lig, ontstaan. Die navorser het ‘n kwalitatiewe, toegepaste navorsingstudie onderneem, wat haar in staat gestel het om die persepsies van jong volwasse mans wat ervaring met langdurige verbruik van pornografie het, te verken. Vyftien (15) jong volwasse mans was doelgerig vir deelname aan die studie geselekteer. Sneeubal-steekproef is as steekproefmetode toegepas om moontlike deelnemers aan die studie te identifiseer. Die navorser het van in-diepte onderhoudvoering, wat ook bekend staan as ongestruktureerde onderhoudvoering, as data insamelingsmetode gebruik gemaak. Een (1) oop vraag is soos volg aan die deelnemers gestel: “Wat is jou persepsies as jong volwasse man met berekking tot die impak van pornografie op jong volwasse mans?” Die navorser het ‘n voorondersoek uitgevoer om te verseker dat hierdie oop vraag voldoende geleentheid vir deelnemers skep om onbeperk te reageer. Die navorser het die volgende stappe tydens die proses van data-analise geneem: <ul> <li> Beplanning vir die opneem van data deur middel van oudio-opnames</li> <li> Bestuur en organisering van data deur middel van gedetaileerde transkripsies en die liasering daarvan in lêers</li> <li> Lees en skryf van memmo’s</li> <li>Generering van kategorieë, temas en patrone</li> <li> Verteenwoordiging, visualisering en voorstelling van data deur middel van ‘n volledige navorsingsverslag.</li></ul> Die navorsingstudie het getoon dat die verbruik van pornografie, ‘n kenmerkende impak op die lewe van jong volwasse mans mag hê. Sekere areas in die lewe van die jong volwasse man wat deur die blootstelling aan pornografie beïnvloed kan word, sluit onder andere die volgende in: <ul> <li> Die self-waarde</li> <li>Die ontwikkeling van ‘n gelsagsrol-identiteit (manlikheid)</li> <li> Morele en spirituele ontwikkeling</li> <li> Kognitiewe ontwikkeling</li> <li> Verslawing</li> <li> Loopbaan ontwikkeling</li> <li> Seksuele ontwikkeling in terme van seksuele kennis, seksuele houding en seksuele gedrag</li> <li> Ontwikkeling van interpersoonlike verhoudings</li> <li> Ontwikkeling van mentors in die samelewing</li> </ul> Aanbevelings, in terme van verbeterde en ingeligte dienslewering aan jong volwasse mans waarvan sommige van hierdie effekte van pornografieverbruik presenteer, was gemaak. Opleiding van professionele persone en verdere navorsing met betrekking tot hierdie fenomeen sal die realisering van die aanbeveling moontlik maak. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Im Mittelpunkt steht eine Schülergruppe in einer der drei Musikstunden auf DVD, die sich mit dem Erfinden einer Choreografie befasst. Ausgehend von dem bildungsgangdidaktischen Konstrukt der Entwicklungsaufgabe werden die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven rekonstruiert, aus denen heraus Schüler und Lehrer die in der Aufgabenstellung enthaltenen Anreize und Schwierigkeiten wahrnehmen. / The article focuses on a group of students/ pupils in one of the music lessons on DVD, that is concerned with the invention of a choreograhy. Taking developmental tasks into consideration, It deals with the different perspectives of pupils and teacher and the related obstacles and incentives inherent in the original tasks.

The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of adolescents who were orphaned by HIV/AIDS related conditions, thereby improving the knowledge base and insight of social workers that will enable them to render more effective services. The objectives of this study was: -- To build a knowledge base of existing literature on the impact of HIV/AIDS related circumstances on orphaned adolescents. -- To conduct an empirical study of the experiences of adolescents on the following terrains, namely Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity. -- To make recommendations about the experiences of adolescents orphaned by HIV/AIDS related conditions to be considered during formulation of intervention plans by social workers. This qualitative study endeavoured to answer the following research question: “What are the experiences of adolescents orphaned by HIV/AIDS related conditions in the Gert Sibande region of Mpumalanga?” The researcher aimed to document these experiences to improve the helping professions’ understanding of the phenomenon. This may lead to more successful intervention strategies for these adolescents. The study was feasible, as it was within the financial and practical means of the researcher. She had access to the target group and she had permission from the Department of Health and Social Services to conduct the study, using their resources, clients and data. Three themes emerged from data analysis, namely: -- THEME ONE: Sources of support, hurt and anger -- THEME TWO: My life changed after I became an orphan -- THEME THREE: Parents’ illness and death From the research findings, recommendations were made on a micro, macro and meso level. On a micro-level, this included improved foster parent screening, life skills camps, improved awareness campaigns and the establishment of support groups. On macro-level, the researcher is of the opinion that the strengthening of Home Based Care Groups, After-school centres and Children’s Homes should receive attention. / Dissertation (MA (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Diese Dissertation untersucht individuelle Unterschiede in der Adaptation von Jugendlichen und fokussiert auf jugendliche Immigranten. Sie postuliert ein übergreifendes Rahmenmodell, das entwicklungs-, akkulturations-, und intergruppenpsychologische Ansätze integriert, um ein umfassendes Verständnis der Adaptationsprozesse zu erlangen. Von diesem Rahmenmodell werden zwei Forschungsfragen abgeleitet. Die erste Frage lautet, wie ist das Zusammenspiel von Entwicklungs- und Akkulturationsaufgaben? Die zweite Frage lautet, wie ist das Zusammen-spiel dieser Aufgaben mit den Beziehungen zu der Familie und den Gleichaltrigen? Die Dissertation basiert auf drei empirischen Studien, die längsschnittliche Daten von Schülern mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund verwendeten. Studie 1 zeigte, dass eine gut funktionierende Familie und die Beteiligung an der Herkunfts- und Aufnahmekultur Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen und ethnische Identität vorhersagten. Studie 2 ergab, dass soziometrische Beliebtheit in der In- aber nicht der Outgroup Selbstwert von Jugendlichen vorhersagte, was durch selbstwahrgenommene Beliebtheit mediiert wurde. Studie 3 zeigte, dass soziometrische Beliebtheit bei Klassenkameraden ohne, aber nicht bei solchen mit, Migrationshintergrund ein geringes persönliches Diskriminationserleben in jugendlichen Migranten vorhersagte. Zusammenfassend hat diese Dissertation das Rahmenmodell erfolgreich angewendet, in dem sie gezeigt hat, dass positive Beziehungen mit der Familie und Gleichaltrigen Ressourcen für das Bewältigen von Entwicklungs- und Akkulturations-aufgaben darstellten, die miteinander verwoben waren. Die wesentliche Implikation ist, dass jede der beiden Kulturen und sozialen Gruppen eine Quelle unterschiedlicher Risiken und Ressourcen ist, die alle wichtige Aspekte der Adaptation sind. Diese Dissertation ist ein wichtiger Schritt in Richtung eines kontextualisierten und integrativen Verständnisses der Adaptation von Jugendlichen in einer modernen Gesellschaft. / This dissertation examines individual differences in the adaptation of adolescents and focuses on the case of immigrant adolescents. It proposes a guiding framework that integrates developmental, acculturative, and intergroup approaches in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the processes underlying adaptation. From this framework, I derive two core research questions that guide the three empirical studies of this dissertation. First, what is the longitudinal interplay of developmental tasks and acculturative tasks? Second, what is the longitudinal interplay of either of these two tasks and the quality of adolescents’ relationships with family and peers? This dissertation is based on three studies that used the same longitudinal data set of immigrant and host-national students. Study 1 showed that family functioning and involvement in host and ethnic cultures predicted immigrant adolescents’ self-efficacy and ethnic identity. Study 2 revealed that sociometric peer likability by ingroup but not outgroup classmates predicted self-esteem of both immigrants and host-nationals, which was fully mediated by their self-perceived likability. Study 3 demonstrated that sociometric peer likability by host-national but not by immigrant classmates predicted low perceptions of personal discrimination in immigrant adolescents. In summary, this dissertation successfully applied the proposed integrative framework by demonstrating that positive relationships with family and peers represented resources for adolescents’ mastery of their acculturative and developmental tasks, which in turn were intertwined. The main implication is that each of the two cultures and societal groups presents immigrant adolescents with different risks and resources that are all important aspects of their adaptation. In sum, this dissertation is an important step toward a more contextualized and integrative understanding of the adaptation of adolescents in a modern society.

The purpose of this research project was to explore the experiences of mature women students in juggling the multiplicity of roles they faced during the adulthood stage of life. The lack of literature, particularly on the African woman’s experiences of being a student while also dealing with the roles of being a mother, wife and employee, inspired this research. I explored the women’s experiences using a qualitative approach and semi-structured individual interviews, and did a thematic analysis of the textual data. The average age of the women who participated in this project was 36.8, and except for two of the 10 interviewees, all women were enrolled for a postgraduate studies. The majority of women enrolled for further studies because they wanted to increase their opportunities in the work environment, while one woman did so because of a career change. The stories of the ten mature women students that I interviewed revealed five major themes. In describing their experiences of juggling multiple roles, the mature women students mentioned that they studied while also maintaining a job because of the financial obligations and the lifestyle of their age group. They experienced role strain from the many roles that required an equal share of their time, but managed to cope because they had personal goals to achieve and would not relinquish those. Both congruent and incongruent experiences emerged between work and study, particularly when they could not attribute equal time to work and study. Although they were encouraged and supported by their partners and children, and sometimes also their families and the community, they still had to deal with the lack of support from the institutions where they were enrolled. Extreme tiredness and guilt because of conflicting role demands were found to be most common among all ten women. For the most part the women had to deal with an increase in their role responsibilities and experienced different emotions regarding the influence of studying on family life. By managing their time well they were able to cope and had thus far been successful in balancing their different roles. Above all the mature women student were able to cope with the multiplicity of roles because they had determination, were focused and committed, and wanted to achieve success in their educational goals. Perseverance and dedication to their goals emerged as mature women students’ most powerful tool for coping with multiple roles. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

HIV/AIDS has assumed epidemic proportions in the world of today. The main age group infected by this disease is between the ages of 20 – 40 years. The result of this is that the children who are not infected by the disease will be orphaned and forced to assume the role of head of the house and breadwinner, at a stage in their lives when they should not be burdened with these responsibilities. Orphans are perhaps the most tragic long-term legacy of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS exacerbates the trauma, hampers the bereavement process and exposes children to discrimination and victimization in their community and their extended family. Investigation into existing literature has revealed that insufficient previous studies have been conducted on HIV/AIDS orphans and even fewer pertaining to the emotional needs of the HIV/AIDS infected population in the South African context. For the purpose of this study it was decided to assess the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS affected orphans in the developmental stage of middle childhood. A literature investigation into the historical background of HIV/AIDS was done and the demographic impact of the disease on South Africa was given. The impact that HIV/AIDS has on the patient was discussed along with the impact that it has on the affected significant others of the patient. Secondly a literature investigation on middle childhood was done. The child in middle childhood as well as the family with children in middle childhood was discussed. Attention was given to the developmental tasks, developmental characteristics and the child’s comprehension of death during middle childhood. Attention was also afforded to the family with children in middle childhood with specific emphasis on the developmental tasks and needs of the family and the developmental tasks of siblings. The aim of the research study was to assess the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS orphans. An exploratory research design by means of a qualitative approach was followed. Five respondents were purposively sampled that complied with the set criteria. They were assessed through the utilization of six different Gestalt therapy techniques over a period of one week. Themes were identified through the empirical study. The research question “What are the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS orphans?” was answered and the following emotional needs of the respondents were identified: · Longing for the deceased mother. · Loneliness. · Stigmatization. · Preoccupation with the physical features of the deceased. · Anger. · Insecurity. · Preoccupation with death. · Fear of death. The following themes can be considered for further research in this field: · Establishment of a therapeutic program for affected children. · A comparison between the emotional needs of those children who have knowledge regarding their parent/s status and those who do not. / Dissertation (MA (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted