This study's objective was to research viewpoints on intimacy and sexuality among recovering alcholics.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Current mainstream theories of intimacy were derived from studies with primarily White, middle class participants living in developed countries. However, as social contexts shape people’s definitions, meanings and behaviours, it cannot be assumed that mainstream intimacy conceptualisations would apply to other populations. Studies of intimacy should be located in its social and historical context. Previous South African studies of Black and Coloured couples mainly emphasised HIV/Aids, interpartner violence and gender inequality, and neglected to investigate positive aspects of intimate lives of poorer communities. A lack of such context-specific data on how South African men and women construct and experience intimate relationships hinders appropriate and effective interventions. This study addressed this research gap by exploring intimacy experiences of long-term heterosexual adult Coloured couples living in a low-income semi-rural community. The objective of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of how the participant couples expressed and experienced intimacy. The participants were 15 couples (i.e. 30 participants), between the ages of 23 and 66 years, who had been married or living together for a minimum period of two years. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore: (i) how couples understand intimacy, and (ii) how intimacy is expressed and experienced in committed adult heterosexual relationships. Theoretically, this study was informed by social constructionism and interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. The following themes were identified: (i) closeness means being together, (ii) sex and intimacy (iii) closeness in talking (iv) expressions and experiences of intimacy/closeness through acts of care, (v) alcohol disrupts closeness (vi) family of origin and the constructions of intimacy; and (vii) community constructions and norms. Although much of the international literature suggests that mutual self-disclosure is the foundation for intimacy, self-disclosure did not feature prominently in the narratives of this study’s narratives. Closeness was expressed through sharing in practical and tangible ways. Gender was pertinent to these couples’ experiences and gender roles were fundamental to their intimacy perceptions and behaviours. Despite some contestations of hegemonic masculinity and femininity constructions, most of the participants did not demonstrate an active awareness or resistance regarding learned gender roles. They did not seem to consider these gender roles as problematic, limited or limiting, nor did they indicate alternative gender ideas. This was attributed partly to poverty and low education levels, which constrain people’s access to alternative gender perspectives. Religion and community influences also play an important role in their understanding of their role as partner. Although Christianity endorses traditional gender ideas, the participants themselves felt that their religious beliefs and practices facilitated intimate experiences, and prevented alcohol abuse and domestic violence. In conclusion, implications for policy and practice in terms of gender inequality and alcohol abuse are discussed, as are the limitations of the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huidige hoofstroom teorieë van intimiteit is afgelei van studies met hoofsaaklik Wit, middelklas-deelnemers. Aangesien sosiale konteks mense se definisies, betekenis en gedrag met betrekking tot intimiteit vorm, kan dit egter nie aanvaar word dat die hoofstroom konseptualisering van intimiteit ook van toepassing sal wees op ander bevolkingsgroepe nie. Studies van intimiteit moet geleë wees in die sosiale en historiese konteks. 'n Gebrek aan sodanige konteks-spesifieke data oor hoe verskillende groepe Suid-Afrikaanse mans en vroue intieme verhoudings verstaan en beleef, kan toepaslike en effektiewe verhouding ingrypings belemmer. Verder het vorige Suid Afrikaanse studies oor Swart en Kleurling paartjies hoofsaaklik gefokus op HIV/VIGS, paartjie geweld en geslags ongelykhede en het nagelaat om positiewe aspekte van die intieme lewe van paartjies in arm gemeenskappe te ondersoek. Hierdie studiehet hierdie navorsing leemte aangespreek deur te verken hoe hoe langtermyn, heteroseksuele, volwasse paartjies in 'n lae-inkomste semi-landelike gemeenskap intimiteit verstaan, beleef en uitdruk. Die deelnemers was 15 paartjies (d.w.s 30 deelnemers), tussen die ouderdomme van 23 en 66 jaar, wat getroud was of saamgewoon het vir 'n tydperk van ten minste twee jaar. Kwalitatiewe semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer om die volgende te verken: (i) hoe paartjies intimiteit verstaan, en (ii) hoe intimiteit betoon en ervaar word in toegewyde volwasse heteroseksuele verhoudings. Die studie is teoreties geskoei op sosiale konstruktiwisme en onderhoude is ontleed met behulp Braun en Clarke se tematiese analise metode. Die volgende temas is geïdentifiseer uit die onderhoude: (i) nabyheid beteken om saam te wees, (ii) seks en intimiteit, (iii) nabyheid deur gesels (iv) uitdrukkings en ervarings van intimiteit deur dade van sorg, (v) alkohol ontwrig saamwees, (vi) die invloed van die familie van oorsprong op die konstruksie van intimiteit, (vii) gemeenskap konstruksies en norme. Alhoewel die internasionale literatuur aandui dat wedersydse selfonthulling die grondslag vir intimiteit vorm, het self-onthulling nie prominent in die deelnemers se vertellings voorgekom nie. Nabyheid is eerder beleef en betoon deur praktiese en tasbare dade en gebare. Geslagsrolle was fundamenteel in paartjies se belewing en uitvoering van intimiteit. Ten spyte daarvan dat sommige individuele deelnemers hegemoniese geslagsrolle bevraagteken het, het die meerderheid deelnemers nie ‘n aktiewe bewustheid of weerstand getoon rakende geleerde geslagsrolle nie. Hulle het skynbaar nie hierdie geslagsrolle as problematies, of beperkend gesien nie. Hulle het ook nie aangedui dat hulle alternatiewe geslagsrol idees het nie. Dit word gedeeltelik toegeskryf aan armoede en lae vlakke van onderrig wat mense se toegang tot alternatiewe geslagsrolle en perspektiewe beperk Godsdiens en gemeenskap invloede speel ook 'n belangrike rol in hul begrip van hul rol as lewensmaat. Alhoewel Christenskap tradisionele geslag idees onderskryf, het die deelnemers gevoel dat hulle godsdienstige oortuigings en praktyke intieme ervarings fasiliteer, asook die misbruik van alkohol en huishoudelike geweld verhoed. Dit impliseer dat godsdiens bydra by tot die skepping en instandhouding van manlikheid en vroulikheid idees in hierdie gemeenskap. Ten slotte, is implikasies vir beleid en praktyk in terme van geslagsongelykheid en alkoholmisbruik bespreek, asook die beperkinge van die studie.

The loss of intimacy is a pervasive tale, felt especially poignantly when the particular story, with its plot lines of love and betrayal, soaked as they are in rage and grief, is my own. By inverting the research process, whereby I call upon friends, and strangers who become friends, to assist me in the meaning-making process, this autoethnographic account of the twenty year downward spiral of my now defunct marriage makes tangible the shared project of making sense of intimacy, love and loss. It connects the personal to the social, cultural, and (most especially) the politically gendered nature of heterosexual relationship experience. It speaks of the process that makes it possible for me to tell my story and of the ethical tensions involved in telling a story of

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-54).

This study found that women in substance abuse treatment have higher levels of social intimacy than women with no history of substance abuse (treatment). Other factors examined in relation to level of intimacy were: type and number of substances used, length of use, length of treatment, participation in mental health treatment, substance abuse in the home when the subject was a child, and a history of the subject being a survivor of abuse.

People spend substantial parts of their life in a close dyadic relationship. The results range from the fulfillment of emotional, intellectual, social and physical needs, to physical and emotional abuse. The study clarifies the association between sex-role identity type, with its two traits (masculinity and femininity), and relationship satisfaction, at the dyadic level. The latter implies a focus on the identical (or different) levels of presence of the two constructs among partners in couples. Extraneous factors and personal (non-dyadic) effects are covered in addition. The two main variables are evaluated with the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). In each case, a second instrument was administered for validation. The survey-type study followed a correlational, cross-sectional design. The main purposes have been to test new theoretical frameworks against empirical data, and knowledge production. A three-pronged approach included: an extensive literature review to identify methodological and knowledge gaps; a theory-driven design and methodology to ensure a sound study; and empirical data collection to verify the theoretical position through hypothesis testing. Likely sources of bias were countered by involving balanced numbers of male and female, and homosexual and heterosexual respondents, from non-student populations, over a wide age range, and living in close relationships spanning at least two years. The correlational design and relatively small sub-samples dictated the application of descriptive frequencies, and chi-square, variance (ANOVA) and regression analyses, as statistical techniques. The findings emerged as more similar than different for homosexual and heterosexual participants. This implies that homosexuals are not a deviant group, but equally able to achieve happiness. Congruent (identical) sex-role identity traits between partners were not strong(est) in predicting satisfaction. However, femininity and androgyny, as highest adaptive type, and identical sex-role identity types between partners did. As a result, the initial sex-role identity congruence theory has been modified into the adaptive femininity trait theory. Married heterosexual women face a predicament. While for them an undifferentiated sex-role identity type correlates with their husbands' happiness, and their own unhappiness, the inverse applies to their femininity and androgyny. The practical implications of this and other conclusions are also detailed. / Psychology / D. Litt et Phil (Psychology)

The purpose of this study is to explore how people construct their intimate relationships, and to describe the patterns of connection and disconnection and their meanings within the social and cultural contexts of these relationships. It attempts to describe how the participating couples' relationships may or may not have changed due to the research process consisting of reflections and joint story telling, and the interventions of the researcher. Social constructionism is the epistemological framework of this study and indepth unstructured interviews with a cohabiting and a married couple were conducted. Hermeneutics was the method used to analyse the data. The participants' stories were recounted through the researcher's lens in the form of themes characterising their relationships. A comparative analysis was undertaken between the common themes identified in the two participating couples and literature. The information gained could assist couples and professionals in respecting heterosexual intimate relationships in their specific contexts. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Adolescents, like all individuals, have a need to belong. Consequently, during the adolescent period, adolescents battle with the establishment and maintenance of meaningful relationships. Most of them, unfortunately, do not succeed to establish and maintain such relationships because of a lack of skills to do so. It appears, therefore, that If adolescents are to enhance their interpersonal relationships so as to enable themselves to self-actualize, they need to be taught interpersonal skills. One of the skills that they should be taught is the self-disclosure. As such, the first part of the literature study was devoted to the discussion of self disclosure. The study of literature revealed that self-disclosure has many aspects, the main ones being the nature of the self-disclosure content, self-discloser target, and concealment. In the second part of the literature study, attention was paid to the nature of interpersonal relationships with special reference to adolescents' relationships. The malysis of interpersonal relationships revealed that the establishment and maintenance, is well as the collapse of interpersonal relationships follow a particular pattern. Data concerning perceptions, beliefs and attitudes held by adolescents towards selflish closure in their interpersonal relationships was gathered by means of various Techniques. Parents' perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards their adolescent children's perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards self-disclosure in interpersonal relationships were also assessed. The results of the empirical study revealed that adolescents hold selfdefeating perceptions, beliefs and attitudes that make it difficult for them to handle selflisclosure in ways that ought to enhance their interpersonal relationships so as to enable themselves to self-actualize. These perceptions, beliefs and attitudes may not change easily as their parents, the most important component of the adolescents' significant others, seem to be modelling self-defeating perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards self-disclosure. Lastly, a few guidelines to assist adolescents to handle self-disclosure in ways that ought to enhance their interpersonal relationships so as to enable themselves to self-actualize were given. / Thesis (D. Ed.)

Adolescents, like all individuals, have a need to belong. Consequently, during the adolescent period, adolescents battle with the establishment and maintenance of meaningful relationships. Most of them, unfortunately, do not succeed to establish and maintain such relationships because of a lack of skills to do so. It appears, therefore, that If adolescents are to enhance their interpersonal relationships so as to enable themselves to self-actualize, they need to be taught interpersonal skills. One of the skills that they should be taught is the self-disclosure. As such, the first part of the literature study was devoted to the discussion of self disclosure. The study of literature revealed that self-disclosure has many aspects, the main ones being the nature of the self-disclosure content, self-discloser target, and concealment. In the second part of the literature study, attention was paid to the nature of interpersonal relationships with special reference to adolescents' relationships. The malysis of interpersonal relationships revealed that the establishment and maintenance, is well as the collapse of interpersonal relationships follow a particular pattern. Data concerning perceptions, beliefs and attitudes held by adolescents towards selflish closure in their interpersonal relationships was gathered by means of various Techniques. Parents' perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards their adolescent children's perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards self-disclosure in interpersonal relationships were also assessed. The results of the empirical study revealed that adolescents hold selfdefeating perceptions, beliefs and attitudes that make it difficult for them to handle selflisclosure in ways that ought to enhance their interpersonal relationships so as to enable themselves to self-actualize. These perceptions, beliefs and attitudes may not change easily as their parents, the most important component of the adolescents' significant others, seem to be modelling self-defeating perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards self-disclosure. Lastly, a few guidelines to assist adolescents to handle self-disclosure in ways that ought to enhance their interpersonal relationships so as to enable themselves to self-actualize were given. / Thesis (D. Ed.)

In my thesis, I argue that Barbara Adair's In Tangier We Killed the Blue Parrot can be viewed as a palimpsest. In this sense her re-inscription of the lives and fictions of lane and Paul Bowles in the International Zone of Tangier, Morocco, in the 1940s reflects on and is implicated in the contemporary South African Zeitgeist. Through illuminating the spatial and temporal connections between the literary text and the social text, I suggest that Adair's novel creates a space for the expression of new patterns of intimacy. The Bowleses' open marriage and their same-sex relationships with local Moroccans are complicated by hegemonies of race, class and gender. To illustrate the nature of these vexed intimacies I explore Paul's sadomasochistic relationship with the young hustler, Belquassim, revealing the emancipatory nature of the expatriate's erotic and violent encounter with the Other. Conversely, I suggest the shades of Orientalism and exoticism in this relationship. While Adair is innovative in her representation of the male characters, I argue that she perpetuates racial and gendered stereotypes in her representation of the female characters in the novel. lane is re-inscribed in myths of madness and selfdestruction, while her lover, Cherifa, vilified and unknowable, is depicted as a wicked witch. This study interrogates the process of selection and representation chosen by Adair, which proceeds from her own intentionality and positionality, as a South African, as a human rights law lecturer, as a (white) woman and as a woman writer. These explorations reveal the liberatory re-imagining of new patterns of intimacy, as well as the limitations of being bound by the implicit racial and gendered divisions of contemporary South African society. / http://hdl.handle.net/10413/1286 / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.