Il bullismo è un fenomeno di gruppo in cui bambini e ragazzi possono essere coinvolti con ruoli differenti Il presente progetto di ricerca comprende tre studi originali, focalizzati su tre comportamenti ed esperienze connesse al bullismo: la condotta prevaricante, il comportamento di difesa della vittima e la vittimizzazione. Il primo studio ha esaminato gli effetti principali e di interazione dell'empatia affettiva e cognitiva, della preferenza sociale e della popolarità percepita su questi tre ruoli di coinvolgimento nel bullismo, nella media fanciullezza e nella prima adolescenza. Il secondo studio ha analizzato le relazioni esistenti tra abilità di teoria della mente (ToM), comportamento prepotente, difesa della vittima e vittimizzazione in un campione di media-fanciullezza. Sono anche stati controllati gli effetti di moderazione delle relazioni tra ToM e coinvolgimento nel bullismo esercitati da variabili individuali e relazionali. Il terzo studio, un progetto di ricerca longitudinale a breve termine, ha riesaminato le associazioni tra variabili rinvenute nel primo studio, valutandone il valore predittivo, oltre a rilevare eventuali effetti di moderazione della stabilità nel tempo di questi comportamenti e situazioni connessi al bullismo. / Bullying is a group phenomenon in which children may be involved with different roles. This project includes three original studies, focussed on three bullying-related behaviours or experiences: bullying, victimization, and defending the victim. The first study examined main and interaction effects of affective and cognitive empathy, social preference and perceived popularity on these three ways of participation in bullying, in middle-childhood and early adolescence. The second study analyzed the relationships between theory of mind skills (ToM), bullying, defending and victimization in a middle-childhood sample. Several individual and relational variables were controlled for, and their moderation effects on the relationships between ToM and involvement in bullying were examined. The third study was a short-term longitudinal research project, examining the predictive values of the associations between variables found in the first study and some possible moderation effects of the stability over time of these social behaviours and situations related to bullying.

Most primary school learners experience everyday worries during their normal development. Children handle worries differently, and if they are not supported, their self-concept and psychosocial development could be influenced negatively. Parents and teachers are not always aware of what primary school learners worry about, or how they handle their worries. It is important that parents and teachers are made aware of this, so that children can be better supported in this regard. The aim of this study was to determine the everyday worries of primary school learners in a specific school in the Helderberg area, as well as how these worries are handled. This aim was addressed through a descriptive, qualitative research design. Thirty learners between the ages of ten and eleven in the specific school were involved through a simple random sample. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were used to obtain a detailed picture of learners’ everyday worries and how they handle them. Interviews were held through the use of an interview schedule, which was compiled in accordance with a literature study, tested in a pilot study and adjusted where necessary. Interviews were transcribed and themes were identified according to Braun and Clarke’s method of thematic analysis. On intrapersonal level one worry was identified, namely about emotions that are experienced. On this level participants handled worries by preferring to be alone, trying not to think about worries, crying, writing or drawing in diary, through praying, eating or sleeping. On interpersonal level, worries about school, family, friends and loss were identified. On this level worries were handled through spending time with a family member, friends, the media, pets, or by asking for support from the school. Themes were divided into subthemes, supported with appropriate quotes from the interviews and controlled with literature. This study confirms existing literature in terms of the worries that primary school learners experience. With this study a contribution is being made to the identification of worries on inter- and intrapersonal level, as well as the handling of worries on these two levels. In the future this information can be used as a basis for the effective development of ways for parents and teachers to support children in this regard. Suggestions were made for parents and teachers to encourage children to talk about their worries, as well as to help them find effective ways in which to communicate and practice to handle these worries well. It is very important that parents and teachers are made aware of topics children are worried about and how they handle them, so that children can be better supported and assisted in this regard. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Alkoholmisbruik is tans n sosiale kwessie in Suid–Afrika, asook in die res van die wêreld. Die kind in sy middelkinderjare lewensfase se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin kom in verskillende ontwikkelingsterreine na vore, in sy daaglikse interaksie met sy gesin asook in sy wyer skakeling . Alhoewel hy homself gedurende hierdie fase in n losmakingsproses om onafhanklikheid bevind, bly sy gesin steeds vir hom n bron van sekuriteit, hulp en ondersteuning. Vir die navorsingsmetodologie is die proses in tabelformaat weergegee met behulp van n onderverdeling in vier fases. Tydens die eerste fase, die aanvanklike beplanning en probleem–formulering, het hoofsaaklik drie aspekte aandag geniet, naamlik die navorsingsonderwerp, probleem–formulering en die doel met die nodige doelwitte. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie wat vanuit die probleem–formulering voortgespruit het, was om plattelandse kinders in die middelkinderjare se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul gesinne waarvan hul deel vorm, te beskryf. Tydens die formele beplanning in die tweede fase is die inligting deur middel van triangulering ingesamel en is op die navorsingsbenadering en –strategieë gefokus. Vanuit verskillende bronne is inligting verken om die plattelandse kind in die middelkinderjare lewensfase wat deel vorm van die alkoholmisbruik–gesin se belewenisse, te beskryf. n Literatuurstudie het die samestelling en uiteensetting moontlik gemaak vir n profielstudie vanuit n paradigmatiese perspektief van die kind. In die derde fase is aandag gegee aan die empiriese ondersoek waartydens triangulering praktykgerig voortgesit is met behulp van sinsvoltooing met vyf kinderrespondente, voltooiing van n selfontwerpte vraelys wat opgevolg is met semi–gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf ouers en vyf onderwysers. Gedurende die vierde fase het die interpretering en integrering van die bevindinge gerealiseer. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, is veral geleë in die leemte op nasionale vlak en op die platteland ten opsigte van spesifiek die kind se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin asook sy omgewing. Dit het ook duidelik geword dat daar aandag gegee moet word aan alkoholmisbruik as verskynsel en die alkoholmisbruikte–huweliksverhouding en dat onkunde bestaan ten opsigte van ouerskap en die belewenis van die kind as betrokkene by sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin. Om hierdie redes word aanbeveel dat daar gefokus moet word op die kind se proses, maar ook dat ouers, onderwysers en maatskaplike werkers wat deel vorm van die ondersteuningsnetwerk vir hierdie kinders, die nodige kennis en insig deur middel van opleidingsprogramme behoort te ontvang. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Alkoholmisbruik is tans n sosiale kwessie in Suid–Afrika, asook in die res van die wêreld. Die kind in sy middelkinderjare lewensfase se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin kom in verskillende ontwikkelingsterreine na vore, in sy daaglikse interaksie met sy gesin asook in sy wyer skakeling . Alhoewel hy homself gedurende hierdie fase in n losmakingsproses om onafhanklikheid bevind, bly sy gesin steeds vir hom n bron van sekuriteit, hulp en ondersteuning. Vir die navorsingsmetodologie is die proses in tabelformaat weergegee met behulp van n onderverdeling in vier fases. Tydens die eerste fase, die aanvanklike beplanning en probleem–formulering, het hoofsaaklik drie aspekte aandag geniet, naamlik die navorsingsonderwerp, probleem–formulering en die doel met die nodige doelwitte. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie wat vanuit die probleem–formulering voortgespruit het, was om plattelandse kinders in die middelkinderjare se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul gesinne waarvan hul deel vorm, te beskryf. Tydens die formele beplanning in die tweede fase is die inligting deur middel van triangulering ingesamel en is op die navorsingsbenadering en –strategieë gefokus. Vanuit verskillende bronne is inligting verken om die plattelandse kind in die middelkinderjare lewensfase wat deel vorm van die alkoholmisbruik–gesin se belewenisse, te beskryf. n Literatuurstudie het die samestelling en uiteensetting moontlik gemaak vir n profielstudie vanuit n paradigmatiese perspektief van die kind. In die derde fase is aandag gegee aan die empiriese ondersoek waartydens triangulering praktykgerig voortgesit is met behulp van sinsvoltooing met vyf kinderrespondente, voltooiing van n selfontwerpte vraelys wat opgevolg is met semi–gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf ouers en vyf onderwysers. Gedurende die vierde fase het die interpretering en integrering van die bevindinge gerealiseer. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, is veral geleë in die leemte op nasionale vlak en op die platteland ten opsigte van spesifiek die kind se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin asook sy omgewing. Dit het ook duidelik geword dat daar aandag gegee moet word aan alkoholmisbruik as verskynsel en die alkoholmisbruikte–huweliksverhouding en dat onkunde bestaan ten opsigte van ouerskap en die belewenis van die kind as betrokkene by sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin. Om hierdie redes word aanbeveel dat daar gefokus moet word op die kind se proses, maar ook dat ouers, onderwysers en maatskaplike werkers wat deel vorm van die ondersteuningsnetwerk vir hierdie kinders, die nodige kennis en insig deur middel van opleidingsprogramme behoort te ontvang. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The purpose was to give a theoretical perspective on domestic violence in middle-childhood. The aim was therefor to explore and describe domestic violence in middle-childhood from a Gestalt perspective with guidelines for play therapists to utilise with middle-childhood children experiencing domestic violence. Due to the nature of qualitative research triangulation was used where firstly an in-depth literature study on middle-childhood, the Gestalt approach and domestic violence. Secondly semi-structured interviews in the empirical research in example a self-developed questionnaire. Together with this mediums and techniques of Gestalt play therapy for the main purpose of obtaining more information from the respondents. The literature was utilised from a explorative and descriptive nature of the research to refine concepts through semi-structured interviews with six children as respondents. This information is given graphically and applied for guidelines from Gestalt perspective to play therapists to assist these children. The objectives of the study have thus being achieved. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Diac.

Text in Afrikaans / In this study the researcher explored and described the use of Gestalt play therapy with specific focus on self-support with the child in middle childhood years. A literature study was undertaken to examine the concepts of child, Gestalt play therapy, self-support and the play therapy process. This literature study forms the theoretical frame in which this study was done. After the completion of the literature study, the empirical study was conducted. The researcher made use of unstructured interviews within a intrinsic single case study in order to compile research data. During the empirical study ten therapy sessions were conducted with the participant which was explored within the framework of qualitative research methodology. The researcher was able to use ample Gestalt play therapy concepts and principles during the description of the case study in order to explore self-support within the child during middle childhood. These concepts and principles will be discussed in depth within this study. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie-rigting)

Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of this study is to describe a gestalt technique for therapists who are involved with children who are experiencing loss. A play therepeutic approach is described and the underlying principles integrated and applied. In the first chapter the details of the the research methodology is described. In the second chapter the gestalt approach and how it relates to play therapeutic intervention is discussed. The third chapter is a literature study which describes the child's conceptualization of death. In the fourth chapter the technique which is developed is discusssed. This technique comprises six themes which are projected by way of instructions on a card. The child chooses a card during every session and it is therapeutically played out. There is a central theme of a treasure box, and a box is made to keep memorabilia of the deceased. The therapeutic intervention helps the child to make a treasure box of memories in their hearts. / Social work / M. Diac (Play Therapy)

The research was directed at setting up guidelines for an interdisciplinary team which deals with children suffering from nonverbal learning disorder in middle childhood. The primary motive for the study was to, in general, further greater awareness of nonverbal learning disorder with parents and the relevant professions, but in particular, the interdisciplinary team which therapeutically handles children with nonverbal learning disorder. For the purpose of this study Thomas and Rothman's Intervention Research Model was applied. Information from relevant literature and semi-structured interviews with expertise in the area of learning disabilities was combined in order to set up guidelines for nonverbal learning disorder in middle childhood.The researcher concludes that thorough background knowledge of child development should be a precondition before nonverbal learning disorder could be identified and diagnosed. Because areas of development function interdependantly of each other, the developmental defecits of the nonverbal learning disorder child can only be treated effectively in a therapeutic way through an interdisciplinary team approach. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play therapy)

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of divorce on the will and motivation of the child in the middle childhood phase. Instruments are identified for adaptation and use in determining the effect of divorce. In addition, ways of equipping the educational psychologist to facilitate the child's adjustment during and after the divorce process are examined. A literature study was undertaken to determine the theoretical context of the effect of divorce. A study was also undertaken of the cognitive development of the child in the middle childhood phase, which could shed some light on the reactions of the child during the divorce of his or her parents. The results of the empirical investigation showed that the child in the middle childhood phase can exhibit intrinsic motivation during the divorce process. It is, however, the external factors accompanying divorce that could cause the child to display a reduced will or motivation. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / The child in early middle childhood experiences certain developmental changes. He is absorbed in the foundation phase of the formal education system and parents are no longer the most important authoritative figures. Social interaction now also includes the school environment and peer groups start playing a very important role. To face the new challenges, the possession of EI skills is of cardinal importance. The ability to observe, recognise and understand personal and other people's emotions and to react correctly is now developed. The study, a quantitive research process, is directed by holism as the point of departure from the Gestalt approach in which `totality' is a key concept. According to this concept all situations in the child's terms of reference will influence his development, including the parental style of his parents. The purpose of the study therefore was to determine and describe the correlation between parental style and emotional intelligence. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)