The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms and childhood experiences, and to explore the role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and core beliefs as variables possibly mediating this relationship. Previous research with clinical samples has established a strong link between childhood maltreatment and adult BPD (& other PD) symptoms in clinical samples. However, difficulties with these studies limit the specificity of results. For example, BPD has been shown to be highly comorbid with other axis I and axis II psychiatric conditions. Given that studies examining the relationship between BPD and childhood maltreatment generally fail to control for these comorbid conditions, the specificity of their results must be questioned. Furthermore, it has been well established that childhood familial environment is strongly related to childhood maltreatment. Again studies examining the relationship between BPD and childhood maltreatment have generally failed to concurrently assess childhood familial environments, hence opening the possibility that the relationship between BPD and childhood maltreatment may be due to family functioning rather than childhood maltreatment per se. Finally, studies linking childhood maltreatment with adult BPD have primarily utilized clinical samples. However, the primary use of clinical samples to examine the aetiology of disorders in this context ignores the vast literature showing adequate psychological functio ning for the majority of individuals exposed to childhood maltreatment. Hence, the primary aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adult BPD symptoms in a primarily non-clinical sample whilst statistically controlling for commonly comorbid axis I and axis II symptomatology and concurrently measuring childhood familial functioning. It was a secondary aim of the current study to examine the mediating effects of beliefs on the relationship between childhood factors (i.e., childhood maltreatment & childhood familial functioning) and adult BPD symptomatology. That is, cognitive-behavioural theorists argue that personality disorders may be triggered by adverse childhood experiences leading to maladaptive beliefs (or schemas) related to the self, others, and the world, and it is these beliefs which lead to the behavioural disturbances evident in personality disorders. One hundred and eighty-five primarily non-clinical participants completed questionnaires measuring a variety of axis I and axis II symptoms, early maladaptive schemas and core beliefs, as well as retrospective reports of family functioning and childhood maltreatment. Results showed a significant relationship between childhood factors and adult BPD symptomatology. For example, the largest correlation between BPD symptoms and a childhood factor was .27 (for childhood emotional abuse). Furthermore, early maladaptive schemas and core beliefs were found to mediate the relationship between childhood factors and adult BPD symptomatology thus supporting cognitive-behavioural theories of personality disorders. However, early maladaptive schemas and core beliefs were also found to mediate the relationship between childhood factors and other Axis I and Axis II symptoms. Hence, it was concluded that while there was some support for a cognitive mediation hypothesis for BPD symptoms, future research is needed in exploring the specificity of the cognitive mediation hypothesis for BPD.

The purpose of this research was to describe and explain crimes against women in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It was conducted by means of a literature review, followed by empirical research, based on police dockets, against the background of Seligman's theory on learned helplessness. The literature review was used to design a research schedule. The schedule was used for data capturing from police dockets from the Crime Information Analysis Centre (QAQ at their Gauteng Regional office in Johannesburg. From this data, a convenience sample, consisting of 303 cases, was compiled. These cases were reported at the charge offices of Pretoria-Moot Villieria, Pretoria-North, Pretoria-West Eersterust and Hillbrow, for the period between 1 January 1997 and 1 March 1998. Finally, recommendations are made for the design of preventative strategies, and suggestions are made for possible future research. / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om misdade teen vroue in die Gauteng Provinsie van Suid-Afrika te beskryf en te verklaar. Dit is gedoen aan die hand van literatuurstudie, en is uitgebrei met 'n empiriese ondersoek wat op polisiedossiere ebaseer is, teen die agtergrond van Seligman se teorie van aangeleerde hulpeloosheid. Die literatuurstudie is gebruik om 'n skedule te ontwerp. Die navorsingskedule is gebruik vir datavangs uit polisiedossiere. Die polisiedossiere van die Misdaadinligting-Analisesentrum (MIAS) van Gauteng se streekkantoor in Johannesburg is gebruik vir die samestelling van 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef bestaande uit 303 gevalle. Hierdie gevalle kom uit die aanmeldings by die aanklagkantore van Pretoria-Moot/ Villieria, Pretoria-Noord, Pretoria-Wes, Eersterust en Hillbrow, en wel tussen 1 Januarie 1997 en 1 Maart 1998. Ten slotte word aanbevelings vir die ontwerp van voorkomingstrategie gedoen en voorstelle vir moontlike toekomstige navorsing gemaak. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

In this qualitative study five police stations in the Tshwane Policing Precinct were selected. The objectives were to describe and explore the South African Police Service (SAPS) officials’ experiences on the nature and extent of domestic violence and the responsive strategies by relevant stakeholders thereof. Data collection literature review and key informant interviews were selected. Purposive sampling was adopted to cater for 40 sworn SAPS officials; each station was represented by seven participants. The findings suggest that many academics around the world overlook the importance women and children as core victims. As a result, they become the neglected people in our society. Thus, there is no simple solution to this crime to date. For recommendations a multi-agency approach whereby all relevant stakeholders try to address this scourge is needed to enhance reporting channels, advance SAPS skills and obtain more convictions. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Policing)

The purpose of this research was to describe and explain family violence in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It was conducted by means of a literature review, followed by empirical research, based on police dockets, against the background of Seligman's theory on learned helplessness. Other theories were also applied eclectically. The literature review was used to design a research schedule (questionnaire). This schedule was used for data capturing from police dockets from the Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC) at their Gauteng Regional office in Johannesburg. From this data, a convenience sample consisting of 415 cases, was compiled. These cases were reported at the charge offices of Laudium, Alexandra, Hillbrow, Rietgat, Eersterust and Mamelodi, during the period between 1 January 2001 and 1 March 2002. Domestic violence is caused by macrosocial-, gender- and relationship factors. These causes can be explained by certain aspects of structural- process- reaction and the learned helplesness theories. The adjudication of this causes and explanations focus on primary, secondary and tersiary aspects of prevention. Triggering facors, confrontation, crime incidents and restoring the equalibrium were studied in relation to the dynamics of domestic violence. All these factors such as causes, explanations, prevention and dynamics , are considered to explain the stabilization of domestic violence. / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om gesinsgeweld in die Gauteng-Provinsie van Suid-Afrika te beskryf en te verklaar. E)it is gedoen aan die hand van 'n literatuurstudie, en is uitgebrei met 'n empiiiese ondersoek wat op polisiedossiere gebaseer is, teen die agtergrond van Seligman se teorie van aangeleerde hulpeloosheid, asook ander teoriee wat eklekties bygewerk is. Die literahmrstudie is gebrnik om 'n skedule (vraelys) te ontwerp. Die navorsingskedule is gebruik vir datavangs uit polisiedossiere. Die polisiedossiere van die Misdaadinligting- Analisesentrum (MIAS) van Gauteng se streekkantoor in Johannesburg is gebruik vir die samestelling van 'n geriefHkheidsteekproef bestaande uit 415 gevalle. Hierdie gevalle kom uit die aanmeldings by die aanklagkantore van Laudium, Alexandra, Hillbrow, Rietgat Eersterust en Mamelodi, tussen 1 Jamiaiie 2001 en 1 Maart 2002. Makrososiale faktore, geslagsrolsosialisering en verhoudingsfaktore veroorsaak gesinsgeweld. Sekere elemente van die struktuur- proses- reaksie- en aangeleerde hulpeloosheidsteoriee kan dit verklaar. Die beregting van bogenoemde fokus op primere, sekondere en tersiere voorkomingsaksies. Die dinamika waarop gefokus word met betrekking tot gesinsgeweld sluit in aspekte soos: die snellerfaktore, konfrontasie, die praktiese misdaadinsident en uiteindelik die herstelde ekwillibrium. A1 die faktore (oorsake, verklarings, voorkoming en dinamika) lei uiteindelik tot die stadium waar waar verduidelik word hoe gesinsgeweld gestabilliseer word. / Criminology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

This study aimed at exploring the impact of emotional and physical abuse that a male partner experiences “at the hands” of his female partner within a marriage or cohabitating relationship. This is accomplished by giving each respondent a “voice” with which he shares his victimisation experiences. Each case is individually analysed and interpreted according to an integrated systems model of abuse of the male victim of domestic violence which forms the theoretical foundation for this study. Through a process of in-depth personal interviews with the participants, researcher was able to compile a qualitative study, using the purposive snow ball sampling method. This information was used in collaboration with supportive literature to assist researcher in gaining a deep understanding of this form of domestic violence. It is hoped that this study will contribute to further research initiatives with regards to the male victim of domestic violence in South Africa. It is also researcher’s aim to inform victimology students and the helping professions about male battering and the unique circumstances surrounding it. / Criminology / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

This study focuses on the manner in which the School Management Team (SMT) manages physical abuse among learners, providing guidelines on how to act in a proactive and constructive manner. A qualitative approach was used and the research was designed as a single case study. National education specific law and policy regulating learner misconduct, the SMT’s management of physical abuse of learners as well as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Basic Education’s policies were used to benchmark my evaluation of current management practices with regard to physical abuse among learners against such laws and policies. The research findings on the current management practices, factors that contribute to physical abuse, reasons and effects of physical abuse and the role of the SMT in handling physical abuse were based on an analysis of School A’s Code of conduct for learners and its Discipline Policy and information extracted by means of interviews. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The purpose of this research was to describe and explain family violence in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It was conducted by means of a literature review, followed by empirical research, based on police dockets, against the background of Seligman's theory on learned helplessness. Other theories were also applied eclectically. The literature review was used to design a research schedule (questionnaire). This schedule was used for data capturing from police dockets from the Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC) at their Gauteng Regional office in Johannesburg. From this data, a convenience sample consisting of 415 cases, was compiled. These cases were reported at the charge offices of Laudium, Alexandra, Hillbrow, Rietgat, Eersterust and Mamelodi, during the period between 1 January 2001 and 1 March 2002. Domestic violence is caused by macrosocial-, gender- and relationship factors. These causes can be explained by certain aspects of structural- process- reaction and the learned helplesness theories. The adjudication of this causes and explanations focus on primary, secondary and tersiary aspects of prevention. Triggering facors, confrontation, crime incidents and restoring the equalibrium were studied in relation to the dynamics of domestic violence. All these factors such as causes, explanations, prevention and dynamics , are considered to explain the stabilization of domestic violence. / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om gesinsgeweld in die Gauteng-Provinsie van Suid-Afrika te beskryf en te verklaar. E)it is gedoen aan die hand van 'n literatuurstudie, en is uitgebrei met 'n empiiiese ondersoek wat op polisiedossiere gebaseer is, teen die agtergrond van Seligman se teorie van aangeleerde hulpeloosheid, asook ander teoriee wat eklekties bygewerk is. Die literahmrstudie is gebrnik om 'n skedule (vraelys) te ontwerp. Die navorsingskedule is gebruik vir datavangs uit polisiedossiere. Die polisiedossiere van die Misdaadinligting- Analisesentrum (MIAS) van Gauteng se streekkantoor in Johannesburg is gebruik vir die samestelling van 'n geriefHkheidsteekproef bestaande uit 415 gevalle. Hierdie gevalle kom uit die aanmeldings by die aanklagkantore van Laudium, Alexandra, Hillbrow, Rietgat Eersterust en Mamelodi, tussen 1 Jamiaiie 2001 en 1 Maart 2002. Makrososiale faktore, geslagsrolsosialisering en verhoudingsfaktore veroorsaak gesinsgeweld. Sekere elemente van die struktuur- proses- reaksie- en aangeleerde hulpeloosheidsteoriee kan dit verklaar. Die beregting van bogenoemde fokus op primere, sekondere en tersiere voorkomingsaksies. Die dinamika waarop gefokus word met betrekking tot gesinsgeweld sluit in aspekte soos: die snellerfaktore, konfrontasie, die praktiese misdaadinsident en uiteindelik die herstelde ekwillibrium. A1 die faktore (oorsake, verklarings, voorkoming en dinamika) lei uiteindelik tot die stadium waar waar verduidelik word hoe gesinsgeweld gestabilliseer word. / Criminology and Security Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

This study aimed at exploring the impact of emotional and physical abuse that a male partner experiences “at the hands” of his female partner within a marriage or cohabitating relationship. This is accomplished by giving each respondent a “voice” with which he shares his victimisation experiences. Each case is individually analysed and interpreted according to an integrated systems model of abuse of the male victim of domestic violence which forms the theoretical foundation for this study. Through a process of in-depth personal interviews with the participants, researcher was able to compile a qualitative study, using the purposive snow ball sampling method. This information was used in collaboration with supportive literature to assist researcher in gaining a deep understanding of this form of domestic violence. It is hoped that this study will contribute to further research initiatives with regards to the male victim of domestic violence in South Africa. It is also researcher’s aim to inform victimology students and the helping professions about male battering and the unique circumstances surrounding it. / Criminology and Security Science / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

This study focuses on the manner in which the School Management Team (SMT) manages physical abuse among learners, providing guidelines on how to act in a proactive and constructive manner. A qualitative approach was used and the research was designed as a single case study. National education specific law and policy regulating learner misconduct, the SMT’s management of physical abuse of learners as well as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Basic Education’s policies were used to benchmark my evaluation of current management practices with regard to physical abuse among learners against such laws and policies. The research findings on the current management practices, factors that contribute to physical abuse, reasons and effects of physical abuse and the role of the SMT in handling physical abuse were based on an analysis of School A’s Code of conduct for learners and its Discipline Policy and information extracted by means of interviews. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Text in English / The rationale for the study was to investigate the symbiotic connection of trauma and addiction. The focus is on childhood trauma and the turn to addictive practices to quell the memories and experiences endured as children. Chapter One discusses the methodology regarding the approach of the study and includes an introductory literature review of the phenomena. Additional literature is included in the ensuing chapters. A personal account of the motivation behind the research is chronicled in Chapter Two. In this chapter, I share with the readers my personal experiences around trauma and addiction in my family of origin. The notion of the blending of trauma and addiction is the focus of Chapter Three. It includes the approach to treatment of trauma and addiction as well as addiction counsellor training in the South African context. The storied lives of the participants and their experiences of trauma and addiction are encapsulated in Chapter Four. Finally, Chapter Five rounds off the study with the analyses of the narratives of the unique individuals who contributed to this research undertaking. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)