The focus of this research is foster children. The goal of the research is to evaluate the utilisation value of gestalt play techniques in the assessment of the foster child in his middle childhood. An extensive literature study was undertaken. Middle childhood, the foster child, the gestalt approach, gestalt play therapy techniques and the assessment of selfworth from the frame of reference of the Department of Social Affairs and Population Development’s “Project Go” was taken as the theoretical foundation. The researcher made use of evaluative research within the framework of applied research in order to achieve the objective. Information was obtained by means of semi-structured interviews in the form of play therapy sessions. The research question was: “ How effectively can gestalt play therapy techniques be utilised to assess the selfworth of the foster child in his middle childhood?” Qualitative research was used as the case study served as research design. The research focussed on the following four components of selfworth, namely belonging, independence, mastery and generosity. In this research existing and adapted play therapy techniques were used in order to put together a number of assessment interviews for the assessment of the selfworth of the foster child in his middle childhood. Six foster children were involved in six assessment interviews.The results confirmed that the specific play therapy techniques can be utilised effectively to assess the selfworth of the foster child in his middle childhood. / Dissertation (MA(Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Summary in English and Afrikaans / This study analyses the adolescent's peer pressure and the handling thereofby the adolescent, the parents, teachers and educational psychologist. The literature confirms that peer pressure is a multidimensional phenomenon. Certain factors such as the parent's behavioural- and cognitive functioning, the adolescent's social competence and susceptibility to peer pressure influence his compliance to peer pressure. Processes such as identification, internalization, modelling and coercion are involved in this compliance. The implementation of a mentor system and suggested program at school and the teaching of social-, decisionmaking, problemsolving- and selfassertiveness skills will help the adolescent to use peer pressure positively. The educational psychologist can support the adolescent and parents through individual, family and group therapy. / Hierdie studie handel oor die ontleding van portuurgroepdruk by die adolessent en die hantering daarvan deur die adolessent self, die ouers, onderwysers en opvoedkundige sielkundige. Die literatuur bevestig dat portuurgroepdruk 'n komplekse fenomeen met verskeie dimensies is. Verskeie faktore soos die ouers se gedrags- en kognitiewe funksionering, die adolessent se sosiale bekwaamheid en sy vatbaarheid vir portuurgroepdruk bei:nvloed sy toegewing aan portuurgroepdruk. Prosesse soos identifikasie, internalisasie, modellering en dwang is by die toegewing aan portuurgroepdruk betrokke. 'n Voorgestelde program vir die skool, die implementering van 'n portuurmentorprogram en die onderrig van sosiale-, besluitnemings-, probleemoplossings- en selfgeldingsvaardighede kan die adolessent help om portuurgroepdruk te gebruik. Die opvoedkundige sielkundige kan die ouer en adolessent deur individuele-, gesins- en groepterapie bystaan. / Educational Studies / M. Education (Guidance)

Text in Afrikaans / Summary in English and Afrikaans / This study analyses the adolescent's peer pressure and the handling thereofby the adolescent, the parents, teachers and educational psychologist. The literature confirms that peer pressure is a multidimensional phenomenon. Certain factors such as the parent's behavioural- and cognitive functioning, the adolescent's social competence and susceptibility to peer pressure influence his compliance to peer pressure. Processes such as identification, internalization, modelling and coercion are involved in this compliance. The implementation of a mentor system and suggested program at school and the teaching of social-, decisionmaking, problemsolving- and selfassertiveness skills will help the adolescent to use peer pressure positively. The educational psychologist can support the adolescent and parents through individual, family and group therapy. / Hierdie studie handel oor die ontleding van portuurgroepdruk by die adolessent en die hantering daarvan deur die adolessent self, die ouers, onderwysers en opvoedkundige sielkundige. Die literatuur bevestig dat portuurgroepdruk 'n komplekse fenomeen met verskeie dimensies is. Verskeie faktore soos die ouers se gedrags- en kognitiewe funksionering, die adolessent se sosiale bekwaamheid en sy vatbaarheid vir portuurgroepdruk bei:nvloed sy toegewing aan portuurgroepdruk. Prosesse soos identifikasie, internalisasie, modellering en dwang is by die toegewing aan portuurgroepdruk betrokke. 'n Voorgestelde program vir die skool, die implementering van 'n portuurmentorprogram en die onderrig van sosiale-, besluitnemings-, probleemoplossings- en selfgeldingsvaardighede kan die adolessent help om portuurgroepdruk te gebruik. Die opvoedkundige sielkundige kan die ouer en adolessent deur individuele-, gesins- en groepterapie bystaan. / Educational Studies / M. Education (Guidance)