M.Phil. / This is a study that seeks to understand what makes two children raised in the same crime and violence ridden environment grow to be different, one actually becoming angry and resentful and thus ending up in prison, having committed serious crime, the other one transcending his adversity and becoming an admirable leader in his community. The exploration of contributory factors, leading young people to get involved in violent behaviour is examined and protective elements in the social environment that enabled those to transcend their adversity are also explored. The stories of juvenile prisoners about their lives provide insight into how the family prepares the ground for violent behaviour. The study found from focus groups with high school learners that inner strength, positive self- esteem and focusing on target goals play a critical role in helping young people overcome their challenges, this confirms earlier research in longitudinal studies. The findings will help in the development of intervention programmes based on the experiences of the South African youths. It is also envisaged that this will enable the voices of young people to be heard.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:4488 |
| Date | 26 March 2014 |
| Creators | Mdhluli, Dorothy |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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