Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment attempts to explore how certain factors that play a role in the perpetration of
dating violence among South African male adolescents are related to identity development.
While there has been much investigation of the factors relating to dating violence, much less
has been written about how these factors are related to the developmental tasks of
adolescence.
This assignment starts with a brief exploration of local and international literature on
adolescent and adult dating violence. Certain factors that are considered to be particularly
relevant to adolescent dating violence are then highlighted. These are exposure to trauma,
alcohol and drug use, peer group influences, and aggressive and misogynist expressions of
masculinity. The main focus of the thesis is then to investigate the extent to which these
factors can be tied to one of the main developmental tasks of adolescence, namely identity
formation.
It is argued that, while adolescence is a phase in which identity is being developed, identity
formation can be compromised by early exposure to aggression. This, together with the
desire to imitate significant others, may lead to a re-enactment of aggression. Alternatively, it
can lead to a heightened identity confusion, which may create a greater reliance on external
sources, most significantly the peer group. It is possible that, for acceptance, the peer group
may require an expression of masculinity that is misogynist and aggressive. Given that dating
relationships are an arena in which identities are negotiated with a peer group, it is possible
that the aggression that is encouraged may find expression within these dating associations.
The abuse of alcohol and drugs, modelled by others in early life and encouraged by the peer
group, serves to augment the likelihood of dating violence. This process is also discussed in
the light of the post-Apartheid South African context.
Understanding the abovementioned factors in terms of identity development has implications
for empirical enquiry and prevention programmes. It is argued that research should take into
account the developmental tasks of adolescence, whilst attempting to understand the unique
challenges that face adolescents in South Africa. Intervention programmes should be
focused on assisting adolescent males with the developmental task of identity negotiation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1060 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Leaver, Matthew |
| Contributors | Kruger, Lou-Marie |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 295482 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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