Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper is an attempt to explore the appropriateness of the use of the specific
psychological paradigm of dissociation as a possible response to pregnancy in lowincome
women. Low-income women who fail to acknowledge their pregnancies may
do so in an attempt to defend against feelings of fear, anxiety and helplessness
engendered by the crisis of pregnancy. A dissociative response may serve to protect
the expectant mother from conscious awareness of the full impact of what is
happening, in other words, to provide psychological escape when physical escape is
not possible. Such a response may initially be adaptive in that it provides these
women with a means of coping. Dissociative processes allow, in the context of an
inescapable crisis, the economizing of already limited physical and psychological
resources. However, the prolonged use of dissociative strategies during pregnancy
may have far-reaching implications, and, as such, be a hindrance to adaptive
functioning. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om ondersoek in te stel na die geskiktheid van die gebruik van
die spesifieke psigiese meganisme van dissosiasie as 'n moontlike reaksie tot
swangerskap in lae-inkomste vroue. Lae-inkomste vroue mag hul swangerskappe
ontken in 'n poging om verweer te bied teen gevoelens van vrees, angs en
hulpeloosheid wat deur swangerskap teweegebring word. 'n Dissosiatiewe respons
mag dien om die verwagtende moeder te beskerm teen die volle impak van die
gebeurtenis, met ander woorde, om psigiese ontvlugting te bied waar fisiese
ontvlugting onmoontlik is. Welke respons mag aanvanklik adaptief wees in dat dit 'n
manier van streshantering is. Dissosiatiewe meganismes bevorder, in die konteks
van 'n onvermydelike krisis, die besparing van reeds beperkte fisiese en psigiese
bronne. Die langtermyn gebruik van dissosiatiewe strategieë gedurende
swangerskap mag egter verreikende gevolge inhou, en as sulks adaptiewe
funksionering strem.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52805 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Van der Spuy, Tanya Monique |
| Contributors | Kruger, L., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 58 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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