Change in narrative therapy : a pragmatic hermeneutic case study
- Authors: McLean, Neville Terence
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Narrative therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3235 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013164
- Description: The client of this case study was a twenty two year old female in her first year at university. The client had come into therapy because she had felt depressed, lonely and riddled with selfdoubt. The author used a Narrative Therapy approach with the client and was focussed on helping the client generate new meanings and stories that were more useful and empowering for the client. In this case study, the author was interested in exploring the process of change that the client underwent during the therapy process and he would rely on identifying innovative moments to track these changes. This interest informed the research question; what is the process of change in narrative therapy as tracked through the therapeutic dialogue? How does the change process in this case study track with the heuristic model of change put forward by Gonçalves and his colleagues? The author chose to use a pragmatic hermeneutic case study method in order to analyse the data and the results were organised into a coherent narrative. The data was collected from twenty two therapy sessions and these were grouped together into themes, namely a quick start, the beginning of change, thickening the innovative moments and lighting the fire. The results of this study reveal that despite being considered a good outcome case by the author, the process of change differed somewhat to that proposed by the heuristic model of change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: McLean, Neville Terence
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Narrative therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3235 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013164
- Description: The client of this case study was a twenty two year old female in her first year at university. The client had come into therapy because she had felt depressed, lonely and riddled with selfdoubt. The author used a Narrative Therapy approach with the client and was focussed on helping the client generate new meanings and stories that were more useful and empowering for the client. In this case study, the author was interested in exploring the process of change that the client underwent during the therapy process and he would rely on identifying innovative moments to track these changes. This interest informed the research question; what is the process of change in narrative therapy as tracked through the therapeutic dialogue? How does the change process in this case study track with the heuristic model of change put forward by Gonçalves and his colleagues? The author chose to use a pragmatic hermeneutic case study method in order to analyse the data and the results were organised into a coherent narrative. The data was collected from twenty two therapy sessions and these were grouped together into themes, namely a quick start, the beginning of change, thickening the innovative moments and lighting the fire. The results of this study reveal that despite being considered a good outcome case by the author, the process of change differed somewhat to that proposed by the heuristic model of change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Intimacy, sex and sexuality : the experiences of vertically-infected HIV-positive adolescents
- Authors: Smaill, Lindsay Ann
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Teenagers -- Sexual behavior , HIV-positive youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Transmission -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teenagers -- Diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3225 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013026
- Description: This research explores the lived experience of being a vertically or prenatally-infected HIV-positive adolescent. It looks specifically at how the participants experience intimacy, sex and sexuality. HIV/AIDS remains a global pandemic and vertically-infected adolescents are a growing new demographic. However, there is a poverty of research, and therefore interventions and support, for this demographic. This qualitative research conducted six individual, in-depth, semi-structured, psychoanalytic research interviews with three participants. The interviews were structured around projective drawings that the participants did in the course of each interview. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using psychodynamic object relations theory and organised through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Every effort was made to ensure that the research was conducted ethically and validly. The analysis found that the participants' experience of intimacy has resulted in a self that is constantly under threat. This in turn has negatively impacted on the participants' experience of sex and sexuality. The implication of this research is that more in-depth research needs to be done into this demographic so that better interventions and support may be offered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Smaill, Lindsay Ann
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Teenagers -- Sexual behavior , HIV-positive youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Transmission -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teenagers -- Diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3225 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013026
- Description: This research explores the lived experience of being a vertically or prenatally-infected HIV-positive adolescent. It looks specifically at how the participants experience intimacy, sex and sexuality. HIV/AIDS remains a global pandemic and vertically-infected adolescents are a growing new demographic. However, there is a poverty of research, and therefore interventions and support, for this demographic. This qualitative research conducted six individual, in-depth, semi-structured, psychoanalytic research interviews with three participants. The interviews were structured around projective drawings that the participants did in the course of each interview. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using psychodynamic object relations theory and organised through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Every effort was made to ensure that the research was conducted ethically and validly. The analysis found that the participants' experience of intimacy has resulted in a self that is constantly under threat. This in turn has negatively impacted on the participants' experience of sex and sexuality. The implication of this research is that more in-depth research needs to be done into this demographic so that better interventions and support may be offered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Michael Jackson : a psychobiography
- Authors: Ruiters, Jeremy John
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Jackson, Michael, 1958-2009 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Psychoanalysis , African American singers -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3228 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013061
- Description: In a psychobiography a psychological theory is used as a framework to uncover the story of an individual. The psychobiographical approach to research tends to be underutilised. The result of this is that an important area for the application of psychobiographical theory and the study of completed lives is neglected. The value of psychobiographical studies has been advocated by many scholars in the field of psychobiographical research for the development and testing of theories relating to human development. The subject under investigation in this psychobiography is Michael Jackson. Although much has been written about Jackson, not much of the existing literature adopts a psychological focus. The sampling procedure was purposive, as the subject was deliberately selected. The aim of this research was to explore and describe the life of Jackson through the use of the psychobiographical case method. Life history material in the form of biographies, newspaper articles, documentaries and interviews aided in creating a biographical sketch of Jackson's life. The progression of Jackson's personality development was analysed using Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. The data collection and analysis were conducted according to Yin's analytical generalisation which consists of two main strategies: (1) using a theoretical framework as a guide to determine what data are relevant, and (2) developing a matrix as a descriptive framework for organising and integrating the data. Furthermore, the process of data analysis was aided by the use of guidelines prepared by Alexander with Erikson’s psychosocial development as the theoretical framework. This research undertaking can be recognised as a positive demonstration of the value of Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory in understanding the process of Michael Jackson's personality development. Recommendations regarding future research that utilises the psychobiographical research design and methodology have been made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ruiters, Jeremy John
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Jackson, Michael, 1958-2009 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Psychoanalysis , African American singers -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3228 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013061
- Description: In a psychobiography a psychological theory is used as a framework to uncover the story of an individual. The psychobiographical approach to research tends to be underutilised. The result of this is that an important area for the application of psychobiographical theory and the study of completed lives is neglected. The value of psychobiographical studies has been advocated by many scholars in the field of psychobiographical research for the development and testing of theories relating to human development. The subject under investigation in this psychobiography is Michael Jackson. Although much has been written about Jackson, not much of the existing literature adopts a psychological focus. The sampling procedure was purposive, as the subject was deliberately selected. The aim of this research was to explore and describe the life of Jackson through the use of the psychobiographical case method. Life history material in the form of biographies, newspaper articles, documentaries and interviews aided in creating a biographical sketch of Jackson's life. The progression of Jackson's personality development was analysed using Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. The data collection and analysis were conducted according to Yin's analytical generalisation which consists of two main strategies: (1) using a theoretical framework as a guide to determine what data are relevant, and (2) developing a matrix as a descriptive framework for organising and integrating the data. Furthermore, the process of data analysis was aided by the use of guidelines prepared by Alexander with Erikson’s psychosocial development as the theoretical framework. This research undertaking can be recognised as a positive demonstration of the value of Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory in understanding the process of Michael Jackson's personality development. Recommendations regarding future research that utilises the psychobiographical research design and methodology have been made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Psychiatric in-patients’ experiences of an art group : with a focus on the self
- Authors: Holtzhausen, Minnon
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Art therapy -- Case studies , Group psychotherapy -- Case studies , Cognitive therapy -- Case studies , Self-actualization (Psychology) , Self-perception , Mental illness -- Treatment , Psychotherapy patients -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3232 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013146
- Description: Aims: It is argued that one’s sense of self is threatened and eroded by mental illness. According to the narrative perspective, one’s personal life narrative is displaced and maintained by a story of illness. However, dialogical self theorists argue that mental illness limits the number of ‘I’ positions available within an individual, resulting in the positions/voices becoming rigid and being dominated by a singular, monological position. The aims of this qualitative study are to attempt to understand and examine psychiatric inpatients’ personal lived experiences of an art group. The goal of the study is to focus on the impact of the art-making process on these patients with regards to the construction of their sense of self. Design: A qualitative research design was used in the study. Method: Four psychiatric in-patient art group members – three male and one female, between the ages of 27 and 40 – were interviewed. A semi-structured interview schedule consisting of sixteen questions focusing on the interviewees’ experiences of the art group was used. The interviews were analysed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged: What the Participants Gained From the Art Group, Sense of Community and Leaving a Mark, and The Experience of Self in the Art group. All three Superordinate themes fall within the participants’ experience of the art group. Conclusion: All four of the participants expressed positive feelings and enjoyment towards the art group. Participation in the art group provided the participants with a sense of pride, achievement and hope within their lives. As a result of participation on the art group, one of the four participants was able to construct a thin alternative experience and sense of self.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Holtzhausen, Minnon
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Art therapy -- Case studies , Group psychotherapy -- Case studies , Cognitive therapy -- Case studies , Self-actualization (Psychology) , Self-perception , Mental illness -- Treatment , Psychotherapy patients -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3232 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013146
- Description: Aims: It is argued that one’s sense of self is threatened and eroded by mental illness. According to the narrative perspective, one’s personal life narrative is displaced and maintained by a story of illness. However, dialogical self theorists argue that mental illness limits the number of ‘I’ positions available within an individual, resulting in the positions/voices becoming rigid and being dominated by a singular, monological position. The aims of this qualitative study are to attempt to understand and examine psychiatric inpatients’ personal lived experiences of an art group. The goal of the study is to focus on the impact of the art-making process on these patients with regards to the construction of their sense of self. Design: A qualitative research design was used in the study. Method: Four psychiatric in-patient art group members – three male and one female, between the ages of 27 and 40 – were interviewed. A semi-structured interview schedule consisting of sixteen questions focusing on the interviewees’ experiences of the art group was used. The interviews were analysed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged: What the Participants Gained From the Art Group, Sense of Community and Leaving a Mark, and The Experience of Self in the Art group. All three Superordinate themes fall within the participants’ experience of the art group. Conclusion: All four of the participants expressed positive feelings and enjoyment towards the art group. Participation in the art group provided the participants with a sense of pride, achievement and hope within their lives. As a result of participation on the art group, one of the four participants was able to construct a thin alternative experience and sense of self.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Resisting responsibilisation : a narrative-discursive analysis of young peoples' talk about high school sexualities and school sexuality education
- Authors: Graham, Nicola Susan Jearey
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Responsibility in adolescence , Language and sex -- South Africa , Teenagers -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa , Sex instruction -- South Africa , Sexual health -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Sexual ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3230 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013078
- Description: The most widespread intervention in South Africa into the sexualities of young people is school based sexuality education. However there is a dearth of research in this area, and studies that have been conducted highlight major weaknesses with implementation. Research from Western countries indicates that the messages conveyed in sexuality education are resisted if they conflict with the desired sexual subjectivities of young people. This indicates a need for further research into desired youth sexualities, and school based sexuality education. While South African studies of young people‘s talk about sexualities have been conducted, there is a paucity of literature in this area from a discursive perspective. This study is situated within a feminist post-structuralist paradigm, utilising a performative-performance analytical approach which synthesises Butlerian theory with a narrative-discursive methodology. This approach enables an analysis of both the macro-discursive power webs within which sexualities are situated, and the micro-discursive activity through which sexual subject positions are constructed. I used this approach to analyse the talk of groups of students from a Further Education and Training College about the sexualities of High School learners and their own past sexuality education. Findings showed that that the most dominant discursive resources which were utilised to construct sexualities were societal sexual norms discourses. These foundational discourses constructed gendered sexualities of compulsory hyper-heterosex for men, and compulsory compliant girlfriendhood for women. Such gendered sexualities reinforced patriarchal and abusive gendered and sexual practices. Ways in which participants troubled the dominant gendered sexualities through the performance of alternative sexual positions were analysed, as these 'troubling' performances indicate mutable aspects of the normative gendered field. Participants drew on a discourse of disconnect when talking about their school sexuality education, and their parents‘ (lack of) communication with them about sex. This suggests that adultist attempts to construct a 'responsible' sexual subject position for young people are resisted when such a position is constructed in a non-relational manner. Collusion between the constructed gendered sexualities and the discourse of disconnect results in the un-performability of a 'responsible' sexual subject position. These findings were used to provide suggestions for enhancing school based sexuality interventions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Graham, Nicola Susan Jearey
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Responsibility in adolescence , Language and sex -- South Africa , Teenagers -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa , Sex instruction -- South Africa , Sexual health -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Sexual ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3230 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013078
- Description: The most widespread intervention in South Africa into the sexualities of young people is school based sexuality education. However there is a dearth of research in this area, and studies that have been conducted highlight major weaknesses with implementation. Research from Western countries indicates that the messages conveyed in sexuality education are resisted if they conflict with the desired sexual subjectivities of young people. This indicates a need for further research into desired youth sexualities, and school based sexuality education. While South African studies of young people‘s talk about sexualities have been conducted, there is a paucity of literature in this area from a discursive perspective. This study is situated within a feminist post-structuralist paradigm, utilising a performative-performance analytical approach which synthesises Butlerian theory with a narrative-discursive methodology. This approach enables an analysis of both the macro-discursive power webs within which sexualities are situated, and the micro-discursive activity through which sexual subject positions are constructed. I used this approach to analyse the talk of groups of students from a Further Education and Training College about the sexualities of High School learners and their own past sexuality education. Findings showed that that the most dominant discursive resources which were utilised to construct sexualities were societal sexual norms discourses. These foundational discourses constructed gendered sexualities of compulsory hyper-heterosex for men, and compulsory compliant girlfriendhood for women. Such gendered sexualities reinforced patriarchal and abusive gendered and sexual practices. Ways in which participants troubled the dominant gendered sexualities through the performance of alternative sexual positions were analysed, as these 'troubling' performances indicate mutable aspects of the normative gendered field. Participants drew on a discourse of disconnect when talking about their school sexuality education, and their parents‘ (lack of) communication with them about sex. This suggests that adultist attempts to construct a 'responsible' sexual subject position for young people are resisted when such a position is constructed in a non-relational manner. Collusion between the constructed gendered sexualities and the discourse of disconnect results in the un-performability of a 'responsible' sexual subject position. These findings were used to provide suggestions for enhancing school based sexuality interventions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The development and implementation of a mental toughness training programme for cricketers
- Authors: McInerney, Michael
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sports -- Psychological aspects , Athletes -- Conduct of life , Mental discipline , Achievement motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013155
- Description: The professional turn in sports has prompted the search for explanations beyond the physical when discussing quality of performance. Mental Toughness has been recognised as one of the most important psychological attributes in achieving performance excellence across multiple sport settings. Yet, despite this, little research has been conducted into mental toughness development. This research seeks to answer the question: What insights can the development and implementation of a mental toughness programme for a semi-professional South African cricket team provide regarding Mental Toughness development? Based on a theoretical framework of mental toughness in cricket, a programme was developed in collaboration with the Border Cricket Team and Coaches. Incorporating elements that focussed on education, environment, awareness and mental skills, the programme was implemented in both individual and group settings during the off- and pre-seasons. An analysis of the participants’ experiences identified the need for a theoretical understanding of mental toughness within teams, facilitating the design of interventions that integrate the team and the individual. Future programmes should include measures of mastery, and individually customised approaches to mental toughness enhancement that acknowledge the potential contextual and individual variation in mental toughness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: McInerney, Michael
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sports -- Psychological aspects , Athletes -- Conduct of life , Mental discipline , Achievement motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013155
- Description: The professional turn in sports has prompted the search for explanations beyond the physical when discussing quality of performance. Mental Toughness has been recognised as one of the most important psychological attributes in achieving performance excellence across multiple sport settings. Yet, despite this, little research has been conducted into mental toughness development. This research seeks to answer the question: What insights can the development and implementation of a mental toughness programme for a semi-professional South African cricket team provide regarding Mental Toughness development? Based on a theoretical framework of mental toughness in cricket, a programme was developed in collaboration with the Border Cricket Team and Coaches. Incorporating elements that focussed on education, environment, awareness and mental skills, the programme was implemented in both individual and group settings during the off- and pre-seasons. An analysis of the participants’ experiences identified the need for a theoretical understanding of mental toughness within teams, facilitating the design of interventions that integrate the team and the individual. Future programmes should include measures of mastery, and individually customised approaches to mental toughness enhancement that acknowledge the potential contextual and individual variation in mental toughness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The experiences, challenges, motivations and coping strategies of informal caregivers in a Grahamstown township
- Ntshobane, Zephania Zingqi Zongamele
- Authors: Ntshobane, Zephania Zingqi Zongamele
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Caregivers -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Caregivers -- Psychology , Volunteers -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Voluntarism -- Psychological aspects , Adjustment (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3236 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013171
- Description: The health care system in South Africa is currently under strain and it does not cater for everyone's needs. This has left a gap in society whereby you will find that the poor citizens of the country are not being catered for in terms of getting access to adequate healthcare. With this existing gap, there are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in some of the poor communities in the country. These NGOs have volunteer caregivers who go around the community and taking care of the sick people. Research has often ignored these volunteer caregivers, this current research study investigated the experiences of these volunteer caregivers. The goals of the research study were to investigate the experiences of the caregiver, the motivations of the caregivers and the challenges that they encounter and how they cope with the challenges that arise while performing their caregiving duties. The study was based on the phenomenological paradigm. This paradigm believes that the subjective experience of the individual is an essential source of information. In-depth interviews were conducted with the four participants who took part in the study. An interview guide was utilised to help guide the interview process. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used in analysing the data. IPA is a way of analysing data, which investigates how a person, in a given setting understands an experience. The findings showed that the caregivers had both negative and positive experiences. They experienced the care recipients as being appreciative of them. However, they experienced the family members of the care recipients as being uncaring; financial constraints were also a negative experience. Several challenges were stated by the participants, including a lack of government support, alcohol abuse by the care recipients and challenging working conditions. The participants were motivated to volunteer as caregivers by a number of things. Altruistic motivation was the first, which included the love for the community and the poverty in the community. Reciprocity was another motivating factor, as well as religious duty and career advancement. In this research study there was one coping strategy that came out; the participants stated that they seek advice and consult with someone or go for supervision within the organization when they are faced with a difficult situation. The findings in the research study were similar to those found in previous research. One notably different finding was that in previous research, the caregivers have been found to abuse alcohol in order to cope with stress. However, in this research study, the care recipients are the ones who are abusing alcohol. The research recommends that the government assists the informal caregivers, either financially or with infrastructure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ntshobane, Zephania Zingqi Zongamele
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Caregivers -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Caregivers -- Psychology , Volunteers -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Voluntarism -- Psychological aspects , Adjustment (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3236 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013171
- Description: The health care system in South Africa is currently under strain and it does not cater for everyone's needs. This has left a gap in society whereby you will find that the poor citizens of the country are not being catered for in terms of getting access to adequate healthcare. With this existing gap, there are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in some of the poor communities in the country. These NGOs have volunteer caregivers who go around the community and taking care of the sick people. Research has often ignored these volunteer caregivers, this current research study investigated the experiences of these volunteer caregivers. The goals of the research study were to investigate the experiences of the caregiver, the motivations of the caregivers and the challenges that they encounter and how they cope with the challenges that arise while performing their caregiving duties. The study was based on the phenomenological paradigm. This paradigm believes that the subjective experience of the individual is an essential source of information. In-depth interviews were conducted with the four participants who took part in the study. An interview guide was utilised to help guide the interview process. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used in analysing the data. IPA is a way of analysing data, which investigates how a person, in a given setting understands an experience. The findings showed that the caregivers had both negative and positive experiences. They experienced the care recipients as being appreciative of them. However, they experienced the family members of the care recipients as being uncaring; financial constraints were also a negative experience. Several challenges were stated by the participants, including a lack of government support, alcohol abuse by the care recipients and challenging working conditions. The participants were motivated to volunteer as caregivers by a number of things. Altruistic motivation was the first, which included the love for the community and the poverty in the community. Reciprocity was another motivating factor, as well as religious duty and career advancement. In this research study there was one coping strategy that came out; the participants stated that they seek advice and consult with someone or go for supervision within the organization when they are faced with a difficult situation. The findings in the research study were similar to those found in previous research. One notably different finding was that in previous research, the caregivers have been found to abuse alcohol in order to cope with stress. However, in this research study, the care recipients are the ones who are abusing alcohol. The research recommends that the government assists the informal caregivers, either financially or with infrastructure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The influence of the therapist's activities on clients' subject positioning in relation to gender in narrative couples therapy
- Authors: Friis, Kirsten Leigh
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Narrative therapy , Couples therapy , Therapist and patient , Control (Psychology) , Critical discourse analysis , Psychotherapy -- Methods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3227 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013050
- Description: Narrative Therapy draws on an understanding of how discourse acts to construct, reproduce and deconstruct power relationships. Therapy is focussed on collaborating with clients in a process of re-authoring their self-stories by critically evaluating the positions made available to them in relation to dominant discourses. Whilst there is a large body of theoretical knowledge on post-structuralism and psychotherapy, very few discourse analyses of psychotherapy sessions have been published. Thus, though post-structuralist therapeutic approaches are theoretically well supported, there is an identified gap in the literature on the therapeutic processes that occur within practice. This research aims to further explore these therapeutic processes, focussing specifically on subject positioning with relation to gender in Narrative Couple Therapy, and the influence of the therapist thereupon. It is based on the analysis of a video of a Michael White Narrative Couple Therapy session, "The Best of Friends." Using discourse analysis as a methodological approach, the analysis seeks first to identify talk that signifies discourses of gender difference, and then to explore how the subjects (therapist and clients) are positioned in relation to these discourses. The analysis focuses on the therapist's activities to investigate the influence of his interactions with the partners on how they are positioned or position themselves within stories of gender difference. The analysis shows that, by working reflexively, transparently and collaboratively with the partners, the therapist assists to render power, restrictive discourses, and alternate positions visible to the clients. The therapist resists being drawn into dominant therapy discourses of expert and patient, and instead continuously recognises the knowledges and expertise that the clients bring to the therapy context. He then works closely with the clients to thicken alternative representations of self.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Friis, Kirsten Leigh
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Narrative therapy , Couples therapy , Therapist and patient , Control (Psychology) , Critical discourse analysis , Psychotherapy -- Methods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3227 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013050
- Description: Narrative Therapy draws on an understanding of how discourse acts to construct, reproduce and deconstruct power relationships. Therapy is focussed on collaborating with clients in a process of re-authoring their self-stories by critically evaluating the positions made available to them in relation to dominant discourses. Whilst there is a large body of theoretical knowledge on post-structuralism and psychotherapy, very few discourse analyses of psychotherapy sessions have been published. Thus, though post-structuralist therapeutic approaches are theoretically well supported, there is an identified gap in the literature on the therapeutic processes that occur within practice. This research aims to further explore these therapeutic processes, focussing specifically on subject positioning with relation to gender in Narrative Couple Therapy, and the influence of the therapist thereupon. It is based on the analysis of a video of a Michael White Narrative Couple Therapy session, "The Best of Friends." Using discourse analysis as a methodological approach, the analysis seeks first to identify talk that signifies discourses of gender difference, and then to explore how the subjects (therapist and clients) are positioned in relation to these discourses. The analysis focuses on the therapist's activities to investigate the influence of his interactions with the partners on how they are positioned or position themselves within stories of gender difference. The analysis shows that, by working reflexively, transparently and collaboratively with the partners, the therapist assists to render power, restrictive discourses, and alternate positions visible to the clients. The therapist resists being drawn into dominant therapy discourses of expert and patient, and instead continuously recognises the knowledges and expertise that the clients bring to the therapy context. He then works closely with the clients to thicken alternative representations of self.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The lived experiences of HIV-positive women in poverty
- Msengana, Sweetlener Thobeka
- Authors: Msengana, Sweetlener Thobeka
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV infections -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Poor -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Poverty -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Poverty -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Stigma (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3240 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013269
- Description: The focus of this study was on the experiences of a small sample of local women who are HIVpositive and are living in poverty. The researcher was interested in exploring the psychological and social experiences of these women using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. This research aimed at giving these women a voice to express their first-hand, personal accounts of living with HIV in poverty. Data was analysed for meaningful units, which were interpreted inductively and hermeneutically, and categorised into super-ordinate themes. Six themes within the participants' experiences of living with HIV were determined, namely: (I) experiences of diagnosis, (2) disclosure experiences, (3) stigma, (4) ARV experiences, (5) experiences of social support and (6) poverty. This research found that after an HIV-positive diagnosis, most women experience a variety of emotional reactions. These reactions however seem to change overtime into positive acceptance of the HIV diagnosis. Most of the women in this study preferred to use partial disclosure than to fully disclose their HJV-positive status openly to families, friends and to their community. Reasons for not using full disclosure included fear of discrimination and stigma, which included a fear of being rejected or being blamed for their status and a fear of losing relationships. It was also evident from the findings that most of the women had experienced stigma directly and therefore partial disclosure was used as a coping mechanism to protect the self from further harm. It was also revealed that stigma not only has a negative impact on disclosure but also on social support and ARV experiences. Because ofHIV-related stigma, lack of social support was a struggle that almost all the women in this study had experienced. Lack of understandings about their medication also had a negative impact of the ARV experiences. Stigmas along with poverty are the major struggles that HIV -positive women have to deal with in their day to day living. The findings of this study reveal a need for further research in this experiential area as well as campaigns and education around issues such as stigma, medication, and emotional difficulties associated with HIV.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Msengana, Sweetlener Thobeka
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV infections -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Poor -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Poverty -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Poverty -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Stigma (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3240 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013269
- Description: The focus of this study was on the experiences of a small sample of local women who are HIVpositive and are living in poverty. The researcher was interested in exploring the psychological and social experiences of these women using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. This research aimed at giving these women a voice to express their first-hand, personal accounts of living with HIV in poverty. Data was analysed for meaningful units, which were interpreted inductively and hermeneutically, and categorised into super-ordinate themes. Six themes within the participants' experiences of living with HIV were determined, namely: (I) experiences of diagnosis, (2) disclosure experiences, (3) stigma, (4) ARV experiences, (5) experiences of social support and (6) poverty. This research found that after an HIV-positive diagnosis, most women experience a variety of emotional reactions. These reactions however seem to change overtime into positive acceptance of the HIV diagnosis. Most of the women in this study preferred to use partial disclosure than to fully disclose their HJV-positive status openly to families, friends and to their community. Reasons for not using full disclosure included fear of discrimination and stigma, which included a fear of being rejected or being blamed for their status and a fear of losing relationships. It was also evident from the findings that most of the women had experienced stigma directly and therefore partial disclosure was used as a coping mechanism to protect the self from further harm. It was also revealed that stigma not only has a negative impact on disclosure but also on social support and ARV experiences. Because ofHIV-related stigma, lack of social support was a struggle that almost all the women in this study had experienced. Lack of understandings about their medication also had a negative impact of the ARV experiences. Stigmas along with poverty are the major struggles that HIV -positive women have to deal with in their day to day living. The findings of this study reveal a need for further research in this experiential area as well as campaigns and education around issues such as stigma, medication, and emotional difficulties associated with HIV.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Undertaking to care and to protect : The experience of killing healthy homeless animals in South Africa
- Authors: Van Zyl, Henriette Louise
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Animal welfare -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Euthanasia of animals -- South Africa , Euthanasia of animals -- Psychological aspects , Human-animal relationships -- South Africa , Animal rights -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3245 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013577
- Description: Although animal welfare workers overwhelmingly describe themselves as animal lovers the exigencies of day to day animal welfare work often require that they perform euthanasia of healthy animals as part of welfare shelter management, and animal population control. In this research study, the particular burdens placed upon seven South Animal welfare workers who are required to rescue, care for, nurture and rehabilitate the animals in their care; while simultaneously being required to kill these same – often physically and behaviourally healthy - animals after a specific period of time, or in response to various logistical, procedural and practical intricacies, ranging from lack of space and resources to an unavailability of suitable homes; are explored from an interpretative phenomenological approach using the Interpretative Phenomenological Method (IPA), and from a South African perspective. It was found that animal-loving individuals engaged in the care and subsequent euthanasia of healthy animals report experiencing profound personal, interpersonal and professional and ideological (dis)stress related to guilt, sorrow, moral unease and horror. Four themes emerged from interview data, which are discussed in relation to relevant research and literature. Experiences in a South African context were found to be very much aligned with those reported in previous research and literature pertaining to this topic. In particular, it was found that there is a need to articulate specifically, and precisely the nature of the act. It is proposed that the term “Agapéthanasia” would be appropriate and useful in this field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Van Zyl, Henriette Louise
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Animal welfare -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Euthanasia of animals -- South Africa , Euthanasia of animals -- Psychological aspects , Human-animal relationships -- South Africa , Animal rights -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3245 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013577
- Description: Although animal welfare workers overwhelmingly describe themselves as animal lovers the exigencies of day to day animal welfare work often require that they perform euthanasia of healthy animals as part of welfare shelter management, and animal population control. In this research study, the particular burdens placed upon seven South Animal welfare workers who are required to rescue, care for, nurture and rehabilitate the animals in their care; while simultaneously being required to kill these same – often physically and behaviourally healthy - animals after a specific period of time, or in response to various logistical, procedural and practical intricacies, ranging from lack of space and resources to an unavailability of suitable homes; are explored from an interpretative phenomenological approach using the Interpretative Phenomenological Method (IPA), and from a South African perspective. It was found that animal-loving individuals engaged in the care and subsequent euthanasia of healthy animals report experiencing profound personal, interpersonal and professional and ideological (dis)stress related to guilt, sorrow, moral unease and horror. Four themes emerged from interview data, which are discussed in relation to relevant research and literature. Experiences in a South African context were found to be very much aligned with those reported in previous research and literature pertaining to this topic. In particular, it was found that there is a need to articulate specifically, and precisely the nature of the act. It is proposed that the term “Agapéthanasia” would be appropriate and useful in this field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
‘Gender’ and constructions of spousal mourning among the AmaXhosa in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ngqangweni, Hlonelwa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Widowhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Widows -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Xhosa (African people) -- Funeral customs and rites , Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology , Bereavement -- Psychological aspects , Mourning customs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Death -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015647
- Description: Among the AmaXhosa the death of a person is marked by a tradition called ukuzila - the equivalent of the mourning process. As a sign of spousal mourning, and to show respect, the remaining spouse has to put on a marker (be visible). However, it is mostly the woman who is under obligation to show her mourner status by wearing ‘clothes of mourning’. The discriminatory nature of the practice, especially pertaining to visibility and some of the detrimental effects on the widows’ health and safety have been documented by some researchers, but the reasons for the continuity of visibility remain largely unexplored. Taking into account the dynamic nature of ‘culture’, this research explored the discourses deployed in men and women’s constructions of ukuzila specifically focusing on spousal mourning and the continuity of widows’ visibility in spite of their resistance to it. The research used postcolonial feminism drawing on postructuralism as its theoretical lens. This theoretical lens provided useful concepts such as hybridity, visibility, surveillance and power with which to examine spousal mourning and conceptualised people’s subject positions as multiple, fluid and contingent. Furthermore, the research employed thematic and discourse analysis at its methodology. Discourse analysis was employed to identify and analyse the discourses utilised in the constructions of spousal mourning. The research was conducted through focus group discussions held with younger and older urban and rural men and women, as well as interviews held with widows and widowers and key cultural informants. Concerning the question of constructions of spousal mourning for men and women, visibility of the mourner emerged as a central and contentious issue. Some participants were of the view that one could show mourning by engaging in culturally appropriate mourning behaviour, whilst others were of the view that showing one’s mourning had to be visible by publicly displaying mourning through a marker. Another group proposed mourning “by heart”, whereby the mourners’ status could either be inferred from their behaviour, whereas others maintained that behaviour was not mandatory. Various justifications for the continued visibility of widows were advanced. These justifications included showing love and respect to the deceased husband; showing respect to the ancestors; and helping to monitor their own behaviour in order to ensure that it is in line with appropriate mourning behaviour. The continued visibility of widows was also used to regulate the widows’ sexuality. Widows were coerced to put on ‘clothes of mourning’ in order to ‘protect’ them from being approached by men for a relationship during the mourning period. The regulation of the movement of widows was also managed through visibility. Widows’ movements were restricted in order to protect the community from pollution or bad luck. For example, they were not allowed to visit places of entertainment or visit other households. Key discourses identified were the familial-‘ukwenda’, respect-‘hlonipha’, and male sexual drive (MSD) discourse. The familial - ‘ukwenda’ discourse is centred on the idea that one is ‘married to the household’, which includes the nuclear family and wider extended family including ancestors. According to the respect-‘hlonipha’ discourse, respect is due to others on the basis of their age, status, and more especially their gender. Showing respect (hlonipha) necessitates the avoidance of all forms of behaviour and utterances that could be deemed disrespectful. The MSD holds a widespread view of sexuality as a biological drive that resides within each male and it was drawn on to make sense of discontinued visibility among widowers, whilst visibility of widows continued. It is argued that it is these discourses, embedded in the ‘culture’ of the AmaXhosa and upheld by the family that sustain the discriminatory nature of the practice, especially concerning the continued visibility of widows in spite of the resistance that has been voiced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ngqangweni, Hlonelwa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Widowhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Widows -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Xhosa (African people) -- Funeral customs and rites , Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology , Bereavement -- Psychological aspects , Mourning customs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Death -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015647
- Description: Among the AmaXhosa the death of a person is marked by a tradition called ukuzila - the equivalent of the mourning process. As a sign of spousal mourning, and to show respect, the remaining spouse has to put on a marker (be visible). However, it is mostly the woman who is under obligation to show her mourner status by wearing ‘clothes of mourning’. The discriminatory nature of the practice, especially pertaining to visibility and some of the detrimental effects on the widows’ health and safety have been documented by some researchers, but the reasons for the continuity of visibility remain largely unexplored. Taking into account the dynamic nature of ‘culture’, this research explored the discourses deployed in men and women’s constructions of ukuzila specifically focusing on spousal mourning and the continuity of widows’ visibility in spite of their resistance to it. The research used postcolonial feminism drawing on postructuralism as its theoretical lens. This theoretical lens provided useful concepts such as hybridity, visibility, surveillance and power with which to examine spousal mourning and conceptualised people’s subject positions as multiple, fluid and contingent. Furthermore, the research employed thematic and discourse analysis at its methodology. Discourse analysis was employed to identify and analyse the discourses utilised in the constructions of spousal mourning. The research was conducted through focus group discussions held with younger and older urban and rural men and women, as well as interviews held with widows and widowers and key cultural informants. Concerning the question of constructions of spousal mourning for men and women, visibility of the mourner emerged as a central and contentious issue. Some participants were of the view that one could show mourning by engaging in culturally appropriate mourning behaviour, whilst others were of the view that showing one’s mourning had to be visible by publicly displaying mourning through a marker. Another group proposed mourning “by heart”, whereby the mourners’ status could either be inferred from their behaviour, whereas others maintained that behaviour was not mandatory. Various justifications for the continued visibility of widows were advanced. These justifications included showing love and respect to the deceased husband; showing respect to the ancestors; and helping to monitor their own behaviour in order to ensure that it is in line with appropriate mourning behaviour. The continued visibility of widows was also used to regulate the widows’ sexuality. Widows were coerced to put on ‘clothes of mourning’ in order to ‘protect’ them from being approached by men for a relationship during the mourning period. The regulation of the movement of widows was also managed through visibility. Widows’ movements were restricted in order to protect the community from pollution or bad luck. For example, they were not allowed to visit places of entertainment or visit other households. Key discourses identified were the familial-‘ukwenda’, respect-‘hlonipha’, and male sexual drive (MSD) discourse. The familial - ‘ukwenda’ discourse is centred on the idea that one is ‘married to the household’, which includes the nuclear family and wider extended family including ancestors. According to the respect-‘hlonipha’ discourse, respect is due to others on the basis of their age, status, and more especially their gender. Showing respect (hlonipha) necessitates the avoidance of all forms of behaviour and utterances that could be deemed disrespectful. The MSD holds a widespread view of sexuality as a biological drive that resides within each male and it was drawn on to make sense of discontinued visibility among widowers, whilst visibility of widows continued. It is argued that it is these discourses, embedded in the ‘culture’ of the AmaXhosa and upheld by the family that sustain the discriminatory nature of the practice, especially concerning the continued visibility of widows in spite of the resistance that has been voiced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
‘Ubhuti wami’: a qualitative secondary analysis of brothering among isiXhosa men
- Authors: Mbewe, Mpho
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Brotherliness , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs , Men, Black -- South Africa -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013149
- Description: This project is interested in investigating the construction of the fraternal sibling relationshipwithin the South African context from a narrative perspective. In particular, this study is interested in the ways in which middle aged isiXhosa men narrate experiences of brothering and how social class, as one particular context, mediates these narratives. This project is particularly interested in brothering within the isiXhosa culture and is concerned with both middle class and working class men within this cultural context. The project takes as its particular focus the meaning of brothering, and specifically how masculinity, intimacy and money or class influence the brothering practices constructed by the men in the sample. The project employs a social constructionist perspective, using a thematic narrative analysis to analyse the data. This project uses secondary analysis of data, as the data was collected for the primary use by Jackson (2009), Peirce (2009), Saville Young (Saville Young & Jackson, 2011) and Stonier (2010). The analysis reflects emergent themes of the importance of fraternal sacrifice, care-taking and sibling responsibility, honouring the family, and challenge to traditional masculinity. These themes emerged within the prior themes of masculinity, intimacy and class within brothering. The men spoke of keeping the family prosperous and united as an important duty in their brothering role. Affection was expressed more practically and symbolically, and closeness constructed through shared experiences, proximity and similarities. My findings reflect that family expectations, culture and social context had key influences on brothering, based on the men's narratives. Findings are discussed in relation to literature on brothering, masculinity and intimacy, and the influence of money in close relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mbewe, Mpho
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Brotherliness , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs , Men, Black -- South Africa -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013149
- Description: This project is interested in investigating the construction of the fraternal sibling relationshipwithin the South African context from a narrative perspective. In particular, this study is interested in the ways in which middle aged isiXhosa men narrate experiences of brothering and how social class, as one particular context, mediates these narratives. This project is particularly interested in brothering within the isiXhosa culture and is concerned with both middle class and working class men within this cultural context. The project takes as its particular focus the meaning of brothering, and specifically how masculinity, intimacy and money or class influence the brothering practices constructed by the men in the sample. The project employs a social constructionist perspective, using a thematic narrative analysis to analyse the data. This project uses secondary analysis of data, as the data was collected for the primary use by Jackson (2009), Peirce (2009), Saville Young (Saville Young & Jackson, 2011) and Stonier (2010). The analysis reflects emergent themes of the importance of fraternal sacrifice, care-taking and sibling responsibility, honouring the family, and challenge to traditional masculinity. These themes emerged within the prior themes of masculinity, intimacy and class within brothering. The men spoke of keeping the family prosperous and united as an important duty in their brothering role. Affection was expressed more practically and symbolically, and closeness constructed through shared experiences, proximity and similarities. My findings reflect that family expectations, culture and social context had key influences on brothering, based on the men's narratives. Findings are discussed in relation to literature on brothering, masculinity and intimacy, and the influence of money in close relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
“There are certain things that I just know that I have to do because we are brothers”: a discourse analysis of young black men’s engagement with popular representations of brotherhood
- Authors: Mkhize, Sibongiseni
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Brotherliness , Men, Black -- South Africa -- Social life and customs , Masculinity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3238 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013212
- Description: The present study analyses the discourses that young black South African men employed when they engaged with popular representations of brotherhood in the media. In particular the study explores how these particular young men view masculinity within brothering and what the implications of ‘doing brothering’ are as a result of this view. Drawing on discursive psychology, the study is located in a social constructionist theoretical framework and uses a qualitative methodological approach. The data used in the discourse analysis was gathered through focus group discussion of scenes from the television show Generations. The discourse analysis produced two major discourses in which there were different constructions of masculinity each influencing the way in which brothering was done. The first discourse constructed a ‘dutiful man’ who performs his brotherly obligations separately from his emotions, this discourse is in line with discourses of hegemonic masculinity where men are expected to fulfil obligations and are not expected to be emotional. Resisting this discourse at times, some participants in this study did occasionally construct men as having rich emotional lives such that the quality of interaction with brothers is constructed as more important, in terms of building intimate fraternal relationships, than the amount of interaction with them. The second major discourse constructs the ‘ideal man’ in two different ways: as the ‘good man’ and the ‘unscrupulous man’. The ‘good man’, like the ‘dutiful man’ performs the obligations society has placed on him, but does not receive the social esteem that is given to the ‘unscrupulous man’, who is successful and financially powerful. Although both these types of men are spoken of as possessing masculinity, the ‘good man’ is constructed as holding onto a type of masculinity that does not have a place in contemporary society. The findings suggest that brothering informs the way in which men take up certain masculine positions. The study contributes to our understanding of the construction of gender identity within familial relationships, specifically the adult brother-brother relationship.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mkhize, Sibongiseni
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Brotherliness , Men, Black -- South Africa -- Social life and customs , Masculinity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3238 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013212
- Description: The present study analyses the discourses that young black South African men employed when they engaged with popular representations of brotherhood in the media. In particular the study explores how these particular young men view masculinity within brothering and what the implications of ‘doing brothering’ are as a result of this view. Drawing on discursive psychology, the study is located in a social constructionist theoretical framework and uses a qualitative methodological approach. The data used in the discourse analysis was gathered through focus group discussion of scenes from the television show Generations. The discourse analysis produced two major discourses in which there were different constructions of masculinity each influencing the way in which brothering was done. The first discourse constructed a ‘dutiful man’ who performs his brotherly obligations separately from his emotions, this discourse is in line with discourses of hegemonic masculinity where men are expected to fulfil obligations and are not expected to be emotional. Resisting this discourse at times, some participants in this study did occasionally construct men as having rich emotional lives such that the quality of interaction with brothers is constructed as more important, in terms of building intimate fraternal relationships, than the amount of interaction with them. The second major discourse constructs the ‘ideal man’ in two different ways: as the ‘good man’ and the ‘unscrupulous man’. The ‘good man’, like the ‘dutiful man’ performs the obligations society has placed on him, but does not receive the social esteem that is given to the ‘unscrupulous man’, who is successful and financially powerful. Although both these types of men are spoken of as possessing masculinity, the ‘good man’ is constructed as holding onto a type of masculinity that does not have a place in contemporary society. The findings suggest that brothering informs the way in which men take up certain masculine positions. The study contributes to our understanding of the construction of gender identity within familial relationships, specifically the adult brother-brother relationship.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Evaluation of a workshop method for increasing awareness of sexual harassment on Rhodes University Campus
- Authors: Edelman, Loren Michell
- Date: 2013-10-02
- Subjects: Sexual harassment Sexual harassment in universities and colleges
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3195 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009450
- Description: The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to educate and inform the student population about sexual harassment, and 2) to evaluate which one of two different training programs would be more effective in increasing awareness of sexual harassment on campus. A pre-test post-test group design was implemented. A sample of students (N=132) living in 14 different Rhodes university residences participated in the study on a voluntary basis. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1, participated in a workshop based upon a video entitled One man's meat is another man's poison, produced by the University of Cape Town. Group 2, was subjected to a more passive educational method where the video was played from beginning to end without any interruption. Awareness of sexual harassment was operationalised in terms of the subjects' attitudes towards sexual harassment, their perceptions of sexual harassment, and their sexual harassment myths. Results suggested a significant relationship between participation in the training programs and a change in awareness of sexual harassment, as measured by the changes in the pre-test and post-test scores. Results also suggested that males benefit most by simply viewing the video, while females benefit most by workshopping the same video. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Authors: Edelman, Loren Michell
- Date: 2013-10-02
- Subjects: Sexual harassment Sexual harassment in universities and colleges
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3195 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009450
- Description: The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to educate and inform the student population about sexual harassment, and 2) to evaluate which one of two different training programs would be more effective in increasing awareness of sexual harassment on campus. A pre-test post-test group design was implemented. A sample of students (N=132) living in 14 different Rhodes university residences participated in the study on a voluntary basis. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1, participated in a workshop based upon a video entitled One man's meat is another man's poison, produced by the University of Cape Town. Group 2, was subjected to a more passive educational method where the video was played from beginning to end without any interruption. Awareness of sexual harassment was operationalised in terms of the subjects' attitudes towards sexual harassment, their perceptions of sexual harassment, and their sexual harassment myths. Results suggested a significant relationship between participation in the training programs and a change in awareness of sexual harassment, as measured by the changes in the pre-test and post-test scores. Results also suggested that males benefit most by simply viewing the video, while females benefit most by workshopping the same video. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Infant observation : the first year of life
- Authors: Gering, Jeanne
- Date: 2013-10-02
- Subjects: Infant psychology Parent and infant Interpersonal communication in infants Mother and infant
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3196 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009451
- Description: This research project is about infant-observation, that is looking at, observing, and studying parent-infant interactions and relationships within the first year of life. The principle intention of the study is to illustrate and shed light upon human infant development and how the newborn becomes a fully functioning member within the family. The study provides a context in which to consider parent-infant interaction beginning in utero, expanding to the birthing process, and continuing through the infant's first year. It focuses on specific themes of parent-infant interaction. The following situations are explored: the role of the mother; the mother as a container; the infant's experience of containment; the internalisation of experience; the symbolic meaning of food; dealing with distress and the development of concrete communication; the growth of a sense of ego; and, the infant's internal world. The study concludes by addressing various implications for further psychotherapy and compares the therapist-client relationship to the mother-infant relationship. The research outlines one particular psychoanalytic theoretical orientation of mental and emotional development. It is a model derived predominantly from The Developmental School Theorists and Object Relations Theorists, namely, Bowlby, Klein, Mahler and Winnicott. This model looks at the infant's earliest relationships and the processes these set up within the infant's developing mind. Infant observation, asa research method proposed by Bick and Sidoli, links method and theory, and serves as the methodological approach utilised in the present study. A video, based on the parent-infant interaction of three families, provides observational data and may be viewed in conjunction with this research. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gering, Jeanne
- Date: 2013-10-02
- Subjects: Infant psychology Parent and infant Interpersonal communication in infants Mother and infant
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3196 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009451
- Description: This research project is about infant-observation, that is looking at, observing, and studying parent-infant interactions and relationships within the first year of life. The principle intention of the study is to illustrate and shed light upon human infant development and how the newborn becomes a fully functioning member within the family. The study provides a context in which to consider parent-infant interaction beginning in utero, expanding to the birthing process, and continuing through the infant's first year. It focuses on specific themes of parent-infant interaction. The following situations are explored: the role of the mother; the mother as a container; the infant's experience of containment; the internalisation of experience; the symbolic meaning of food; dealing with distress and the development of concrete communication; the growth of a sense of ego; and, the infant's internal world. The study concludes by addressing various implications for further psychotherapy and compares the therapist-client relationship to the mother-infant relationship. The research outlines one particular psychoanalytic theoretical orientation of mental and emotional development. It is a model derived predominantly from The Developmental School Theorists and Object Relations Theorists, namely, Bowlby, Klein, Mahler and Winnicott. This model looks at the infant's earliest relationships and the processes these set up within the infant's developing mind. Infant observation, asa research method proposed by Bick and Sidoli, links method and theory, and serves as the methodological approach utilised in the present study. A video, based on the parent-infant interaction of three families, provides observational data and may be viewed in conjunction with this research. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Cultural background and Bender Visual Motor Gestalt test performance : comparison of the performance of Xhosa and white South African adolescents using the Pascal-Suttell scoring system
- Authors: Horn, Stuart George
- Date: 2013-09-09
- Subjects: Bender-Gestalt Test Teenagers -- Psychological testing -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology Black people -- Psychological testing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3194 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008564
- Description: The quality of the Bender-Gestalt performance of 22, normal, white South African male adolescents and 22, normal, Xhosa male adolescents, aged between 17 and 22 years, was investigated. The Pascal-Suttell scoring system was used. The mean score of the white adolescents was significantly below that of the Xhosa adolescents. It was found that while the mean score of the Xhosa adolescents was within one standard deviation of Pascal and Suttell's normative 'high school' mean, the mean score of the white adolescents was below that of the normative mean and not within one standard deviation of the mean. The results lend support to the findings that Bender performance is related to cultural background. It is suggested that the Pascal-Suttell tables may be in need of revision. The advisability of standardising tables, which are culture specific, for clinical use· in the Southern African context, is indicated. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Authors: Horn, Stuart George
- Date: 2013-09-09
- Subjects: Bender-Gestalt Test Teenagers -- Psychological testing -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology Black people -- Psychological testing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3194 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008564
- Description: The quality of the Bender-Gestalt performance of 22, normal, white South African male adolescents and 22, normal, Xhosa male adolescents, aged between 17 and 22 years, was investigated. The Pascal-Suttell scoring system was used. The mean score of the white adolescents was significantly below that of the Xhosa adolescents. It was found that while the mean score of the Xhosa adolescents was within one standard deviation of Pascal and Suttell's normative 'high school' mean, the mean score of the white adolescents was below that of the normative mean and not within one standard deviation of the mean. The results lend support to the findings that Bender performance is related to cultural background. It is suggested that the Pascal-Suttell tables may be in need of revision. The advisability of standardising tables, which are culture specific, for clinical use· in the Southern African context, is indicated. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Postconcussive sequelae in contact sport : rugby versus non-contact sport controls
- Authors: Dickinson, Arlene
- Date: 2013-08-29
- Subjects: Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Psychology Brain -- Concussion -- Complications Sports injuries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3189 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008455
- Description: The effects of repeated mild concussive head injury on professional rugby players were examined. Data were collected for rugby players (n=26) and cricket player controls (n=21) using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery comprising five modalities (Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Verbal Fluency, Visuoperccptual Tracking and Hand Motor Dexterity) and a self-report Postconcussive Symptomology Questionnaire. Group statistical comparisons of the percentage of individuals with deficit were carried out for (i) rugby versus cricket; (ii) rugby forwards versus rugby backs; and (iii) rugby forwards versus cricket. Rugby players performed significantly poorer than controls on SA W AIS Digit Symbol Substitution subtest and on the Trail Making Test. On Digits Forward and Digit Symbol Incidental Recall, the results approached significance with the rugby players showing a tendency toward impairment on these tests. Rugby players exhibited impairment in areas of visuoperceptual tracking, speed of information processing and attention, and there are tendencies of impairment in verbal and/or visual memory. Results obtained on the self-report questionnaire strongly reinforced cognitive test results and a significant proportion of rugby players reported difficulties with sustained attention, memory and lowered frustration tolerance as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression. It was consistently noted that players in the more full contact positions (rugby forwards) were most susceptible to impairment, confirming that these players, who are exposed to repeated mild head injuries, are at greater risk of exhibiting postconcussive sequelae , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Authors: Dickinson, Arlene
- Date: 2013-08-29
- Subjects: Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Psychology Brain -- Concussion -- Complications Sports injuries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3189 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008455
- Description: The effects of repeated mild concussive head injury on professional rugby players were examined. Data were collected for rugby players (n=26) and cricket player controls (n=21) using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery comprising five modalities (Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Verbal Fluency, Visuoperccptual Tracking and Hand Motor Dexterity) and a self-report Postconcussive Symptomology Questionnaire. Group statistical comparisons of the percentage of individuals with deficit were carried out for (i) rugby versus cricket; (ii) rugby forwards versus rugby backs; and (iii) rugby forwards versus cricket. Rugby players performed significantly poorer than controls on SA W AIS Digit Symbol Substitution subtest and on the Trail Making Test. On Digits Forward and Digit Symbol Incidental Recall, the results approached significance with the rugby players showing a tendency toward impairment on these tests. Rugby players exhibited impairment in areas of visuoperceptual tracking, speed of information processing and attention, and there are tendencies of impairment in verbal and/or visual memory. Results obtained on the self-report questionnaire strongly reinforced cognitive test results and a significant proportion of rugby players reported difficulties with sustained attention, memory and lowered frustration tolerance as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression. It was consistently noted that players in the more full contact positions (rugby forwards) were most susceptible to impairment, confirming that these players, who are exposed to repeated mild head injuries, are at greater risk of exhibiting postconcussive sequelae , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Making sense of the lived and told experience of the 'ill' body : a phenomenological exploration into the storied and embodied nature of somatic or medically unexplained symtoms
- Authors: Haggard, Claire Louise
- Date: 2013-07-25
- Subjects: Psychological manifestations of general disease Somatization disorder Physician and patient -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3185 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008364
- Description: Despite a wealth of literature on the aetiology of somatic distress or somatization, somatic theory has failed to expand beyond a dualistic epistemology of causation. Within the primary health context where medically unexplained symptoms are characteristically articulated as literal, symbolic gestures of internal psychological processes, individuals' subjective accounts of somatic distress are reduced to objective phenomena and thus articulated on the grounds of absence. Within this context, the body as a lived, meaningful, perceiving subjectivity is silenced in favour of the corpse, thus rendering the somatizing individual's lived and subjective experience, expression and knowledge of somatic distress inaccessible. Instead, the somatizing individual is positioned within a domain of perturbed silence - a domain in which the professional's turning away or retreat from engaging somatization on the grounds of unique, subjective and corporeal experience, positions the patient/client as a passive, silent recipient whose somatic expressions as lived are overlooked. This study attempts to initiate a theoretical focus of departure from existing articulations of somatic distress through the development of a theoretical and epistemological framework that addresses some of the tensions inherent to contemporary somatic theory. In so doing, it employs embodiment philosophy and narrative methodology as a basis for a preliminary and critical investigation into a relatively neglected area of somatization research. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Authors: Haggard, Claire Louise
- Date: 2013-07-25
- Subjects: Psychological manifestations of general disease Somatization disorder Physician and patient -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3185 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008364
- Description: Despite a wealth of literature on the aetiology of somatic distress or somatization, somatic theory has failed to expand beyond a dualistic epistemology of causation. Within the primary health context where medically unexplained symptoms are characteristically articulated as literal, symbolic gestures of internal psychological processes, individuals' subjective accounts of somatic distress are reduced to objective phenomena and thus articulated on the grounds of absence. Within this context, the body as a lived, meaningful, perceiving subjectivity is silenced in favour of the corpse, thus rendering the somatizing individual's lived and subjective experience, expression and knowledge of somatic distress inaccessible. Instead, the somatizing individual is positioned within a domain of perturbed silence - a domain in which the professional's turning away or retreat from engaging somatization on the grounds of unique, subjective and corporeal experience, positions the patient/client as a passive, silent recipient whose somatic expressions as lived are overlooked. This study attempts to initiate a theoretical focus of departure from existing articulations of somatic distress through the development of a theoretical and epistemological framework that addresses some of the tensions inherent to contemporary somatic theory. In so doing, it employs embodiment philosophy and narrative methodology as a basis for a preliminary and critical investigation into a relatively neglected area of somatization research. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Integrating spirituality and psychotherapy : experiences of a sample of terminally ill patients
- Chemane, Bonginkosi Reginald
- Authors: Chemane, Bonginkosi Reginald
- Date: 2013-07-15
- Subjects: Psychotherapy Terminal care -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Hospices (Terminal care) Terminally ill -- Psychology Spiritual care (Medical care)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008217
- Description: The general aim of this study was to determine the experiences of a sample of terminally ill patients in using spiritually focused psychotherapy. This was a qualitative study conducted to a sample of 2 terminally ill patients from hospice in Grahamstown, South Africa. The research was conducted in 3 phases: an initial in-depth interview conducted to determine the participants' level of spirituality as well as the extent to which their terminal illnesses had affected their functioning. This was followed by a minimum of 6 spiritually focused therapy (SFT) sessions as a second phase of the research. To determine the participants' experiences of SFT, 2-3 in-depth interviews were conducted during the 3m phase of the research study. The research revealed that a belief in a higher power helps terminally ill patients cope better with their illness and that social disconnectedness is related to HIV / AIDS stigma. It also revealed that terminal illness is co-morbid with other psychiatric symptoms such as depression, evokes existential concerns, results in a change in the level of spirituality and affects the whole family. Participants blamed themselves for their illness, but found that engaging in the process of forgiveness of self and others brought about psychological healing for them. They experienced SFT as a coping resource that assisted them to deal with the fear of death as well as increased insight into the development of psychopathology and spiritual blockages. It is recommended that a comprehensive and holistic assessment during intake be undertaken so that where spiritual needs are available, therapy can be spiritually augmented to ensure that such needs/ struggles are addressed. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Authors: Chemane, Bonginkosi Reginald
- Date: 2013-07-15
- Subjects: Psychotherapy Terminal care -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Hospices (Terminal care) Terminally ill -- Psychology Spiritual care (Medical care)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008217
- Description: The general aim of this study was to determine the experiences of a sample of terminally ill patients in using spiritually focused psychotherapy. This was a qualitative study conducted to a sample of 2 terminally ill patients from hospice in Grahamstown, South Africa. The research was conducted in 3 phases: an initial in-depth interview conducted to determine the participants' level of spirituality as well as the extent to which their terminal illnesses had affected their functioning. This was followed by a minimum of 6 spiritually focused therapy (SFT) sessions as a second phase of the research. To determine the participants' experiences of SFT, 2-3 in-depth interviews were conducted during the 3m phase of the research study. The research revealed that a belief in a higher power helps terminally ill patients cope better with their illness and that social disconnectedness is related to HIV / AIDS stigma. It also revealed that terminal illness is co-morbid with other psychiatric symptoms such as depression, evokes existential concerns, results in a change in the level of spirituality and affects the whole family. Participants blamed themselves for their illness, but found that engaging in the process of forgiveness of self and others brought about psychological healing for them. They experienced SFT as a coping resource that assisted them to deal with the fear of death as well as increased insight into the development of psychopathology and spiritual blockages. It is recommended that a comprehensive and holistic assessment during intake be undertaken so that where spiritual needs are available, therapy can be spiritually augmented to ensure that such needs/ struggles are addressed. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Crossing the border : constructions of borderline personality disorder within the South African context: a discourse analytic study
- Authors: Elphick, Marie-Clair
- Date: 2013-07-12
- Subjects: Borderline personality disorder -- South Africa Borderline personality disorder -- Diagnosis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3184 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008307
- Description: This research aims to open up for critical discussion the effects of the discourses employed by mental health professionals in relation to the diagnosis of BPO, with a view of questioning the discursive practices available within a South African context. This discussion will situate identified discourses in relation to the subjects and objects to which it refers in an attempt to identify and interrogate dominant discourses which circulate to oppress and discriminate against female 'others' within the mental health setting. This discussion will serve to challenge mainstream, traditional psychology by questioning the utility of deploying these concepts within a South African context as well as the effects this deployment may have. A discourse analytic methodology is employed to identify the constructions of BPO by five mental health professionals working within a government setting. The analysis aims at interrogating the broader role of the identified discourses in supporting institutions, preserving power relations and transmitting ideological practices. Ultimately the aim of the research is to open up for critical debate, through the example of psychology and psychiatry's treatment of BPO; constituted as 'other', the possibility that there may be deleterious consequences for the wholesale acceptance of traditional psychological understandings by mental health professionals working within a South African context. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Authors: Elphick, Marie-Clair
- Date: 2013-07-12
- Subjects: Borderline personality disorder -- South Africa Borderline personality disorder -- Diagnosis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3184 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008307
- Description: This research aims to open up for critical discussion the effects of the discourses employed by mental health professionals in relation to the diagnosis of BPO, with a view of questioning the discursive practices available within a South African context. This discussion will situate identified discourses in relation to the subjects and objects to which it refers in an attempt to identify and interrogate dominant discourses which circulate to oppress and discriminate against female 'others' within the mental health setting. This discussion will serve to challenge mainstream, traditional psychology by questioning the utility of deploying these concepts within a South African context as well as the effects this deployment may have. A discourse analytic methodology is employed to identify the constructions of BPO by five mental health professionals working within a government setting. The analysis aims at interrogating the broader role of the identified discourses in supporting institutions, preserving power relations and transmitting ideological practices. Ultimately the aim of the research is to open up for critical debate, through the example of psychology and psychiatry's treatment of BPO; constituted as 'other', the possibility that there may be deleterious consequences for the wholesale acceptance of traditional psychological understandings by mental health professionals working within a South African context. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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