Department of Psychology

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Betrokkenheid van lidmate by die kerk as n..funksie van lidmaathoudings ten opsigte van Godsdiens en van lidmaatpersepsie van die kerk se Psigososiale klimaat. Betrokkenheid van lidmate by die kerk as n..funksie van lidmaathoudings ten opsigte van Godsdiens en van lidmaatpersepsie van die kerk se Psigososiale klimaat.
(University of the Western Cape, 1987) Pretorius, Tyrone Brian; Malan, D.J.
The aim of the present study was to determine whether church involvement can be conceptualized as a function of both organizational and personal factors. For the purposes of this study the psychosocial climate of the church served as an organizational factor while religious attitudes served as personal factors. A further aim of the study was to determine to what extent the church can be seen as a support system that serves as a buffer against stressors. Subjects consisted of 214 congregation members of 10 different churches that were spread out over the areas of Bellville-South, Kuilsriver and Belhar in the Cape Peninsula. Subjects completed five questionnaires: the Church climate scale (CCS), the Involvement in the church scale (ICS), the Survey of religious attitudes (SRA), a psychological well-being questionaire (RIF) and a biographical questionnaire. The relationship between the different variables were determined by means of product moment correlations, stepwise multiple regression and Chi-square analyses. The analysis of the significance of the differences between more involved and less involved church members was performed by means of Rotelling's T2 statistic. It was found that, according to the psychometric measures applied: the dimensions of the psychosocial climate of the church plays a limited role in the prediction of church insignificance as a predictor of church involvement in the final multiple regression analysis which involved all independent variables simultaneously. Orthodox religious beliefs had a positive relationship with church involvement, while inner religious conflicts had a negative relationship with church involvement. there was no relationship between church involvement and psychological well-being. orthodoxy, income, normative clarity and educational qualifications were the only significant predictors of church involvement. more involved and less involved members differed significantly and the difference between the two groups can be attributed to orthodoxy of religious beliefs. Although the results of the main investigation did not fully confirm the researcher's expectations, the intercorrelations between the different variables produced a number of interesting findings. The Church climate scale produced the following significant correlations with the other variables: ( i) "Normative clarity" correlated negatively with the experience of inner religious conflicts as well as the experience of anxiety, depression and global psychological well-being. It however correlated positively with educational qualifications. Chi-square analyses further showed that married persons, received a high level church. compared to unmarried per the persons, of "normative clarity" within "Sense of community" correlated positively with the level of religious orthodoxy and negatively with the experience of anxiety. (iii)"Social concern correlated positively with the level of religious orthodoxy as well as with sex (men percieved a higher level of social concern within the church than women) . (iv) "Openness to change" correlated positively with the level of religious orthodoxy as well as with sex (men percieved a higher level of social concern within the church than women)
Mediation of detention trauma via perceived locus of control
(South African Journal of Psychology, 1990) Perkel, Adrian K.
Political detention in South Africa has been documented to contain conditions inherently detrimental to psychological health. Reports indicate high levels of stress reponses associated with conditions of solitary confinement, and physical and psychological abuse — particularly in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Amongst the moderating variables that may mediate between detention stress and post-detention trauma is perceived locus of control. In the present study the author aimed to determine post-detention sequelae and the moderating influence of perceived locus of control in this specific context. A Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder scale was combined with an Index of Well-being scale and correlated with a Detention Locus of Control scale to assess mediation significance of experienced ‘traumatization’. Results indicated a positive correlation with those who are internal in their perceived locus of control suffering reduced post-stress sequelae, compared to those who are more externally oriented. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed with specific reference to therapeutic intervention in the clinical context. © 1990, South African Psychological Association and the Psychological Institute of the Republic of South Africa. All rights reserved.
Die rol van die kerk as ondersteuningsnetwerk: Die verwantskap tussen psigo-sosiale klimaat, kerklike betrokkenheid en sielkundige welsyn
(South African Journal of Psychology, 1990-06) Malan, D.J.; Heyns, P.M.; Pretorius, T.B.
The role of the church as a supportive network: The relationship between psycho-social climate, church involvement, and psychological well-being. The aim of the present study was to determine whether mere involvement in church activities is enough to perceive the church as supportive, or whether the church should possess certain qualities before it is experienced as being supportive. The concept of psycho-social climate was used as a conceptual frame of reference to study the characteristics of the church. Two hundred and fourteen members of 10 different congregations completed a battery of questionnaires designed to measure their involvement in the church, their perception of the psycho-social climate of the church, and their level of psychological well-being. No relationship between church involvement and psychological well-being could be found. On the other hand, the analysis of the relationship between the dimensions of church climate and psychological well-being produced a number of significant correlations. Step-wise multiple regression analysis confirmed that the psycho-social dimensions of order/clarity, social concern, stability, and activity were significant predictors of the level of psychological well-being. The obtained relationship was interpreted as confirmation of the impact that the psycho-social environment has on individual functioning.
Die invloed van ‘n studiebegeleidingsprogram op die lokus van kontrole van studente
(University of the Western Cape, 1991) Laubscher, Leswin Robert; Heyns, P.M.
Julian Rotter (1966, 1975) het die persoonlikheidskonstruk lokus van kontrole beskryf as die mate waartoe.die individu glo dat versterking die gevolg is van sy eie gedrag (interne lokus van kontrole) of die gevolg is van gelukkige toeval, kans, of die noodlot (eksterne lokus van kontrole) . Sedert Rotter (1966) die konstruk "lokus van kontrole" gedefinieer en as integrale komponent van sy sosiale leerteorie voorgestel het, het velerlei navorsers ook hierdie konstruk indringend ondersoek en met talle aspekte in verband probeer bring. Een van die veranderlikes wat veral aandag geniet het, is akademiese prestasie en die verband wat ditmet lokus van kontrole sou toon. Alhoewel daar nie ooreenstemming bestaan met betrekking tot hierdie verband nie, blyk dit asof die meerderheid navorsers wel bevind dat 'n interne lokus van kontrole verband hou met hoê akademiese prestasie (byvoorbeeld Kishor, 1983; Maqsud, 1980; Messer, 1972). Verskeie tersiêre inrigtings (waaronder die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland, waar hierdie studie beslag vind) bied dan ook studiebegeleidingsprogramme aan ten einde studente van studievaardighede te voorsien wat hulle in staat sou stelom akademies beter te presteer. Hierdie programme neem egter selde persoonlikheidsveranderlikes in aanmerking en fokus veel eerder op die verskaffing van studiewenke en -vaardighede. Hierdie studie het dus In unieke studiebegeleidingsprogram probeer ontwerp wat In interne lokus van kontrole by die deelnemende proefpersone wil bevorder. Dit is dan die primêre studiebegeleidingsprogram van die U.W.K. te evalueer ten opsigte van die invloed daarvan op die persoonlikheidskonstruk lokus van kontrole by die deelnemende proefpersone. Sekondêre doelstellings behels die volgende ii) om die samehang tussen die konstruk lokus van kontrole met die volgende veranderlikes te bepaal: a) Geslag b) Geografiese herkoms, naamlik plattelandse vs. stedelike studente • c) Ouderdom d) Sosio-ekonomiese status e) Studierigting f) Taalgroep g) Politieke betrokkenheid, organisatoriese affiliasie en organisatoriese betrokkenheid h) Akademiese prestasie i) Akademiese studiejaar iii) om vergelykings te tref met Westerse navorsingsbevindinge Die huidige studie was ondersoekend van aard weens die afwesigheid van soortgelyke voorafgaande navorsing. In Voortoets-natoets kontrole groep-ontwerp is gebruik om die verband tussen lokus van kontrole en die studiebegeleidingsprogram na te vors. Altesaam Proefpersone het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem Collins (1974) se aanpassing van Rotter (1966) se interneeksterne lokus van kontrole skaal is as meetmiddel gebruik. Herdie skaal het deel gevorm van In vraelys wat ook informasie ingewin het omtrent die persoon huistaal, studiedoelstellings, se geslag, politieke studentestatus, betrokkenheid, betrokkenheid, organisatoriese affiliasie, organisatoriese akademiese prestasie en geografiese herkoms. Die resultate van die huidige navorsing het aangedui dat daar geen beduidende verband bestaan tussen die lokus van kontrole geneigdheid van die proefpersone en die ervaring van die studiebegeleidingsprogram nie. Die huidige navorsing het voorts geen verband gevind waar dit die samehang van lokus van kontrole en die veranderlikes van geslag, geografiese herkoms, ouderdom, sosio-ekonomiese status, studierigting, taalgroep, politieke affiliasie, en organisatoriese betrokkenheid aangaan nie. Beduidende verbande is wel bespeur ten opsigte van die lokus van kontrole-tellings van manlike en vroulike proefpersone wat In Afrika-taal besig, asook ten opsigte van die veranderlikes politieke betrokkenheid, akademiese prestasie en akademiese studiejaar. Hierdie bevindinge is bespreek met verwysing na die geneigdheid van die proefpersone en die ervaring van die studiebegeleidingsprogram nie. Die huidige navorsing het voorts geen verband gevind waar dit die samehang van lokus van kontrole en die veranderlikes van geslag, geografiese herkoms, ouderdom, sosio-ekonomiese status, studierigting, taalgroep, politieke affiliasie, en organisatoriese betrokkenheid aangaan nie. Beduidende verbande is wel bespeur ten opsigte van die lokus van kontrole-tellings van manlike en vroulike proefpersone wat In Afrika-taal besig, asook ten opsigte van die veranderlikes politieke betrokkenheid, akademiese prestasie en akademiese studiejaar. Literatuuroorsig, asook met inagneming van die unieke aard van die studentebevolking aan die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland. Die unieke suid-Afrikaanse sosio-politieke realiteit is ook in aanmerking geneem. Ten slotte word sekere aanbevelings gemaak met die oog op verdere navorsing .
Psychosocial variables in the transmission of AIDS
(University of the Western Cape, 1991) Perkel, Andrian, Keith; Broekmann, Neil; Pretorius, Tyrone
In the decade since first identified, the Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a serious global disease. The nature of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, whereby a carrier may be asymptomatic yet remain infectious, has enabled its dramatic spread. The number of AIDS cases is increasing exponentially, averaging a doubling time of between 8-15 months indifferent countries. Of the millions of HIV carriers, it is now estimated that all will eventually go on to develop full-blown AIDS and probably die within 15 years. Unlike other infectious diseases, there is currently no known vaccine or cure. Further, HIV is now virtually completely dependent on volitional sexual behaviours for transmission to occur. It is therefore an entirely preventable disease. However, since the behaviours that contribute to HIV-transmission are influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, their alteration in line with safer sexual practices has been shown to be considerably complex and difficult. Intervention strategies that have relied on imparting knowledge about the disease have achieved limited success in influencing behaviour change. Unsafe sexual practices, and the risk of HIV-infection, often continue even when knowledge regarding prevention is adequate. It has therefore become apparent that other variables intrude which may mediate between knowledge acquisition, attitude formation, and consequent sexual behaviours. There appear to be no models which adequately explain the complexities in this area, and which enable adequate intervention strategies to be developed. The present study was undertaken to redress this problem, and to explore those variables that mediate in the area. Various psychological and social factors appear to be implicated in influencing sexual attitudes and behaviours. In order to adequately test the impact of psychosocial variables that were found to have significant associations in an exploratory study, a measuring instrument was developed. The AIDS Psychosocial Scale was statistically validated using content, frequency, factor, and reliability analyses and included psychological factors of self concept, defenses of denial, repression, and rationalisation, perceived empowerment in the form of locus of control and self efficacy, and the social factor of peer pressure susceptibility. The impact of these psychosocial variables on indices of knowledge, condom attitude, and sexual practices, and on other epidemiological variables was tested using a sample of students at the University of the Western Cape (n=308). Results indicated a number of correlational and causal links between variables, confirming the mediational role psychosocial factors have in influencing knowledge acquisition, attitude formation, and behaviour outcome. A profile of lower self concept, higher defenses, lower self-efficacy, more external locus of control, and higher peer pressure susceptibility emerged which was associated with poorer knowledge, more negative attitudes, and higher unsafe sex. Based on this study, a model of psychosocial mediation is developed and its implications for intervention strategies discussed.
Die terapeutiese effektiwiteit van hipnoterapie soos toegepas op studente met gewigsprobleme
(University of the Western Cape, 1992) Jacobs, Joachim John; Sonn, F.G.T.
In 'n geïndustrialiseerde en Westers-georiënteerde samelewing, kenmerkend van sommige bevolkingsektore van Suid-Afrika, is 'n slanke figuur soms aanduidend van skoonheid en gesondheid. Dit is daarom geensins buitengewoon dat gewigsbewustheid een van die belangrikste verskynsels van ons tyd is nie. Duisende oorgewig-persone poog om 'n "norm" van slankheid na te streef (Polivy & Herman, 1987). Estetiese oorwegings is egter nie die. enigste rede waarom mense gewigsbewus is nie. Versekeringstatistieke dui toenemend daarop dat oorgewig-persone 'n hoër mortaliteitsyfer toon (Stunkard, stinnet & Smoller, 1986). Hierdie uiters nadelige gevolge van oorgewig is tweërlei van aard, naamlik psigies en fisiek. Spesifieke fisieke gevolge waarna in die literatuur (Kirschner, Schneider, Ertel & Gorman, 1988; Millar & Stephens, 1986) verwys word, is beroerte, diabetes, kardiovaskulêre- en ortopediese komplikasies. Op sielkundige vlak verwys Stunkard et al. (1986) na sielkundige stoornisse wat uniek is aan die obese populasie. Hierdie stoornisse kan terug gevoer word na die belewenis van uitermatige sosiale diskriminasie en vooroordeel (Rodin, Schank, Striegel & Moore, 1989). Hoër vlakke van stres, angs,depressie en In verwronge liggaamsbeeld word met die oorgewig-persoon geassosieer (Rodin et al., 1989; Stunkard et al.,1986). In talle gevalle moet hierdie sielkundige las as die grootste negatiewe gevolg van obesiteit beskou word. In Bykomende verskynsel ten opsigte van die probleem van oorgewig is die toename in die oorgewigsyfer van die wêreldpopulasie. Oberholzer (1984) beweer dat alreeds eenderde van die Suid -Afrikaanse bevolking oorgewig is. Ten spyte van die toename in die oorgewigsyfer word In begrip van die verskynsel bemoeilik deur die magdom teoretiese aannames en teenstrydighede rakende die etiologie, behandeling, en voorkoming daarvan. Ten opsigte van die etiologie van obesiteit besef te min klinici die multifaktoriale aard van die verskynsel en verklaar hulle dit dikwels slegs vanuit In enkele perspektief (Sobal & Stunkard, 1989) . Met betrekking tot die behandeling daarvan bestaan daar In wye verskeidenheid van benaderings wat chemoterapie, chirurgie, dieetterapie, akupunktuur, fisieke oefening en psigoterapie insluit.
Discourses on Racism
(University of the Western Cape, 1993) Duncan, Norman. T.F; Cooper, Saths
A central aim of this study is to examine the meanings which (i) a group of South African psychologists and (ii) a group of Black parents give to racism in their discourses and how these meanings are linked to existing relations of domination. To this end the discourses on racism produced by the former in various journal articles and the latter in various group discussions are submitted to analysis. The study basically utilizes the following working hypotheses as its point of departure: (i) that the discourses produced by the group of psychologists - in so far as they could broadly be seen as being representative of prevailing dominant discourses - would, to varying degrees, reflect attempts to legitimate and reinforce the relations of domination which the ideology of racism entails; and (ii) that despite certain similarities between . dominant group discourses and dominant group discourses on racism, the latter's discourses would, to varying degrees, be the site of resistance against dominant group discourses as well as against their domination. The findings of the study seem to support the basic postulates contained in the two working hypotheses presented above. More specifically, the analysis of the discourses collected reveals (i) that, though ostensibly very disparate, the discourses produced by the group of psychologists, by and large, appear to justify and dissimulate the asymmetric relations of power which the ideology of racism maintains; and (ii) that despite the similarities between dominant group and dominated group discourses the latter, in a variety of ways, undermine the ideology of racism as well as dominant group discourses on the ideology. The study concludes with an examination of the suggestions emerging from the discourses analyzed ,regarding how racism as it manifests itself in South Africa can be combatted and eliminated.
Topics, trends and silences in South African psychology 1948-1988 : ethnocentricism, crisis and liberatory echoes /
(University of the Western Cape, 1993) Seedat, Mohamed Amin; Cooper, Saths
The deliberate and sometimes unwitting complicity of psychology with apartheid social formations has received little attention in the psycho-historical literature. This, study in an attempt to break the silence, offers a descriptive characterization of South African psychology by tracing its origins, evolution, formalization and development to its ethnoscientific, colonial and apartheid roots. The study begins with an examination of the globalization of Euro-American psychology. The proliferation and domination of Euro-American psychology closely correlates with the emergence and globalization of colonial power that is intimately connected to the missionary discourses of conquest and conversion and to the doctrines of scientific racism. Western explorers, soldiers, missionaries, and social scientists are among the figures who participated in the occupation and conversion of the 'Dark Continent' of Africa. Within the context of colonialism, psychology became an enterprise of conquest and conversion that endeavoured to understand how people of colour, 'marginal beings', could be transformed into active subjects The history of South African psychology provides an illuminating illustration of how psychological discourse and practice may be employed for the purposes of oppressive social engineering. Besides projecting psychological intervention as vital to the alleviation of economic, social and industrial problems, psychologists utilized their expert roles in the Carnegie Poor White Study, in the Air-force and in industry and objects of Western racial and economic exploitation. The history of South African psychology provides an illuminating illustration of how psychological discourse and practice may be employed for the purposes of oppressive social engineering. Besides projecting psychological intervention as vital to the alleviation of economic, social and industrial problems, psychologists utilized their expert roles in the Carnegie Poor White Study, in the Air-force and in industry to rationalize and bolster White economic and political hegemony. The racial overtones that characterized the establishment of a professional association represents a startling example of how apartheid ideology was reproduced within the profession itself Unfortunately, oppressive discourse appears to continue to inform the research agenda, practices and theoretical concerns of many South African psychologists, thereby creating the impetus for the present crisis within the discipline. The crisis relates to, among other issues, the failure of Euro-American psychology to represent the psychological experiences of people of colour. Attempts at resolving the crisis are stymied by the production and reproduction of conceptual paradoxes within the fields of family therapy, community psychology and cross-cultural psychology, fields that are often portrayed as the solution to the crisis. Despite the increasing levels of theoretical complexity and ideological scrutiny each of these fields offer, South African psychology still faces various epistemological challenges and communieentric biases. A content analysis of 977 articles that appear in the South African Journal of Psychology, Psychologia Africana, the Journal of Behavioural Science, Psychology in Society, Humanitas. Psygram and the South African Psychologist confirms that the crisis in psychology continues. Details obtained from the analytical review show South African psychology, between 1948 and 1988, to be characterized by five features. First, Whites and males affiliated to the open liberal universities and Afrikaans universities dominate knowledge-production in the discipline. Blacks and women authors, especially those affiliated to the historically Black universities, tend to occupy mainly co-authorship positions at the level of publication. Second, the majority of articles reviewed are written in English. Third, whereas the bulk of articles analysed are empirical in nature, there is an increasing trend towards theoretical articles that examine the ideological and philosophical premises of the discipline. Fourth, empirical studies tend -to select subjects from both male and female gender groups, who are mainly White, and mostly affiliated to institutional settings. Fifth, research is dominated by an emphasis on conventional areas such as psychometrics, research methodology, industrial psychology and educational psychology. The more recently evolved fields such as community psychology and the psychology of oppression receive little attention. By moving to a point beyond critique and characterizations, the study concludes with an exploration of the dynamic quest for liberatory psychology, central to which is the formulation of an emancipatory agenda. An emancipatory agenda may well propel progressive psychologists towards systematically addressing the silences within the field, securing the centralization of Blacks and women at the levels of knowledge production and political representation and creating liberatory epistemologies.
Type of behaviour and burnout: a comparison between intensive care nurses and psychiatric nurses
(University of the Western Cape, 1993) Booysen, L.B; Broekmann, N
Nursing evolved as an altruistic response toward helping others, particularly in the realm of maintaining and restoring health (Dolan, Fitzpatrick & Hermann, 1983). This particular role involved providing physical and emotional comfort and care to the sick and has, through the ages, been voluntary or delegated to certain women who have proven to be particularly adept at caring for the sick in their respective communities. Therefore, nursing was not a role expected of all women but was reserved for those who had the ability and desire to nurture others (Dolan et al., 1983). The first nurses were independent figures who performed the duties not only of nurse, but also of nutritionist, pharmacist, physical therapist, and social welfare worker (Dolan et al., 1983). Although their initial response to, and treatment of, illness was intuitive, knowledge about illness and the treatment thereof was continuously being improved upon. Trial and error and basic problem solving resulted in the accumulation of a body of knowledge which gradually developed and expanded.
The development of a university-based sex counselling programme in the age of AIDS.
(University of the Western Cape, 1993) Nicholas, Lionel John; Cooper, Sathasivan
The sexual behaviours, attitudes, beliefs and communication of 1896 black first-year university students were examined by means of a structured questionnaire for their contribution to the development of a university-based sex counselling programme. The areas of sexuality investigated included intra-familial communication about contraception and sexuality, belief in sex myths, knowledge of and myths about AIDS and the manner of acquisition of sex knowledge. The results of this study are consistent in reflecting much greater deficits in the knowledge of respondents about sexuality than encountered in the literature. Statistically significant gender differences were found for intra-familial communication about contraception, prejudice towards AIDS victims, knowledge of the modes of HIV infection, prejudice towards homosexuals, belief in myths about sexuality, age at which sex information was acquired, the preferred source of information about sexuality, attitude towards pre-marital intercourse, experience of pre-marital intercourse, belief about the acceptability of abortion, experience of pre-marital intercourse and worry about masturbation. No gender differences were found for belief in myths about high-risk AIDS infection, exposure to sex information within educational institutions and approval of sex education. The statistically significant gender differences which were found for most of the questionnaire items reflect the different sexual socialization experiences of respondents. Male and female students may therefore require counselling interventions geared to their respective needs Concern about AIDS has become central to university student sexual behaviour as well as protection against rape and sexual harassment and male responsibility for contraception. All campus counsellors will eventually experience the impact of AIDS and other sexually·transmitted diseases in their sessions with clients. Sexual harassment, rape, contraceptive failure and abortion will also increasingly impact on counselling sessions and require the university-based counsellor's involvement in broader university-wide prevention programmes as well as group based interventions. The development of a university-based sex counselling programme requires comprehensive interventions ranging from individual counselling to human sexuality courses. An awareness of the high profile sexuality problems as perceived by students, is essential for the development of preventive programmes at the group and academic class level as well as at the level of inf luencing uni versi ty policy. Knowledge of the merits of different theoretical positions and interventions for particular sexual problems is crucial for counselling intervention or referral. A systemic model of intervention for sexuality problems is proposed. The task of university-based sex counselling programmes is made more onerous by the paucity and ineffectiveness of sex information students are exposed to, the lack of sex education in the schools and the inadequate quality and degree of intrafamilial communication about sexuality. A significant proportion of respondents engage in pre-marital sexual intercourse without the benefit of adequate sex knowledge. The results of this study emphasize the need for research on the sexuality of, black South Africans, the particular vulnerabilities of first-year university students to sexuality problems and the dire need for structured sex education programmes at school as well as university.
Projective identification as a form of communication in the therapeutic relationship: A case study
(University of the Western Cape, 1996) Crawford, Michelle; Perkel, Adrian
This dissertation reviews the construct of projective identification and the ways in which it is used as a powerful form of communication by the patient within the therapeutic relationship. The particular model of projective identification explored in this dissertation is that of Bion (1962)_ who, through his model of containment, brought the subtle interactive processes between the mother and infant into the foreground. This has been used as a metaphor for the therapeutic relationship. Some of the theoretical constructs central to an understanding of projective identification are introduced and discussed. Clinical case material from psychodynamic child psychotherapy is used in an attempt to illustrate the patient's use of and therapist's experience of projective identification. The method used is the single case study and material is drawn from 14 sessions. Through an analysis of the therapist's experiences in the countertransference, with the help of ongoing supervision and personal psychotherapy, it is shown that patient's induce feelings and experiences in the therapist in an attempt to communicate aspects of their internal worlds. Self reflection and retrospective analysis has been highlighted with the hope that this may be useful to future neophyte psychotherapists working psychodynamically.
A comparative study of the subjective experiences of hypnosis and meditation amongst a student sample
(University of the Western Cape, 1996) Hekster, Marc Reuben; Broekmann, N
This study reports oi: the nature of subjective experiences of hypnosis and meditation in a sample of volunteer University of the Western Cape students (N = 12). Historical developments in the field of psychology dictated that much of the research conducted during the past three decades into the phenomena of hypnosis and meditation, was concerned with physiological changes. The measurement of physiological responses is more amenable to scientific investigation, in comparison to the measurement of subjective experiences. As a result, investigations into the nature of subjective experiences during hypnosis and meditation, as well as comparisons between the two, remain areas where continued research is encouraged.
Is non sexist childrearing possible? An investigation of the relationship mothering between gender-sensitive and children's use of gender stereotyping
(University of the Western Cape, 1997) Ruiters, Keith
The study investigated the possibilities of non-sexist childrearing practices: it inquires to what extent children can be raised to be relatively free of gender discrimination and prejudice. It examined the relationship between mothering and childrearing as social (-1y constructed) processes and practices with a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, it explored how these two social sites are constructed, represented and interact to form a basis for the acquisition of stereotypes which encourage gender discrimination and inequality among children in particular, and society in general. However, it was also concerned with the extent to which these institutional sites contain possibilities for resisting and challenging dominant social- constructions about the meaning of gender difference. A structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was developed and used Lo form the basis for interviews with eight mothers. Based on the literature reviewed, the questions were designed to elicit the participants' perspectives on the meaning/s and significance of mothering in relation to children's gendered status. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcripts were generated. Thematic analysis was applied to observe and discuss dominant patterns in the participants' responses. Another structured questionnaire was developed and used as the basis for exercises with the (ten) children of these mothers to determine the extent. Lo which the former recognise and make use of gender stereotypes circulating in the wider culture. It was observed to what extent these children made gender-stereotypical associations : in relation to "masculine" and "feminine" colours, ds well as in relation to gender-appropriate tasks, dress, attributes, qualities and forms of p1ay. A simple frequency count of children's responses indicated the extent to which they recognise and use gender stereotypes. The results revealed a general awareness that mothering and childrearing are socially constructed, and not biologically-driven, processes, and hence, subject to revision and change. In addition to the perception that gender differences are socially engineered and reinforced by real constraints of social pressure and conformity, participants felt that men, as fathers should equally share in the responsibility for rearing children. Although the children who partook in the exercises showed a general awareness and use of gender stereotypes, it was pointed out that these can and should be challenged, given the realities of social (peer) pressure, at both the levels of interpersonal interaction and structural constraints. However, there was a generalised difficulty, as far as undoing gender stereotypes are concerned, to conceive of alternative meanings of ,'masculinity,' and "femininity" (as gendered identities) beyond the binary opposites which inform dominant social constructions of gender and gender relationships. As institutional domains for contesting varying and competing discourses on gender and gender relationships which circulate in the wider culture, childrearing and mothering practices are sites of potential resistance: they have the potential to resist and derail dominant patriarchal constructions and practices which generate social relationships based on gender inequality; which, in turn, fosters social oppression and violence. If dominant patriarchal discourses and practices about gender are responsible for generating so much violence, particularly by men as a group against women as a group, then these need to be seriously revisited and challenged. It needs to be challenged at both a social structural level, and at the level of interpersonal interaction. For it is at the level of everyday interpersonal interaction between men and women, men and children, and women and children that the "obviousness" of gender relations are culturally relayed and appropriated. Yet social/power relations structured along differential axes of "race", class , language , religion, ethnicity, sexuality - which inform everyday social interaction - intersect with issues about gender difference to make any simplistic notions of mothering and childrearing problematic.
Ontwerp en evaluering van 'n psigoontwikkelingsprogram vir huweliksverryking.
(University of the Western Cape, 1997) Daniels, Lito Errol; Laubscher, L
Psychological interventions can take place in a number of ways. The familiar one-to-one therapeutic approach is appropriate in most cases, but within certain contexts the following can be considered as disadvantages of such an approach: it is expensive; it can only involve a small number (one or two) people at any given time. The result is that only a few people can afford this type of service, as well as the under-utilization of professional people's ingenuity and expertise. This is especially the state of affairs pervasive within the South African context, where there exists a great need to involve more clients simultaneously. The latter can be achieved by using the model of the Psycho development process. As a result, Psycho-development programmes has become increasingly relevant in Psychology, Education and associated disciplines. Family Psychology is a field which presents a number of possibilities, concerning the social development of married couples. The development of psycho-social life-skills of married couples, is a specific area in which little research has been done to date - a fact which should be noted. The purpose of the present study was to devise a programme for the development of psycho-social life-skills for married couples. In addition, the results of the programme on an experimental group of married couples were ascertained. For evaluation of the effectiveness of the 'programme, a qualitative evaluation was done by conducting informal discussions with couples who participated. in the programme. 287 In conclusion, the general applicability of the programme for continued use, was assessed. The motivation for the present research was two-folded. Firstly, the author observed deficiencies in the psycho-social life-skills of couples. This observation was reinforced and confirmed through discussions with married couples, social workers and psychologists. Secondly, the assumption that the development of psycho-social life-skills should receive more attention, was confirmed through relevant literature. Most of the existing enrichment-programmes have limited attraction for potential couples. The programme that has been developed to address the problem of deficient psycho-social life-skills of couples, consists of the following sections, namely, "Getting acquainted and listing of strength "Why couples argue II j "Win-Win conflict negotiation" j "Understanding one another and communicating love to your parner"j "Sharing your feelings with your partner and assessing your sexual relationship". The assumption was that there would be a significant difference between couples that took part in a intervention programme (experimental group) and couples that did not take part in a intervention programme (control group). This was operationalised by involving 38 couples (sample) of which 18 couples (experimental group) took part in the intervention programme and 20 couples (control group) who did not take part in the intervention programme. During evaluation the fuctioning of couples was used as criteria, using the Dyadic Adjustment scale (Spanier, 1976) as the evaluation-instrument. The programme was implemented at the beginning of 1996 by applying it to an experimental group. Both the randomly selected experimental group and the control group (N = 76) were assessed by using the standardized measuring instrument. After pre-testing, the programme was implemented over a period of five weeks. Re-measurement (post-testing) occurred during the following two weeks and the follow-on measurement (post-posttesting), 17 weeks after the implementation of the program. Statistical analysis (quantitative investigation) after the implementation of the programme, indicated that the experimental group derived considerable benefit from the programme. This group obtained significantly better results than the control group in every section covered by the programme. These conclusions agree with the predominantly positive comments of the. participants about the quality and suitability of the programme. In conclusion it can be said that the main objectives of the research were accomplished, namely to devise a functional programme for the development of psycho-social life-skills for married couples, and that the validity of the programme has been established, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Black, South African, lesbian: Discourses of invisible lives
(University of the Western Cape, 1997) Potgieter, Cheryl-Ann; Strebel, Ann Marie; Dept. of Psychology; Faculty of Community Health and Sciences
The main aim of the present study is to undertake an examination of the discourses regarding lesbianism as produced by a group of black South African lesbians.
The need for intervention services for children from abusive households as perceived by their abused mothers: an exploratory study
(University of the Western Cape, 1998) van der Merwe, Karen; Broekmann, N
The high incidence of domestic violence both internationally and locally begs the question as to the impact on and need for intervention services for the children growing up in violent homes. In response to this need for services in this area, the National Institute for the prevention of Crime and Rehabilitation of offenders, Women's Support Centre (NWSC) is currently considering the extension of their current services to the children of their clients who have been exposed to domestic violence. So as to promote and inform more effective intervention services in consultation with the community, the current study explores the range of needs of the children of abused women, establishing whether there is a need for services and how the NWSC can best go about meeting the identified needs as identified by abused mothers who are stakeholders in the NWSC. Action research community psychology and ecosystemic principles play a central role in this research. Participants were all NWSC clients who had experienced abuse in their intimate relationships and who are mothers to children who had been exposed to the domestic violence. Data was collected from two sources, that of Needs Assessment forms (consisting of open-ended and multiple choice questions) and three open-ended,( semi-structured 90 minute focus group interviews which were run at the centre. In both cases, there was collaboration with and input by NWSC staff one of whom co-facilitated in the focus group interviews. Twenty-one women completed the needs assessment forms. Thirteen women participated in the mixed-race focus groups. In this study commonly observed short term effects include deficits in functional and emotional capacity, psychosocial functioning and the implementation of inadequate coping- and problem-solving strategies. Reported long term effects include a propensity to either commit (or be the object of) violence and abuse in subsequent intimate relationships, or to become prone to conduct problems and substance abuse. In addition, many children are involved in multiple ways in the abuse- either by being physically or emotionally abused themselves, being identified as a precipitant for the abuse, or intervening physically or verbally to stop the abuse of their mothers. Children are therefore never mere witnesses. However, not all children are condemned to become abusers themselves or to manifest with maladaptive coping mechanisms in response to their exposure to domestic violence. This is evident in several reports of children's displays of resilience despite their adverse home and family circumstances. The great degree of overlap of coping mechanisms between different children suggests that such variable responses are more likely a function of individual attributes and personality characteristics and the degree of available external support systems rather than a function of age or gender per se. Overall, the findings highlighted that there is a definite need and support by NWSC clients for the proposed extension of the NWSC programme to improve intervention services for children. These findings also expanded on the on the of domestic violence on children by identifying a number of ameliorating and exacerbating influences which mediate its impact and help inform the implementation of future community relevant programmes with such children. Maternal education and support such as the counselling which the NWSC can hopefully provide are amongst such processes which can help to ameliorate the impact of domestic violence on children and foster greater resilience. A number of recommendations are made regarding parent-child programmes, community, legal, government, societal interventions and future research. Ecosystemic theory provides a valuable framework for understanding the impact of domestic violence on children and for informing interventions which address the multiple systemic levels both within and outside of the family which contribute towards the creation and perpetuation of domestic violence. With the extension of intervention services to the children of abused women, the NWSC with the support of its client stakeholders has the potential to contribute much of value in this regard.
Perceptions of Power, Race and Gender in Interracial Rape
(University of the Western Cape, 1998) Rustin, Carmine Jianni; Pretorius, T.B
Violence against women is a profound social problem which has received much attention from feminists, academics, activists, media, and also government. One such form of violence is interracial rape. In South Africa, little is known about interracial rape (rape across race groups). The main aim of this study is to examine students' perceptions of power, gender and race in interracial rape. This thesis also explores what White male and female students said, and what Black male and female students said about power, race and gender when examining interracial rape. This study is based within an interpretive-hermeneutical paradigm, using qualitative methodology. Data was collected in six focus groups, three of which were held at a historically Black university and three at a historically White university. Both men and women participated in these groups. The data was analysed thematically with the aid of a computerised software package, Atlasti. The analysed text identified dominant and minor themes. The main themes that emerged were as follows: 1) a power and domination theme, 2) a justification of rape theme, 3) a race, racism and apartheid theme. The results indicate that power plays an important role in interracial rape. Power underpins both gendered and racial oppression. In interracial rape, racial oppression becomes dominant and takes on more prominence than gender oppression. It is thus fore mostly perceived as a racial issue
Stress-resistant resources: A comparison of hardiness, sense of coherence, potency, fortitude, ego-resilience, and problem-solving appraisal
(University of the Western Cape, 1999) Gibson, Mokgobi Maboe; Pretorius, Tyrone
This study compared the fortigenic constructs of the Sense of Coherence, Fortitude, Potency, Hardiness, Problem-Solving, and Ego-Resilience in terms of three aspects: (i) Psychometric properties of instruments that are used to measure them (ii) Their effects on the relationship between stress and psychological health (iii) To determine the extent to which these constructs have some common underlying dimensions. The sample comprised one-hundred and twenty five male and female undergraduate Psychology students enrolled at the University of the Western Cape. Data were collected by using the following self-report questionnaires: the CBS-Depression Scale , the Short happiness Affect Research Protocol, the Problem-Solving Inventory, the Potency Scale, the Fortitude Questionnaire, the ER89 Questionnaire, the Personal Views Survey, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, the VOEG, and the Life Experiences Survey.
Discourses of heterosexual subjectivity and negotiation
(University of the Western Cape, 1999) Shefer, Tamara; Strebel, Ann-Marie
It is widely acknowledged that there are problems with the way in which heterosexual relationships are negotiated. A critical focus on heterosexuality has been particularly stimulated by feminist discourse on gender power relations and the global imperative to challenge HIV infection. In the South African context there has been a growing emphasis on researching and educating about (hetero)sexuality, particularly in the wake of the continued increase in HIV prevalence rates which are highest among young, black South Africans. A handful of South African studies point to the widespread nature of coercive sexuality characterised by male dominance and female submission and a lack of negotiation in respect of safe sex and sexual pleasure. This study addresses the realm of the negotiation of heterosexuality among black South African students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town. In the study, negotiation refers to two interrelated aspects: the negotiation of heterosexual subjectivity; and the negotiation of heterosexual sexuality (heterosex). The study is underpinned by a feminist poststructuralist conceptual framework and discourse analytic methodology which draws on qualitative methodologies, feminist approaches to research and discourse analysis. Three different methods were utilised to gather data: focus groups, a free-association questionnaire and written autobiographical essays. Participants of the study included psychology second and third year students at the UWC who were predominantly young (mean age of 23.3 years), black, of Christianity-related religious affiliation and non-English first language speakers. A discourse analysis together with an ethnographic analysis was carried out on the data which yielded a wide range of discursive themes on gender and heterosex. In looking at the negotiation of heterosexual subjectivities, there are vast differences in the experiences of'becoming' women and men: notably, puberty and menstruation are central in the construction of femininity and female sexuality, which are interwoven with each other in the construction of women as vulnerable, passive and restrained; on the other hand, boy's/men's subjectivities are centred about sexual agency and activity, competition and physical and mental 'hardness'. Nonetheless these rigidly divergent experiences of gendered heterosexualisation are also punctuated by resistance, ambivalence and contradiction, particularly in women's accounts. It is suggested that the difficulties involved in 'achieving' femininity for women may be implicated in their continued investment in these subjectivities in their contemporary contexts. In talk on negotiating heterosex, two central clusters of discourse emerge: discourses of difference, in which inevitable, essential (either biological or cultural) and incommensurable differences are assumed, Jr rationalised and reproduced by participants; discourses of power, resistance and change which draw on alternative discourses such as the feminist critique of male power, and also speak of and call for change. Central within all of these discourses is the virtual invisibility of a positive language to speak of women's sexuality and desires, which has as its underside a lack of alternative discourses on masculinity and male sexuality, in particular the absence of a positive discourse on men's vulnerability, non-sexual intimate desires, lack of sexual desire and resisting of power. The thesis suggests, on the basis of poststructuralist theories of change, that given the presence of challenging and contradictory discourses, subversive subjectivities and silences, there is potential for change. It is argued that educational and political interventions need to acknowledge and work with these spaces for change within the broader framework of challenging the underlying hierarchical binarism of sexual difference, upon which the problematic and unequal negotiation of heterosex is founded.
Discourses of heterosexual subjectivity and negotiation
(University of the Western Cape, 1999) Shefer, Tamara; Strebel, Ann Marie; Foster, Don; Dept. of Psychology; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
It is widely acknowledged that there are problems with the way in which heterosexual relationships are negotiated. A critical focus on heterosexuality has been particularly stimulated by feminist discourse on gender power relations and the global imperative to challenge HIV infection. In the South African contextthere has been a growing on researching and education about (hetero)sexuality, particularly in the wake of the continued increase in HIV prevalence rates which are highest among young black, South Africans.

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