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The experiences of African men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): of navigating sexual identities within the presence of homophobia in KwaZulu-Natal

  • Authors: Msweli, Sakhile
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Gender identity -- Cross-cultural studies -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Gender identity -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Bisexuality|xPsychological aspects Homophobia -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Homosexuality -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41930 , vital:36610
  • Description: Research on sexual minority experiences has traditionally documented harrowing accounts of homophobia, harassment, and discrimination. While sexual minority’s experiences are typically imbued with physical, mental and emotional consequences, men who have sex with men and women or, MSMW may be subject to a unique homophobic experience due to their sexual identity Hence, research shows that these men may have to devise strategies to insulate themselves from discrimination and possible physical harm. This study explored how MSMW navigate their sexual identities in the presence of homophobia. The study adopted a social constructionist perspective as a theoretical lens to study these sexual navigations. A qualitative research methodology was utilised. Six male participants from KwaZulu-Natal were sampled using a combination of convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study suggest that MSMW experience forms of homophobic attitudes across different spheres of their lives. As a result, these men may draw from normative gender performances present within their communities, conceal their sexual identity by presenting themselves in heteronormative ways, and limiting disclosure of their sexuality to those closest to them, regardless of the emotional burden they may consequently carry. The findings of the study further point out that more research is needed to further understand sexual minorities’ navigation of their sexual identities in contexts that are not accepting and the social and psychological implications that this has on them.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The experiences of health service providers working with children with physical disabilities and their caregivers in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Mathaba, Yollandah
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Children with disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Caregivers -- Psychology , Children with disabilities -- Care
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76299 , vital:30545
  • Description: The prevalence of childhood disability in South Africa is significant. In an attempt to meet the constitutional rights of children with disabilities, there are a variety of services available for children with disabilities. These services are aimed at rehabilitating children with disabilities and integrating them in society. Amongst such services are health services. Due to the nature of some childhood disabilities, it is recommended that they should be seen by a multidisciplinary team. While the field of childhood disability has been researched extensively. Limited research has been conducted on the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities and their caregivers. The current study explored the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities and their caregivers in the Eastern Cape. To achieve this aim, the study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were used to allow participants to freely share their experiences of working with children with disabilities and their caregivers. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis purpose. The analysis process generated five master themes namely: Positive experiences of their work; negative experiences of their work; perception of their role as changing over time; managing challenges in their work; and experiences of a service learning programme as complementary to their work. The findings of the study highlighted both the positive experiences and the negative experiences of their work. On the one hand, the participants reported positive affect and that they found their work meaningful. They also reported a sense of feeling supported by fellow colleagues and enjoying their work at the clinics. On the other hand, the participants reported negative affect in relation to their wok difficulties such as feelings of frustration, feelings of being unappreciated by management and finding the work distressing. The participants reported that professional and emotional growth in conjunction with perspective taking contributed to developing better coping mechanisms. A service learning programme offered in the community was experienced as a good contribution to the work done at the clinics and distinguished as addressing the emotional needs of the caregivers which cannot be addressed at the clinics. The findings of the study supports and expands the literature on the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities in South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The implementation of a developmental-contextual framework for young adults’ career explorations

  • Authors: Roberson, Natalie Georgia
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Vocational guidance -- South Africa , Focus groups , Action research , Youth -- South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994- , Self-Directed Search Questionnaire , Occupational aptitude tests -- Evaluation
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/114895 , vital:34053
  • Description: Career development theory and counselling practices in South Africa, which have traditionally utilised imported theory, have long been and continue to be criticised as being unsuitable in contexts different to those in which they were developed. In light of this, the aim of this study is to customise and trial the Vondracek, Lerner, and Schulenberg (1986) Developmental-Contextual Framework of career development with a group of employment-seeking young adults at a local community-based setting, as the basis of a career development intervention. Research questions asked were ‘In what ways is the examination and discussion of developmental-contextual factors of the individual facilitative of career exploration, in addition to seeking to identify contextual factors that influence career thinking and associated decision making. In doing so, this study aims to contribute to the existing literature on the career development of South Africans. Focus group methodology, within an overarching framework of collaborative action research, was employed. The approach to career exploration here was that of peer learning through group discussion of developmental-contextual factors of the individual. Data were generated through pre-intervention questionnaires, collaborative action research cycles, participatory observation, focus group discussions, and post-interventionist semi-structured individual interviews. Template Analysis was used for the thematic organisation and analysis of the data. Findings were that the intervention facilitated increased self-knowledge in relation to career development, increased knowledge of work and careers, and enhanced career planning abilities. Findings further highlighted the limitations of imported career development theories and the importance of the utilisation and development of local career assessment instruments. The group setting was found to be of value in facilitating self-reflection, a source of motivation and a valuable source of career-related information.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The influence of institutionalised regulations on the emotional wellbeing of non-traditional gender identifying tertiary graduates

  • Authors: Lubbe, Maritza
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Gender nonconformity , Transgender people -- Identity Transgender people Transgender youth -- Identity Developmental psychology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40544 , vital:36181
  • Description: Trans* experiences have been and are currently still understood within systems that are inherently heteronormatively inclined and which has produced a system that is ideologically driven by the gender binary. Consequently, societies are not designed to accommodate everyone equally, thus forcing non-traditional gender identifying individuals to grapple and adapt to this sometimes seemingly ignorant world. This grappling and adaptation takes various different forms for different people, and thus it is expected that this would elicit a variety of different consequences for emotional wellbeing. One of the formal institutions that has shown sluggish transformation in terms of gender-based transformation is tertiary educational institutions. Here traditional binaries are rooted everywhere from application form information to bathroom use on campus. This study explored the influence living and working in higher educational institutions have had on the emotional wellbeing of Trans* individuals, who have graduated. Along with an acknowledgement of the inherent complexity of gender identity, Trans* in the context of this study can be understood as shorthand used to refer to individuals who identify as transgender, transsexual, and/or gender non-conforming. This exploration was embarked upon through a qualitative research enquiry into the lived realities of Trans* graduates. Instead of a focus on current Trans* students, this study drew on its sample through gender organisations to recruit participants who are recent graduates and openly identify as Trans*. It was deemed appropriate given that graduates may be able to reflect on their overall tertiary experience. Findings indicated that Trans* graduates experienced significantly lowered levels of emotional wellbeing, which tapped into various components of mental health, while they attended these institutions. These included a negative impact on self-esteem, as well as high levels of depression and other mental health concerns. Themes of exclusion and access to transformational power were also uncovered. It was found that intersections of race and gender also influenced participant’s experiences. It was additionally found that Trans* graduates did not exclusively experience the impact of tertiary education systems as impairing, but rather there was also an acknowledgement of the existing efforts and the potential for these spaces to become more inclusive. This study contributes to a growing body of evidence on Trans* experiences, by highlighting the plight of Trans* individuals within tertiary educational institutions.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The informal economy as a catalyst for development in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality

  • Authors: Manzana, Noludwe
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40933 , vital:36271
  • Description: In South Africa, the informal economy is expected to play a significant role, mainly because informal employment is relatively high in comparison to formal employment. The South African economy is characterised by a sluggish pace of job creation in the formal sector and a high rate of unemployment. The literature reveals that in recent years, small towns in South Africa have become key hubs for service delivery and the economic activity involved in the receipt and processing thereof. As such, these towns are viewed as essential to the implementation of the developmental local goals of South Africa’s government. In relation to this view, the established strand relates to the small-town growth and development potential with the core theme of local economic development. Raymond Mhlaba informal trading has become an economic alternative for some community members. In order to ensure the optimal efficiency of informal businesses there is a need to understand the needs of informal traders and the contributions made by the informal sector in their lives. There is a tremendous potential within the informal business sector for it to become a major role player in sustaining the livelihoods of many people, but the efficiency of these informal businesses needs to be improved by removing some of the constraints which hinder their effective functioning. These constraints include crime, transport, municipal services and financial support with the assistance from Local Eco-nomic Development (LED) to enhance a competitive, increasing sustainable growth and to ensure that growth within a local area is inclusive. This research therefore assesses the role of the informal economy as a catalyst for development in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality. In addition, the findings will be useful for local municipalities within the district to fully comprehend the views of municipal legislations and informal traders with regard to policies and practices, as well as their impact on enabling the development of local municipalities through the informal economy. Lastly, the research findings will also enrich the knowledge base on informal trading in local municipalities and may be useful information regarding the development of a more sustainable regulatory approach to informal economy in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The Intsomi Ambassadors: using communicative ecologies to enhance home literacy practices amongst working class parents in Grahamstown

  • Authors: Gush, Cathy
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Intsomi Project
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71459 , vital:29855
  • Description: Utilising theories of Communication for Development, the research explores how literacy practices in the homes of a group of working class, English second language parents in Grahamstown are affected by the introduction of new literacy material and insights Furthermore, it discusses how, and through which forms of media, these observed dynamics and changes in practice are best communicated to similar households. The issue of children's literacy development in South Africa is of serious concern, in particular the role that parents play and the level of support they give through home literacy practices. The context is one in which South African children have performed very poorly with regard to literacy levels in international benchmark testing as well as in national assessments. The summary report on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) found that some of the factors contributing to these poor results were the lack of reading resources in homes, as well as the lack of strong home-school partnerships in which parents took up the role of co-educators, or even of primary educators at the preschool stage. A group of parents employed by Rhodes University at the Grade 1 - 5 levels signed up to be the recipients of a programme supporting the literacy development of their primary and pre-primary school children. The Intsomi Project is run by the Rhodes Community Engagement Office as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative and provides close to 100 families with weekly reading material and educational games for their children, as well as workshops on the use of these materials and how they might benefit the children. Following a Participatory Action Research approach, a “vanguard” group of parent participants, known as the Intsomi Ambassadors, developed their role as literacy activists, becoming co-creators of media messages that utilised and built on the first stage of their communication within the group. The research explored how the principles and techniques of development support communication, and those of communicative ecologies, could be applied to explore, enhance and disseminate those qualitative changes in behaviour within households that positively affect children’s literacy development. In the process, it aimed to explore whether media representations that reflect the stories of parents trying out new literacy practices can create authentic, endogenous messages that resonate with people in similar circumstances, and can stimulate debate around the issue.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The Kinshasa-based Kin ArtStudio in the Democratic Republic of Congo: visual arts spaces and the potential to challenge global art's representative and legitimizing mechanisms

  • Authors: Tshilumba Mukendi, Jean-Sylvain
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Space (Art) , Art -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Art and globalization , Postcolonialism and the arts -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Arts, Modern -- 21st century , Arts publicity , Arts, Modern -- 21st century -- Economic aspects , Arts, Modern -- 21st century -- Social aspects , Bondo, Vitshois Mwilambwe , Kin ArtStudio , Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115050 , vital:34073
  • Description: The emergence of visual art spaces over the past few decades on the African continent invites art practitioners, historians and critics to re-examine the conditions of production, diffusion and reception of contemporary art of Africa. In this thesis I critically engage with these conditions in relation to artworks and practices of the Democratic Republic of Congo, considering the curatorial logic that has governed the ‘global art world’. I focus on the Kin ArtStudio as my main case study. I undertook research within this art space in 2016, from the 10th of April to the 15th of June, and again from the 16th of July to the 12th of September. My position as a participant observer turned out to be as engaging as informative. The Kin ArtStudio is a Kinshasa-based visual art platform founded in 2011 by the Congolese artist Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo. It was established out of the will to empower emerging artists in that specific context, and facilitate the negotiation that the legitimization of their creations entails in today’s global art and cultural dynamics. In order to evaluate the stakes of such negotiation, I start with reviewing the existing mechanisms, trends and networks that have legitimized visual art productions of the Democratic Republic of Congo on a global stage, as exemplified by the Beauté Congo – Congo Kitoko exhibition (2015). Then, my enquiry evolves towards specificity, towards the immediacy and the subjectivity that characterize Kinshasa's urban and socio-cultural context, and visual art practices therein. Subjectivity also applies to my four months immersive experience with that art space. Drawing from my observations, setbacks, hopes and recent academic and practical debates around contemporary art practices on the African continent, the role those art spaces can play in the curatorship, circulation, reception and commodification of contemporary art productions cannot be underestimated. While operating in lasting postcolonial settings, they are going through the negotiation of their global and translocal situatedness, which can in turn lead to new legitimizing narratives. These will more appropriately inform understandings of contemporary art practices of Africa, challenging the identifying prism sustained by the ‘global art world’.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students residing in off-campus residence accommodation

  • Authors: Mzileni, Pedro Mihlali
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Student housing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Learning Learning, Psychology of Motivation in education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41697 , vital:36573
  • Description: This research study investigated the living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students who reside in off-campus student accommodation. The university is located in the suburb of Summerstrand in the city of Port Elizabeth (PE) and it is one of the large universities in South Africa with a student population of 27 311 students by 2017. With only 3285 beds in its on-campus residence system, the university can only cater for 12% of students on site. The rest of the student population, which is the majority, resides in offcampus residences and private accommodation. The off-campus accommodation system of the university consists of accredited and nonaccredited off-campus residences. The non-accredited residences are privately owned houses that are based in the upper-income area of Summerstrand whilst the accredited residences are big properties that are also privately owned but are administratively managed by the university and they are based in the low-income area of North End. The study used Tinto’s Theory of Student Integration to frame the investigation and it found that PE resembles elements of an apartheid city that is divided along class and gender patterns. This spatial structure of the city affects the governance and administrative systems of the university, such as commuting, and they affect the materiality of student’s learning experiences. This criticality brings a different understanding of ‘studentification’ when it occurs in a developing country’s context wherein the different demographics of students shape how it becomes visible in a university city that is engulfed which socio-political problems of violence and crime. This brings diverse traditions of studying higher education in a post-apartheid setting where student accommodation is viewed as a need emanating from student vulnerability within the context of enrolment massifications, infrastructure limitations, and the privatization of living structures.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The management of conflict between employees: a case study of an information technology company in Johannesburg

  • Authors: Monakali, Robin
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Conflict management -- Case studies Interpersonal relations Personnel management -- Psychological aspects Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41997 , vital:36616
  • Description: The global working environment has transformed significantly over the last two decades, with rapid advancements in technology and information as well as the levels of diversity in the workplace. This process of adaptation, the failure to adapt or weaknesses in adaptation can be an underlying cause of conflict within organizations. For an organization to be successful, there must be effective conflict management techniques in place in order to resolve or keep the conflict at a minimum. The aim of this exploratory case study was to therefore explore the management of conflict between employees in an Information Technology company in Johannesburg. The human needs theory, which states that the deprivation of human needs is a major source of conflict, was used as the theoretical framework guiding this study. A mixed methods approach, also known as methodological triangulation, was used, which involved combining qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to achieve triangulation of data. The qualitative research method that was used comprised individual semi-structured interviews with two Human Resources managers and the quantitative research method involved the completion of self-administered questionnaires by 94 employees of the IT company. The researcher used a purposive sampling design for the interviews and simple random sampling for the questionnaires. Ethics permission for this research was received from Nelson Mandela University’s Research Ethics Committee and the study was conducted in accordance with the university’s Policy on Research Ethics. The findings of this study have revealed that the type of conflict mainly experienced in this organization was employee conflict, due to interpersonal clashes relating to personality differences. The employees were unanimous that conflict can have both a positive and negative effect. The interviews confirmed that the IT company makes use of negotiation and mediation to resolve workplace conflict, with the literature review providing evidence that negotiation and mediation are useful means of managing conflict between employees. However, the results from the completed questionnaires revealed that employees attempt to manage conflict by avoiding the conflict, which could be due to employees having limited awareness of the organization’s procedures to address conflict. This study can therefore potentially be beneficial to organizations and assist the latter in developing conflict management skills and practices, which can enhance organizational performance, productivity and employee retention.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The meaning of community: the viability of Public Sphere theory and Social Cohesion on social media groups: a reception study of the ‘Grahamstown’ Facebook Group

  • Authors: Ferreira, Ettioné
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Digital media -- Social aspects , Facebook (Firm) , Social participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Public sphere -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Group identity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Grahamstown Facebook Group
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/114870 , vital:34043 , Digital media -- Social aspects , Facebook (Firm) , Social participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Public sphere -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Group identity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Grahamstown Facebook Group
  • Description: This study explores the meaning of community to Grahamstown’s online social media community, through a case study of the ‘Grahamstown’ Facebook group (GFG). The study explores the possibilities of social media as a public sphere and the way geographically-based social media sites might contribute to social cohesion in a community. The study explores what kinds of discussions take place on the GFG and why they are happening. It investigates whether these discussions can promote understanding and social solidarity, and whether useful deliberations are taking place, in some kind of approximation of a public sphere. Is this Group contributing to the wellbeing of the community, and how? Drawing on public sphere theory and various conceptions of the concept of social cohesion, the dissertation aims to find out how much of an impact the GFG has on Grahamstown/Makhanda inhabitants’ lives and sense of community. The study argues that with the advent of digital media, another ‘structural transformation’ in Habermasian terms, is underway, both empirically and theoretically. Through more than a dozen in-depth interviews combined with content analysis (via participant observation), the study finds that participation in and exposure to the GFG does lead, for many, to a sense of belonging and social cohesion as community members come together to act in relation to the state, local business and other institutions. The viability of ideas of highly localised (in time and space) ‘public sphericules’ as an alternative to broader more overarching concepts of a public sphere, is explored in this study. The study also suggests a typology of users, identifying the frequency, tone of voice and motives for participating on the GFG and attempts a periodisation of the GFG’s changing role in the community over the past decade.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The morphotactic constraints of verbal extensions in isiXhosa

  • Authors: Mkabile, Hlumela
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Xhosa language -- Grammar
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92849 , vital:30749
  • Description: Bantu verbal suffixes, also known as extensions, follow a rather rigid pattern when they attach to the verb. Studies (e.g. Hyman 2002, Good 2005, 2007, among others) have shown that the order followed by these extensions is: Causative, Applicative, Reciprocal, Passive (CARP). Although this pattern is widespread across Bantu, some variations in the ordering of these extensions have been observed in some languages (Kathupa 1991, Simango 1995, Sibanda 2004, among others), which suggests that the template is not as rigid as one might think. This study investigated the morphotactic constraints between four verbal extensions in isiXhosa, the Causative, Applicative, Reciprocal and Passive. It focused on the morphotactics of the transitivising extensions (Causative and Applicative) in the first instance, and morphotactics of the detransitivising extensions (Reciprocal and Passive) in the second instance. The study found that although the co-occurrence of causatives and applicatives is a regular feature in Bantu languages, isiXhosa has restrictions on the co-occurrence of these extensions on some verbs. The study also found that although Causative-Applicative is the expected order the language permits Applicative-Causative in certain contexts. With respect to the detransitivising extensions, the study revealed that there are limited contexts in which these extensions co-occur and, crucially, that these extensions are freely ordered in the language.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The perceived impact of father absence on adolescents’ self-esteem in a rural area in Mpumalanga

  • Authors: Mhlongo, Lindokuhle Nqobile
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Absentee fathers -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga , Self-esteem in adolescence Self-esteem in children Adolescent psychology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42390 , vital:36652
  • Description: There has been an upsurge in the number of single-parent female headed households which has led to the permanent absence of fathers in the lives of their children. Research has shown that the absence of fathers in the lives of their children can have negative implications for the child. This study aimed to investigate the self-esteem of adolescents from father absent families. The study was motivated by the researcher‟s observation of children from father absent families in the study area and also by the sparse South African literature in relation to the study‟s topic. In order to achieve the aim of the study, a qualitative, explorative-descriptive research design was used and an interpretive paradigm was adopted. A total number of 16 participants between ages 12-18 were recruited through a non-probability purposive sampling method. All the participants stayed in single-parent female headed households and the degree of father absence for these participants varied from fathers who were known by the participant but absent, to fathers who are unknown and absent. Data was collected through the use of one-on-one semi structured interviews that were conducted in the participants‟ home language. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis and Maslow‟s Theory of Motivation was used as a theoretical framework for interpreting the study‟s findings. Negative emotions towards self, feelings of inferiority and feelings of worthlessness were identified amongst the participants and these are indicative of low self-esteem. The participants believed that the absence of their fathers has contributed towards these negative feelings as they went through financial difficulties, abandonment/rejection, had threatened sense of belonging and also went through self- personalization of father absence. Additionally, several protective factors were identified and these enabled the participants to cope with the absence of their fathers. However, some of the participants indicated a positive sense of worth which they attributed mostly to the love they receive from others.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The posttraumatic growth of Oprah Winfrey: a psychobiography

  • Authors: Oosthuysen, Yolandé
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Winfrey, Oprah , Posttraumatic growth Psychology -- Biographical methods , Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Patients -- Rehabilitation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43115 , vital:36737
  • Description: Posttraumatic growth is a unique outcome of trauma that is relatively new to empirical investigation and not yet fully understood. Psychobiographies provide a valuable method to interpret and evaluate the applicability of psychological theories, such as posttraumatic growth. This study explored the unique manifestation of posttraumatic growth in the life of Oprah Winfrey. An exploratory-descriptive design was employed to examine the life history of Winfrey. She was selected through purposive sampling, based on her traumatic life history and extraordinary success in the television industry. Primary and secondary sources of biographical and historical data were used during the process of data collection. The data was processed according to Alexander’s data analysis method in conjunction with an analytic framework to organise the data. To maintain ethical principles, the researcher was guided by respect, empathy and accountability in dealing with any personal information regarding Winfrey. The findings demonstrated the occurrence of all five factors of the posttraumatic growth model, proposed by Calhoun and Tedeschi, in Winfrey’s life. The order of these factors, according to a number of identified instances in the data, matched the order of variance percentages per factor identified by Tedeschi and Calhoun. The analysis of PTG in the life of Winfrey, according to the PTG theoretical model, indicates the applicability and value of the model to interpret positive change as it manifests in the lives of individuals after trauma.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The psychological sequelae of the impact of violence perpetrated against men in intimate partner relationships: A systematic review

  • Authors: Warmington, Meagan Patricia
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Intimate partner violence -- South Africa , Gender based Violence -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45646 , vital:38923
  • Description: Men who are victims of intimate partner violence seem to be largely ignored in research and literature. This in part is linked to the perception of men as perpetrators, rather than as victims of violence. While intimate partner violence has been studied extensively across the world, through a number of disciplines, there appears to be a glaring gap in the literature. Men who are victims of intimate partner violence may experience the emotional and psychological consequences of violence differently, given the factors influencing the role of men in society. The resulting shame, guilt and even rejection may be factors explaining why these cases of violence are underreported. This research used a systematic review methodology and data was collected through online databases. Significant thematic findings identified included 1) the impact of stigma, 2) misrepresentation of the article content focus, and 3) the lack of awareness surrounding the act of male abuse within intimate partner relationships. The study findings suggested that male victims of intimate partner violence are likely to experience the psychological and emotional experiences that follow the experience. Further insight was given regarding the need to develop interventions that take into account the required social, psychological and emotional needs of men in violent intimate partner relationships.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The relationship between exposure to traumatised complainants and secondary traumatic stress among police detective officers

  • Authors: Vilakazi, Julias Makhosonke
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Police -- Job stress -- South africa , Traumatic shock -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45668 , vital:38925
  • Description: South Africa is faced with high incidents of sexual violence and abuse, affecting a large part of the population either directly or indirectly.Previous studies have shown that a contact with victims of violent crime may cause psychological symptoms of Secondary traumatic Stress (STS) in police officers. Despite this knowledge, there appears to be a lack of studies that focus specifically on police detective officers (PDOs) in South Africa. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exposure to traumatic complainants and STS among PDOs in the SAPS-FCS unit. Findings: The results have shown that most of the PDOs were exposed to traumatised complainants as they often conduct investigation, testify in court, escort complainants for biopsychosocial services and collect evidence from both complainants and perpetrators. The study further found that most PDOs were experiencing a degree of STS symptoms. Additionally, no significant statistical relationship was found between exposure to traumatised complainants and STS. Nonetheless, there is a statistically significant relationship between type of crimes and STS among PDOs in the SAPS-FCS unit. This study sheds light on how the PDOs are indirectly affected by the crimes experienced by complainants’, such as indecent assault and child molestation. This research can be used as a platform for the development of various interventions with police officials exposed to or affected by indirectly trauma. Future research should investigate other pivotal risks and protective factors such as environmental factors and personal factors that may have impacted on the development of STS in the PDOs.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The relationship between leadership behaviours and employee inclusion

  • Authors: Jagers,Leizel Hilary
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Diversity in the workplace Organizational behavior Work -- Psychological aspects Psychology, Industrial
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40084 , vital:35753
  • Description: In recent times, the discussion on diversity has shifted to that of inclusion. Employee inclusion plays an integral role in the quality of the organisational environment to create an organisation that maximises and leverages diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives of all employees to increase organisational success. Inclusion has emerged as a contemporary area of exploration while diversity embraces a rich body of research. Leadership theorists have yet to discover an approach to inclusive leadership. It is interesting to note the lack of integration concerning the relationship between leadership behaviours and employee inclusion within a South African context, thus it is worth exploring what meaning and interpretation employee inclusion holds in a diverse South African work context. The aim of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between leadership behaviours and employee inclusion. A literature study was conducted to explore work previously done regarding leadership behaviours and employee inclusion. For the empirical study, a positivistic paradigm with a quantitative research method was utilised. The confectionary organisation under study is situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The leadership behaviours of production line managers (n = 11) contributing to employee inclusion of production line workers (n = 141) was studied by means of a survey in the research design. To compensate for the simplistic responses to complex issues, both closed-ended and open-ended surveys were administered. Random sampling was selected as the sampling strategy for this study. In addition, the research study made use of both inferential and descriptive statistic techniques. A statistically significant relationship exists between leadership behaviours and employee inclusion. The findings reveal that production line managers generally believe that they exhibit leadership behaviours associated with employee inclusion, whereas production line workers generally believe that their managers exhibit certain, but not all leadership behaviours associated with employee inclusion. Furthermore, production line managers leaned towards a positive point of view of their perception of the extent to which production line workers experience employee inclusion. However, most of production line workers leaned towards a negative point of view whilst the minority leaned towards a positive point of view in relation to the extent to which they experience employee inclusion. These findings suggest that components of leadership behaviour namely commitment, courage, cognizance of bias, curiosity, cultural intelligence and collaboration correlate strongly to employee inclusion in terms of uniqueness and belongingness. The leadership behaviours discussed in the literature and empirical study can contribute to future studies in terms of creating an inclusive leadership approach or style as this has not been discovered yet. Leaders should be aware of their leadership behaviours and familiarise themselves with and implement the preferred leadership behaviours for employee inclusion through self-development initiatives, leadership training and social change initiatives. Furthermore, leaders should practice leadership behaviours and techniques based on each situation, individual or group with a specific focus on the six signature traits of an inclusive leader and finally, organisations should create opportunities for employees to give feedback to their managers to raise awareness around the importance of employee inclusion.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The relationship between leadership styles and talent retention within South Africa

  • Authors: Liss, Kirstin
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Leadership styles
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44578 , vital:38139
  • Description: The challenge of retaining employees is becoming increasingly difficult. This purpose of this study was to examine if employee leadership style preferences are currently being met and whether a relationship exists between leadership styles and talent retention. Data from leadership styles and talent retention questionnaires was used in the analysis. The results of the paired sample t-test indicated that leadership style preferences were not currently being met by employees providing input to the research question. The relationship between leadership styles and talent retention were explored using a correlation and a relationship was found to be significant thus supporting the research question. Multiple linear regression analysis provided further support in this relationship and investigated to what extent leadership styles influence retention. A significant positive relationship was found in that the experience of negative or positive levels of leadership styles, will influence employee retention. Leadership styles are not currently being met by employees thus the retention of employees are at risk for organisations in South Africa. The study concludes with recommendations for research and Industrial and Organisational Psychologists in practice.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The relationship between Millon’s personality styles and the secondary traumatic stress beliefs of trauma counsellors

  • Authors: Rossouw, Gwynneth
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Treatment , Psychic trauma -- Treatment Personality assessment Stress (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43545 , vital:36917
  • Description: The research aim of this study was to explore and describe the relationship between Millon’s personality styles and the secondary traumatic stress beliefs experienced by trauma counsellors. An exploratory-descriptive design was employed to collect the quantitative data by means of a biographical questionnaire, Millon’s Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (3rd Edition) (MCMI-III) and the Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale (TABS). Purposive sampling was used to select the participants from 22 organisations spread across the Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Cape Town geographical areas. A total number of 98 participants completed the MCMI-III and the TABS. The data were analysed using descriptive and correlational statistics. It was found that the relationship between many of the MCMI-III scales and the TABS was significant. The majority of the participants responded positively to the study as it made them more aware of their emotions. Certain conclusions and recommendations were made based on the findings of the study. The results for our sample showed that there is a strong and positive relationship between Millon’s personality styles and the secondary traumatic stress beliefs of trauma counsellors, which was found to be both practically and statistically significant. The use of discriminant analysis provided better prediction for this study as it enables better prediction on which personality type is more prone to develop STS in future. This is a study of limited scope and the participants were selected from counsellors working with victims of trauma. Furthermore, it would be useful for future research to investigate if demographic variables such as: age, gender, level of education, level of experience and the number of working hours with trauma could have an impact on developing STS.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The relationship between organisational culture and cross-team collaboration at an institution of higher learning

  • Authors: McGowan-Berry, Charlene Hilda
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Corporate culture , Organizational change Organizational behavior Organization -- Research Education, Higher -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42628 , vital:36675
  • Description: Institutions of higher learning are under constant pressure to become more effective amidst lowering subsidies and increased student intake. Bozalek, Ngambi and Dachago (2013) identify a limit of resources as one of the major challenges facing higher education. As a result, resources and talent need to be more effectively utilised. There is also a growing call for closer co-operation across disciplines, for example in terms of increased interdisciplinary teaching and research to address real life issues. The opposite, namely a silo mentality where people focus on their own tasks without interacting and solving problems collaboratively, does not lead to excellence. Silos are invisible barriers which fragment organisations and make it difficult to cross boundaries (Cilliers & Greyvenstein, 2012). The primary objective of this study was to explore the existing culture at a selected university and to determine whether a relationship between organisational culture and cross-team collaboration existed. A positivistic research approach was followed and quantitative research methods were adopted. The target population included all of the academics from one of the campuses of the selected university. A non-probability sampling technique of convenience sampling was used. The Organisational Culture Questionnaire (OCQ) developed by Harrison (1993) was administered to 120 employees at the selected university. The results suggested that a Task and Role Culture was most evident at the University, but that a Support Culture was mostly supportive of cross-team collaboration. Recommendations were made for the University and for future research.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The relationship between psychological capital and work engagement among educators in Port Elizabeth

  • Authors: Van Kerkhof, Michelle
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Human capital -- Psychological aspects , Psychology, Industrial Employees -- Psychology Management|xPsychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44145 , vital:37117
  • Description: Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and work engagement (WE) are both positive constructs which research shows has an advantageous effect on the performance of the organisation. The educational system, and in particular the job of the educator, remains an important field of study as 80% of schools in South Africa are deemed dysfunctional (Spaull, 2013). Although educators face numerous challenges, there are still educators who remain determined in their work role. This research used a cross-sectional design, using a composite questionnaire to measure PsyCap and WE. The self-report questionnaires were distributed to a sample of educators (n=106) of which 53% were from private schools and 47% were from public schools in Port Elizabeth. Various studies both locally and abroad confirm the reliability and validity of the PCQ-24 and UWES-9 measures utilised in this study. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between PsyCap and WE of educators. The relationship between PsyCap and WE was assessed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. Furthermore, it also considered whether a significant distinction exists among the PsyCap and WE levels of private and public schools in Port Elizabeth. A t-test was used to establish the difference among the levels of PsyCap and WE of private and public school teachers. As indicated by previous research, the current study uncovered that PsyCap predicts WE, exhibiting a positive relationship among the constructs. In addition, this study found that there was a difference among the PsyCap and WE levels of private and public school teachers in Port Elizabeth.
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  • Date Issued: 2019
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