Psychology (Arts)

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Traits considered important in the selection of a marriage partner among young matriculated blacks
(1982) Kunene, Stanley; de Vetta, H.M.
In several studies conducted mostly in the United States of America it was found that members of both sexes were attracted towards each other for different reasons. Traits mentioned in different studies are phy= sical attractiveness, material possessions and certain personality cha= racteristics, such as pleasantness, sociability, trustworthiness, etc. With regard to race and socio-economic status investigators differ. It was also found that males and females have different opinions on some factors and the same opinion on others. The aim of this investigation was to find out what young matriculated Blacks look for in a future marriage partner. The following hypotheses were formulated: (i) Males and females do not emphasize the same characteristics in the choice of a life partner. (ii) The choice of a marriage partner depends on the religious commitment of the prospective spouse. Uii) Social status plays an important role in the selection of a marriage partner. (iv) Physical attractiveness is regarded as an important charac= teristic in the choice of a life partner. (v) The tribal background of the opposite sex member is con= sidered important in the choice of a life partner. (v±> Having children is considered important in marriage. Cvli) Submissiveness of the wife is considered important in marriage. 'vlii) Home-making (domesticity) is considered important in marriage. To gather the relevant information, a questionnaire was constructed, consisting of thirty-six items in its final form. The methods of S.um= mated Ratings, and the Split-half coefficient were used to test the validity and the reliability of the questionnaire. The validated questionnaire was administered to two hundred first-year university students; ninety-one males and one hundred and nine females. The following conclusions were arrived at: (i) Males and females tend to emphasize the same characteristics in the choice of a life partner. (ii) The choice of a marriage partner does not depend on the rer ligious affiliation of the prospective spouse. (iii) The great majority of subjects expressed themselves against social class as a criterion in the choice of a marriage partner. (iv) Physical attractiveness is not regarded as an important cha= racteristic in the choice of a life partner. (v) The tribal background of the opposite sex member is not con= sidered important in the choice of a life partner. (vi) Children are considered important in marriage. (vii) Submissiveness of the wife is considered important in marriage. (viii) Home-making is not considered important in marriage. The findings of the study indicate that there is scope for future re= search, in which the views of urban and rural, educated and uneducated communities may be compared. Also, it is recommended that in a future study the causes of divorce should be compared with the traits considered important in the selection of a marriage partner.
The role of dreams for Zulu indigenous practitioners
(1984) Mfusi, Kingsford Sikhumbuzo; Edwards, S.D.
The present study has investigated the role of dreams for Zulu indigenous practitioners. This role is two-fold (i) significance of dreams in the personal lives of the Zulu indigeoous practitioners; for example, how dreams function to set the foundation for an individual's fate, how dreams establish a direct relationship between the dreamer and certain supernatural forces and beings that are considered to have an independent existence, and how the individual, in turn, acquires a creative, sacred power, (ii) significance of patients' dreams, in so far as the indigenous practitioners can make analyses of such dreams in order to effect a client's diagnosis; and also the indigenous practitioners' methods of such dreams' analyses. Subjects that were selected for the present study were Zulu indigenous practitioners from Ngoye/Dlangezwa districts who used dreams in their diagnotic and treatment methods. There were three categories of such practitioners, namely, the izangoma izinyanga, and abathandazi. The content of their dreams was analyzed by the technique of content analysis which involved classifying dream elements into three basic categories of natural, supernatural indigenous Zulu, and supernatural Christian religious. The procedure of data collection involved initial visits to each indigenous practitioner in order to establish rapport; and subsequent visits involved the actual collection of data. To achieve the latter, a list of questions that were structured in the form of a questionnaire was used. In addition, a structured dream by a confederate patient was taken to each indigenous practitioner for analysis. Analysis of this dream was judged by three independent judges (Clinical psychologists) in order to ascertain if there was any inter-practitioner consistency regarding the theme of analyses. Major results were that dreams have an important role to play in the personal lives of these indigenous practitioners, and that such dreams are supernaturally orientated, in the sense that they always involved a dreamer's encounter with a supernatural being usually the grandmother or grandfather, or a religious deity. Further, the indigenous practitioners were found to be consistent in their analyses of confederate patient's dream, as judged by three independent raters- The study also indicated that there is an urgent need of research to investigate the role of dreams for indigenous practitioners in depth. For example, it could be hypothesised that patients1 dreams might conceivably be analyzed in terms of individual symbols personally significant to the individual practitioner.
Zulu indigenous practitioners' diagnostic and treatment methods
(1984) Sokhela, Nhlanhla Wellington; Edwards, S.D.
As indigenous healers are so important to the health of many not only in South Africa but also throughout the world, a closer, scientific look at their practices is needed. Again, there is a tendency of the majority of South Africans (especially the Blacks) to consult both western oriented mental health> services and indigenous healers. Various prominent mental health professionals in South Africa have appealed that greater recognition be given to and greater use made of the skills of indigenous healers in the treatment of persons who could benefit from the services- It is for these reasons that this research on indigenous healing was undertaken. The purpose of this research was to investigate diagnostic and treat¬ment methods used by a random sample of indigenous healers from the rural Mtunzini district in Kwa-Zulu, and to ascertain whether there is any consistency (inter-practitioner) in their diagnostic and treatment methods. Twelve practitioners were each invited by a researcher and a confederate with a problem requiring treatment. Diagnostic and treatment procedures were tape recorded. Standardized data regarding diagnosis, cause symptomatology, treatment and prognosis, including practitioners' biographical data was collected. In order to ascertain inter-practitioner consistency, practitioners were asked to rank order six diagnosis and six treatment procedures ascertained to be the most frequently occuring among all twelve practitioners. The results emphasized the three distinct basic categories of Zulu indigenous practitioners viz. doctors (izinyanga), diviners (jzangoma) and faith healers (abathantfazi). Of these categories, the diviner deserve special mention as the results consistently portrayed her as a superior specialist e.g. an elderly, educated, female preserver and provider of traditional Zulu culture. Diagnostic and treatment procedures used by the practitioners were found to be based on dualistic levels viz. natural and supernatural. As suggested by previous studies and also supported in this research, more integration of Western and African oriented mental health subsystems was recommended.
The attitudes of adolescents, parents and grandparents towards adolescent problems in a rapidly changing society
(1988) Nyembe, Boy Timothy; Edwards, S.D.; Nene, L.M.
The researcher's aim in this study was to identify and compare the attitudes of adolescents, parents and grandparents towards three adolescent problem variables. The researcher's point of departure was to review relevant literature on the generation gap phenomenon, adolescent premarital sexual relations, delinquent behaviour and the use of alcoholic beverages. A. Likert-type scale was constructed to measure the attitudes of adolescents, parents and grandparents towards adolescent premarital sexual relations) delinquent behaviour and use of alcoholic beverages. Three samples comprising 30 adolescents, 30 parents and 30 grandparents were randomly selected from the seven wards/ sections of the 42 Hill Location, Harrismith. Respondents were from the Zulu, South-Sotho, Tswana .and Xhosa ethnic groups. Illiterate and educated subjects were included in the study. The t-test and Chi-Square (ifi test results highlighted significant differences between the attitudes of adolescents and parents towards premarital sexual relations. The differences between the attitudes of adolescents and those of grandparents towards this variable were also significant:. The attitudes of parents and grandparents towards premarital sexual relations were not significantly different. These findings tended to support previous research studies which stated that parents and grandparents were traditionally more conservative in their attitude towards sexuality than were adolescents. Modern adolescents who lived in a society where sex was discussed more openly seemed to feel that they should engage in premarital sexual relations. It seemed the generation gap between adolescents and parents,and to a greater extent between adolescent and grandparent, had increased. Results indicated insignificant differences between the attitudes of adolescents, parents and grandparents towards adolescent delinquent behaviour. All three generations seemed to agree that modern adolescents acquired much information from their friends. In a modern rapidly changing South African society, traditional authority seemed to have lost most of its impact on the adolescent's bahaviour. Adolescents seemed to believe that parents had failed to change the socio¬political situation hence they had to take the lead. Parents themselves seemed to be puzzled and confused by the rapidly changing, contemporary, technocratic and violently divided society. Significant differences between the adolescent and parent attitudes and between adolescent and grandparent attitudes towards adolescent use of alcoholic beverages were indicated in this study. The insignificant differences between the attitudes of parents and grandparents towards this variable seemed to indicate that parents and grandparents were against adolescent use of alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, adolescents seemed to feel that they should indulge in drinking alcoholic beverages. In the modern South African society, adolescents saw liquor advertised on television and in literature and thus indulged in drinking alcoholic beverages. It was recommended that whatever the desired politico-social change, both parents and adolescents could be made aware that communication and dialogue between them are a sine-qua-non towards the solution and alleviation of their problems. Parents may be motivated to discuss with adolescents their views and feelings about premarital sexual relations and vice versa. The dialogue could be encouraged in public meetings, seminars, on television and radio. Parents could be encouraged to listen to the views of adolescents in order to guide them. Parents may be made to accept the fact that adolescents live during a time and in a society where they may express both their positive and negative opinions regarding certain issues. Community programmes such as therapeutic groups, youth clubs and recreation clubs could provide adolescents with an opportunity of expressing their views, developing their social skills and improving relationships with others. Information concerning problems that are associated with the use of alcoholic beverages could be made available to adolescents during the discussions and advertisements. The aim could be to assist adolescents to cope with problems and to feel happy without indulging in drinking alcoholic beverages.
A self help group programme for single mothers
(1992) Arosi, Nokwanda; Edwards, S.D.
Single parenting is becoming much more common today for a variety of reasons. The single parent family is a result of divorce, desertion or separation, death or having a child illegitimately, Some women make this choice for palitico-feminist reasons, wanting parenthood but being unwilling to cohabit with a man. It may well reflect a deep seated need to prove her independence. The present study has been motivated by the fact that becoming a single parent is usually a traumatic process with much heated and confused emotion in relationships over and above the basic problem of just one adult figure having to cope with small children. The aim of the study was to elicit from a group of single mothers their needs, to prioritize these needs, then form an on-going self—help group programme. It was hypothesized that a self-help group programme for single mothers would improve parental attitudes, parenting skills and interpersonal functioning. Parental attitudes, parenting skills and interpersonal functioning were assessed over three assessment periods, i.e. pretest, post test and fallow up. The following psychological measures were used: Maternal chi1d—rearing attitude scale, Parenting skills qualitative and quantitative ratings and Carkhuff scales far levels of interpersonal functioning. The project consisted of meetings with the group of single mothers at weekly intervals over two months. The group meetings were videotaped for evaluation by independent judges, for levels of interpersonal functioning. A short written qualitative evaluation of the programme was required of the mothers. After the programme was instituted there was no significant change in parental attitudes and parenting skills* One can assume that this group of single mothers had an extensive knowledge of child-rearing practices and parenting skills. This might be so because the group was composed of educated and professiona1 mothers. At the same time one cannot cone 1ude that educated and professional mothers have good parental attitudes and parenting skills because there is no available literature or research findings to support that cone 1usion. Interpersonal functioning improved remarkedly in terms of empathy, respect, genuineness and se1f—disc1osure. The single mothers evaluated the programme as goad and helpful to their children. They all wished that the programme could continue. One of the limitations of the study was the fact that the sample was small. But the number met the requirements for a group. Another limitation was that the group only comprised of one category of single mothers, i.e. educated and professional mothers. Perhaps if the group has a mix of categories, i.e. lay mothers and teenage mothers, resu1ts yielded would show a significant change in child—rearing attitudes and parenting skills. Single motherhood is very stressful. Single mothers find it difficult to cope with the role strain, isolation and 1one1iness. Even though some single mothers might be financially adequate they still need emotional support. Interpersonal functioning is improved if people with a similar problem are put in a group. Members recognize that they are not alone in having an emotional problem. The simple sharing of experiences is an important human need.
Towards an understanding of wife battering in Zulu society
(1993) Kabini, Girly Elizabeth; van Staden, B.J.
Violence by men against women has become a common occurrence. Exact statistics are, however, not available as police, hospital and social service records reflect only those incidences that are reported, while suspected large percentage of abused cases remain hidden form public awareness. The present study has been motivated by the fact that there is lack of literature on empirical investigations of women abused in South African families. The aim of the study is to present^ an understanding of violence-related interactional patterns in wife battering amongst the Zulu society in Natal. The project focused on interviewing wife-battering couples. The interviews involved individual (interviewing husband and wife separately) and joint interviews with the focus on the husband's wife's views on family interactions and battering. The results of the study indicate that wife battering in Zulu society is embedded in cultural conflicts. Men adhere to tradition, while women are pushing for a changed definition that is more westernized. This then, can be used as a basis for further exploratory studies which test wife battering and treatment programmes.
Changing self-perceptions in mathematics anxiety
(1993) Mashego, Teresa-Anne Bagakilwe.; van Staden, B.J.
In this study difficulties relating to mathematics problem solving were linked to the way people see themselves as problem solvers. Following this line of reasoning, Mathematics anxiety is viewed as a product of the student's distorted perception of his/her ability to do mathematics. It was further argued that negative beliefs about oneself were at the root of poor performance in mathematics problem solving. A cognitive restructuring method designed to change such distorted perceptions, and a subsequent change of behaviour was explored. On the basis of the promising results of this study, a recommendation is made that students with mathematics anxiety should be identified early and advised to seek psychological help before they lose hope completely.
Learning through teaching : an experimental educational programme for the prevention of AIDS
(1994) Nene, Eric Nkosinathi; Edwards, S.D.; Makunga, N.V.
AIDS is a major world wide problem with, the incidence and prevalence of the disease increasing at an alarming rate, affecting people regardless of their economic status, educational level, ethnicity, age, occupation or gender. Although initially perceived as affecting deviant subgroups in communities such as prostitutes, the fastest growing population in the AIDS epidemic especially in Africa consist of heterosexual men and women. In Africa the incidence represents over half the reported number of AIDS cases in the world.Almost all African countries are developing countries, which will make it very difficult for these countries to afford any future vaccine developed against AIDS. Thus AIDS education will continue to play a major role in the prevention of HIV-infection and AIDS. In South Africa the majority of people belong in poorer communities where violence, poverty, lack of education and unemployment are perceived as being relatively more problematic in etiology and prevention than AIDS. Most AIDS prevention programmes in South Africa have been relatively ineffective and simplistic in approach and methodology. The programmes that are needed are those that go beyond provision of knowledge, motivate and empower people to change risk behaviour and are designed to be self-supportive/ sustaining and effective. An educational psychological experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of learning through teaching about AIDS prevention. A pre-and post-test group method was used within a nested experimental design.Subjects were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 experienced both passive and active learning, group 2 experienced only active learning and group 3 experienced only passive learning.. Scales which assessed subj ects' knowledge of AIDS, sexual attitudes and AIDS prevention practices were administered. The data- obtained on all variables were analyzed by means of simple one way and repeated measures analyses of variance ( ANOVA ) for nested experimental design followed by Tukey's HSD statistic for multiple comparisons. Pre-treatment base-line data indicated that the sample was relatively knowledgeable about AIDS. The results indicated that passive and active learning combined was better than either active or passive learning alone. This dissertation also revealed that it is practically feasible to implement this programme in any organization which includes educational systems. Ideally everyone should be equipped with enough information to educate others about HIV-infection and AIDS. It is neither possible nor desirable to leave all AIDS awareness and support initiatives to experts and professionals. Everyone needs to be actively involved in AIDS education.
A psychological analysis of helping human relations in an African Independent Church
(1994) Nyembe, Boy Timothy; Edwards, S.D.; Makunga, N.V.
The need for a psychology that addresses problems of all racial groups in South Africa has long been documented. Studies have indicated that modern health care services are inadequate and not accessible to all population groups in this country. The needs and problems in South Africa are too complicated to be treated by Western therapies alone. What seem to have been a viable alter¬native are the services rendered to Blacks by traditional doctors, diviners, faith healers and the African Independent Churches. The aim of this study was an exploratory psychological investigation into the nature of helping human relations in an African Independent Church. A sample of 18 respondents was randomly selected from members of the St. John's Apostolic Faith Mission Church, Harrismith. The phenomenological research methodology was used to elicit descriptions from the subjects regarding their experiences and meaning of being members of that particular church. The descriptions of the respondents were tape recorded, transcribed and dissected into natural meaning units which were blocked into themes. The natural meaning units and the themes of each subject were synthesised into a general concise description in psychological language. This descriptive statement, which was referred to as situated structure, disclosed the unique and es¬sential meaning the phenomenon had for each individual. Those themes that were expressed and shared by the majority of the sub¬jects were grouped into a general structure of six categories, namely, spiritual helping, prayer healing, holy water, cohesive-ness, existential assistance and catharsis. The researcher validated the descriptions by going back to respondents and asking them whether his synthesis accurately revealed their experiences. Each respondent commented on the general structure by stating on a subjective eleven point scale (0-10) the degree to which the general structure reflected his/her experiences. The respondents' ratings indicated that the general structure was a fairly accurate reflection of their experiences as members of this particular church. There was sig¬nificant agreement among the eighteen respondents in ranking the six categories. This means that there was significant agreement¬about what the subj ects generally experienced as members of the St. John's Apostolic Faith Mission Church and about their ex¬periences . In view of literature review of other African Independent Churches the researcher could generalize that human helping rela¬tions in the African Independent Churches exist essentially in the aforementioned six main forms. It was recommended that similar research be conducted in other African Independent Churches such as the ZCC, Church of Nazarites and the Mahon Mission. The practices of the AIC's could be in¬cluded in the curricula of the training of mental health care workers, clients could benefit from cross referrals between West¬ern practitioners and the healers of the African Independent Churches.
The influence of progressive relaxation on physiological arousal in a perceived risk situation
(1995) Skinner, William Claude; Edwards, S.D.
Activities in which people perceive risk, arouses a certain measure of anxiety. The heightened anxiety level becomes pathological if it overcomes the natural coping abilities of a person for an extended period of time. In this study a perceived risk situation was created in which heightened physiological arousal was induced, observed and managed. Direct signs of heightened physiological arousal were observed by monitoring changes in heartbeat, skin temperature, skin conductance, electromyographic activity and blood volume pulse using a biofeedback system. The 11 member experimental group were introduced to a three day progressive relaxation training programme prior to participating in the stationary perceived risk activity. The experimental group experienced a lowering of sympathetic nervous system arousal, supported by the measurement of significant changes of physiological symptoms during the brief anxiety' eliciting situation. Results were statistically compared with an 11 member control group which received no relaxation training. Significant changes in heart rate, skin conductance and blood volume pulse measured on subjects of the experimental, group supported the hypothesis that a progressive relaxation training programme therapeutically changes physiological arousal.
Psychological correlates of unemployment, low self-esteem and depression
(1996) Mlomo, Vuyelwa Christa; Edwards, S.D.; Sibaya, P.T.
In recent years, the rate of unemployment in South Africa has been steadily increasing. In 1990, it was 28 %. This percentage excluded the TBVC states and employment in subsistence agriculture which is characterised by a cyclical form of employment. In 1993 and 1994, a number of industries closed and retrenchment took place in some companies as a rationalisation strategy. This resulted in retrenchment of more than 50 000 workers excluding more than 21 000 retrenched before January 1993. The level of unemployment among Blacks is six times higher than that of whites which is 6.4 % according to the South African Living Standard and Development (Democracy in Action, 1996). In general, more women are unemployed than men. Unemployment has been linked to a number of negative psychological consequences and physical health effects including loss of self-esteem, severe depression, loss of social status, alcohol abuse, suicide, minor psychiatric morbidity and the probability of being identified as a psychiatric patient or a client. In this study the researcher focuses on unemployment and its psychological correlates: depression and low self-esteem. The aims of the study were to determine the existence of any statistically significant relationships between unemployment, depression and low self-esteem and to determine whether depression and low self-esteem are significantly related to such personal variables as age, gender, duration of unemployment and marital status. The researcher administered the questionnaires to unemployed respondents seeking employment in Unemployment Insurance Fund Offices in Johannesburg and employed respondents working at Ngwelezane Hospital, Empangeni and Portnet, Richards Bay. The study failed to find a statistically significant relationship between unemployment and either depression or low self-esteem. Both unemployed and employed respondents had similar depression and self-esteem scores. About 20.5 % and 10.3 % of unemployed and employed respondents respectively were not depressed. About 78.2 % and 89.5 % of unemployed and employed respondents respectively were mild to moderately depressed. Only 1.3 % on the unemployed respondents were severely depressed. About 41.1 % and 33.3 % of unemployed and employed respondents respectively had low self-esteem. About 58.9 % and 64.1 % of unemployed and employed respondents respectively had mild to moderate self-esteem. Only 1.3 % of the employed respondents had high self-esteem. Personal variables such as age, gender, duration of unemployment and marital status were not found to be statistically significantly related to depression and self-esteem scores obtained by the unemployed respondents. Both unemployed and employed respondents gave their experiences of being unemployed in terms of thoughts, feelings and acts. Their experiences are not different from those highlighted by other researchers with the exception of thoughts of prostitution. Their experiences ranged from loss of trust, hopelessness, helplessness, boredom, financial hardships, dependency, frustration, stigma, poverty, loss of confidence, loss of friends, unhappiness, inability to meet children's needs and to pay for their school tuition, thoughts of house breaking and stealing, to optimism and hopefulness. The researcher made the following recommendations: • Further longitudinal studies on psychological effects of unemployment that include all racial groups should be conducted. • Self-help groups that are coordinated by such mental health professionals as psychologists and social workers should be designed in the communities in order to cater for the needs of the unemployed groups. • Counselling and psychotherapy should be provided in the form of crisis intervention and brief short-tern psychotherapy to help individuals and families with debilitating symptoms associated with unemployment. • Vocational guidance material should include material on job-seeking skills.
The experience of the research event in psychology
(1997) Pietersen, Charlotte.; Edwards, S.D.
This investigation explores and describes the experiences of psychology students who have recently completed their honours research projects. This is apparently the first study to explicate this research event by approaching it from an existential-pbenomenological viewpoint and by making use of the phenomenological method of research. The guiding idea behind the investigation is that we need to train our students to become able and enthusiastic researchers. In order to accomplish this task we instruct them about research and/or allow them to conduct a relatively independent research project at honours level. In order to enhance their training, explicit accounts of students' research experiences can be useful sources of information, to provide insight into and to alert students to the challenges facing them when they become involved in this research event. Honours students were asked to write the story of their research experiences in as much detail as possible, and to focus on their own subjective experiences of the complete event. Seven students participated in the investigation. The individual protocols were divided into natural meaning units and the natural meaning units were collapsed into themes. A brief summary of each theme was compiled. These themes were then used to formulate a general structure which reflects the collective experience of the students. The general structure as a whole, and the themes in the structure in particular, were validated by making use of subjective methods and statistical analysis. Four general themes were identified as representative of the shared experiences of the individual respondents. The four themes were: time constraints, problem-solving, personal growth, and capacity for understanding. The following important observations were made regarding these themes: The themes represent the general essence of students* experience of the research event during their honours year of study. The themes that emerged from the data reflect some of the problems identified by authors and instructors in the field of research methodology. This investigation can be seen as a starting point for further research on the research experiences of students. Insights generated by the study provide some useful guidelines for academics involved in the training and teaching of research methodology students.
Need experienced by persons with late stage aids
(1997) Rabbets, Fred C.; Edwards, S.D.; Sibaya, P.T.
This report documents a qualitative description of the special needs expressed by persons with late stage AIDS in the Richards Bay area. A phenomenological research design and methods were employed to impose rigour on this event. Once the needs of persons with late stage AIDS had been made explicit, these were collated with services rendered or planned through state and welfare structures in the Richards Bay area in an effort to identify salient unfulfilled needs that could be addressed through the establishment of an AIDS Care Centre. This provided important cues regarding the types of services and facilities required at the AIDS Care Centre. Additionally the unstructured interviews employed in the research provided the interviewees with an opportunity to suggest a format of care at the AIDS Care Centre that would be most suitable for them.
Traditional healers' views on child sexual abuse
(1997) Schoubben-Heisk, Susan; Edwards, S.D.; Sibaya, P.T
Talking about child sexual abuse, hereafter referred to as CSA, makes a lot of people very uncomfortable. It has been defined as "the best kept secret", contributing to the maintenance of silence. For both men and women the prevalence of CSA is high among those seeking help for psychological problems. Theories relating to CSA include investigations into the causes, psychological effects on victims, treatment approaches and preventative strategies. Research in this area in a South African context is limited and in view of the fact that child abuse has reached staggering proportions in rural areas, it is important to investigate this phenomenon. Furthermore, it is understood that in KwaZulu-Natal traditional healers have multi-dimensional functions in traditional Zulu culture, with eighty percent of Zulu people consulting them before coming to modem healers. Conversely, there are instances where traditional and modern healers co-operate in areas of illness and health. The aim of this research therefore is exploratory in nature, seeking to understand and advance knowledge of CSA. The level of co-operation between the two systems where CSA is concerned is also investigated, with special contextual reference to South Africa in general and traditional KwaZulu Natal in particular. This research is a phenomenological explication of traditional healers’ views per se. In addition it indicates that to a limited degree, modern and traditional systems co-operate in the treatment of CSA in rural KwaZulu Natal.
A phenomenological study of the Christian experience of God
(1998) Van Staden, Johannes H.; Edwards, S.D.
The influence of existentialism and phenomenology on modern psychology necessitates an accurate description of the experience of God without any preconceptions or bias. This study explores the way Christians experience God. This is done by means of a phenomenological explication of first hand descriptions of six participants. The primary aim of the study is to describe, and come to a better understanding of the experience of God through arriving at a universal structure of this phenomenon. Firstiy an overview of major theoretical developments, and the history of thought pertaining to religious experience, is given. The phenomenological approach, the theoretical foundation un¬derlying the method, and major contributions within the fields of psychology and phenome¬nology of religion are also discussed. Six protocols are included on the basis of them being articulate and authentic accounts of the individual experiences. These protocols are analysed by using a phenomenological method of investigation. The first step is to break the protocols down into Natural Meaning Units (NMUs). Thirteen themes are subsequently identified and the NMUs are arranged according to the themes. A psychologically Transformed Meaning Summary for each theme is formulated for each individual. The identified themes, in order of their significance for the participants, are: 1) Relationship; 2) Paradox/Tension; 3) Love; 4) Development and growth; 5) Creation; 6) Beyond the ra¬tional; 7) Direction; 8) Contemplation/Inner feeling; 9) SufTermg/Death/Dying; 10) A sense of a presence; 11) Anger, 12) Submission to a higher power, 13) Theological insight. A specific situated structure of the experience is formulated for each person, with a subsequent synthesis or universal structure of the experience to reflect the general experience of the participants. The findings are validated and discussed. The participants rate the extent to which the univer¬sal structure discloses their individual experiences at an average of 7.75 on a scale from 0 to 10. The study concludes with some recommendations as to how the findings of (his study can be put to use in future research.
The stress experiences of community police personnel : a descriptive study
(1999) Govender, Deena; Edwards, S.D.
Literature repeatedly indicates that stress and burnout constitute a serious problem in the police profession. This study endeavours to identify and describe the stress experiences of community police personnel and in so doing, to gain a deeper and clearer insight into the complex process of stress and burnout in a presently fast changing South African safety and security milieu. A biographical questionnaire as well as a semi-structured questionnaire was used in this research study, which followed a qualitative route. In-depth interviews were held with seven community police officers in the Port Elizabeth region, Eastern Cape. Six of these police officers were from urban areas and one was from a rural area. Content analysis revealed that various stressors, stress reactions, coping mechanisms and support sources as well as various degrees of self-esteem and burnout were manifested. The distinction and relationship between burnout and stress was also considered. In addition, emphasis was placed on biographical variables that play a role in the manifestation of stress among policemen. Each police officer's individual degree of stress experienced was related to a unique process in terms of the identified variables. An integrated description on their stress experiences was also presented in order to show both their uniqueness and similarities. Community policing as a general field of application is sorely under-researched in South Africa. Prior to the present study, no studies had been undertaken to specifically describe the stress process of police personnel in their new role as community policing officers. It has become clear that further research in this regard is required to bring about a deeper understanding of the stress experiences of community police personnel. A greater premium should be placed on all the persons involved in this area of research to address the problem of stress among the police profession and thus find solutions. The objective being to secure a greater safety for future generations and provide more support to the police.
A psychoanalytic view on depression as a creative illness
(2000) Ngcobo, Humphrey Siphiwe B.; Edwards, S.D.
This dissertation examines the concept of depression from the perspective that experiences of darkness and depth have validity, not as states to he avoided, rescued from or talked out of, but as creative opportunities. It also highlights that the journey into depths may be a perilous one, which should not be made unaccompanied. The process of reaching and holding the deep centre, individuation, is served only by willingness to stay with what may be highly uncomfortable experiences. What also becomes imperative is recognizing and honouring the call from depression. This initial dive into the depths may lead to.almost immediate resurfacing, which enables the inward-turned energy to be re¬directed outwards and ordinary life to be resumed, although with part of oneself still looking towards the centre. For Winnicott depression is regarded as having value. He felt that to enter, stay with and come out of depression was a triumph of integration. The argument in this dissertation is that creative work can come from depression as a means of finding the truth about oneself and thus increasing one's self-esteem. The creative impulse needs the depressed mood to flourish, in which sense, depression itself can be regarded as creative. The contention remains that it is the honouring of the journey into depression that is critical to the outcome.
The attitudes of Zululand University academics towards immigrants
(2000) Matshazi, Vusi.; Edwards, S.D.; Sibaya, P.T.
South Africa has the most restrictive attitudes towards immigration and immigrants of any country that has been surveyed in the world (Mattes, McDonald, Poore Richmond 1999)). There are an estimated ten to fifteen million immigrants in South Africa (Buthelezi 1996). Immigrants are generally seen as a threat to jobs and houses and are often accused of committing crime. There were rumors of racism and xenophobia at the University of Zululand to which the Rector published a circular denouncing such attitudes. To determine whether there was xenophobia at me University of Zululand, questionnaires were sent to South African Lectures, asking them about their attitudes towards immigrants. Twenty-two Lectures responded to the questionnaires. Total scores and mean scores were calculated. Scores tailing below the mean indicated negative attitudes, while those felling above the mean indicated positive attitudes. Unlike studies by Mattes et all (1999), Smedley (1977) and Matshazi (1997), where South Africans were found to have negative attitudes towards immigrants, lecturers at the University of Zululand were generally found to have positive attitudes towards immigrants.
Health promotion with a single parents self-help group
(2000) Dhlomo, Rosemond Mbaliyezwe.; Edwards, S.D.
Single parenting has become very common today due to having a child illegitimately, death of spouse, separation, and high rate of divorce. Single parent families are subject to many forms of economic and psychological stress. For example, they result in the creation of non-custodial parents, whose contact with their children is often irregular and unrewarding. The quality of interpersonal relationships with others makes the difference in coping or not coping during the first five years of being a single parent. An organization of single parents (self-help group) provides a support system responsive to the special problems of single parents, including discussion groups, which are responsive to the inadequacies in the ongoing lives of single parents, in promoting mental health. Self-help groups fall within the social action model of community psychology which aims to promote personal empowerment defined as the process of gaining influence over events and outcomes of importance to an individual or group. This model is a shift in intervention from prevention to empowerment and from needs to rights. The present research has been motivated by the World Health Organisation's 'target for all* document and the Ottawa Charter for action to achieve health for all by the year 2000 (presented at the first international conference on health promotion in November 1986). It has also been a motivation to note a commitment and emerging progress by health professionals and psychologists in mounting an array of health promotion and prevention programs. The aims of the study were to elicit needs from a group of single parents, form and evaluate an ongoing self-help group program and promote the following variables: psychological health, empowerment andparent effectiveness. It was hypothesized that the self-help group program for single parents will result in improvement of the mentioned variables. The researcher called for volunteers to join the group. Eight single parents committed themselves to be available for most sessions, seven of whom were females. The researcher made use of the following psychological techniques : biographical inventory, needs analysis questionnaire, global assessment of functioning scale, power maps, parenting skills rating scale, and program evaluation interview guide. In line with the social action model, this was a participatory action-research, program-evaluation type of design, where single parent co-researchers jointly defined the aims of their group, the themes to be discussed and the meanings of such variables as psychological health, empowerment and parent-effectiveness. The participants were pre- and post- tested on the above variables- The group ran for a contracted period of five weeks and the members met twice each week. The study realised its aims and the hypotheses were not rejected. The main strength of the research is that it encouraged community participation. The themes from sessions have been presented and analysed and it is evident that the study yielded positive results. It questioned the way the participants have been doing things and the reasons they did them. It led to them changing their attitudes toward their accustomed styles of parenting. This was interpreted as empowerment as they were gaining influence over events and outcomes of importance to them. The single parents self-help group empowered participants to be able to empower other single parents as the eight participants in the present research committed themselves to starting more groups of the same kind. In that way, they will be cascading the skills and knowledge they gained from the group.
An evaluation of the logotherapeutic techniques of Viktor Frankl
(2000) Ras, Johan M.; Edwards, S.D.
This study is an evaluation of the different logotherapeutic techniques of Viktor Frankl. An evaluation has been given of every technique and some of the major tests that are used by logotherapists. These techniques have been evaluated mainly from a personality, and at times, from an abnormal psychological point of view. The pre¬sent uses of logotherapy as well as its possible future also have been discussed.

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