Homeless men in East London : an exploration of significant life experiences to self-concepts
- Authors: Lobi, Thembelihle
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Homeless persons Homelessness Homeless men
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16069 , vital:40661
- Description: This dissertation investigated the life experiences of homeless persons and how they come to view their self-concepts as homeless men. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the self-concept theory and social identity theory. In this contextual descriptive study, four homeless men between ages of 28-50 participated in the study. Data was collected by means of disposable cameras and recorded interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse data. The study found that when the participants first became homeless, they encountered stigmatisation and were not ready to accept the homeless identity as it conflicted with their past identity. However, with prolonged homelessness, they took on the new identity and the roles that come with it. The study found that homeless men view themselves as worthless due to their experiences on the street which include living under inhumane conditions, victimisation, and stigma associated with being homeless. The participants have internalised the negative utterances from housed people, which has negatively affected their self-image to a point where they view themselves as worthless,useless and forgetable. The study also found that homeless men use various methods to survive on the streets, which were both self-enhancing such as participating in the informal economy such as car guarding, car washing and collecting tins in exchange for money; and self-destructive such as using substances, risky sexual behaviour. The participants were found to have low self-concepts because of the tough experiences they encounter on the street.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lobi, Thembelihle
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Homeless persons Homelessness Homeless men
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16069 , vital:40661
- Description: This dissertation investigated the life experiences of homeless persons and how they come to view their self-concepts as homeless men. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the self-concept theory and social identity theory. In this contextual descriptive study, four homeless men between ages of 28-50 participated in the study. Data was collected by means of disposable cameras and recorded interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse data. The study found that when the participants first became homeless, they encountered stigmatisation and were not ready to accept the homeless identity as it conflicted with their past identity. However, with prolonged homelessness, they took on the new identity and the roles that come with it. The study found that homeless men view themselves as worthless due to their experiences on the street which include living under inhumane conditions, victimisation, and stigma associated with being homeless. The participants have internalised the negative utterances from housed people, which has negatively affected their self-image to a point where they view themselves as worthless,useless and forgetable. The study also found that homeless men use various methods to survive on the streets, which were both self-enhancing such as participating in the informal economy such as car guarding, car washing and collecting tins in exchange for money; and self-destructive such as using substances, risky sexual behaviour. The participants were found to have low self-concepts because of the tough experiences they encounter on the street.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Performance of isiXhosa-speaking adults on Tower of London-Drexel University 2nd edition : development of a South African normative database
- Authors: Naidoo, Rumaine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Neuropsychological tests Neuropsychological tests--South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16291 , vital:40708
- Description: Introduction: The transportability and utility of international neuropsychological assessment measures on South Africa’s multicultural population highlights the well-documented concern of test validity and reliability. In South Africa, the endeavor of accurate assessment has been long-standing and is not only an ethical but legal requirement in the field of Psychology. The selection of appropriate normative data provides an opportunity for valid clinical interpretations. This research forms a part of a larger cross-cultural normative project, which elucidates the impact of a number of pivotal sociocultural factors on test performance. This specific study is aimed at producing normative indications for the Tower of London- Drexel University 2nd Edition. In addition, it investigates the effect of quality of education, age and sex on test performance. Method: The sample consisted of Black isiXhosa- speaking adults (N= 40) proficient in English aged between 19-40 years whom had obtained the highest scholastic education of Grade 11 or 12 in disadvantaged educational setting at either urban or rural former Department of Education and Training (ex- DET) schools. Results: The Independent t-test analyses revealed a significant effect of quality of education on the Total Execution Time index in the direction of urban participants outperforming rural participants. Significant results for sex were also documented on the Total Rule Violation index with females engaging in more Rule Violations than male participants. No significant differences were found between age groups. Conclusion: The findings of this research confirm the need for demographically specific normative data. This will allow for the development of more accurate and reliable indices of neurocognitive abilities among culturally and educationally disadvantaged individuals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Naidoo, Rumaine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Neuropsychological tests Neuropsychological tests--South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16291 , vital:40708
- Description: Introduction: The transportability and utility of international neuropsychological assessment measures on South Africa’s multicultural population highlights the well-documented concern of test validity and reliability. In South Africa, the endeavor of accurate assessment has been long-standing and is not only an ethical but legal requirement in the field of Psychology. The selection of appropriate normative data provides an opportunity for valid clinical interpretations. This research forms a part of a larger cross-cultural normative project, which elucidates the impact of a number of pivotal sociocultural factors on test performance. This specific study is aimed at producing normative indications for the Tower of London- Drexel University 2nd Edition. In addition, it investigates the effect of quality of education, age and sex on test performance. Method: The sample consisted of Black isiXhosa- speaking adults (N= 40) proficient in English aged between 19-40 years whom had obtained the highest scholastic education of Grade 11 or 12 in disadvantaged educational setting at either urban or rural former Department of Education and Training (ex- DET) schools. Results: The Independent t-test analyses revealed a significant effect of quality of education on the Total Execution Time index in the direction of urban participants outperforming rural participants. Significant results for sex were also documented on the Total Rule Violation index with females engaging in more Rule Violations than male participants. No significant differences were found between age groups. Conclusion: The findings of this research confirm the need for demographically specific normative data. This will allow for the development of more accurate and reliable indices of neurocognitive abilities among culturally and educationally disadvantaged individuals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Performance of Xhosa-speaking adults on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test : an extension of a prior South African normative database
- Mabusela, Ntombizanele Tebello Iris
- Authors: Mabusela, Ntombizanele Tebello Iris
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Neuropsychological tests Neuropsychological tests--South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16313 , vital:40709
- Description: The aim of the study was to develop preliminary normative indications for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex figure test (ROCF). The ROCF was administered in English on the performance of Xhosa-speaking, unskilled workers (N=40), from the Eastern Cape Province. As a mode of collecting data, the research study made use of convenience sampling which ultimately led to snowball sampling. The ROCF was administered and scored according to Rey Osterrieth’s initial standardised administration instructions (Meyers & Meyers, 1995a). For all trials of the ROCF (Copy, Immediate and Delayed Recall), a score of 0-2 points were allocated to each of the 18 structural elements of the figure. The total scores were calculated out of 36, as originally defined by Osterrieth. There was no statistically significant difference in performance for the quality of education for any of the ROCF test trials (p≥0.05 in all instances). Similarly, no significant difference is indicated for the Copy and Immediate Recall (IR) trial for sex indications, whilst the Delayed Recall (DR) trial shows statistically significant differences. Age effects appeared to have an influence on test performance on all ROCF test trials, as a significant difference was identified for all instances. Descriptively and statistically, the present local sample’s mean performance was compared to a demographically equivalent local study (de Kock’s study, which the present study is doing an extension on) and non-local normative studies. The results indicate the need for culturally-relevant South African psychological assessment measures. It also emphasises the importance of making a psychological measure more applicable and relevant to a specific context. Consideration of socio-cultural factors for norm purposes is strongly recommended by this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mabusela, Ntombizanele Tebello Iris
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Neuropsychological tests Neuropsychological tests--South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16313 , vital:40709
- Description: The aim of the study was to develop preliminary normative indications for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex figure test (ROCF). The ROCF was administered in English on the performance of Xhosa-speaking, unskilled workers (N=40), from the Eastern Cape Province. As a mode of collecting data, the research study made use of convenience sampling which ultimately led to snowball sampling. The ROCF was administered and scored according to Rey Osterrieth’s initial standardised administration instructions (Meyers & Meyers, 1995a). For all trials of the ROCF (Copy, Immediate and Delayed Recall), a score of 0-2 points were allocated to each of the 18 structural elements of the figure. The total scores were calculated out of 36, as originally defined by Osterrieth. There was no statistically significant difference in performance for the quality of education for any of the ROCF test trials (p≥0.05 in all instances). Similarly, no significant difference is indicated for the Copy and Immediate Recall (IR) trial for sex indications, whilst the Delayed Recall (DR) trial shows statistically significant differences. Age effects appeared to have an influence on test performance on all ROCF test trials, as a significant difference was identified for all instances. Descriptively and statistically, the present local sample’s mean performance was compared to a demographically equivalent local study (de Kock’s study, which the present study is doing an extension on) and non-local normative studies. The results indicate the need for culturally-relevant South African psychological assessment measures. It also emphasises the importance of making a psychological measure more applicable and relevant to a specific context. Consideration of socio-cultural factors for norm purposes is strongly recommended by this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Motherhood narratives by women who access support services from an Non-Governmental Organisation in East London
- Authors: Du Preez, Jaydene
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Motherhood--South Africa Motherhood--Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16842 , vital:40778
- Description: Motherhood comes with little guidance or direction and the experience itself is often one that is saturated with mixed feelings and realities. Yet the ideologies and narratives that exist about the experience of motherhood often point to the idea that motherhood is a natural, easy and all-fulfilling position for a woman to have. Such contradictions between the thoughts and ideas about motherhood versus actual experiences of motherhood have resulted in a great deal of discomfort and difficulty for women. This is possibly as a result of the way in which motherhood has been studied in the past. But feminist, sociological and social psychological perspectives have sought to research the experiences of motherhood differently and in recent years through a growing interest in women-centred psychological research, there has been a shift in focus to the actual experiences of women as mothers. This research aims to be a continuing and contributing study of the experiences of mothers. Six mothers were interviewed through a semi-structured interviewing process. A narrative form of inquiry was used to facilitate the telling of the mothers’ stories. The aim of the research was to discover the experiences of motherhood by the mothers who made use of the services at a chosen NGO in East London. The findings suggest that the mothers experienced a number of contradictions between the dominant narratives of motherhood and their actual experiences. What also became evident was that many, if not all the mothers, were not as affected or concerned about these contradictions as mothers in other studies have been. It was thought that this was either a result of the personal characteristics of the mothers – their race, class and socioeconomic status (as suggested in other studies) or that the NGO itself was acting as a protective factor, allowing the mothers to fulfil their ideas about good mothering, thus contributing to their ideas and views of themselves, as mothers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Du Preez, Jaydene
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Motherhood--South Africa Motherhood--Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16842 , vital:40778
- Description: Motherhood comes with little guidance or direction and the experience itself is often one that is saturated with mixed feelings and realities. Yet the ideologies and narratives that exist about the experience of motherhood often point to the idea that motherhood is a natural, easy and all-fulfilling position for a woman to have. Such contradictions between the thoughts and ideas about motherhood versus actual experiences of motherhood have resulted in a great deal of discomfort and difficulty for women. This is possibly as a result of the way in which motherhood has been studied in the past. But feminist, sociological and social psychological perspectives have sought to research the experiences of motherhood differently and in recent years through a growing interest in women-centred psychological research, there has been a shift in focus to the actual experiences of women as mothers. This research aims to be a continuing and contributing study of the experiences of mothers. Six mothers were interviewed through a semi-structured interviewing process. A narrative form of inquiry was used to facilitate the telling of the mothers’ stories. The aim of the research was to discover the experiences of motherhood by the mothers who made use of the services at a chosen NGO in East London. The findings suggest that the mothers experienced a number of contradictions between the dominant narratives of motherhood and their actual experiences. What also became evident was that many, if not all the mothers, were not as affected or concerned about these contradictions as mothers in other studies have been. It was thought that this was either a result of the personal characteristics of the mothers – their race, class and socioeconomic status (as suggested in other studies) or that the NGO itself was acting as a protective factor, allowing the mothers to fulfil their ideas about good mothering, thus contributing to their ideas and views of themselves, as mothers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
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