Abstract
D.Ed.
For the post modern individual, aggression and aggressive behaviour are part
and parcel of daily life. Globally, in our own country and in our local
communities the individual is exposed to and confronted with challenges and
issues relating to the way aggression is experienced and managed. Incidents
of violence, crime and abuse are rife. On top of that modern society sets high
expectations and demands and this often go hand in hand with feelings of
frustration and incompetence. Matters are complicated even further by socio
economic issues like poverty, unemployment, corruption, political division,
high rates of divorce and family violence. It is almost logical that stress and
pressure will result in feelings of aggression which in turn will be expressed in
aggressive behaviour.
Aggression and aggressive behaviour are complex phenomena. The way in
which aggression is experienced and managed probably depends a great
deal on how and where he/she learned it. Due to this the suspicion arose that
parents and the family context, may play an important part in the way
adolescents learn, experience and manage aggression.
The family context is the primary unit of education and can be seen as a micro
cosmos which represents the broader society and because of this the
suspicion arose that the adolescent, at home, comes into contact with role
models that effect the way in which he/she experiences and manages
aggression. This study endeavours to determine how adolescents experience
and manage aggression in a family context. The overall goal of the study is to
develop and implement a psycho-educational program that will facilitate the
constructive and positive experience and management of aggression and also
improve general mental well-being.