Exploring counsellor burnout and personal accomplishment in organisations that empower abused women
- Authors: Hatfield, Kelly
- Date: 2012-03-05
- Subjects: Counselors , Burn out (Psychology) , Adjustment (Psychology) , Violence , Abused women , Wife abuse , Rape
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2141 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4508
- Description: M.A. , Violence in South Africa has reached epidemic proportions. Violence against women is one area in which this social undercurrent continuously plays itself out. People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and Rape Crisis, Cape Town (RCCT) are two organizations that use lay counsellors to focus specifically on counselling women who have endured rape and domestic violence. Burnout is widely recognized as a consequence of this helping profession. This quantitative study comprised of 26 female counsellors from POWA and RCCT, who completed questionnaires that included demographic data, the Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure levels of burnout and personal accomplishment, and the COPE that measures different coping styles. The statistical analysis used was Pearson's correlation t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed that this small sample group do not feel burned out, but rather have a sense of personal accomplishment. The counsellors listed eleven of the fourteen coping styles suggested as useful, and five of these appeared significantly so. Certain differences in coping techniques became apparent when analysed according to demographic data. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are also discussed.
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Exploring different explanatory psychological models of perpetrators of rape
- Authors: Mkhabela, Moses
- Date: 2008-11-11T06:46:35Z
- Subjects: Rape , Rapists
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14634 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1588
- Description: M.A. , Without prejudice to race or culture, rape is the hurt of both males and females of all ages. Rape can be one of the most devastating emotional events in a person’s life, the effects of which are entrenched for life (Rozee & Koss, 2001). Motives underscoring the need to commit rape have received much attention in the literature. Evolutionary theorists such as Thornhill and Palmer (2000) report that sexual needs and reproduction are the primary motivational factors. Feminist theorists believe that men rape because they are angry and that the act of rape is an expression of their anger (Brownmiller, 1975; Mardorossian, 2002). Behavioural researchers argue that rapists are sexually excited by the ‘wrong stimuli’ (Polaschek, Ward & Hudson, 1997). Given these varying explanations, it is clear that the answer to the question, ‘why do men rape?’ is far more complex than one might anticipate. It is evident from the statistics that rape is one of the leading crimes in South Africa (Shapiro, 1999). Through critical reflection and analyses, this study explores the relevant literature on perpetrators of rape. In attempting to answer the question, “why do men rape?’ several factors are involved such as, socialisation, media, men’s biology, aggression and psychopathology. Following an extensive review of the literature, there seems to be a scarcity of studies researching the perceptions and experiences of rapists.
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Rape myth acceptance : gender and cross-national comparisons across the United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria
- Authors: Fakunmoju, Sunday B. , Abrefa-Gyan, Tina , Maphosa, Ntandoyenkosi , Gutura, Priscilla
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Rape myth acceptance , Rape , Gender-based violence
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/483325 , uj:43861 , Citation: Fakunmoju, S.B., Abrefa-Gyan, T., Maphosa, N. et al. Rape Myth Acceptance: Gender and Cross-National Comparisons Across the United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. Sexuality & Culture 25, 18–38 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-020-09755-z
- Description: Abstract: Many studies indicate that rape-supportive beliefs persist and influence sexually aggressive behaviors and hostility toward women. Despite the plethora of studies, cross-cultural knowledge remains sparse. The present study examined rape myth acceptance across gender and countries (i.e., United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria). An online questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 699 respondents in the four countries. Results suggested that respondents in Nigeria were the most likely and respondents in United States were the least likely to endorse rape myths. Respondents in South Africa were less likely than respondents in Ghana to endorse the myth that the female victim of rape “asked for it” and that the male perpetrator “didn’t mean to” rape the female victim. Although men were more likely than women to endorse rape myths, female respondents in Nigeria endorsed the myths “she asked for it” and “he didn’t mean to” more than did male respondents in Nigeria. In general, exposure to various patriarchal structures and ideologies; differences in preventive, protective, and punitive policy responses to gender-based violence; repressive cultural and religious practices; reinforcement of demeaning stereotypes against women; and psychological assimilation of oppressive policy, values and beliefs may be responsible for cross-national differences. Cross-country differences in rape myths suggest the need for formal and informal intervention in vulnerable countries. International transfer of effective policies and programs for combating gender-based violence in protective countries might lead to considerable changes in vulnerable countries and help to shift the focus from patriarchal to egalitarian views of women.
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