Anthony V. Naidoo

Reconceptualizing the Sequelae of Political Torture: Limitations of a Psychiatric Paradigm

A psychiatric model of traumatization has informed most research in psychology on the effects of human rights violations, including political torture, in South Africa. This article highlights some of the limitations of a hegemonic psychiatric approach to conceptualizing current sequelae of abuse experienced by political detainees during the apartheid era. It calls attention to the relevance of the South African social and political context in which survivors are located, methodological problems that characterize psychological research on trauma in South Africa and other developing countries, and the relevance of the meaning that survivors may attribute to their experience of detention and torture.

Visual-motor integration functioning in a South African middle childhood sample.

Visual-motor integration functioning has been identified as playing an integral role in different aspects of a childs development. Sensory-motor development is not only foundational to the physical maturation process, but is also imperative for progress with formal learning activities. Deficits in visual-motor integration have been identified as precursors of later learning disabilities and other neurological conditions. The primary aim of this study was to determine the status of visual-motor integration functioning of a group of learners from a disadvantaged peri-urban South African community. Visual-motor integration functioning was assessed using the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) and the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test (GHD). Three hundred and thirty-nine learners in grades 1–4 were assessed and results for the group relative to gender, chronological age and socioeconomic status are reported. For the group, the mean test age fell 16 months below the mean chronological age on the VMI. The mean GHD score for the group was about a half a standard deviation below the GHDs test norm. At school entry level, visual-motor integration was more than one standard deviation below the mean. Compared to female learners, male learners achieved significantly higher scores on the test age score of the VMI (mean difference = 8.69 months), and the intelligence coefficient score of the GHD (mean difference = 4.68). Scores on both measures increased as a function of socioeconomic status. The VMI and GHD scores were significantly correlated (r = 0.45; P < 0.01) suggesting that visual-motor integration is integral to intellectual functioning.

The association of racial attitudes and spiritual beliefs in post-apartheid South Africa

Previous research has investigated the complex association between religious beliefs and racism. Many studies have found that fundamentalist religious beliefs are positively associated with racial prejudice among European and European American populations. However, few studies have examined whether this association is found in other cultures or whether the association also characterizes spiritual beliefs. Data from 493 South African university students from three racial backgrounds revealed significant differences among the groups. A positive association between fundamentalism and racial prejudice was found among participants, but general spiritual beliefs were negatively associated with racist attitudes. The results emphasize the need to address contextual factors that influence the association between religious beliefs and racism within a given culture.

Building Communities of Peace: The South African Experience

While political conflicts in many countries have resulted in large-scale destruction and loss of life, South Africa has been successful in avoiding a violent conflict following the demise of apartheid. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been seen as an important mechanism contributing to South Africas successful management of its political challenges. Yet, the legacy of apartheid continues beyond the work of the TRC, and several social problems such as poverty, unemployment, crime, and substance abuse continue to affect many South African communities. Psychology is uniquely poised to assist in addressing these social problems and in contributing to the development of a community of peace. Academic psychology departments have responded by implementing an undergraduate programme aimed at training professional counsellors to respond to community needs in post-apartheid South Africa. This paper surveys the present political landscape in South Africa, examines the work of the TRC as a psychological change catalyst and peace building mechanism, and calls attention to the role of psychology in contributing to national development.

Masculinity and sexual practices in the military: A South African study

The militarys organisational culture tends to condone or encourage risk-taking behaviour. Willingness to accept and engage in risk-taking behaviour is central to good soldiering and is strongly associated with readiness for combat. This core attribute of military culture might predispose soldiers to engage in other higher-risk behaviours, such as unprotected sex. Soldiers’ working and living conditions, such as the high level of work-related stress in combat and deployment situations, and being away from home and particularly from partners for long periods, are reported as contributing to high levels of HIV in military groups. This article explores the underlying value system in the military context as a strong enabler of higher-risk sexual practices among male soldiers. This not only obstructs gender equality in the military organisation but also impacts on the prevalence of HIV. The article derives from a qualitative study of a diverse sample of 23–33-year-old male South African soldiers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 fulltime soldiers and the interview transcripts were analysed through interpretive discourse analysis. The findings highlight that when soldiers are on deployment or attending military courses they are often tempted to engage in higher-risk sexual behaviours. Underlying this narrative are patriarchal notions that men ‘need’ sex and cannot endure being without it, and that they have the right therefore to demand it from their partner or to seek it from multiple partners. Male soldiers’ sexual practices appear to be rationalised predominantly on the basis of the ‘male sexual drive’ discourse. The research found an association between work in the military and higher-risk sexual activity. Therefore, we argue that tackling HIV in the military demands critical examination of the constructions of masculinity.

Broadening Mental Health Services to Disadvantaged Communities in South Africa: Reflections on Establishing a Community Based Internship

The need to provide mental health services in disadvantaged communities remains a priority in South Africa. This paper illustrates how in consultation and partnership with the peri-urban community of Jamestown, a counselling psychology internship was established to provide a range of mental health services at a primary health clinic. We describe how the internship also became an important catalyst for other community interventions. We also illustrate how values of community psychology informed the establishment and foci of the internship. Tensions encountered in reconciling community needs and professional training requirements discussed include the lack of resources at the primary health care level, the bio-medical bias of the primary health setting, and addressing the needs articulated by the community for more direct interventions.

Lessons learnt from a community-based participatory research project in a South African rural context

The Railton Community Assessment Project constituted a community-based, participatory form of research that sought to identify community needs and assets for the purposes of prioritising actions to support community development planning and funding allocation in a local community in a South African rural context. The research design, which included 11 research phases, each including a number of research activities, was collaboratively developed and implemented collectively. The design included the establishment of a collaborative planning and accountability forum; interviews with key informants; a stratified household survey; community asset-mapping workshops with youth, adults, elders, and services providers; and community feedback processes. The findings of the research highlighted a number of community assets and needs which were directly linked to the identification of priority actions and recommendations by the community. The major strength of this study was its successful application of a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, which constitutes a particular focus for this article. Furthermore, this case study provides a useful example of how psychologists can contribute their knowledge and skills to promote general community well-being.

Transpersonal practices as prevention intervention for burnout among HIV/AIDS coordinator teachers

The impact of transpersonal psychology techniques as a treatment in burnout prevention interventions for teachers has not been studied in South Africa. This quantitative research study utilised a pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design using the Beck Anxiety Inventory to measure anxiety and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory to measure personal, work, and client dimensions of burnout. Thirty educators, who were HIV/AIDS coordinators in their schools located in South Metro, Western Cape, received 6 days of Capacitar training between March and September 2009, based on transpersonal psychology practices. These workshops were initially developed by Dr Pat Cane, who founded Capacitar International, California, USA, in her engagement with trauma and burnout survivors in 35 countries. While the pre-test means of the intervention and control groups of teachers were similar on the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory measures, there were significant reductions (p < .01) in anxiety, personal, and work burnout in the post-test measures of the intervention group. There were also significant differences (p < .05) in anxiety, personal, work, and client burnout of teachers between the intervention and control groups. The results of this study suggest that transpersonal psychological techniques could be an effective treatment in burnout prevention interventions in this teacher sample.

Ethnic identity and racial attitudes in a minority group of mixed racial origin

Limited information exists on the racial attitudes and ethnic identities of groups of mixed racial origin. The present research tested the hypotheses that the construct of ethnic identity is valid among such groups and that ethnic identity is related to out-group prejudice, as predicted by social identity theory. The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, the Anti-White Scale, and the Subtle Racism Scale were administered to 70 South Africans of mixed racial descent, the so-called Coloureds. A factor analysis supported the structural validity of the 12-item measure of ethnic identity with this sample, but correlations between scales did not support the prediction that group identity would be positively associated with out-group prejudice. Group identity was positively related .27 to positive attitudes toward Whites consistent with the tenets of social dominance theory.

Role conflict of South African women in dual-career families

162 female managers in dual-career families were surveyed about their perceived role conflict and support at home. While the majority expressed satisfaction with their careers, a significant proportion (72%) confirmed experiencing role conflict that impeded career development. Lack of husbands or partners involvement in household chores was associated with role conflict. Involvement of the spouse or partner in household chores was also a significant correlate of the career aspirations of women in dual-career families. These female managers confirmed that, in spite of a current job meeting their career aspirations, role conflict was a major impediment to development.