Browsing by Author "Reinecke, Charlene Rene"

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    The alignment of mind style with four categories of registration in South African psychology
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-12) Reinecke, Charlene Rene; Van der Westhuysen, T. W. B.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology .
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the possible alignment between mind style and four specialization categories within the profession of psychology. The Mind Style model of Anthony F. Gregorc, serving as a key to better understand an individuals' constitution, constitutes the theoretical underpinning of the investigation. The model divides specific perceptual and ordering qualities into four mediation channels or mind styles: Concrete Sequential (CS), Abstract Sequential (AS), Abstract Random (AR), and Concrete Random (CR). The Gregorc Style Delineator, an instrument measuring the perceptual qualities of concreteness and abstractness, and the ordering qualities of sequentialness and randomness, was administered to 68 students registered for the Clinical, Counselling, Educational, and Industrial Psychology masters study programmes at the University of Stellenbosch. The primary research objectives included determining the mind styles of the four specialization groups, and ascertaining whether the four groups displayed distinguishing dominant mind style preferences. Secondary research objectives explored the relationships between and interactions with the words of the Gregorc Style Delineator and the four specialization groups. The reasons of the four groups for studying their chosen specialization fields were also noted. The data was analysed using the SPSS. Findings revealed no significant differences between the mind styles of the four groups. The Abstract Random mind style was found to be the dominant mind style for all four of the specialization groups. The secondary research objectives similarly found no significant evidence in support of clear descriptive delineations between the four specialization groups. Regarding mind style, a perceptual-ordering aspect of personality, it would thus appear that psychologistsin- training, and therefore psychologists, are undifferentiated. On the whole the results of this study indicate that psychologists in various registration categories are more similar than different. Recommendations were made for further study and research.
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    Beyond vicarious trauma: exploring adversarial growth in a sample of South African paramedics
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Reinecke, Charlene Rene; Painter, Desmond; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: This qualitative study firstly explores the strategies that a sample of South African emergency medical care (EMC) practitioners, or paramedics, employ to cope with the vicarious trauma (VT) they are consistently exposed to as a result of their occupation. The paramedics work in both a public (Metro Western Cape EMS) and a private (ER24) EMC service in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The trauma is exacerbated by the dangerous working conditions of paramedics in the country. The study secondly explores the paramedics’ responses to vicarious trauma, which may be termed posttraumatic, or adversarial growth (AG). In this regard the study deliberately applies a positive psychology approach, which facilitates the exploration of vicarious trauma from the perspective of which the results may be termed ‘adversarial growth’, with specific reference to adaptation and resilience. This signals a departure from the way consequences of traumatic events have typically been studied from a pathogenic perspective, and connects with research that has shown that the experience of trauma may result in growth through adversity that go beyond mere adjustment and coping. Positive effects are often yielded which include revised ideas, beliefs, expectations and assumptions. In-depth interviews were conducted with eighteen participants, and thematic analysis was employed to analyse their narratives. Two distinct analytic categories were identified. Factual interview responses were processed by using descriptive analysis as regards the participants’ study and training, support services, and coping mechanisms they utilize. Experiential analysis facilitated the coding of the participants’ work experiences, and four main themes were extracted, namely service, realism, changed life perspective, and mortality. The findings confirm the reality of the vicarious trauma paramedics are exposed to due to the nature of their work, as well as its effects which often result in emotional blunting and detachment. The findings further reveal how paramedics manage and cope with increasing primary trauma due to high-risk working conditions, and that the most meaningful coping mechanisms reportedby the participants are talking to colleagues, engaging in post-call evaluations, applying self debriefing, and personal introspection. The participants’ narratives capture their perceptions of growth through adversity. Their descriptions of adversarial growth not only correspond to the definition of the construct in the literature, but contribute towards further developing the definitions in the literature as presented in this study. The study found that the participants’ responses to trauma and adversarial growth are dependent on individual differences, that is, their personal characteristics and support resources, and the manner in which they appraise and proactively process the traumatic events they are exposed to. In spite of the participants’ critical and high-risk occupation where they experience vicarious and primary trauma in the fulfilment of their duties, there is evidence of the existence of psychosocial resources in this sample of paramedics which support positive functioning. Should the issues in EMC training and support services be addressed as identified in this study, it may contribute to increased positive functioning and warrants further exploration.