Relationship between symbolic violence and overt violence in hate incidents in South Africa

The study reported here explored the relationship between symbolic violence and overt violence through the descriptions of hate incidents experienced in South Africa. Data were collected during a five-year longitudinal study conducted under the auspices of the Hate Crimes Working Group, using its Hate and Bias Monitoring Form and an accompanying user guide. Thematic analysis was used to create categories, themes and interpretations of hate incidents. Six primary themes emerged: i) the victim is less than human or like an animal; ii) humiliation of the victim; iii) use of extreme overkill or destruction; iv) the victim is to blame; v) messages conveyed by hate incidents; and vi) intentional unfair discrimination. These themes are discussed in relation to the existing body of literature on symbolic violence. We argue that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between symbolic violence and overt violence in hate victimisation. Symbolic violence creates a society in which hate victimisation of certain vulnerable groups becomes socially acceptable by constructing the circumstances in which overt violence could take place. Overt violence occurs when symbolic violence is no longer effective in controlling vulnerable groups, with offenders blatantly resorting to reinforce power differences between themselves and their victims. Overt violence reinforces symbolic violence by sending a message to victims directly, as well as to their larger communities, in terms of their undesirability, not belonging, and being third-class citizens. Effective violence prevention has to take this relationship into account, especially as South Africa grapples with related legislative and policy responses.Keywords: symbolic violence, hate incidents, bias; message crimes, violence, preventio

South African psychology can and should provide leadership in advancing understanding of sexual and gender diversity on the African continent

College of Human Science

Psychology and hate speech: a critical and restorative encounter

College of Human Science

Developing an affirmative position statement on sexual and gender diversity for psychology professionals in South Africa

Background. Against the background of the dominance of patriarchy and heteronormativity in Africa and the resultant stigma, discrimination and victimisation of sexually and gender-diverse people, this article reports on the development of an affirmative position statement by the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) for psychology professionals working with sexually and gender-diverse people. The position statement is an attempt to contribute positively to the de-stigmatisation, amongst psychology professionals, of all people with diverse sexual and gender identities. Objective. In documenting and reflecting on the process of developing the statement — a first on the African continent — the article aims to contribute to the potential resources available to others in their work on similar projects around the world. Design. Although initially intended to be relevant to the African continent, the position statement is appropriate to the South African context specifically, but developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, also from other African countries. Results. Concerns expressed during stakeholder consultations, and thus taken into account in the development of the statement, include relevance to other African countries, negotiating the politics of representation and language, the importance of including gender and biological variance in addition to sexuality, and the need to be sensitive to how Western influence is constructed in some African contexts. Conclusion. Other national psychology organisations stand to benefit by ‘lessons learned’ during this country-specific process with global implications, especially with respect to broadening the lens from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) to sexual and gender diversity, as well as an acknowledgement of the multiple and fluid developmental pathways around sexuality and gender, in general.College of Human Science

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients’ experience with counselling and psychotherapy in South Africa: implications for affirmative practice

The Psychological Society of South Africa has embarked on a process of developing affirmative practice guidelines for psychology professionals working with sexually and gender-diverse people, inclusive of, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex concerns. Towards informing the guidelines, we explored self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual people’s experiences of psychotherapy and counselling in South Africa. A total of 15 qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with selected participants. Among others, positive experiences entailed receiving unconditional positive regard, acceptance, and non-judgement from counsellors and/or psychotherapists. This included the counsellors and/or psychotherapists positively affirming participants’ sexual orientation by, for instance, viewing same-sex attractions, feelings, and behaviour as normal variants of sexuality and seeing sexual orientation as one aspect of the person, not the only aspect. Negative experiences were almost exclusively ascribed to the counsellors and/or psychotherapists being disaffirming of the client’s sexual orientation. Findings provide a potential basis for future affirmative practice guidelines and indicate that taking a stance affirming of sexual orientation was considered to be important.College of Human Science

Cross-cultural perspectives of LGBTQ psychology from five different countries: current state and recommendations

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning psychology (LGBTQ psychology) is a branch of psychology that promotes inclusiveness in theory and practice across the science of psychology, affirming the lives of people with different sexual orientations and forms of gender expression in a non-heterosexist and non-genderist perspective. This article highlights the historical development of LGBTQ psychology in the context of different realities for LGBTQ people in five different countries (Russia, Greece, Colombia, South Africa and the province of Quebec, Canada). Key experts on LGBTQ concerns report distinctive challenges they have faced when promoting LGBTQ rights and developing LGBTQ psychology (e.g., the pathologization and criminalization of sexual diversity, neglect on the part of authorities, and rejection from religious groups). Human and mental health sciences have played an important role in the blossoming of LGBTQ psychology. Cross-cultural narratives show that the recognition of lesbian and gay rights comes before the recognition of the rights of bi, trans, queer and questioning people. Various forms of homonegativity and transphobia still coexist even in countries that have established protections and rights recognition for LGBTQ people. We provide 15 strategies to help psychological organizations and psychologists around the world promote the development of LGBTQ psychology

The Role of Organized Psychology in Inspiring Hope and Preventing Hate victimization: Recommendations from a South African Hate and Bias Monitoring Initiative

Psychology must have as its primary focus the well-being of humans, communities, and societies and cannot be detached from - or even neutral about - our social or political systems. For those who are impacted by hate, the focus on their well-being has never mattered more. In South Africa, which is the focal point of our research, and the world, hate victimization targeting people based on identity factors like race, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation is becoming more prevalent. Given the menacing intensification of hate, how is psychology as a profession, science, and discipline keeping the pulse of society at large? The South African Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG) conducted a five-year longitudinal research study to assess the impact and nature of hate in South Africa. It is also the first study of this nature conducted in Africa. The Psychological Society of South Africa served as research lead for the HCWG member organization utilizing the customized HCWG Monitoring Form as a research instrument. A total of N=945 cases were quantitatively analyzed providing descriptive information. Key results inform the role of scientific and professional organizations representing psychology in preventing hate. Not only is there the need for policy and legislative changes to effectively address hate victimization, but most importantly the significance of attending to the impact of hate, including hopelessness, distrust, and dignity lost, is indicated. Based on the findings, recommendations underscore the ways in which global and nationally representative psychological associations may contribute to improved measures of prevention, add their voice to disrupting intolerance and condemn the ubiquitous rhetoric of bigotry that elicits hate-based victimization. And, in doing so, inspire hope for humanity.College of Human Science

A school-based socio-emotional programme as strategy against crime and violence

Misdaad en geweld is ’n ernstige probleem in Suid-Afrikaanse skole. Die studie waarop hierdie artikel gebaseer is, het gepoog om te bepaal watter elemente ’n sosiaal-emosionele intervensieprogram by ’n skool behoort te bevat om die voorkoming van geweld en misdaad in die skool te verseker. Met die vertrekpunt dat emosionele-intelligensie-onderrigmetodes in die klaskamer van groot waarde kan wees wat geweld-intervensies by skole betref, het die studie dit ten doel gehad om vas te stel of emosionele vaardighede in die komplekse atmosfeer van ’n skool aangeleer kan word. Die rol van onderwysers in die ontwikkeling van emosionele intelligensie by leerders is ook ondersoek. ’n Skoolgebaseerde sosiaal-emosionele intervensieprogram as strategie teen geweld is op die beginsel gebaseer dat onderrig bewustheid kan verander, dat kennis en onderrigmetodes prososiale gedrag kan bevorder, en dat dit leerders kan bemagtig. Die basiese aanname van ’n skoolgebaseerde geweld-intervensieprogram is dat, indien geweld aangeleer is, dit weer afgeleer kan word en leerders alternatiewe kan kies wat nie geweld insluit nie. Benewens kognitiewe en emosionele rypheid moet adolessente ook sosiale rypheid bereik. ’n Adolessent-gesentreerde onderrigbenadering sal adolessente se vermoë om ’n sosiaalaanvaarbare lewensfi losofi e te ontwikkel, bevorder. Adolessentleer word bevorder wanneer individuele verskille erken, gerespekteer en geakkommodeer word; wanneer die leerders gemotiveer word deur uitdaging, relevansie, keuse, en ’n gevoel van suksesbereiking, en wanneer hulle gemaklik voel om hulleself uit te druk, skeppend, ondersoekend en eksperimenterend te wees, risiko’s te neem en foute te maak.College of Human Science

The Situational Context of Adolescent Homicide Victimization in Johannesburg, South Africa

Although studies have described the incidence and epidemiology of adolescent homicide victimization in South Africa, little is known about the situational contexts in which they occur. This study aimed to describe the victim, offender, and event characteristics of adolescent homicide and to generate a typology based on the particular types of situational contexts associated with adolescent homicide in South Africa. Data on homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) that occurred in Johannesburg (South Africa) during the period 2001-2007 were obtained from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and police case records. Of the 195 cases available for analysis, 81% of the victims were male. Most of the offenders were male (90%), comprising of strangers (42%) and friends/ acquaintances (37%). Arguments (33%) were the most common precipitating circumstances, followed by revenge (11%), robbery (11%), and acts of vigilantism/retribution for a crime (8%). Through the use of cluster analysis, the study identified three categories of adolescent homicide: (a) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event, (b) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument, and (c) female victims killed by male offenders. The results can serve to inform the development of tailored and focused strategies for the prevention of adolescent homicide.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Emotional consequences of hate incidents: experiences of a South African cohort

The consequences of hate incidents are far greater than transgressions without an underlying bias motive. The powerful emotional and psychological effect observed in victims of hate rests in the perpetrator attacking the identity or an unchangeable characteristic of a victim. Within South Africa, these effects are compounded by the country’s legacy of discrimination and oppression; thus, the potential consequences of hate victimisation within this context extend beyond the emotional. This justifies differential retributive and restorative measures following such incidents; however, legislative and policy frameworks to respond to hate victimisation are only in the beginning stages. The scarcity of empirical research on hate incidents and their consequences in South Africa renders this investigation the first of its kind. The researchers aimed to determine the demographic and situational variables that put individuals at a higher risk for experiencing emotional consequences as a result of hate victimisation. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression modelling were used to analyse data (n = 409, Mean Age = 31.5). Results indicate a higher vulnerability of emotional consequences if a victim is exposed to economic consequences, if the offender is known to the victim, and if the victim identifies as Black African. Sex and type of incident (hate crimes, hate speech, and intentional unfair discrimination) showed no significant relationship with emotional consequences. The results enable greater insight into victim experiences of emotional consequences and motivate prioritising psychosocial health care, targeted interventions, and relevant legislative and policy frameworks for victims and communities affected by hate incidents.College of Human Science