The natural family and residential care : a study of the psychosocial impact on statutory child removals on the natural parents

This study examines the experiences of 12 parents at a Children's Home, whose children were removed from their custody in terms of the Child Care Act. Act 74/83, and placed into residential care. The statutory removal of children from the custody of their parents is defined as a traumatic event with an active shaming component. It is hypothesised that such trauma results in high levels of stress and that the respondents will meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome or a Traumatic Stress reaction. An associated hypothesis is that such a trauma leads to a severe blow to the Self of the Parent, resulting in either fragmentation, enfeeblement, or self-depletion. Characteristic affects will be strong feelings of shame and humiliation related to the placement. This blow to the sense of Self will be associated with a rage response to that self-injury which does not necessarily result in the total breakdown of the cohesion of the Self. A second hypothesis is that the psychosocial need pattern of the parents will reflect a high level of concern with self-esteem and social belonging, safety and security and self-actualisation. The experiences of these parents and their responses to the research hypotheses can best be understood and made sense of within a conceptual framework that facilitates an understanding of the Self, and how it responds to the impact of a trauma that is characterised by an active shaming component.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Social Development

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Samakosky, Sidney

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tshabalala, Mandla

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22546

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/22546