The contributing role of some circumstantial factors in fueling family violence

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to determine whether any relationship existed betweenidentified circumstantial factors about the living conditions of black families and specificconflict tactics employed by them in an informal settlement in the Helderberg basin. Theresearch hypothesis is founded on crime statistics for the past five years for theHelderberg basin that have shown a generally higher crime incidence/reporting rate forinformal and low cost-housing compared to more affluent areas in the basin (CIAC,2000). The purpose of exploring the existence of such a relationship was to highlightparticular circumstantial factors, assisting decision makers at local government tointervene more effectively in terms of funds and resources to ensure safer community.A semi-structured questionnaire, developed by the author, was used to determine thepresence of circumstantial factors in this community; the Conflict Tactic Scales, (CTS),developed by Straus (1979), served as the measure to assess the predominant conflicttactics employed by families in Nomzamo, an informal settlement in the Helderbergbasin. Fifty families (2 members per family) participated in the study with one conditionthat one of the members should be a child between the ages of 12 and 17.The only significant relationship that was obtained was between the circumstantial factorlevelof education, and the conflict tactic-physical assault between spouses, whichhighlights the fact that continued education raises ones' awareness and empowers one tospeak out against violence in the home. Possible reasons were offered, given that no othersignificant trends could be determined in the study and recommendations for futureresearch in this field are made.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University