Reconstructing trauma and meaning : life narratives of survivors of political violence during apartheid in South Africa / by Ileana Carmen Rogobete.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rogobete, Ileana, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Apartheid--South Africa--Psychological aspects.

Apartheid.

Political violence--South Africa--Psychological aspects.

Political violence.

History.

Psychological aspects.

South Africa--History--1961-1994--Biography.

South Africa.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

ix, 246 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015.

Summary:

Repressive regimes, regardless of their nature and geographic location, have a destructive and dehumanizing effect on people's lives. Oppression and political violence shatter victims' identities, their relationships, communities and the meaning of their world as a safe and coherent place. However, while some people suffer traumatising long term effects, others become stranger and more resilient, able to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of tragedy. Reconstructing Trauma and Meaning is an invitation to revisit, bear witness and listen to the stories of suffering and healing of survivors of apartheid repression in South Africa. This work is an exploration of the life trajectories of former victims of gross human rights violations during apartheid and their creative ways of reconstructing meaning after trauma. Their life narratives, shaped by social, political and cultural realities, are a valuable contribution to the collective memory of the nation, as an intrinsic part of the continuous process of reconciliation and transformation in South Africa. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 Trauma and Recovery: Historical Roots and Paradigm Shifts 8

2.1 Understanding trauma and recovery

2.2 Trauma, recovery and transformation: From loss of meaning to posttraumatic growth

2.3 Summary and preliminary conclusion

2.4 Perspectives on trauma and recovery in South Africa

2.5 Concluding remarks and possible ways ahead

Chapter 3 Conceptual Framework 41

3.1 The postmodern self and psychology

3.2 Social constructionism

3.3 A systemic approach to trauma and recovery: Text and context

3.4 Concluding points

Chapter 4 Understanding Human Suffering through Narratives 67

4.1 Qualitative research

4.2 Narrative research

4.3 The research process

Chapter 5 Narratives, Language and Meaning 87

5.1 Thematic narrative analysis

5.2 Narratives of state repression

5.3 Narratives of St. James Church massacre

5.4 Language and meaning

Chapter 6 Dimensions of Suffering during Apartheid 102

6.1 Victims of state repression

6.2 Victims of liberation movements

6.3 Concluding points

Chapter 7 Life Trajectories After Trauma and Perspectives on Recovery 142

7.1 Feeling at home in the world

7.2 Still searching for significance

7.3 Giving up the journey

7.4 Reflective review: Repairing the wreckage

Chapter 8 Summary and Reflection 184

8.1 Overview of main findings

8.2 Implications and contributions

8.3 Limitations of the study and directions for future research

8.4 Reflection on my journey

8.5 Concluding remarks.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781443880091

1443880094

OCLC:

919400468

Publisher Number:

99968868909