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“WHO AM I?” – A REFLECTIVE EXPERIENCE ON THE SENSE OF SELF OF INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED ADOLESCENTS WITHIN FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Year 2017, Volume: 7 , 192 - 202, 08.09.2017

Abstract

This
study explored intellectually challenged adolescents’ experiences of their
sense of self within familial relationships. 
An embedded, mixed methods approach was used – semi-structured
interviews were conducted with 12 adolescents, who also completed an emotional
intelligence measure, the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version.
The participants’ scores indicated average emotional intelligence, supporting
their capacity to recognize, understand, and manage emotions experienced by the
self and others.  The adolescents
provided corroborating qualitative evidence that they recognized the influence
of family relationships, and positive and negative broader social experiences
(e.g. peers in school) on their sense of self. 
Exploration and self-reflection facilitated the formation of strong,
stable selves, and creates awareness that some adolescents need supportive
reinforcement to construct a positive sense of self.  

References

  • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (2010). Intellectual disability: Definition, classification, and systems of supports (11th ed.). Retrieved from http://aaidd.org/intellectual disability/definition/classification American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (2013). Definition of intellectual disability. Retrieved from http://aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. Anderson, S. A., & Sabatelli, R. M. (2011). Family interaction: A multi-generational developmental perspective (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Baron, R. A., & Byrne, D. (2000). Social psychology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Bar-On, R., & Parker, J. D. A. (2000). BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version. (BarOn EQ-i:YV). Technical manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems. Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (2013). Family therapy: A systemic integration (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Berk, L. E. (2006). Child development (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Brah, A., Hickman, M. & Mac an Ghaill, M. (2004). Thinking identities: Ethnicity, racism and culture. London: Palgrave MacMillan. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155-159. doi: 10.1037/ 0033.112.1.155 Cottle, T. J. (2003). A sense of self: The work of affirmation. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). London: Sage. Crocetti, E., Rubini, M., Luyckx, K., & Meeus, W. (2008). Identity formation in Early and Middle Adolescents from various ethnic groups: From three dimensions to five statuses. Journal Youth Adolescence, 37, 983-996. doi: 10, 1007/s10964-007-9222-2 Delport, C. S. L., & Fouché, C. B. (2011). Mixed methods research. In A. S. de Vos, H. Strydom, C. B. Fouché, & C. S. L. Delport (Eds.). Research at grass roots for the social sciences and human service professions (pp. 433-448) (4th ed.). Pretoria: Van Schaik. Eastabrook, J., Duncan, A., & Eldridge, B. (2005). Academic success in elementary school: Does EI matter? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal, Quebec. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York, NY: Norton. Erikson, E. H. (1993). Childhood and society (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Norton. (Originally published 1963). Fisher, P., & Goodley, D. (2007). The linear model of disability: Mothers of disabled babies resist with counter-narratives. Sociology of Health and Illness, 29, 1, 66-81. Formby, P., & Osborn, C. (2010). The influence of union instability and union quality on children’s aggressive behavior. Social Science Research, 39, 912-924. Freud, S. (1923/1974). The Ego and the id. London: Hogarth. Fromm, E. (1992). The art of being. New York, NY: Continuum. Gergen K. J. (2011). The social construction of self. In S. Gallagher (Ed.), Oxford handbook of the self (pp. 633-653). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Gill, C. J. (2001). Divided understanding. The social experience of disability. In G. L. Albrecht, K. D. Selman, & M. Bury (Eds.), Handbook of disability studies (pp. 351 372). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Goodley, D., & Tregaskis, C. (2006). Storying disability and impairment: Retrospective accounts of disabled family life. Qualitative Health Research, 16, 630-646. Gwernan-Jones, R. (2008). Identity and disability: A review of the current state of developing trends. School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of Exeter. Retrieved from http://www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/final_gwernan-jones_identitydisability_20081201_jb.pdf Harrod, N., & Scheer, S. (2005). An exploration of adolescent emotional intelligence in relation to demographic characteristics. Adolescence, 40, 503-512. Hassan, K., & Sader, M. (2005). Adapting and validating the BarOn EQ-i:YV in the Lebanese context. International Journal of Testing, 5, 301-317. Hughes, B., Russell, R., & Paterson, K. (2005). Nothing to be had “off the peg”: Consumption, identity and the immobilization of young disabled people. Disability and Society, 20(1), 3-17. Hutchinson, E. D. (2003). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and environment (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. James, W. (1890). The self and its selves. In C. Lemert (Ed.) (2010), Social theory: The multicultural readings (pp. 161-166). Philadelphia, PA: Westview Press. Jung, C. G. (1947). On the nature of the psyche. In Collective works of Jung, C.G, Volume 8 (pp. 159-234). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press Krekula, C. (2002). The concept of family from the children’s perspective. Paper presented at the CFR session at the International Sociological Association’s 15th Congress, Brisbane. Retrieved from http://www.soc.uu.se/plugins/pdfdownload.php?id=1201 McConville, M. & Wheeler, G. (2001). The heart of development. Gestalt approaches to working with children, adolescents and their worlds. Volume II: Adolescence (pp. 54-72). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. Mead, G. H. (1962). Mind, self and society from the standpoint of a social behaviorist. Edited by C. W. Morris. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Menon, G. M., & Cowger, C. D. (2010). Integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. In B. A. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (pp. 609-619) (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. Michailakis, D. (2003). The Systems Theory concept of disability: One is not born a disabled person, one is observed to be one. Disability and Society, 18(2), 209-229. Oswalt, A. (2015). Child development theory: Adolescence. Seven Countries Services. Retrieved from http://www.sevencountries.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc &id=41153&=1310 Papalia, D. E., & Feldman, R. D. (2012). Experience human development. 12th edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Parker, J., Creque, R., Barnhart, D., Harris, J., Majeski, S., & Hogan, M. (2004). Academic achievement in high school: Does emotional intelligence matter? Personality and Individual Differences, 37, 1321-1330. Parker, J., Saklofske, D., Shaughnessy, P., Huang, S., Wood, L., & Eastabrook, J. (2005). Generalizability of the emotional intelligence construct: A cross-cultural study of North American aboriginal youth. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 215 227. Parker, J., Taylor, R., Eastabrook, J., Schell, S., & Wood, L. (2008). Problem gambling in adolescence: Relationships with internet misuse, gaming abuse and emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 174-180. Pillay, A. (2010). The influence of household structure and family composition on the lives of children in the Chatsworth area. (Unpublished MA dissertation). University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. Polster, E. (2005). A population of selves: A therapeutic exploration of personal diversity. Gouldsboro, ME: Gestalt Journal Press. Reeve, D. (2002). Negotiating psycho-emotional dimensions of disability and their influences on identity construction. Disability and Society, 17, 493-508. Rogers, C.R. (1961). On becoming a person: Therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. Rowan, J., & Cooper, M. (1999). The plural self. London: Sage. Schultz, D. P. & Schultz. S. E. (2005). Theories of personality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning. Steinberg, L. (2011). Adolescence (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Taylor, S. J. (2000). “You’re not retard, you’re just wise”: Disability, social identity and family networks. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 29, 58-92. Terry, L., & Campbell, A. (2009). Family myths of a child’s identity and the effect on service provision. Learning, Disability Practice, 12(8), 24-29. doi: 10.7748/ldp 2009.10.12.8.24.c7310 Vygotsky, L. (1986). Thought and language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Watson, N. (2002). “Well, I know this is going to sound very strange to you, but I do not see myself as a disabled person”. Disability and Society, 17(5), 509-527. Woodbridge, S., Buys, L., & Miller, E. (2011). “My grandchild has a disability”: Impact on grandparenting identity, roles and relationships. Journal of Aging Studies, 25, 355 363. World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). International classification of functioning, disability and health. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/ Yontef, G. M. (1993). Awareness, dialogue and process: Essays on Gestalt Therapy. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Press. Yontef, G. M. (1997). Relationship and sense of self in Gestalt therapy training. The Gestalt Journal, 20 (1), 17-48. Young, R. & Collin, A. (2004). Introduction: constructivism and social constructionism in the career field. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64 (3), 373-388.
Year 2017, Volume: 7 , 192 - 202, 08.09.2017

Abstract

References

  • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (2010). Intellectual disability: Definition, classification, and systems of supports (11th ed.). Retrieved from http://aaidd.org/intellectual disability/definition/classification American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (2013). Definition of intellectual disability. Retrieved from http://aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. Anderson, S. A., & Sabatelli, R. M. (2011). Family interaction: A multi-generational developmental perspective (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Baron, R. A., & Byrne, D. (2000). Social psychology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Bar-On, R., & Parker, J. D. A. (2000). BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version. (BarOn EQ-i:YV). Technical manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems. Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (2013). Family therapy: A systemic integration (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Berk, L. E. (2006). Child development (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Brah, A., Hickman, M. & Mac an Ghaill, M. (2004). Thinking identities: Ethnicity, racism and culture. London: Palgrave MacMillan. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155-159. doi: 10.1037/ 0033.112.1.155 Cottle, T. J. (2003). A sense of self: The work of affirmation. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). London: Sage. Crocetti, E., Rubini, M., Luyckx, K., & Meeus, W. (2008). Identity formation in Early and Middle Adolescents from various ethnic groups: From three dimensions to five statuses. Journal Youth Adolescence, 37, 983-996. doi: 10, 1007/s10964-007-9222-2 Delport, C. S. L., & Fouché, C. B. (2011). Mixed methods research. In A. S. de Vos, H. Strydom, C. B. Fouché, & C. S. L. Delport (Eds.). Research at grass roots for the social sciences and human service professions (pp. 433-448) (4th ed.). Pretoria: Van Schaik. Eastabrook, J., Duncan, A., & Eldridge, B. (2005). Academic success in elementary school: Does EI matter? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal, Quebec. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York, NY: Norton. Erikson, E. H. (1993). Childhood and society (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Norton. (Originally published 1963). Fisher, P., & Goodley, D. (2007). The linear model of disability: Mothers of disabled babies resist with counter-narratives. Sociology of Health and Illness, 29, 1, 66-81. Formby, P., & Osborn, C. (2010). The influence of union instability and union quality on children’s aggressive behavior. Social Science Research, 39, 912-924. Freud, S. (1923/1974). The Ego and the id. London: Hogarth. Fromm, E. (1992). The art of being. New York, NY: Continuum. Gergen K. J. (2011). The social construction of self. In S. Gallagher (Ed.), Oxford handbook of the self (pp. 633-653). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Gill, C. J. (2001). Divided understanding. The social experience of disability. In G. L. Albrecht, K. D. Selman, & M. Bury (Eds.), Handbook of disability studies (pp. 351 372). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Goodley, D., & Tregaskis, C. (2006). Storying disability and impairment: Retrospective accounts of disabled family life. Qualitative Health Research, 16, 630-646. Gwernan-Jones, R. (2008). Identity and disability: A review of the current state of developing trends. School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of Exeter. Retrieved from http://www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/final_gwernan-jones_identitydisability_20081201_jb.pdf Harrod, N., & Scheer, S. (2005). An exploration of adolescent emotional intelligence in relation to demographic characteristics. Adolescence, 40, 503-512. Hassan, K., & Sader, M. (2005). Adapting and validating the BarOn EQ-i:YV in the Lebanese context. International Journal of Testing, 5, 301-317. Hughes, B., Russell, R., & Paterson, K. (2005). Nothing to be had “off the peg”: Consumption, identity and the immobilization of young disabled people. Disability and Society, 20(1), 3-17. Hutchinson, E. D. (2003). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and environment (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. James, W. (1890). The self and its selves. In C. Lemert (Ed.) (2010), Social theory: The multicultural readings (pp. 161-166). Philadelphia, PA: Westview Press. Jung, C. G. (1947). On the nature of the psyche. In Collective works of Jung, C.G, Volume 8 (pp. 159-234). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press Krekula, C. (2002). The concept of family from the children’s perspective. Paper presented at the CFR session at the International Sociological Association’s 15th Congress, Brisbane. Retrieved from http://www.soc.uu.se/plugins/pdfdownload.php?id=1201 McConville, M. & Wheeler, G. (2001). The heart of development. Gestalt approaches to working with children, adolescents and their worlds. Volume II: Adolescence (pp. 54-72). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. Mead, G. H. (1962). Mind, self and society from the standpoint of a social behaviorist. Edited by C. W. Morris. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Menon, G. M., & Cowger, C. D. (2010). Integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. In B. A. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (pp. 609-619) (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. Michailakis, D. (2003). The Systems Theory concept of disability: One is not born a disabled person, one is observed to be one. Disability and Society, 18(2), 209-229. Oswalt, A. (2015). Child development theory: Adolescence. Seven Countries Services. Retrieved from http://www.sevencountries.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc &id=41153&=1310 Papalia, D. E., & Feldman, R. D. (2012). Experience human development. 12th edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Parker, J., Creque, R., Barnhart, D., Harris, J., Majeski, S., & Hogan, M. (2004). Academic achievement in high school: Does emotional intelligence matter? Personality and Individual Differences, 37, 1321-1330. Parker, J., Saklofske, D., Shaughnessy, P., Huang, S., Wood, L., & Eastabrook, J. (2005). Generalizability of the emotional intelligence construct: A cross-cultural study of North American aboriginal youth. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 215 227. Parker, J., Taylor, R., Eastabrook, J., Schell, S., & Wood, L. (2008). Problem gambling in adolescence: Relationships with internet misuse, gaming abuse and emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 174-180. Pillay, A. (2010). The influence of household structure and family composition on the lives of children in the Chatsworth area. (Unpublished MA dissertation). University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. Polster, E. (2005). A population of selves: A therapeutic exploration of personal diversity. Gouldsboro, ME: Gestalt Journal Press. Reeve, D. (2002). Negotiating psycho-emotional dimensions of disability and their influences on identity construction. Disability and Society, 17, 493-508. Rogers, C.R. (1961). On becoming a person: Therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. Rowan, J., & Cooper, M. (1999). The plural self. London: Sage. Schultz, D. P. & Schultz. S. E. (2005). Theories of personality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning. Steinberg, L. (2011). Adolescence (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Taylor, S. J. (2000). “You’re not retard, you’re just wise”: Disability, social identity and family networks. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 29, 58-92. Terry, L., & Campbell, A. (2009). Family myths of a child’s identity and the effect on service provision. Learning, Disability Practice, 12(8), 24-29. doi: 10.7748/ldp 2009.10.12.8.24.c7310 Vygotsky, L. (1986). Thought and language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Watson, N. (2002). “Well, I know this is going to sound very strange to you, but I do not see myself as a disabled person”. Disability and Society, 17(5), 509-527. Woodbridge, S., Buys, L., & Miller, E. (2011). “My grandchild has a disability”: Impact on grandparenting identity, roles and relationships. Journal of Aging Studies, 25, 355 363. World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). International classification of functioning, disability and health. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/ Yontef, G. M. (1993). Awareness, dialogue and process: Essays on Gestalt Therapy. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Press. Yontef, G. M. (1997). Relationship and sense of self in Gestalt therapy training. The Gestalt Journal, 20 (1), 17-48. Young, R. & Collin, A. (2004). Introduction: constructivism and social constructionism in the career field. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64 (3), 373-388.
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Details

Journal Section Articles
Authors

Christene Louw This is me

Herman Grobler This is me

Richard Cowden This is me

Publication Date September 8, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume: 7

Cite

APA Louw, C., Grobler, H., & Cowden, R. (2017). “WHO AM I?” – A REFLECTIVE EXPERIENCE ON THE SENSE OF SELF OF INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED ADOLESCENTS WITHIN FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, 7, 192-202.