Exposure to violence at home: A qualitative exploration of experiences and perceptions of black adolescents in South Africa

Abstract

Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with black adolescent males and females in a South African township to explore their experiences and perceptions of domestic violence in their homes of origin and in their intimate relationships. Trauma theory and social learning theory were used to explore the influence of exposure to violence at home on violent behavior in subsequent relationships. Findings indicate that observational learning contributes to post-traumatic stress and dating violence among adolescents in South Africa. Some of the predictions of the intergenerational transmission of violence were also supported by the respondents’ experiences and perceptions of violence within their own relationships. There was evidence of socialized gendered notions of male power and control, where violence is used to affirm masculinity.