Sample Of White South Africans Research Articles

Bipartition of the atlanto-occipital joint surfaces in a South African sample

BackgroundOne variation of the atlanto-occipital joint contains a groove or crest dividing the superior articulating facet of C1 and/or the corresponding occipital condyle. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bipartition of the facets associated with the atlanto-occipital joint and to determine the relationships between the corresponding joint surfaces, bilateral and unilateral facets as well as demographic factors in a South African sample. Materials and methodsData about shape and bipartition found on the superior articular facets of the atlas and the occipital condyles were collected from 109 skulls and atlases from the Pretoria Bone Collection, South Africa. Shape data was categorically classified according to existing criteria from literature. ResultsThe results revealed the occasional occurrence of a double facet at both the superior articular facet of the atlas (15.6 %), and the occipital condyle (7.34 %). Shape and facet number of the superior articulating facet and corresponding occipital condyle were significantly correlated. The prevalence of bipartition of neither the superior articular facets nor the occipital condyles were statistically significantly different between the left and right sides. Sex and age did not statistically significantly contribute to prevalence of bipartition in this population. However, population group statistically significantly contributed to prevalence of bipartition (p = 0.019), with the White South African sample having a much higher prevalence (88.24 % superior articulating facet, 100 % occipital condyle) of bipartition compared to the Black South African sample (11.76 % superior articular facet, 0 % occipital condyle). ConclusionAwareness of this joint variation and instances where it is more likely to occur may be valuable for neuro-vascular and orthopaedic surgeons when doing invasive treatments around the craniocervical junction, and chiropractors when assessing and treating patients.

We cannot empathize with what we do not recognize: Perceptions of structural versus interpersonal racism in South Africa.

Recent research suggests holding a structural, rather than interpersonal, understanding of racism is associated with greater impetus to address racial disparities. We believe greater acknowledgment of structural racism also functions to mitigate against empathic failures in response to structural injustices. Given South Africa’s situatedness as a country characterized by historical racialized oppression and continuing unjust legacies, it is appropriate to examine these ideas there. Across three studies, we tested the hypotheses that members of advantaged groups’ perspective taking and empathic concern may be compromised in response to people challenging the unequal status quo, and that a priori perceptions about the impact of structural (vs interpersonal) racism may mitigate or exacerbate such empathic failures. In Study 1, a national sample of White South Africans (n = 195) endorsed perceptions of interpersonal racism more readily than perceptions of structural racism, and expressed high levels of competitive victimhood for perceived anti-White structural racism. Studies 2 (n = 138) and 3 (n = 85) showed that White participants at a historically White university responded with impaired perspective taking and intergroup empathy bias in response to people challenging structural disparities. Finally, reduced recognition of continuing structural racism predicted greater intergroup empathy bias, which, in turn, was associated with reduced willingness to engage in intergroup discussions about past harm (Study 3). We propose that greater acknowledgment of structural racism is necessary not only to surmount intergroup empathic failures, but also to transcend the socioeconomically unequal legacies of apartheid and beyond.

COVID-19 as Natural Intervention: Guilt and Perceived Historical Privilege Contributes to Structural Reform Under Conditions of Crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as an unmasking of persistent racialized inequalities linked to South Africa’s oppressive past. However, such observations lack empirical support. Here we examined whether COVID-19 lockdown conditions encouraged greater perceptions of continuing structural racism together with motivational and behavioral support for social justice, and whether guilt or empathic concern undergirded such responses. A national sample of White South Africans’ data suggests that the pandemic served as a natural intervention, fostering greater acknowledgement of structural racism and support for redress through increased awareness of historical privilege and guilt in response to Black hardship. Guilt furthermore predicted a social justice motivation in relief efforts, whereas empathic concern predicted only charity motivation. These results suggest that “White guilt” is more consequential than empathic concern in contributing to structural reform but would require longer-term processes to support the translation of its motivational push into sustainable contributions to social justice.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-021-00073-7.

Evaluation of the Enhanced Computational Methods of Estimating Age-at-Death Using the Pubic Symphyses of a White South African Population.

To address problems of reproducibility related to current age estimation methods, the enhanced computational Methods (ECM) were previously developed using a sample of white North American male pubic symphyses and showed promise in improving current techniques. However, given the evidence of sex and population differences in the onset of age markers, this study set out to test the ECM on a white South African sample. The sample consisted of 184 well-preserved os coxae from individuals of known age and sex. Pubic symphyseal surfaces were scanned using the Artec Spider 3D scanner, processed using Artec Studio 10 and analyzed using forAge. Point estimates of age were then compared to the true age of each individual. Results indicate that the ECM performed poorly in a white South African population, with consistent underestimation of age-at-death and weak positive correlations with true age. Despite the low correlations, the ECM did, however, reduce observer error.

The Configuration of Cervical Spinous Processes in Black and White South African Skeletal Samples

The present study investigates the frequency of bifidity/nonbifidity in the black and white South African populations. Four-hundred skeletons of known race, sex, and tribal group were examined. Spinous processes were classified as bifid (bifurcate and cleft subtypes) and nonbifid (obtuse, pediculate, acinate, and clavate subtypes). Statistical analysis using the chi-squared probability test (p < 0.05) was carried out. Bifid spinous processes were present significantly more frequently in the white sample (58.9%) than in the black (31.6%). A bifid spinous process occurred most commonly in C2 (89%) followed by C5 (83%), C4 (79%), C3 (59.4%), and C6 (41.7%) in the white sample. A similar order of decrease in bifidity occurred in the black sample. C2 most commonly displayed the bifurcate subtype of spinous process, while the clavate subtype of nonbifid spinous process was the most common in both populations. The significantly higher frequency of bifidity in the white South African sample when compared to the black sample may suggest a population difference.

The Reliability and Factorial Validity of a Multidimensional Measure of Psychological Symptomatology in South Africa

The Psychiatric Symptom Index (PSI) was originally developed and validated on a large sample of Chicago residents as a 29-item self-report measure of psychological distress (Ilfeld, 1976b). It has a number of advantages that make it suitable for use in community surveys: relative brevity, a clear and meaningful multidimensional structure, and promising initial evidence for reliability and validity. Since there appears to have been little cross-validation of the PSI, the present study set out to assess its reliability and factorial validity in a large, nationally representative sample of white South Africans ( N = 782). The findings indicated good internal consistency reliability, and excellent factorial validity for the four subscales of anger, anxiety, depression, and cognitive disturbance. The PSI scales also showed an appropriate degree of independence from each other except for depression and anxiety where the intercorrelation was somewhat high. It was found that shorter depression and anxiety subscales would be adequately reliable and reduce this overlap. Finally, normative data are reported for use with white South African samples.

ReligioUs Beliefs and Ethnocentrism

In 1990 the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa denounced publicly the ethnocentric system of apartheid as sin. The question is whether this official concession implies that ethnocentrism and apartheid have disappeared in the conciousness of ordinary perople. In order to answer this question a select sample of white South Africans in the Pretoria region was investigated with regard to their attitudes concerning ethnocentrism and apartheid as well as their relation to the Christian faith and the church. For reasons of comparison the results of the research into an a-select sample of the Dutch population, which is known because of its relatively low degree of ethnocentrism, have been added to that.

Attitudes of White South Africans towards certain legal rights of homosexuals

Knowledge regarding the attitudes of the general public towards homosexuality is limited. This study investigated the attitudes of White South Africans towards certain legal issues relating to homosexuality. These issues were (a) whether homosexual acts between consenting adults should be legal, (b) whether homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children, and (c) whether homosexuals should be granted custody of their own children. The aim of the study was firstly to assess the variation in attitudes that existed among members of the public and secondly to establish which sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents accounted for the variation in attitude found. The data was gathered by means of a postal survey of a representative sample of White South Africans. The results of data analyses carried out indicated that considerably more than the majority of the respondents were opposed to the issues investigated. Furthermore the respondents’ language group was the best predictor of differences ...

Bound by language: Homogamous marriages among a sample of White South Africans

Despite popular belief that there has been a change from ascriptive patterns of marital partner selection to selection based on free choice, evidence suggests that marriages still take place between partners who share similar social backgrounds. Similarity between marital partners is called homogamy and studies of homogamy show whether clear patterns of selection exist or not. This article concerns itself with marital partner selection among White South African citizens only. Language is identified as the most important attribute in the selection of marital partners and is discussed in the context of South African society.

Bound by language: Homogamous marriages among a sample of White South Africans

Despite popular belief that there has been a change from ascriptive patterns of marital partner selection to selection based on free choice, evidence suggests that marriages still take place between partners who share similar social backgrounds. Similarity between marital partners is called homogamy and studies of homogamy show whether clear patterns of selection exist or not. This article concerns itself with marital partner selection among White South African citizens only. Language is identified as the most important attribute in the selection of marital partners and is discussed in the context of South African society.

Prejudice and Neurotic Symptomatology Among White South Africans

Abstract Van der Spuy and Shamley (1978) have assembled evidence suggesting chronically elevated levels of neurotic symptomatology among both white and black South Africans. They have argued that these elevated levels could be attributed to the experience of racial discrimination and prejudice. New data obtained from a reasonably representative national sample of white South Africans (N = 782) did reveal symptom scores substantially and significantly higher than scores previously reported for a large community sample in the United States. On the other hand, partial correlational analyses did not indicate any consistent pattern of association between antiblack prejudice and symptom scores among white South Africans. Therefore, intergroup conflict in a sharply stratified society may affect symptomatic levels in individuals by influencing the general quality of social life.

Attitudes of White South Africans toward homosexuality

Social scientific interest in the understanding of homosexuality has only recently incorporated a focus on the nature and determinants of society's perception and toleration of the homosexual individual. Although previous studies have largely used small and non-representative samples, thus inhibiting reliable conclusions concerning the socio-demographic correlates of tolerance for homosexuals, a number of social psychological correlates have been identified which seem to suggest a possible integration in terms of Adomo et al.'s theory of the authoritarian personality. The present study using data obtained from a reasonably representative national sample of White South Africans, indicated that most respondents agreed with general statements concerning the right of homosexuals to work and live where they wished, while at the same time advocating restrictions in the case of specific and ‘sensitive’ issues. Factors which were consistently associated with measures of more favourable attitudes to homosexuals we...

Culture, Class, Personality, and Authoritarianism among White South Africans

Summary Although Adorno et al. related F-scale authoritarianism to childhood socialization, substantial F scale/SES correlations have suggested alternative explanations in terms of SES or such concepts as breadth of perspective. Ray has also argued that the F scale only measures attitudinal authoritarianism and has therefore presented his directiveness scale as a behaviorally valid measure of authoritarian personality. The present study attempted to elucidate some of these issues by examining the prediction of F scale authoritarianism from directiveness scores, culture, class, and other demographic variables in a large community sample of white South Africans. The results indicated that culture (language group) was the best predictor of F-scale scores, SES was only weakly predictive, and directiveness had no predictive utility. A sex effect, with higher F scale scores for men, emerged for Afrikaans-speaking but not English-speaking Ss. These findings seemed to be reasonably compatible with a socialization...