The perceptions of Black adolescents of aggression.

M.Ed.The goal of this research study was to provide Psycho-Educational guidelines to assist adolescent learners to manage aggression in a constructive manner. The participants in this research study were adolescent learners at age of fifteen to seventeen years in Secondary Schools in the of Klerksdorp area. Adolescence is a phase in human development that is synonymous with change, namely, physical, emotional and cognitive changes. It is a crucial phase of development. Aggression is simply defined as a behavior that is intended to hurt someone either physically or psychologically (Weiten, 1992:397). However there are many theorists who define aggression differently but state anti-social behavior as a characteristic. The researcher wanted to formulate guidelines after exploring and describing the perceptions of black adolescence on aggression. It was because this aggressive behavior was impacting on their future successes. The research objectives were as follows: „« To explore and describe the perception of black adolescents of aggression in an informal settlement „« To formulate guidelines to assist black adolescents to manage aggression in a constructive manner. The qualitative research approach helps the researcher to understand and interpret adolescents¡¦ perception on aggression. The information gathered in this study would help determine topics for further research on adolescents¡¦ perceptions on aggression. Focus group interviews were conducted. This study was explorative and descriptive as it aimed to obtain adolescents¡¦ perceptions on aggression. The researcher attempted to find out how adolescents perceived aggression by conducting focus group interviews. Interviews were conducted with four groups. The major themes were: „« Black adolescents in an informal settlement school express different views on what aggression is „« Black adolescents in an informal settlement school experience forms and acts of aggression at school „« Black adolescents experience a sense of being so victimized in schools that it made their school lives miserable. „« View points that necessary structures should be put in place with the objective of providing guidelines to assist black adolescents in an informal settlement school to manage aggression in a constructive manner From the interviews conducted, recommendations were made to reduce the problems caused by aggression.Prof. C.P.H. Myburg