Patterns of a culture of aggression by adolescents in a rural village of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Abstract: Background: Involvement of adolescents in aggressive behaviours and activities is on the rise in rural villages in Mpumalanga Province. There has been increasing concern by the members of the community, teachers, police and parents on the seriousness of adolescents’ aggressive behaviours. Despite its everyday occurrences and its extensiveness, very little is known about the culture of aggression of adolescence in the rural community. There was a need for research in this area as it has been neglected by all institutions, understandably not realising that it could be such a big problem for everyone. Objectives: To explore and describe the culture of aggression as observed in the rural community of Mpumalanga Province displayed by adolescents. Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was followed with an ethnographic approach. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data collection consisted of observations of ‘rich points’, interviews and field notes, artifacts, personal diaries, documents, health and social related reports, other documents like school reports on behaviour . Thematic data analysis and an independent coder were used. Results: Findings of this study reflected three patterns of a culture of aggression displayed by adolescents, namely patterns of anger, self- destructive behaviours, and disrespect. The bases of these were neglect and lack of knowledge that adolescents model what they see and experience from the environment they live in. Conclusion: The reality of the matter is that aggression is escalating. This high rate of a culture of aggression calls for putting sustainable measures in place to constructively manage a culture of aggression by involving all the stakeholders, such as the parents, teachers, community members, elders and the adolescents. Such involvement will enable all stakeholders to contribute and play their role in the management of the culture of aggression in the rural community in Mpumalanga Province as part and parcel of mental health promotion..