Trauma and coping among crime scene examiners : a phenomenological inquiry

dc.contributor.advisorSteyn, Francois
dc.contributor.emailsthe_l@yahoo.co.uken_ZA
dc.contributor.postgraduateLinda, Sithembile Charity
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-11T09:11:55Z
dc.date.available2021-02-11T09:11:55Z
dc.date.created2021-04
dc.date.issued2020
dc.descriptionDissertation (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2020.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractCrime scene examiners (CSEs) use analytical techniques to collect physical evidence on crime scenes. As such, they often have close contact with dead bodies and body fluids. Research on trauma and coping among CSEs is in its infancy in South Africa. The aim of the study was to conduct a phenomenological study on the trauma and coping methods used by CSEs at four Local Criminal Record Centres (LCRCs) in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. The objectives of the study were to investigate the nature of trauma experienced by the CSEs when interacting with violent and traumatic crime scenes, identifying the methods that CSEs use to cope with trauma experiences, and ascertain the usefulness of the coping methods CSEs use. A qualitative research approach was used as it focused on detailed descriptions of participants’ experiences and beliefs, and was fitting for a study with unquantifiable data. Thus, due to paucity of local studies regarding research problem, objectives articulated for the study prescribed the utilisation of transcendental phenomenology research design. Personal interviews were conducted with 25 CSEs, utilising a semi-structured interview schedule. The data was analysed to find a subjective meaning of different realities. The findings suggested that CSEs are potentially at risk of adopting maladaptive behaviour to cope with stress because of a lack of support. Noteworthy observations are that ineffective coping results to neglecting work details to avoid triggering stress, refusing to use debriefing and support programmes and self-isolation which often leads to severe depression and in some cases suicide. Key words: trauma; crime scenes; coping; forensic investigation; murder; crime scene examiners and City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.en_ZA
dc.description.availabilityUnrestricteden_ZA
dc.description.degreeMA (Criminology)en_ZA
dc.description.departmentSocial Work and Criminologyen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2022/12/31
dc.identifier.citationLinda, SC 2020, Trauma and coping among crime scene examiners : a phenomenological inquiry, MA (Criminology) Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78431>en_ZA
dc.identifier.otherA2021en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/78431
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria
dc.rights© 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
dc.subjectUCTDen_ZA
dc.subjectCriminologyen_ZA
dc.titleTrauma and coping among crime scene examiners : a phenomenological inquiryen_ZA
dc.typeDissertationen_ZA

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