| Summary: | An analysis of the problems inherent in the formulation of an image of the future
by Batswana adolescents has been undertaken. The study takes as problematic the
nature of the attitudes to, perceptions and perspectives of the future
conceptualised by groups of adolescents in various high schools in the North West
Province of South Africa. An attempt has been made to clarify some underlying
conceptual issues about self-concept in an effort to present something definitive
about its intluence as a main deternlinant of concepts of the future
There emerged a kind of a dialectic paradox in the idea that self-concepl. on the
one hand. implies that Batswana adolescents have a self-perception of themselves
as functioning units organised to achieve self-set goals which are located in the
future. This gives prominence to a conception of the self-concept as a global
entity. On the other hand. the view was mooted that self-concept is an
interconnected collection of various facets, an emphasis on its multidimensionality.
The particular unity-in-plurality notion generates the idea that there is oneness
(same self) in the manifoldness of the future-focused roles projected in the future.
In the exploration of the mode in which adolescents seek to be effective in the
manipulation of a future environment, a consideration of such variables as locus
of control orientation. achievement orientation, culture. future orientation. future
shock and orientation to adulthood. received priority of treatment. Central to the
discussion of the development of attitudes to the furure, were developmental issues
pertinent to future orientation and the educational interventions implemented by
educators in the school and family, in thus promoting the handling of futurity by
adolescents. This was executed with an eye upon culrural universalities as they are
extant in Western technolm!ical societies, traditional societies and enculturative
environments. A fine distinction emerged between educational situations which
promote closed/restricted images of the furure and open/creative images of the
future, a differential between futures education dispensed in Western technological
societies and that implemented in traditional societies. The empirical investigation conducted, assessed the veracity of the postulates
presented and hypotheses formulated. The requisite analysis of the results
provided a photostatic image of where the problems are at as far as the
development of an image of the future is concerned. On the basis of results of the
empirical investigation. a consideration of recommendations and suggestions as to
appropriate educational inrerventions has been undertaken. === Proefskrif (PhD (Voorligting))--PU vir CHO, 1995
|
|---|
