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FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Fatherhood in the face of reality: The experiences of educated males

in their fatherhood journey.

PAMELA SITHEMBILE MHLANGA

R145550Z

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS DEGREE IN
PSYCHOLOGY. (HPSY)

GWERU, ZIMBABWE

NOVEMBER, 2015

SUPERVISOR: MR. S MAPHOSA

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APPROVAL FORM

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The undersigned certify that they have read and recommended to Midland State University for
acceptance of a dissertation entitled:

Research topic: Fatherhood in the face of reality: The experiences of educated

males in their fatherhood journey. Study submitted by Pamela Sithembile Mhlanga

r145550z in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in
Psychology.

SUPERVISOR…………………………………………………………………………….

CHAIRPERSON………………………………………………………………………….

EXTERNAL SUPERVISOR……………………………………………………………..

DATE……………………………………………………………………………………...

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RELEASE FORM

MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

NAME OF AUTHOR: PAMELA SITHEMBILE MHLANGA

TITLE OF DISSERTATION: FATHERHOOD IN THE FACE OF REALITY: THE

EXPERIENCES OF EDUCATED MALES IN THEIR FATHERHOOD JOURNEY.

DEGREE IN WHICH DISSERTATION WAS PRESENTED: BSC HONOURS IN

PSYCHOLOGY

YEAR GRANTED: 2018

Permission is hereby granted to Midlands State University to produce copies of this dissertation
to lend or sell copies for scholarly purposes.

The author does not reserve other publication rights and the dissertation nor may extensive
extracts from it be printed or otherwise produced without the author’s permission.

Signed:…………………………………..........

Address: 699 Cowdry Park

P. O Luveve

Bulawayo

Phone: 0771 110 882

Email Address: pamelasmhlanga@gmail.com

Date: May 2018

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this research to my father Denis Mhlanga, a great, responsible and dedicated father in
all my life, regardless of the challenges involved in fatherhood. My two aunts Sindisiwe Mavis
Mhlanga and Sibusisiwe Mhlanga whom I appreciate for the amazing emotional and financial
support, you instilled a spirit of determination in me. You believed in me. I also dedicate this
dissertation to all fathers experiencing challenges in fatherhood that go unnoticed in Zimbabwe.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to my supervisor Mrs S MAPHOSA for guiding me and imparting knowledge to
me on how to carry out this research. The researcher wishes to extend his gratitude to the Trust
Academy Institution, Bulawayo for willingly participating in sharing information.

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ABSTRACT

The research sought to examine the experiences of educated fathers in their fatherhood journey,
using the Trust Academy Institution in Bulawayo for information. The research was guided by
three research questions namely; What is the man’s reaction when the partner tells him that she
is pregnant, does he think about it?, Do DNA tests cross men’s minds when told about
pregnancy or that they are fathers?, What are the effects of none- matching physical features of
the offspring and the fathers? In order to understand the fatherhood, the experiences and its
psychological effects, the research made use of the marginalization theory as its theoretical
framework. Data was collected using the criterion sampling to target ten working fathers at the
institutional. In-depth interviews were administered to the established participants. The study
established that fathers are subjected to various psychological challenges such as exclusion,
depression, anger and labelling. In the research’s findings there were fathers opted for DNA
testing, inclusion in parenthood plans and to be seen more of involved parents rather than just.
Conclusively, the research discovered various challenges are being experienced by these fathers
and recommendations such education and increased awareness campaigns were recommended
in-order to nip in the bud that escalates such psychological challenges. The research
recommended the increase of male platforms for them to air out their views to the world, pre and
post counselling for fathers who partake paternity testing, involve government for the challenges
fathers face and disseminate a lot of parenting literature to enlighten society about fatherhood
involvement.

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LIST OF TABLES
Figure 1: Demographic data

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Table of Contents
APPROVAL FORM..................................................................................................................ii

RELEASE FORM.....................................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION..........................................................................................................................iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......................................................................................................v

ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................vi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY....................1

1.1Introduction.......................................................................................................................1

1.2 Background of the study...................................................................................................1

1.3 Statement of the problem..................................................................................................2

1.4 Purpose of the study.........................................................................................................3

Research questions.................................................................................................................4

1.5 Significance of the study..................................................................................................4

1.5.1 Males..........................................................................................................................4

1.5.2 Community................................................................................................................4

1.5.3 Government...............................................................................................................4

1.5.4 Field of Psychology...................................................................................................4

1.6 Delimitations....................................................................................................................4

1.7 Limitations........................................................................................................................5

1.8 Definition of terms...........................................................................................................5

1.9 Assumptions……………………………………………………………………………..5

1.11 Summary.........................................................................................................................6

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................7

2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................7

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 2.2 Conceptual Framework....................................................................................................7

2.3 Related Literature.............................................................................................................9

2.4 Men’s reaction at pregnancy, does he think about it?......................................................9

2.5 Do DNA tests cross men’s minds when told about pregnancy?....................................11

2.6 What are the effects of non- matching physical features of the offspring to fathers?....12

2.7 Theoratical Framework .................................................................................................14

2.8 Knowledge Gap..............................................................................................................16

2.9 Chapter Summary...........................................................................................................17

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................18

3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................18

3.2 Research Approach.........................................................................................................18

3.3 Research Design.............................................................................................................19

3.4 Target Population...........................................................................................................20

3.5 Population Sampling and Sampling Procedure..............................................................20

3.6 Research Instruments......................................................................................................21

3.7 Data Collection Procedure..............................................................................................22

3.8 Data Presentation and Analysis......................................................................................22

3.9 Ethical Considerations....................................................................................................22

3.9.1 Informed Consent....................................................................................................22

3.9.2 Confidentiality.........................................................................................................23

3.9.3 Autonomy………………………………………………………………………….23

3.9.4 Non-maleficence…………………………………………………………………..23

3.9.5 Justice……………………………………………………………………………...23

3.10 Chapter Summary.........................................................................................................23

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION..................24

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 4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................24

4.2 Demographic Data..........................................................................................................24

Fig 4.2.1 Presentation of respondents...............................................................................25

4.3 THEME 1: Becoming a father........................................................................................26

4.3.1 Sub Theme 1: 1 Pregnancy news.............................................................................26

4.3.2 Sub Theme 1: 2 Responsibility of fatherhood.........................................................27

4.4 THEME 2: Behavioural Experiences of fathers.............................................................28

4.4.1 Sub Theme 2: 1 DNA Tests.....................................................................................28

4.4.2 Sub Theme 2: 2 Trust...............................................................................................29

4.4.3 Sub Theme 2: 3 Relying on physical features.........................................................29

4.5 THEME 3: Social experience.........................................................................................30

4.5.1 Sub Theme 3: 1 Social influence.............................................................................31

4.5.2 Sub Theme 3: 2 Social labelling..............................................................................31

4.6 Summary.........................................................................................................................32

CHAPTER FIVE : DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......33

5.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................33

5.2 Men’s thoughts and rewaction when pregnancy news is delivered to them..................33

5.3 The option of DNA testing.............................................................................................34

5.4 The effects children who do not resemble their fathers.................................................36

5.5 Conclusions....................................................................................................................38

5.6 Recommendations..........................................................................................................39

5.7 Summary.........................................................................................................................40

REFERENCES........................................................................................................................42

APPENDIX A-RESEARCH INSTRUMENT.........................................................................46

APPENDIX B LEETER FROM THE SCHOOL....................................................................49

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APPENDIX C- LETTER FROM TRUST ACADEMY..........................................................50

APPENDIX D- TURN IT IN…………………………………………………………………

APPENDIX E- MARKING GUIDE………………………………………………………….

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