The role of God in the father/son relationship during identity formation – a Gestalt theoretical perspective

Abstract

The role of God in the father/son relationship during identity formation-a Gestalt theoretical perspective This article is based on research done within the Afrikaans-speaking community in the area of the Drakenstein Municipality, Western Cape province, South Africa. The focus falls specifically on one concept that was outlined during the research, namely the perceptions of fathers and adolescent sons on identity formation within their relationship as well as the role that God plays. Combined qualitative/quantitative research was conducted with emphasis on semi-structured interviews with fathers (n=4) and adolescent boys (n=4) and an auto-ethno-graphy of the author as the dominant component. The less-dominant quantitative component consisted of questionnaires completed by fathers (n=42) and adolescent boys (n=180). Metatheoretical assumptions and theoretical assumptions as grounding for the male identity are discussed as part of the author's paradigmatic perspective. Furthermore, empirical findings are discussed and recommendations are made. From the discussions with fathers and their sons it was clear that both fathers and sons have a need to stand in close relationship to each other and to God. It is within this relationship where their identities are formed. However, fathers seemed to be resistant The role of God in the father/son relationship … a Gestalt theoretical perspective 388 Koers 75(2) 2010:387-403 of transferring their beliefs to their sons. Adolescent boys also indicated no need to one day transfer learned behaviour from their fathers to their sons. Opsomming Die rol van God in die vader-/seunverhouding gedurende identiteitsvorming-'n Gestalt teoretiese perspektief Hierdie artikel word gebaseer op navorsing wat gedoen is binne die Afrikaanssprekende gemeenskap in die area van die Drakenstein munisipaliteit, Wes-Kaap provinsie, Suid-Afrika. Die fokus val spesifiek op een konsep wat tydens die navorsing uitgelig is, naamlik die persepsies van vaders en adolessente seuns oor identiteitsvorming binne hulle verhouding, asook die rol wat God speel. Gekombineerde kwalitatiewe/kwantitatiewe navorsing is uitgevoer met die klem op semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met vaders (n=4) en adolessente seuns (n=4) en 'n outobiografie van die outeur as die dominante komponent. Die minder dominante kwantitatiewe komponent het bestaan uit vraelyste wat voltooi is deur vaders (n=42) en adolessente seuns (n=180). Metateoretiese en teoretiese aannames vir die begronding van manlike identiteit word bespreek as deel van die skrywer se paradigmatiese perspektief. Verder word empi-riese bevindings bespreek en aanbevelings gemaak. Vanuit die besprekings met vaders en seuns was dit duidelik dat albei partye 'n behoefte het aan 'n hegte verhouding met mekaar en met God. Dit is binne hierdie verhouding waar hulle identiteit gevorm word. Dit blyk egter dat vaders 'n weerstandigheid toon om hulle geloofsoortuigings aan hulle seuns oor te dra. Adolessente seuns het ook aangedui dat hulle geen behoefte het om gedrag wat hulle van hulle vaders geleer het eendag aan hulle seuns oor te dra nie.