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A PSYCHOBIOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF HELEN KELLER

by Désirée Martina van Genechten

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER ARTIUM

In the Faculty of Health Sciences Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

November 2009

Supervisor: Prof. Christopher Norman Hoelson

DECLARATION:

I, Desiree Martina van Genechten, hereby declare that this treatise is my own work and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment to another university or for another qualification.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The completion of this treatise bears witness to the encouragement, support and guidance of many individuals. It is with sincere gratitude that I thank: • • • My late parents for instilling a belief in my abilities, despite my disability Friends and family for your enduring encouragement and support All those who have fulfilled the function of my eyes in the process of this work, especially Candice, Dominique, Jeanne, Nompumelelo and Wilma • Dr Roelf van Niekerk for the solid foundation laid in psychobiographical research • Prof. Chris Hoelson for your keen interest, dependable support and valuable supervision • Candice Platt for your encouragement and dedication.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1. 1.1.1. 1.1.2. 1.1.3. 1.1.4. 1.2. 1.3. 1.4. General Orientation to the Research Study Contextualisation Aim of this Study Overview of the Psychobiographical Approach Overview of the Theoretical Framework Research Subject Sources of Data Structural Overview of the Treatise Conclusion 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 6 page ii iii vii

CHAPTER TWO A THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF PSYCHOBIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH 2.1. 2.1.1. 2.1.2. 2.2. 2.2.1. 2.2.2. 2.2.2.1. 2.2.2.2. 2.2.2.3. 2.2.2.4. 2.2.2.5. 2.2.2.6. 2.3. 2.4. 2.5. 2.5.1. 2.5.2. 2.5.3. 2.5.4. 2.5.5. Research Paradigms The Hypothetico-deductive Model Phenomenological Models Psychobiographical Research Description and Definition of

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