Running head : a psychobiographical study of Ellen Pakkies
Serfontein, Dominique
Ellen Pakkies’ memoir highlights numerous psychosocial issues, such as child abuse, gender based violence, sexual abuse, child neglect and, in particular, the aftermath of substance abuse.
The overarching aim of this study was to describe and interpret the unique and complex
development process of Ellen Pakkies across her lifespan and to understand her traumatic life
experiences and that as a caregiver of a methamphetamine addict, as well as the resilient
outcome of her ordeal. Ellen’s development over her lifespan and the resilient outcome
displayed was primarily guided by Kümpfer’s (2002) transactional resilience model and
supplemented by Baltes’ (1987) lifespan development perspective theory. This was a single case, qualitative psychobiographical study of the life of Ellen Pakkies. Ellen was chosen as the
research subject of this psychobiographical study due to the uniqueness and complexity of her
life story. Life history material in the form of the book Dealing in Death, radio interviews,
speeches, and court transcripts aided in creating a biographical sketch of Ellen’s life. This study
suggests that a single factor cannot be ascribed to the tragic occurrence of Ellen strangling her
son to death. It is rather the amalgamation of traumatic experiences and prolonged abuse that
Ellen was subjected to from childhood to adulthood that contributed to her reaching her limit.
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