PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR
2.5 Mood (Negative)
2.5.4 Intermittent explosive disorder (IED)
This is an instinct-controlled disorder categorised as abrupt incidents of unjustified rage. It involves repeated, hasty eruption of impetuous, belligerent, ferocious behaviour or irritated verbal outbursts in a proportion that is mostly unjustifiable. The disorder is typified by
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hostility and recurrent aggressive outbursts. Persons with IED fundamentally “burst” into a fury notwithstanding lack of ostensible incitement or justification (Donovan, 2015). The suddenness eruption of unwarranted fury is a typical symptom of IED, recurrent eruption of anger may occur at close interval, or less frequently, there are instances where the level of aggression maybe displayed with less verbal tirade but individual suffering from IED are chronically angry people. Apparent symptoms include rage, increased energy, abrasive, palpitations, petulance, sprinting thoughts, vibrations and chest stiffness (Donovan, 2015).
The display of these repulsive features care-less of the repercussions or aftermath damages the unwarranted rage produced. These set of people are easily identified by the magnitude of their tirade, temper tantrums, shouting, physical assaults, property damage, and violence against people or animal, threatening, shoving, slapping or pushing their victim without any provocation. These acts are ‘fuelled’ with delusional perceptions to justify the magnitude of destructions. Feelings of remorse or regret may ensue afterwards seeing the level of damage done and sometimes leads to embarrassment. There is evidence of high prevalence of IED in South Africa (Fincham et al, 2009). Van Zyl (2015) posit that distinctive unrestrained angry behaviour is accompanied by unnecessary yelling, intense verbal tirade, threats and physical assault, 5% to 7% of South Africans suffers from this syndrome. Evidence of lower serotonin turnover rates in the brain, is a pointer to this disorder which can be controlled by combined therapy.
We can infer from the above stated models, the impact of psychological distress on the South African economy especially relating to youths entrepreneurship. It is worthy of note the laudable efforts employed by various health facilities around the country to address these issues, however, there are instances where these efforts are frustrated by court rulings based on fundamental human right a clear example was the epic yet controversial ruling on cannabis prohibition in South Africa. In 2017, Western Cape High court declared rights of South Africans access to cannabis (IOL, 2017). Another example is the disbandment of South Africa Narcotic Bureau (SANAB) by government in 2004 despite achievement of some laudable successes. Substance abuse is one focal area that requires instant and more purposeful attention; this is in relation to multiplier effects it has on the economy, in the areas of resources expended by the addicts in procuring these drugs (R20 billion a year), to the criminality associated factors (60% of crime nationally are related to substance abuse), the generational productivity reduction (youths most affected, 15% of South African population have a drug problem) and the dangers of epidemical infections (CAS, 2016).
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Figure 2.8: 3 years Comparison of Drug Trends in South Africa Source: Christian Addiction Support (2016)
Figure 2.8 showed three years comparison of drug trends in South Africa, cocaine consumption remained relatively stable; this may be due to cost implication therefore restricted to the circle of people that can afford it, however, other drug trends witnessed increase as more youths possibly find solace in illicit drug consumption as a temporary relieve to multiple life challenges they contend with daily.
The need for government to show more willingness to solving psychological problems among South Africans in relation to substance abuse was further highlighted in South African Police Service (SAPS) report in 2014, on the surge in drug-related crimes which increased to 26.1%
in one year (The South African, 2014).
Figure 2.9: Increase in Drug-Related crimes in South Africa in 2014 Source: The South African (2014).
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However, there was a reduction in drug-related crimes as reported by SAPS in 2015- 2016 fiscal year, partly due to under reporting, or loss of faith in Police, the report showed a 2.9% reduction in drug-related crime in 2016 (African Check, 2016).
Figure 2.10: National and provincial murder rate per 100,000 people Source: South African Police Service (2016).
The graphical representation of murder rates in South Africa as reported by SAPS should be a source of concern, most especially when report shows that 60% of crimes perpetrated in South Africa is drug-related (CAS, 2016), despite Mpumalanga murder rate showing below-average murder rate compared to national average (20.1 to 33.9) it is still a source of concern. Bearing in mind there are other psychological factors facilitating crimes in the province. Mpumalanga and Limpopo witnessed increased crime rate in 2016, despite showing least crime rate nationally (BusinessTech, 2016).
Priority accorded HIV treatment should be accorded one the sources of the disease, psychological disorder. HIV is considered terminal compared to mental illness, the question to be asked is, can a sane person have unprotected sex with multiple partners without protection despite all the awareness associated with HIV? It is important for government to set a straight priority as HIV prevalence has direct link with mental disorder which leads to poverty and eventually getting sick. The challenge of attracting qualified psychiatrist and psychologist into government health facilities should be examined, especially in a province like Mpumalanga where there is a huge disparity in
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income between a professor of psychiatry employed in the private health sector earning up to R5 million per annum compared to his public counterpart earning approximately R1.5 million per annum (Timeslive, 2014). As at 2014, only 22 psychiatric hospitals are functional in South Africa, and 36 psychiatric wards in general hospitals, much changes has not been witnessed till date (Timeslive, 2014). The unfortunate incidence that claimed the life of 94 mentally challenged patients in 2017 when they were hurriedly moved from Life Esidemeni Hospital due to termination of contract between the hospital and Gauteng government (Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu) to various NGOs that does not have facilities to cater for such is a testament to government neglect of mental health disorders treatment in the country (eNCA, 2017). The cost of getting treatment is out of reach to average South African, as it was reported that an average of R2700 were spent per night to stay in private health facilities, this excludes cost of consultation (Tromp et al., 2014).
The stigmatisation of mental illness is another factor that needed urgen t attention.
Stoning of mentally derailed individual under the guise of demonic possession should be considered a crime; some of these heinous crimes were perpetrated against the mentally challenged people basically because their family does not have resou rces to cater for them. There are connections between children growing up to become psychologically imbalanced and losing of parents at childhood. The absence of ‘father’
figure in the home contributes in no small measure to what a child may grow up to be, although it is not in all cases that this absence has to do with demise of the father, as some are no longer living with their families. In 2011 there was 15.4% South African children without a father, although this percentage has reduced considerably by 2016 which only record 8.36% (Stats SA, 2016), the effect of this absence is unquantifiable in the development of these children. It is on record also, that 7.1% of South African children are without their mothers in 2011; this statistics also witnessed a reduction by 2016 to 5.4% which is also very significant to the upbringing of these children (Stats SA, 2016). A further review of the significance of absence of parenthood in relation to psychology disorder is greatly influenced by children without both p arents. These kids often times had to fend for themselves leading to criminality and informal prostitution.
There are 3.7% of such kids in South Africa in 2011, a minute number of this percentage was catered for by folks and orphanages around the country, but most affected children in the rural areas and some in township had to fend for survival,
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exposing them to untold hardship and changing their orientation about life. It is however laudable that in 2016 the number reduced drastically to 1.7%. There are f actors which may affect this figures, factors like unaccounted orphans, orphans staying with folks but are really mistreated without no one to cry to, orphans that see the whole world as ‘enemy’ based on the hard-life experienced for years, who therefore does not give government authorities opportunity to be accounted for, or be helped. (Stats SA, 2016).
Figure 2.11: Statistics of orphans in South Africa 1996-2016 Source: Statistics South Africa (2016).
The significance of improper family structure and poverty has impacted on the rate of criminality witnessed in the country. Empirical study adduced 60% of crimes in South Africa to substance abuse, and the most vulnerable are orphans who in the quest to forget their problems embrace narcotics, to stay high (Stat SA, 2016).
The below national average murder rate in Mpumalanga province which was only bettered by Limpopo may look encouraging, however, this premia facie statistics may be misleading when crime in the province is put into perspective, it is th erefore important to recognise that there are many challenges facing youths’ in Mpumalanga impeding their desire to live not to talk of making a living. Not necessarily in terms of physical death, or mental disorder but poverty and other life challenges. S tudies on life-
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time prevalence of DSM-IV/CID disorder placed Mpumalanga as the province with the lowest mental disorders in South Africa (Herman et al., 2009).
Crime rate in Mpumalanga is below the national average, mental disorder in Mpumalanga is equally better than other provinces in the country, there has been a reduction in unemployment in the province in 2016 compared to 2015, as unemployment percentage improved from 27.4% in 2015 to 25.7% in 2016 with an average job creation of 44,200 jobs per annum in the last four years. There was a noticeable improvement in academic performance in the province with improvement in pass rate of National Senior Certificate rate which was 5.4% points below the national average in 2011 to an impressive 7.9% points above the national average in 2016 as proclaimed by Mpumalanga province premier David Mabuza in his State of Province Address 2016. The question to be asked is what then is the factor or factors impeding successful entrepreneurial behaviour among youths in Mpumalanga province.