THE FEAR IN FEAR-CRIMES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL
EXPLORATORY STUDY OF FARM-MURDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
NAME:
STUDENT NUMBER:
MODULE: HMPYC80
ASSIGNMENT 6
“Extreme feelings can only lead to extreme behaviour. Fear in our inner
selves will only fuel the fires of paranoia, encourage fundamentalist
behaviour, and lead to group conflicts”
(Schneider, 2020).
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:
NAME: STUDENT NUMBER:
MODULE CODE: HMPYC80
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using another’s work and pretendingthat it is
one’s own work
1
,2. I have used the American Psychological Association (APA) as the convention forcitation and
referencing. Each significant contribution to, and quotation in, this assignment from work, or
works of other people has been attributed and has been cited and referenced
3. This assignment is my own work
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention ofpassing it
off as his or her own work
5. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s assignment or part thereof is wrong, anddeclare
that this assignment is my own work.
NAME:
SIGNATURE: DATE: 20th September 2022
COVER LETTER:
Att: Professor D.J. Kruger
University of South Africa, Pretoria
2022-09-20
Dear Sir,
RE: Research proposal: The Fear in Fear-Crimes: A phenomenological exploratory study of
farm attacks in South Africa
I am currently associated with the University of South Africa where I am a student researcher in
the field of Human Science. I have a special interest in fear in sociocultural context. The study
aims to explain how fear is learned and constructed through social interaction and experiences.
The study will be focussed on the component of fear in fear-crimes – specifically farm attacks.
2
,Farm attacks is a phenomenon which creates intense debates surrounding the motives behind
attacks and these debates often spark racial tension.
The reason for approaching you is to request for approval and funding of the research project.
The proposed research project may provide deeper insights into the attitudes, perspectives and
beliefs of different ethnic groups in South Africa in terms of farm attacks. Understanding how
fear is learned and constructed socially may provide an explanation for fear-crimes as a
maladaptive response to fear. This may provide further opportunities for research and possible
improved solutions to counterattack fear crimes such as farm attacks, xenophobia, and
terrorism. Possible solutions to eradicate racial tension which results from stereotyping,
misconceptions, and prejudice may also benefit on national level in our country which is
especially vulnerable to racial tensions. It therefore, seems appropriate to propose this
research project.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Table of Contents
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:........................................................................................................................1
COVER LETTER:............................................................................................................................................2
ABSTRACT:...................................................................................................................................................4
KEYWORDS:.................................................................................................................................................5
1. BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM:.........................................................................................6
1.1. PROBLEM STATEMENT:........................................................................................................................6
1.3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:....................................................................................................................8
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS:....................................................................................................................8
2. LITERATURE REVIEW:...............................................................................................................................9
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:..............................................................................................................12
3.1. Research Design:............................................................................................................................12
3.2. Sampling:........................................................................................................................................13
3.2. Data Collection:..............................................................................................................................13
3.3. Data Analysis:.................................................................................................................................13
3
, 3.4. Trustworthiness:.............................................................................................................................14
4. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:...................................................................................................................15
5. EXPECTED OUTCOMES:......................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................17
APPENDIX A:..............................................................................................................................................19
RESEARCH PROJECT DESCRIPTION, TIMELINE AND BUDGET.....................................................................19
8.1 Project Description:.........................................................................................................................19
8.2 Project Timeline...............................................................................................................................19
8.3 Budget/Costing................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX B:..........................................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX C:..........................................................................................................................................23
THE FEAR IN FEAR-CRIMES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL
EXPLORATORY STUDY OF FARM-MURDERS IN SOUTH
AFRICA
ABSTRACT:
Farm attacks is a widely debated and discussed phenomenon in South Africa. White farmers
fear for their lives and argue that farm attacks are racially motivated. Some believe that farm
attacks are aimed at driving farmers from their land, for the purpose of expropriation. Some
oppose these arguments and indicate that not all farm attacks occur on white-owned farms,
and that black and brown farmers also fall victim of these attacks.
Farm attacks are usually grotesque and violent and is classified as a “fear-crime” (Grobler,
2020). The study aims to explore fear as a component of fear-crimes such as farm attacks in
order to gain insights into the potential motivations, nature, and possible counterattacks to
these types of crimes. Theories of emotion will explain how fear is learned and socially
constructed, and how fear may result in maladaptive responses such as xenophobia, terrorism
and fear-crimes.
4
EXPLORATORY STUDY OF FARM-MURDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
NAME:
STUDENT NUMBER:
MODULE: HMPYC80
ASSIGNMENT 6
“Extreme feelings can only lead to extreme behaviour. Fear in our inner
selves will only fuel the fires of paranoia, encourage fundamentalist
behaviour, and lead to group conflicts”
(Schneider, 2020).
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:
NAME: STUDENT NUMBER:
MODULE CODE: HMPYC80
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using another’s work and pretendingthat it is
one’s own work
1
,2. I have used the American Psychological Association (APA) as the convention forcitation and
referencing. Each significant contribution to, and quotation in, this assignment from work, or
works of other people has been attributed and has been cited and referenced
3. This assignment is my own work
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention ofpassing it
off as his or her own work
5. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s assignment or part thereof is wrong, anddeclare
that this assignment is my own work.
NAME:
SIGNATURE: DATE: 20th September 2022
COVER LETTER:
Att: Professor D.J. Kruger
University of South Africa, Pretoria
2022-09-20
Dear Sir,
RE: Research proposal: The Fear in Fear-Crimes: A phenomenological exploratory study of
farm attacks in South Africa
I am currently associated with the University of South Africa where I am a student researcher in
the field of Human Science. I have a special interest in fear in sociocultural context. The study
aims to explain how fear is learned and constructed through social interaction and experiences.
The study will be focussed on the component of fear in fear-crimes – specifically farm attacks.
2
,Farm attacks is a phenomenon which creates intense debates surrounding the motives behind
attacks and these debates often spark racial tension.
The reason for approaching you is to request for approval and funding of the research project.
The proposed research project may provide deeper insights into the attitudes, perspectives and
beliefs of different ethnic groups in South Africa in terms of farm attacks. Understanding how
fear is learned and constructed socially may provide an explanation for fear-crimes as a
maladaptive response to fear. This may provide further opportunities for research and possible
improved solutions to counterattack fear crimes such as farm attacks, xenophobia, and
terrorism. Possible solutions to eradicate racial tension which results from stereotyping,
misconceptions, and prejudice may also benefit on national level in our country which is
especially vulnerable to racial tensions. It therefore, seems appropriate to propose this
research project.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Table of Contents
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:........................................................................................................................1
COVER LETTER:............................................................................................................................................2
ABSTRACT:...................................................................................................................................................4
KEYWORDS:.................................................................................................................................................5
1. BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM:.........................................................................................6
1.1. PROBLEM STATEMENT:........................................................................................................................6
1.3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:....................................................................................................................8
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS:....................................................................................................................8
2. LITERATURE REVIEW:...............................................................................................................................9
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:..............................................................................................................12
3.1. Research Design:............................................................................................................................12
3.2. Sampling:........................................................................................................................................13
3.2. Data Collection:..............................................................................................................................13
3.3. Data Analysis:.................................................................................................................................13
3
, 3.4. Trustworthiness:.............................................................................................................................14
4. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:...................................................................................................................15
5. EXPECTED OUTCOMES:......................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................17
APPENDIX A:..............................................................................................................................................19
RESEARCH PROJECT DESCRIPTION, TIMELINE AND BUDGET.....................................................................19
8.1 Project Description:.........................................................................................................................19
8.2 Project Timeline...............................................................................................................................19
8.3 Budget/Costing................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX B:..........................................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX C:..........................................................................................................................................23
THE FEAR IN FEAR-CRIMES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL
EXPLORATORY STUDY OF FARM-MURDERS IN SOUTH
AFRICA
ABSTRACT:
Farm attacks is a widely debated and discussed phenomenon in South Africa. White farmers
fear for their lives and argue that farm attacks are racially motivated. Some believe that farm
attacks are aimed at driving farmers from their land, for the purpose of expropriation. Some
oppose these arguments and indicate that not all farm attacks occur on white-owned farms,
and that black and brown farmers also fall victim of these attacks.
Farm attacks are usually grotesque and violent and is classified as a “fear-crime” (Grobler,
2020). The study aims to explore fear as a component of fear-crimes such as farm attacks in
order to gain insights into the potential motivations, nature, and possible counterattacks to
these types of crimes. Theories of emotion will explain how fear is learned and socially
constructed, and how fear may result in maladaptive responses such as xenophobia, terrorism
and fear-crimes.
4
