The relationship between trait awe and procrastination: A mediated model with moderation

The current study aims to examine the effect of trait awe on college students’ procrastination with a focus on confirming the mediating role of stress and the moderating role of future time perspective (FTP). Measures of procrastination, trait awe, stress, and future time perspective were completed by 512 Chinese college students. The results indicate that trait awe had a negative effect on procrastination, that stress was a significant mediator between trait awe and procrastination, and that FTP moderated the mediation effect. These findings not only demonstrate the crucial role of awe in alleviating procrastination but also elucidate the underlying mechanisms and relevant populations. Limitations and directions for future research were also discussed.

Emotion Regulation Strategies and Sense of Life Meaning: The Chain-Mediating Role of Gratitude and Subjective Wellbeing

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of college students' meaning of life. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Gratitude Questionnaire Six-Item Form, the General Wellbeing Schedule, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used as measurement instruments. In total, 1,312 valid responses were obtained. The results showed that the cognitive reappraisal and expression suppression strategies were significantly positively and negatively correlated with gratitude, subjective wellbeing, and the sense of life meaning, respectively. Further, Emotion regulation strategies can affect college students' sense of life meaning through three paths: the mediating effect of gratitude; the mediating effect of subjective wellbeing; the chain mediating effect of gratitude and subjective wellbeing. This study illuminated the roles of gratitude, and subjective wellbeing in influencing the sense of life meaning among the Chinese college students. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

An Overview of Research on Positive Psychology in South Africa

The paradigm of positive psychology was publicly launched by Martin Seligman in his Presidential Address to the American Psychology Association in 1998. Since then, the scientific study of optimal human functioning gained new momentum. This article provides an overview of research on positive psychology in South Africa. The article explores general trends and the main developments in the field, internationally as well as nationally. South African research in the paradigm of positive psychology was categorised according to a framework developed for the purposes of this article. Results indicate frequencies of South African research undertaken over the last 36 years. Possible future directions for research in the field are pointed out and integrated with recommendations from prominent South African and international authors.

What Contributes to Fortigenic Appraisal of Inordinate Demands? Everything!

The construct of appraisal of inordinate demands is reviewed. A diversity of variables that contribute to fortigenic appraisal is introduced, with each described and illustrated, the purpose being to increase awareness of how all-embracing influences on appraisal are. Although this is done in a reductive and linear way, relationships between variables are emphasised. A subsidiary purpose is to highlight fortigenesis, which concerns the origins of strengths. A third purpose is to point out systemic implications of emergence through inter-participation. At the bodily level, neuro-anatomical, and neuro-chemical factors are considered. Genetic versus/and environmental influences are introduced and discussed. Cognitive variables are touched upon, with particular attention to schemas and stereotypes. Emotions are illustrated in terms of awe as an emotion. Personality variables are dealt with in terms of traits, characteristic adaptations, and identity. Some consideration is given to cultural variables. Spirituality and religion are briefly noted. To conclude, lifespan development is also touched on. Finally, with an emphasis on systems thinking, complex systems — and emergence from them — are considered to indicate how all of the ‘spheres’ presented are interactive and inter-participatory.

Enhancing Lives: A Positive Psychology Agenda for Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is established as treatment modality for psychological distress, but it is also well-suited to facilitate well-being. Some hypnotherapeutic approaches value and utilize unconscious resources, and can therefore be aligned with positive psychology's focus on identifying, enhancing and utilizing psychological strengths. However, literature on integrating positive psychology principles in hypnotherapeutic practice is limited. The aim of this article is to elucidate the synergy between hypnotherapy and positive psychology by reviewing existing practices and research findings. Suggestions for integrating knowledge from positive psychology into hypnotherapeutic strategies are also offered, particularly as it relates to interventions aimed at enhancing psychological strengths and positive emotions. Finally, recommendations for research are proposed. To advance the theory and practice of hypnotherapy in the 21st century it is imperative to investigate the effectiveness of hypnotherapeutic strategies, informed by positive psychology, in the South African context. Research methodologies that offer insight into the unfolding of individual therapeutic change, as well as the subjective experience of clients and therapists, are particularly encouraged.

Academic Psychobiography in South Africa: Past, Present and Future

Our aim is to highlight the past, present and future state of affairs of South African psychobiography. Particular attention is given to the trends and the challenges faced by academic psycho-biographers in South Africa. Over the past decade psychobiography has evolved into an established research genre and has become a methodology used by various academics and post-graduate research scholars at South African universities. Psychobiography entails the study of historically significant and extraordinary individuals over their entire life spans with the aim to uncover and reconstruct their lives psychologically. These longitudinal case studies include the psychological study of personalities in diverse occupational fields such as architecture, arts and literature, business and entrepreneur-ship, politics, religion and spirituality, sport, science, as well as the popular biographies of celebrities. Psycho-biographical studies in South Africa have been nurtured in the departments of psychology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Rhodes University, the University of Johannesburg, and the University of the Free State. Most of these biographical studies have been completed as postgraduate r research endeavours in master's and doctoral degree programmes in psychology where academic staff have initiated and grown psychobiography as a strategic research focus area within their faculties. Psycho-biographical research has considerable logistical and administrative value for postgraduate research and the supervision process, and is also of academic benefit to the theoretical development of South African psychology. In South Africa an array of exemplary personalities constitute a ‘hall of fame’. Their legendary lives are ideal case studies which may be used to develop and/or refute aspects of psychological theory and its applicability to human development over the span of an individual's life.

Narratives of Therapists Using a Fortigenic Approach — Synthesis and Synergy

I focus on the fortigenic qualities of psychotherapists in full-time long-term private practice to explore the narratives of these therapists from a fortigenic perspective. The qualitative research process and methodology are presented, with a description of the unique method of narrative synthesis and synergy. The focus in the article is to discuss this research process. The research results of the conversations are presented in the form of a literary short story — this is the new narrative or product of the research. This research review concludes with a reflection on resonance and the complexity of the research process, as well as possible future directions for research, both locally and internationally.