Psychobiographical Illustrations on Meaning and Identity in Sociocultural Contexts

"Even if it's easy to forget, in a research landscape dominated by statistics, psychology is the science of human beings and, in order to understand humans, we need to understand their life stories. Psychobiographical investigations, with their focus on meaning-making and identity construction, were instrumental for developing some of the discipline's best known theories. And yet, the qualitative and sociocultural investigation of the lifecourse is rarely visible today. To its credit, the present volume foregrounds this topic and illustrates it with rich and complex cases, reminding us all of the place and value of one of psychology's oldest methods."

Vlad P. Glaveanu, Webster University Geneva, Switzerland & University of Bergen, Norway

This book explores psychobiography with focus on meaning making and identity development in the life and works of extraordinary individuals. Meaning-making and identity development are existential constructs influencing psychological development, mental health and wellbeing across the lifecourse. The chapters illustrate through the eyes of 25 international psychobiographers various theoretical and methodological approaches to psychobiography. They explore how individuals, such as Angela Merkel, Karl Lagerfeld, Henri Nouwen, Vivian Maier, Charles Baudelaire, W.E.B. du Bois, Loränt Hegedüs, Kim Philby, Zoltan Paul Dienes, Albertina Sisulu, Ruth First, Sokrates, and Jesus construct their lives to make meaning, develop their identities and grow as individuals within their sociocultural contexts. The texts provide deep insight into life's development.

Claude-Hélène Mayer is Professor in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Her research interests are psychobiography, transcultural mental health and salutogenesis, women in leadership, and shame.

Paul, J.P. Fouché is Professor of Counselling Psychology, Department of Psychology at University of the Free State, South Africa. Paul has published numerous articles on psychobiography. He supervises post-graduate scholars undertaking life history research.

Roelf Van Niekerk is a registered Clinical and Industrial Psychologist as well as a Master Human Resource Practitioner. He is currently Director at the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resources at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.