Beyond WEIRD: Psychobiography in Times of Transcultural and Transdisciplinary Perspectives

This volume presents psychobiographical research in non-WEIRD-Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic-contexts and samples, focusing on culture, transcultural and transdisciplinary work. It creates a platform for researchers, scholars and scientists from diverse backgrounds to put forth new theoretical and methodological stances in psychobiography, thereby making the field more inclusive, diverse and equitable. The chapters in this volume investigate the role of context across the life course of non-WEIRD psychological subjects, as well as the interplay between them and their environments across the life span. They further elucidate cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects of individuals with non-WEIRD backgrounds.

The volume provides a broad and at the same time in-depth perspective into psychobiography beyond the usual contexts and therefore has new and original learnings to offer across disciplines and cultures. It is a breakthrough in terms of its transcultural and transdisciplinary insights into lives lived in different contexts in the world.

'Every person is in certain respects (a) like all other persons, (b) like some other persons, (c) like no other persons.  This book is a challenging and fascinating exploration of extending psychobiography beyond its origins in Europe and America to women and men of different races and social and economic classes from Africa, Asia, and around the world. At its best, psychobiography can increase people's awareness of their own subjective experience and that of others, contributing to movements for social, cultural and political  change.'

William McKinley Runyan,  Professor Emeritus & Professor of the Graduate School,  School of Social Welfare, U. of California Berkeley

Beyond Weird is beyond needed.  The book triumphantly fills the gap created by a dearth of studies of people other than Western, educated, European and American men. 

James William Anderson, PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago.

Claude-Hélène Mayer is a Professor in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at the University of Johannesburg. She is a Semester at Sea Alumni (SASFA22) and a Board member of the International Academy of Intercultural Research. Further, she is an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Psychology (Positive Psychology) and for the International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management. She holds Doctoral degrees in Psychology, Management and Cultural Anthropology and her Venia Legendi is in Psychology with focus on Work, Organisational and Cultural Psychology. Her research areas include transcultural mental health, salutogenesis, transcultural conflict management and mediation, women in leadership, shame and love, The Fourth Industrial Revolution, and psychobiography. 

Roelf van Niekerk (PhD) is a clinical and industrial psychologist and a registered master human resources professional. He is Professor and Director, School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resources, at Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He has also worked, among others, at St. John's University, Nelson Mandela University, Rhodes University, and is a member of the American Psychological Association, Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology of South Africa, Health Professions Council of South Africa, and so on. He has published more than 30 research articles or chapters in peer reviewed publications. 

Paul Fouché (PhD), is full Professor at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He is a registered counselling psychologist and NRF rated C3 researcher. He has worked earlier at Vista University and Nelson Mandela Universities. He is a member of the Psychological Society for South Africa and has research interests in the areas of clinical health psychology, health and illness measures, psycho-education, psychological Intervention, and related fields. He has published many articles and several book chapters in journals or edited volumes.

Joseph G. Ponterotto is Professor and Chair at the Division of Psychological & Educational Services, Graduate School of Education, Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York. He is a licensed psychologist and mental health counselor. He is coordinator of the M.S.Ed. Program in School Counseling at Fordham. He has been a member of task forces in various APA committees and is a member of 4 APA divisions as well as two sub-associations of the American Counseling Association, and a member of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology. He has edited or coedited and authored 14 volumes, including several handbooks, on multicultural assessment and counseling, and psychobiography.