Paul Fouché

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 masters 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 individuals life.

The spiritual wellness of Beyers Naudé: A psychobiographical study of a South African anti-apartheid theologian

The study explores and describes Beyers Naudés (1915–2004) spiritual wellness across his lifespan. Naudés life history was uncovered through the systematic collection and analyses of life history materials. Data were interpreted applying the Wheel of Wellness model (WoW) by Sweeney and Witmer (1991, 1992). Findings suggest that spirituality, as the major life task of the WoW, characterised Naudés earlier years and also epitomised his later years. Underlying life-span and life-space influences included important life-forces such as the roles of the community, religion, government and politics in his life. Hope and optimism embodied Naudés belief about promoting and preserving human dignity, human rights and respect for life.

The ‘coming of age’ for Southern African psychobiography

Psychobiographical studies have been relatively rare in the research scholarship from Southern Africa. The exceptions are the works of especially Fouche and Van Niekerk (2010). In their article on ...

Helen Suzman: a psychobiographical — psychosocial developmental trajectory study

The primary aim of this study was to describe Helen Suzmans (1917–2009) psychosocial developmental trajectory within her socio-historical context through the application of the stage based description of psychosocial development by Erikson. Two methodological strategies were used. Alexanders psychobiographical model was used to prioritise and extract salient data. Furthermore, a conceptual framework and matrix enabled the longitudinal exploration of Suzmans development. Findings suggest that Suzman progressed successfully through relevant psychosocial stages and accrued appropriate ego strengths. Recommendations are made for future psychobiographical studies.

Fathering a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a stressful experience and has been associated with poor maternal mental health and increased maternal emotional distress. However, the experiences of fathers of children with ASD are largely unexplored and the coping strategies these men employ to cope with the challenges they face have received little research attention. This research aimed to explore the phenomenological experiences of fathers of preschool children with ASD by gaining a better understanding of the manner in which these individuals attempted to cope with their situation. A multiple, single-case study design was employed and five participants were recruited via two local paediatric practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and data were analysed making use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This analysis yielded three superordinate themes, which were labelled as follows: (a) the experience of fathering a child with ASD, (b) challenges of fathering a child with ASD, and (c) coping with fathering a child with ASD. The results suggest that the fathers of children with ASD experience their parental role as stressful. The participants in the current study related the stress they experienced to a number of challenges associated directly with their children’s behaviour, as well as to the effects that parenting a child with ASD had on their own wellbeing and functioning. The participants reported making use of a number of coping strategies in order to deal with the challenges they faced. The participants used both problem-focussed and avoidant coping strategies. The results are discussed and recommendations made with regard to future research.

Levinsonian seasons in the life of Steve Jobs: A psychobiographical case study

Abstract Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was not only a businessman renowned for his legacy of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. His life history indicates eras or seasons as prankster, hippie, family man, and cancer fighter. This psychobiographical case study entailed a psychosocial-historical analysis of Jobs’s development interpreted through Levinson’s theory of the human life cycle, and was undertaken against the background of Merleau-Ponty’s ontological philosophy that elucidates a human science phenomenology where the individual cannot be separated from his/her social world. The primary objective of this study was to uncover the eras and transitions within Jobs’s life cycle. The secondary objective was to illustrate and test the relevance of Levinsonian theory as applied to Jobs’s life. Jobs’s life cycle was uncovered through an analysis of published and publically available materials, which included both primary and secondary data sources. Alexander’s psychobiographical model was employed to extract salient evidence for analysis. A conceptual psychosocial-historical matrix guided the analysis. Key findings indicate that the central components of Jobs’s life and social world (e.g., his occupation, family, friendships and terminal illness) had a significant influence on his psychosocial development. In conclusion, Jobs’s development generally conformed to Levinsonian theory as well as to Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenological ontology and illustrated the relevance of these conceptual models for understanding the individual’s connectedness to his/her social world.

The career development of Christiaan Neethling Barnard: A psychobiography

This study employs a psychobiographical case study to describe and interpret the career development of Christiaan Neethling Barnard, who performed the first human heart transplant. It interprets Barnards life history according to the career development model of Greenhaus, Callanan and Godshalk (2010), which proposes the following four stages: occupational and organisational choice, early, middle, and late career. Generally, Barnards career progression matched the stages proposed by Greenhaus et al. (2010). Exceptions were noted that relate to the first and fourth stages: Barnard experienced an extended occupational and organisational choice stage, while he showed no signs of career disengagement during the late career stage. The study confirmed the usefulness of the career development model of Greenhaus et al. within the psychobiographical research tradition.

Roald Dahl: A psychosexual developmental trajectory study illustrated within psychobiography

This study applies analytical psychobiography, particularly Freuds psychoanalytic apporoach, to the study of the psychosexual development of Roald Dahl (1916–1990), a renowned childrens author, gentleman spy, connoisseur, and philanthropist of his time. Data sources for the analysis included primary and secondary sources, and only publically available and published materials on his life. Alexanders (1988, 1990) psychobiographical guidelines for saliency were used to identify and extract significant biographical themes and units for analysis. The evidence suggests Dahl to present with aggressive, indulgent and neurotic personality traits. He also used sublimation as coping mechanism to express his anxiety and emotional pain through sport and writing. In conclusion, Dahls psychosexual development generally conformed to the developmental trajectory and stages identified by Freud.

The Dracula killer: A psychobiographical illustration of the Schahriar syndrome model for serial murder

This psychobiographical study of Richard Trenton Chase (1950–1980), a serial murderer, has the aim to uncover the psychic mechanisms characteristic of his functioning. The study included primary and secondary data sources. All materials collected and analysed, were published and publically available. The Schahriar syndrome model served as the conceptual framework for data framing and interpretation. Findings suggest that Chase exhibited five primitive psychic mechanisms namely: omnipotence, sadistic fantasies, ritualised performance, dehumanisation and symbiotic merger. The Schahriar syndrome model has utility to explain the psychological functioning of a serial murderer.

Psychofortology of Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

This study explored the coping and subjective well-being of women undergoing infertility treatment. Participants were 61 South African women attending a fertility clinic was selected by means of non- probability purposive sampling (mean age = 34.5). Data were gathered by means of a self-report survey consisting of various questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. Participants reported lower total coping resources compared to the mean of 50 as established by Hammer and Marting (1988). The participants had an average sense of coherence and the majority experienced a below average feeling of happiness. Cluster analysis of the patterns of coping resources, sense of coherence, satisfaction with life and happiness of women currently undergoing infertility treatment at a privately managed health care unit revealed three distinct clusters that differed significantly across the four measures. The results suggest that the women in this sample, despite the experience of infertility and infertility treatment, were able to comprehend, manage and find meaning of their experience in the context of other aspects of their lives.