In Africa, in the wake of HIV/AIDS, much of youth training focused on life-skills. With the number of new infections stabilising and the frequency of HIV prevention training reduced, life skills feature less in the discourse of youth formation today. On the other hand, globally, youth trainings increasingly focus on character development (CD). In Africa, however, character strengths remain largely unexplored. Character Strengths (CS) are virtue-like habits and attitudes that influence individuals’ behaviour in such a way that their wellbeing and that of the society are enhanced. Psychologists Seligman and Peterson have suggested a list of 24 CS that are said to be ubiquitous across cultures and religious traditions.
The present study is part of a larger project, “Character Scaffolding – Kenya and Tanzania”, that aims: (1) to develop a […]
Author: selvam
Positive Psychology’s Character Strengths in Addiction-Spirituality Research: A Qualitative Systematic Literature Review
There is an increasing interest in the scientific study of the association between spirituality and recovery from addiction. While most of these studies have provided evidence for a possible relationship, others have explored the underlying mechanisms and meditators in the relationship. However, generally, many studies and reviews have not approached the issue within a specific theoretical framework of mainstream psychology. In an attempt to fill this gap, the review being reported here undertook a Qualitative Systematic Literature Review (QSLR) of addiction-spirituality literature. QSLR is an orderly manner of searching for academic literature, selecting relevant literature following a set of inclusion/exclusion criteria, qualitatively analysing the selected literature, and reporting the findings in such a way as to generate a set of hypotheses. QSLR focusses on literary data, rather than on numerical data as the tradition Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis do. Working […]
Psychology of Conversion of Youth & Call to Religious Life
I made a presentation at the 4th Theological Symposium held at Don Bosco Utume on 30th March 2015. The two-day symposium has as its theme: Consecrated Life and the Life of Youth. The annual symposium this year commemorates the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco – the Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco, hence the focus on youth. It is also a contribution to the Year of Consecrated (Religious) Life.
My presentation brought together three elements: youth, conversion, and religious life.
Using emerging data from psychology of religious conversion of youth, the first part of the paper states some underlying patterns in conversion. The second part applies those patterns in understanding the dynamics of spirituality youth who join religious life. Attachment Theory is much used in the analysis. Implication of secure attachment and avoidant attachment on gradual and sudden conversion, and their possible impact on religious life is discussed.
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Youth Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
Youth Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
My presentation on 9 March 2015, at a joint teleconference between Institute of Youth Studies at Tangaza University College, Kenya and the Institute of Family Studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, Poland.
The purpose of the paper was to provoke some discussion among the students of both the institutions.
Preliminary Remarks
0.1. It could come as a surprise to some of my listeners that the speaker this afternoon is not an African. This is the advantage that scientific method offers us. A person from anywhere could scientifically look at a global or local phenomenon anywhere using the methodology of science. This said, having lived in two countries in the African continent for the past 23 years, and having travelled across the continent visiting at least 10 other countries, I […]
Role of narratives in conflicts
Conflicts: A Social Psychological Perspective
with special focus on the role of Narratives
Rev Dr Sahaya G. Selvam
Tangaza University College, Nairobi
Note: These notes are meant for class discussion
Social Psychology is a branch of psychology (as well as of sociology) that focuses on the cognitive (thinking), affective (feeling) and behavioural dimensions of human beings in their interaction with each other – in groups and societies.
Activity 1: Ask in pairs: “Who are you?” x 10 times
One of the foci of Social Psychology is how individuals draw their identity from their affiliation to groups (see Henri Tajfel and John Turner). There is a basic need in human beings to belong – this need is met by individuals being part of groups that they find themselves in or choose to be in: Ethnic groups, religions, clubs, […]