According to Tedeschi and Calhoun, trauma is a person-event complex that threatens the existing ‘schema’ that people have in their mind. After a prolonged process of ‘rumination’, the people might not want to change their schema and thus experience PTSD. Alternatively, if they accommodate or assimilate the experience into their schema, then the result is coping or resilience respectively. On the other hand, if they ‘integrate’ the adverse experience into their schema by reframing it then the outcome is wisdom.
Basing itself on Tedeschi and Calhoun’s model of posttraumatic growth, the present paper reads the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as a process of dealing with a traumatic experience – the death of the Messiah and the disappearance of his body. Jesus listens to their version of the story, […]
Current Activity
Current Activity
Pastoral care of the family in the light of sound psychology
A paper presented at the Tangaza Conference on Family – 19 May 2015
Abstract:
Moral philosophers and theologians argue that the human family is governed by natural law. While philosophers might rationally argue for this, theologians resort to revelation. In theologians’ understanding human family is part of the plan of God. Can scientific psychology provide some empirical evidence for “the natural law” argument? If yes, how could psychology enhance the pastoral care of families today? The aim of the present conceptual paper is to offer some contemporary evidence from evolutionary psychology and neurobiology to suggest that, after all, the human brain may be hire-wired for the family. It will go on to reflect on the role of the family in the growth of a Christian in the light some emerging insights from psychology. The later part of the paper will focus on the association between individuals’ relationship in the family and their […]
Training Manual for Psycho-Social Support
The Institute of Youth Studies (IYS) has networked with an Italian NGO (Fondazione L’Albero della Vita – FADV) in order to develop a training manual for use in the 26 Kenyan government run statutory children institutions. The training will target over 120 staff who are employed in the juvenile remand and rehabilitation institutions, so as to build staff capacity in offering psycho-social support to their wards.
FADV approached IYS to carry out a needs assessment in collaboration with the University of Padova, and to develop the training manual. The NGO has offered a sum of Ksh.250,000 to IYS for this consultancy service.
The trainings will be also carried out by IYS, funded by CEFA – another Italian NGO that works with the Kenya government in the Children Services.
I have the been key person in this […]
Character Strengths in Africa 1 (Towards an African List of CS)
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 […]
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.
TO DOWNLOAD […]