Claude-Hélène Mayer

Positive Autoethnography (PosAE) combines personal narrative and positive psychology to offer a new approach to self-reflective research. This methodology focuses on personal growth, resilience, and well-being, addressing the growing need for a more constructive, positive approach in fields like psychology and sociology. By emphasizing positive reflexivity, PosAE creates space for insights that uplift both writers and readers. In Positive Autoethnography: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, authors Dr. Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky and Prof. Dr. mult. Claude-Hélène Mayer present the first comprehensive exploration of this methodology. Developed in consultation with Dr. Mark Weeks, and featuring the work of numerous scholars, this collection introduces the theoretical and practical underpinnings of PosAE. The authors reveal the close connection of PosAE to Pragmatic Autoethnography (PAE) and present its pragmatic usage across various applications. PosAE subtypes are showcased to highlight its therapeutic, intercultural, and collaborative potential, while addressing the unique needs PosAE fulfills within Positive Psychology (PP) and Autoethnography (AE). With practical examples and a broad interdisciplinary scope, this work underscores the adaptability of PosAE to a range of research contexts, making it accessible to scholars from diverse backgrounds. Bringing a fresh perspective to qualitative research, Positive Autoethnography is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and educators in PP, AE, psychology, social work, counseling, and beyond. Engaging in positive reflexivity, readers will find new ways to connect with autoethnographic practices that foster resilience, growth, and practical impact.

This book is a Nautilus Silver award winner in 2024 for academic rigor. This research study explores the interlinkages of three major themes, namely transcultural romantic love relationships (TRLRs), sense of coherence (SOC), and identity development (ID) in individuals who are presently involved in romantic love relationships (RLR) with partners from different cultural or ethnic backgrounds. The study uses a qualitative research design within the hermeneutical interpretative research paradigm, aiming to understand the interlinkages of TRLR, SOC, and ID. Based on purposive and snowball sampling techniques, the study includes 22 participants (12 female and 10 male) between 23 and 68 years of age, from 14 different (self-defined) cultural backgrounds. At the time of the interview, participants had been in TRLRs for at least 6 months to a maximum of 26 years. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed through content analysis. Qualitative quality criteria and ethical considerations were applied. The findings show that TRLRsare firmly based on relationship qualities, strong feelings, common actions, spirituality, and future orientation. Further, the findings present clear interlinkages between TRLR and SOC, contributing positively to meaningfulness, manageability, and comprehensibility. Finally, TRLRs support SOC on intrapersonal, cultural, and interpersonal levels. In addition, they influence the development of identity awareness, actions, feelings, and sexual SOC. Conclusions, limitations, and recommendations for theory and practice are provided.

This book introduces the topic of intercultural mediation and conflict management. Based on the latest scientific research and successful conflict management practices, it provides theoretical insights and practical, self-reflective exercises, role-plays and case studies on conflict, mediation, intercultural mediation, and solution-finding in conflict mediation. The book serves both as a self-learning tool to expand personal competences and cultural sensitivity, and as training material for seminars, workshops, secondary, advanced and higher education and vocational training. It is a valuable contribution to the fields of intercultural conflict mediation and conflict management, intercultural communication, intercultural training and coaching. This is a book about practicing – the applied practice of competent conflict crafts in diverse intercultural contexts. Conflict practitioners, mediators, and intercultural trainers would be inspired by Professor Claude-Hélène Mayer’s creative integration of relevant intercultural models with do-able conflict strategies and in reaching intergroup harmony with reflexivity and cultural resonance.--- Professor Stella Ting-Toomey, Human Communication Studies, California State University at Fullerton, USA, and Co-Editor of The SAGE Handbook of Conflict Communication, 2eGiven the difficulty and complexity of successful intercultural collaboration and conflict mediation, this is a much-needed addition to cross-cultural positive psychology. It is rich in content and training. I highly recommend it for teaching, corporate training, and for executive coaches.--- Professor Paul T. P. Wong, President International Network on Personal Meaning and President Meaning-Centered Counselling Institute, Toronto, CanadaIntercultural conflict resolution is a critically important task in this modern world. This book by Professor Mayer is a welcome handbook on how to use mediation toresolve those conflicts. It should be in the library of every conflict mediator. My congratulations to Professor Mayer for her important work.--- Dan Landis, Founding President, International Academy of Intercultural Research, Affiliate Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii

This book is a psychobiography on the life of Viktor Frankl and a unique exploration of his life from a positive psychology perspective. It uses Paul Wong’s theory of positive psychology wave 2 (PP2.0) and explores the concepts of meaning and virtue throughout Frankl's life span. The authors define virtue in terms of appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, humour and spirituality, and define meaning based on Paul Wong’s PURE model. They apply Irving Alexander’s primary indicators of psychological salience and W. T. Schultz’s prototypical scenes to analyse Frankl's important life events. This psychobiography presents an original contribution to theory on three levels: advancing the literature in psychobiography, developing the field of PP2.0, and providing new insights into Frankl’s life. It is a must for psychographers, positive psychologists and people interested in Frankl’s life and theoretical contributions.

This book introduces the topic of intercultural mediation and conflict management. Based on the latest scientific research and successful conflict management practices, it provides theoretical insights and practical, self-reflective exercises, role-plays and case studies on conflict, mediation, intercultural mediation, and solution-finding in conflict mediation. The book serves both as a self-learning tool to expand personal competences and cultural sensitivity, and as training material for seminars, workshops, secondary, advanced and higher education and vocational training. It is a valuable contribution to the fields of intercultural conflict mediation and conflict management, intercultural communication, intercultural training and coaching. This is a book about practicing – the applied practice of competent conflict crafts in diverse intercultural contexts. Conflict practitioners, mediators, and intercultural trainers would be inspired by Professor Claude-Hélène Mayer’s creative integration of relevant intercultural models with do-able conflict strategies and in reaching intergroup harmony with reflexivity and cultural resonance.--- Professor Stella Ting-Toomey, Human Communication Studies, California State University at Fullerton, USA, and Co-Editor of The SAGE Handbook of Conflict Communication, 2eGiven the difficulty and complexity of successful intercultural collaboration and conflict mediation, this is a much-needed addition to cross-cultural positive psychology. It is rich in content and training. I highly recommend it for teaching, corporate training, and for executive coaches.--- Professor Paul T. P. Wong, President International Network on Personal Meaning and President Meaning-Centered Counselling Institute, Toronto, CanadaIntercultural conflict resolution is a critically important task in this modern world. This book by Professor Mayer is a welcome handbook on how to use mediation toresolve those conflicts. It should be in the library of every conflict mediator. My congratulations to Professor Mayer for her important work.--- Dan Landis, Founding President, International Academy of Intercultural Research, Affiliate Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii

This brief explores wildlife crime and its international and culture-specific combat in South Africa from a green psychology perspective, focusing on a specific method of forensic trace recovery by analysing and evaluating the use of gelatine lifters. It provides theoretical and applied insight into visualising and sequential processing of finger-, shoe- and footprints, and environmental traces. It allows the reader in-depth insight into effective methods of international wildlife crime combat, based on the South African perspective. This brief gives theoretical and applied recommendations for international, regional and local actors for successful cooperation on wildlife protection. As global and local programs, actions and law enforcement strategies to combat wildlife crime are gaining strength, forensic trace evidence is a useful method for investigative and preventive success. This brief will be useful for students and researchers in forensic science, wildlife crime, green criminology, as well as for law enforcement and international actors combating wildlife crime practically on both international and local levels.

This book assesses the life and success of the writer Paulo Coelho, one of the most fascinating and contemporary writers in the world, through new lenses. It applies a positive psychology perspective and contributes to using innovative theories in psychobiographical studies. This study explores the development of holistic wellness (HWM) and faith development (FDT) throughout the writer's life. It presents radical changes in spirituality, self-direction, love and faith across the life span. Further, it analyses the development of Coelho’s relationship with God and the creation of meaningfulness through his belief and writing. This study contributes to a new era of psychobiographical works within the positive psychology framework.

This book assesses the life and success of the writer Paulo Coelho, one of the most fascinating and contemporary writers in the world, through new lenses. It applies a positive psychology perspective and contributes to using innovative theories in psychobiographical studies. This study explores the development of holistic wellness (HWM) and faith development (FDT) throughout the writer's life. It presents radical changes in spirituality, self-direction, love and faith across the life span. Further, it analyses the development of Coelho’s relationship with God and the creation of meaningfulness through his belief and writing. This study contributes to a new era of psychobiographical works within the positive psychology framework.

Das Buch beschaftigt sich mit den Themen der Mediation und Konfliktloesung in kubanischen Kontexten und geht den Fragen nach, ob und wie Mediation auf Kuba praktiziert wird. Durch Einblicke in die praktische Anwendung des Mediationsverfahrens zeigen die Autorinnen, inwieweit das theoretische Konzept in die kubanische Lebensrealitat eingebettet ist. Hierbei entstehen kulturspezifische Einsichten in die Durchfuhrung von Mediation. Der Band bietet einen wichtigen Beitrag zur kulturspezifischen Exploration der Konfliktloesung uber Dritte.

Aufstellungsarbeit birgt grosses Potenzial fur die Konfliktklarung und nimmt eine immer bedeutender werdende Rolle in der Mediation ein. Die Autorinnen gehen der Frage nach, wie Aufstellungsarbeit das Methodenwerkzeug der Mediation unterstutzen und erganzen kann. Fur eine praktikable Umsetzung des Einsatzes fehlten bislang eine Bundelung von Ausubungsformen und ihre theoretischen Verankerungen. Anhand von Anwendungsbeispielen zeigt dieses Buch in vergleichender Perspektive die Bandbreite von Einsatzmoeglichkeiten und stellt eine Verbindung zu den theoretischen Grundlagen her. Dabei nimmt sich die Forschung den Grunden, Herausforderungen und Grenzen der Kombination von Aufstellungsarbeit und Mediation an.

Managing healthy transcultural organisations is based on the strength and the sense of coherence (SOC) of individuals, to comprehend, manage and create meaning in challenging work situations. To cope with these challenges, managers need to activate their individual resources and increase their transcultural and conflict management competences. In our management and consultancy practice, we experience the importance of interlinking health and well-being on the one hand with transcultural communication and conflict management on the other hand. A systemic approach supports the development of the three SOC components effectively and contributes to well-being within individuals and the organisation. In this book, we present MEHTO, a coaching and training module for managers which includes individual counselling sessions, group training series, as well as team mentoring and facilitator training. We have developed MEHTO through management research in international organisations and global players, as well as through our experience in international and transcultural management consultancy. Particularly during the past years of global economic crisis, we have recognized the need for increasing mental health in managers and organisations. We believe that managers and organisations in the 21st century require a shift towards holistic and spiritual values to promote sustainable healthy organisations. This manual aims at developing health-oriented management practices which focus on individual and organisational well-being across cultures. It is a manager's Handbook or Vademecum towards a successful and healthy leadership mindset. Enjoy it

The training introduced in this volume has proved to further healthy coping with the stress faced by caretaking professionals. It is based on the salutogenetic approach of Aaron Antonovsky. It includes concrete suggestions and exercises ordered thematically according to the learning goals and contents. It can be used as a self-help program, in supervision or during counseling in both social and school contexts as well as in continued professional training situations. Selected parts of the training program can also be employed by the educational personnel in their own groups in kindergarten, school and youth work.