The Optentia Research Pro-

gramme recently appointed two extraordinary professors, namely

Prof. Ruut Veenhoven and Prof. Hans De Witte.

Prof. Veenhoven, who studied

sociology, is emeritus professor of social conditions for happiness

at Erasmus University in the Netherlands. His publications

include: 'Conditions of happi-ness' (1984), 'Happy Life-expec-

tancy' (1997), ‗The four qualities of life‘ (2000) and ‗Is life getting

better?‘ (2005). Prof. Veenhoven is director of the World Database

of Happiness and editor of the Journal of Happiness Studies.

Hans De Witte is full profes-

sor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. He is member of the Re-search Group Work-, Organiza-tional and Personnel Psychology

of his department. He is involved

in (national and international) research regarding job insecu-

rity, organisational restructuring and mergers, temporary con-

tracts, mobbing at work, and

burnout versus work engagement. The two extraordinary pro-

fessors will be involved in various research projects implemented in

the Optentia Research Pro-gramme.

Special points of interest:

Extraordinary professors

appointed

MPlus workshop

Master‘s and Doctoral

Students

Positive Social Sciences

Symposium

Optentia Awards

Happiness Research

Two Extraordinary Professors Appointed at Optentia

Inside this issue:

MPlus workshop at Optentia 2

Administrative Assistance

for Optentia

2

Introducing Postgraduate

Students

3

SA Positive Social Sciences

Symposium

4

Optentia Awards 6

Happiness Research 8

Publications and Events 10

News Volume 1, Number 2

April 2011

Enabling optimal expression of individual, social and institutional potential

Keynote speakers and

members of the Optentia

Research Programme

during the South African

Positive Social Sciences

Symposium — 2011

Prof. Ruut Veenhoven

Prof. Hans De Witte

Dr Werner Nell attended the First Global Conference on Spirituality in the 21st Century that was held

in Prague, Czech Republic from 20-22 March 2011. He delivered a

paper entitled Conceptions of spirituality in modern dreams, which examined the role that

spirituality is perceived to play in the dreams of individuals. The

conference was attended by dele-gates from countries as diverse

as Lithuania, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, the

United States, Japan, Australia and Canada, which ensured a

wide array of interesting and

thought-provoking presentations

on spirituality. Topics covered diverse areas, including spiritual-

ity and nursing, policing, art, belonging, trauma, bereavement

counselling, as well as methodo-

logical issues pertaining to spiri-tually based research. Several

projects, involving a project blog, an e-mail discussion group, the

establishment of a spirituality research database as well as

platforms for research collabo-ration have been initiated, which

promise to significantly enhance and develop the value and impact

of the conference.

member of the International As-

sociation of Lions Clubs, Lynn enjoys making positive contribu-

tions to her community and envi-ronment. Being a Lion enriches

her soul, reminds her to live

gratefully and inspires her to see the best in everything and every-

one.

Lynn Booysen was recently ap-

pointed as an administrative assistant in the Optentia Re-

search Programme. Lynn was born and grew up in Vaalpark.

After being away for 20 years

she is back home. Lynn has a broad background and spectrum

of experience in dealing with people and she finds people fasci-

nating. Everyone has a story, and every story is unique! Being a

Lynn Booysen

Administrative Assistance for Optentia!

research. The workshop was

presented by an expert from Utrecht University in the Nether-

lands, Prof. Rens van de Schoot. A total of 30 social scientists from

various higher education and

research institutions in South Africa attended the workshop.

The Mplus software package raises serious questions about

the accuracy and validity of exist-ing statistical software packages

which are frequently used to

analyse results in social sciences research.

Expert from Utrecht University Presents Workshop at Optentia

The Optentia Research Program-

me at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University

recently hosted a unique work-shop in advanced statistical

analyses and Mplus software.

According to Prof. Ian Rothmann, the workshop presents not only a

platform from which the Vaal Triangle Campus‘ research focus

could be made known, but also contributes to better quality

Paper at the First Global Conference on Spirituality in the 21st century in Prague

Page 2 News

Dr Werner Nell

“To improve

model testing,

social scientists

should master

the MPlus

statistical

package.”

For a worthwhile existence

Participants in the

MPlus workshop

Tanya Beyleveldt, master‘s stu-

dent in Clinical Psychology at the University of Namibia, is inspired

to assist people who have to take care of individuals with Down

syndrome. In her study, she

explores the well-being of care-givers of a family member with

Down syndrome in Namibia. Most previous studies which were done

on the experiences of caring for a Down syndrome were carried out

within foreign countries. Tanya says that she is doing the study

because there is little scientific information available regarding

the experiences and well-being of

families as caregivers of Down

syndrome children residing in Namibia. This research will be a

great help to those parents who begin their lives with a Down

syndrome child within the family

and it will provide them with a balanced perspective of what to

expect. Based on the information gathered in this study, the Minis-

try of Health and Social Services (the planning and policy division)

could plan and implement pro-grammes to promote the well-

being of families who are giving care to family members with

Down syndrome.

Council for Social Service Profes-

sions. In 2008 she registered for her master‘s degree in Forensic

Social Work at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West Uni-

versity and worked as statutory

social worker in Potchefstroom. She resigned in 2009 and started

working as a social worker in Lutzville and served as the Head

of the Office at the Child Care office. Elmien completed her

master‘s degree in December

Elmien Truter obtained the BA

(Social Work) degree in Decem-ber 2007 at Stellenbosch Univer-

sity. She is registered at the SA

2010 with the title "Language

interpreting during the forensic interview. A social work investi-

gation". She is currently regis-tered for a full-time PhD in the

Optentia Research Programme at

the Vaal Triangle Campus of North-West University.

Social Worker Joins Optentia Research Programme for a PhD

creased flourishing and produc-

tivity. Coen Welsh studied employee

engagement in Windhoek to de-termine if the experience of en-

gagement in Namibia is similar to

that in other parts of the world. He used the Work Experiences

Questionnaire, the Psychological Conditions Questionnaire and the

Engagement Questionnaire to gather information. The results

confirmed what has been found

elsewhere which paves the way for intervention research to im-

prove levels of engagement in Namibia.

Coen Welsh

Work Engagement in Namibia

Employee engagement has be-

come a subject of immense inte-rest because of the perceived

positive results associated with an engaged workforce. It is im-

portant to accurately understand

engagement in the Southern Afri-can context to be able to eventu-

ally design interventions that may increase and improve levels of

engagement in Namibian organi-sations which will lead to in-

Exploring the Well-being of Caregivers of Individuals with Down‟s Syndrome

Page 3 News

Mrs Tanya

Beyleveldt

“The greatest way

to live with honor

in this world is to

be what we

pretend to

be“ (Socrates)

Elmien Truter, full-time PhD

student in Social Work

For a worthwhile existence

listen to experts who shared their

knowledge and assisted in buil-ding our knowledge. Attending

this symposium made an impor-tant contribution to students‘

understanding of research, and

presented an opportunity to un-derstand our studies and the

factors that lead to greatness and success. The symposium

gave us the instruments needed to live a life where we could be

motivated in our work, have a

sense of purpose and reason and become happy through positive

self-regulation. This will make an important contribution to our

careers, be it in social sciences

or any other work context. Priva-tus wants to thank the Opentia

Research Programme for giving students the opportunity to take

part and be a part of this success story.

Experiences of the SAPSS by Chanelle Schoeman (Privatus)

The Privatus Academic Psychol-

ogy student body of the North-West Un ivers it y‘s (NW U)

Potchefstroom Campus had the privilege to be sponsored by the

Optentia Research Programme to

attend the first SAPSS. The sym-posium was an important instru-

ment to further the knowledge of students studying in the field of

social sciences. It was an amaz-ing experience where we could

The SA Positive Social Sciences Symposium (SAPSS)

Page 4 News

Ten experts

addressed

participants at

the SA Positive

Social Sciences

Symposium

For a worthwhile existence

Prof. Ian Rothmann and the management team of Privatus

Dr E. Keyser, Prof. H. De Witte and Prof. C.

van Wyk Prof. F. Crous, Dr K. van der Merwe, Dr E.

Botha and Mrs H Williams

Dr A. Fouche and Prof. H. Marujo Prof. L. Neto, Prof. H. Marujo, Dr A. Van den Broeck,

Dr M. Tytherleigh and Prof. M. Steger

‗n ―Simposium‖ is veronderstel

om ‗n vriendelike geleentheid te wees – en hierdie een was dit ten

volle. Maar daar was meer as net vriendelikheid — dit was ook vol

warm emosie en liefde. Ian en

elke lid van sy span, het ‘n uitson-derlike atmosfeer geskep. Die

―Student Dream Theater‖ koor het dit aangeskakel. Inhoudelik

het die program ‘n ongewone komponent van deernis bevat.

Verskeie sprekers het meer as net kognitiewe stof aangebied, of

het selfs harde denke met warmte aangebied. Tussen puik,

streng wetenskaplike referate

met harde statistiek deur, was

daar ook geleenthede waaroor ‘n mens nog lank sal nadink en

navoel. Die oorhandiging van drie Optentia Toekennings was ‘n

roerende geleentheid. Freddie

Crous en Sesh Paruk se lesings het insig en invoeling op die diep-

ste menslike belewings gebied. Die eerste S.A. Simposium oor

Positiewe Sosiale Wetenskap was buitengewoon suksesvol. Dit ver-

dien erkenning en lof.

her address to participants at the

SA Positive Social Sciences Sym-posium on 15 April 2011. She sum-

marised the psychology of mechanised oppression and its

impact on South African society.

According to Dr Paruk, social scientists owe this country much,

as decades of social scientists were silent when some of the

most horrific human rights viola-tions had been committed. There

is absolutely no time for divides

Dr. Sesh Paruk, Human Resource Executive at the Parliament of

South Africa was inspirational in

to exist between academics and

what is happening to people on the ground. This is a prime oppor-

tunity for socio-behavioural scientists and kindred spirits to

reclaim our dignity by making a

"pure" contribution to democratic paradigms, without any expecta-

tion of fame/glory or reward.

Dr Sesh Paruk: An Inspiring Person!

Honours

students in the School of

Behavioural

Sciences at the North-West

University who assisted us

during the First SAPSS with Dr

Sesh Paruk

„n Ander Perspektief deur Prof. Deo Strümpfer

Page 5 News

Dr Sesh Paruk

For a worthwhile existence

Prof. Ian Rothmann and

Prof. Deo Strümpfer

“Science

without

humanity will

destroy us”

Gandhi

A visit of five academics of the

Faculty of Humanities at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-

West University (NWU – Vaal Triangle) to the University of

Namibia (UNam) prepared the

table for research collaboration between the two institutions. For

the academics at the NWU Vaal Triangle who all participate in

Optentia, the visit represents an important step in building a com-

munity of researchers who focus on how individual, social and insti-

tutional potential in the African context. The delegation of the

NWU Vaal Triangle was welcomed by the Dean of Humanities at

UNam, Prof. Kingo Mchombu.

Researchers discussed research collaboration and ways to im-

prove the quality of research regarding optimising of potential.

According to Prof. Ian Rothmann,

who led the delegation during the visit to UNam in Windhoek, Opten-

tia researchers are already in-volved in master‘s and doctoral

studies on optimising of individ-ual, social and institutional poten-

tial in South Africa and Namibia. Researchers at the two institu-

tions will collaborate in research projects regarding flourishing of

individuals and institutions, resil-ience of children, and well-being

in families.

Dr Werner Nell (Sociology), Dr Ansie

Fouche (Social Work), Prof. Linda

Theron (Education), Dr Elmari Dea-

con (Psychology) at UNam

philes. I did not even know that the

topic existed AND was being re-searched! Instead of meeting

delegates totally removed from the reality of child-abuse and

related issues, I encountered

researchers and keynote speak-ers enlightening their audience

with informed opinions sharing their well-researched knowledge

combining intellect and emotion. A quote by Mary Crowe sprung to

mind as I was driving home after two days spent well – ―You can

To use the word ―surprised‖

would be an understatement to describe the feeling when I re-

ceived an invitation to share my story with a group of intellectuals

and academics doing research on

―Positive Social Sciences‖. The thought of letting them have a

glimpse into my world of saving and loving dirty, smelly little out-

casts of society and the continu-ous fight for justice scared me

more than my daily encounters with drug-dealers and paedo-

change your thinking and thereby

change your life. You can do this by deliberately imaging into your

subconscious good ideas, positive images, instead of negative

ones. You are constantly in a

state of becoming. And you do become what you think.‖

Elsabe Coetzee

Elsabe Coetzee: Experiences of the SA Positive Social Sciences Symposium

During 2006 his family became

victims of an armed robbery in a

shopping mall in Pretoria, and both

his wife and 7-year old daughter

were shot and wounded by robbers.

Hermanus is now working for the

Drug Unit at the Pretoria Central

Police Station. He is extremely suc-

cessful in his work, despite the fact

that he often lacks the resources to

do his job. According to his own

evidence, he does his work to benefit

the community. He earned the nick-

name of ―Spook‖ because of his

ability to show up where criminals

least expect him. A laptop computer

and camera were given to Hermanus

in recognition of his excellent work in

the community.

Spook van der Berg

Spook van der Berg: An Exceptional Person … Hermanus (Spook) van der Berg

completed his Grade 12 education in

1990. During his late school years he

was interested in dangerous insects

and snakes, but never had the oppor-

tunity to further knowledge and skills

through post-school training. He

became a police officer. In 2000 he

received the Police Cross for Brav-

ery (Silver) after he rescued people

who were in trouble on a boat. This

decoration is awarded for excep-

tional bravery in great danger.

Optentia Research Programme Visited the University of Namibia

Page 6 News

“The thought of letting

them have a glimpse

into my world of saving

and loving dirty, smelly

little outcasts of society

and the continuous fight

for justice scared me

more than my daily

encounters with drug-

dealers and

paedophiles.”

For a worthwhile existence

Social scientists seem to give up

character as an explanation for human behaviour in favour of

environmental conditions (Selig-man, 2011). This has various impli-

cations. First, individuals are no

longer responsible for their ac-tions, since the causes lie in the

situation rather than the person. Progressive science must isolate

the ills that befall human beings so that these situations can be

corrected. Third, the focus of enquiry should be bad events

rather than good events. These tendencies take the focus away

from virtuous behaviour of indi-viduals. In a paper with the title

―Engagement and happiness: The

Southern African picture‖, Prof. Ian Rothmann showed that vir-

tuous behaviour, characterised by work engagement is strongly

predicted by personal resources (such as optimism and sense of

coherence) in addition to job resources. He showed that psy-

chological meaningfulness was a strong predictor of work engage-

ment in various countries. Fac-

tors contributing to psychological

meaningfulness and work engage-ment were person-environment

fit, having a calling orientation, the nature of relationships with

co-workers, and the intrinsic

nature of the job. Work engage-ment contributed to happiness

(satisfaction with life and a posi-tive affect balance). To demon-

strate the role of personal re-sources, purpose and meaning in

engagement, three ―ordinary‖ South Africans, who are highly

engaged in their work were asked to tell their life stories.

They also received the Optentia Award on 14 April 2011.

Mrs Elsabe Coetzee received

the award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to-

wards: a) Ensuring that the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable

and poorest of the poor‘ are upheld; b) Constantly raising

awareness of child abuse and children rights issues by con-

ducting workshops and providing implementation strategies; c)

Contributing to a national and

international exposé of child traf-

ficking in South-Africa during 2010, and d) Negotiating on Na-

tional Government level to ensure the effective enforcement of the

National Children‘s Act.

Mr September Rooderick received the award in recognition

of his outstanding performance despite major life challenges. He

managed to overcome adversity and serves as an example of how

a person can rise above his cir-cumstances.

W/O van der Berg received the award in recognition of his

outstanding contributions as a police member. Hermanus

showed virtuous behaviour in

using his strengths to protect the community against dangerous

criminals, drug smugglers, and drug users, being engaged in his

job and committed to the organi-sation despite high job demands

and a lack of job resources, and demonstrating moral goodness in

dealing with the communities where he works.

Optentia Awards for Engaged South Africans

Page 7 News

“Social scientists

seem to give up

character as an

explanation for

human behaviour

in favour of

environmental

conditions”

For a worthwhile existence

Mrs Elsabe Coetzee, Mr September Rooderick, Prof. Ian Rothmann and W/O Hermanus (Spook) van der Berg

Prof. Ruut Veenhoven recently

addressed the question whether greater happiness of individuals

is possible. He showed that it is indeed possible and that it can be

achieved at three levels, namely

the macro level of society, the meso level of organisations, and

the micro level of individuals. Prof. Veenhoven showed that

greater happiness is possible by

addressing live-ability and life-

ability. Live-ability can be im-

proved by investing in good gov-ernance, rule of law, freedom and

tolerance and not investing more in income equality, and state

welfare. Life-ability can be im-

proved by investing in (preven-

tive) mental health care, profes-sional life-coaching, and support

of life choices. Better informed life choices

could be made through mood

monitoring and by charting the consequences of choice. Mood

monitoring can be done through the use of a happiness diary for

education, feedback on how happy you are compared to comparable

people, and a profile of your en-joyment of activities. Charting

consequences of choice entails that the long-term effects on

happiness of major choices in large scale panels be investi-

gated, and that probabilities for

people like you be investigated. For more information, see:

http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl

Prof. Ruut Veenhoven

social engagement, enthusiasm,

and self-confidence. Third, gains in happiness are short term be-

cause people adapt quickly to change. However, research has

shown that specific interventions

could increase people‘s happi-ness. Also, many motivational and

attitudinal factors are amenable to some control, e.g. the tendency

to take an optimistic perspective on life situations, and the ten-

dency to experience self-efficacy.

Three considerations led to

scientific pessimism about the possibility of affecting people‘s

happiness (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, & Schkade, 2005). First, people

have a genetically determined set

point which determines at least 50% of their happiness. Second,

personality characteristics of individuals are remarkably stable

over time, which result in people maintaining the same rank order-

ing in their levels of worry, guilt,

Furthermore, research findings

suggest that greater happiness can be achieved over time. Fi-

nally, it seems that the unwanted effects of genes could be mini-

mised by active efforts to steer

oneself away from situations that detract from well-being. There-

fore, enhancing individuals‘ happi-ness levels is a worthy scientific

goal, especially after basic physi-cal and security needs have been

met.

Should We Be Pessimistic or Optimistic About Affecting Happiness?

also study the antecedents of

happiness, commitment-based outcomes and performance.

Happiness is defined in terms of hedonic (including life satisfac-

tion, positive and negative affect)

and eudaimonic components (including self-determination,

engagement, and meaning).

Happiness of Managers in the Agricultural Sector in South Africa

Hannes Swart, a PhD student in

Industrial Psychology at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-

West University, is currently undertaking a study of the happi-

ness of managers in the agricul-

tural sector in South Africa. The study will focus on the effects of

happiness on organisational com-mitment, extra-role behaviour,

turnover intention and perform-ance of managers. Hannes will

Is Greater Happiness of People Possible?

Page 8 News

“Happiness has

both hedonic and

eudaimonic

components”

For a worthwhile existence

Hannes Swart

liance. It is also a symbol of au-

thority. It represents flourishing, life and spirituality. The rising sun

is a symbol of hope. Green as used in the name of Optentia is

the colour of life and of nature.

Yellow is a strong energy colour and compliments the green. The

figure ―holding‖ the sun is symbolic of ordinary people‘s

worthwhile endeavours to bring warmth, light, hope and life into

the worlds of others who are less

The Optentia Research Pro-

gramme acknowledges the con-tributions of individuals and insti-

tutions that show virtuous behav-iour in the Southern African con-

text. The symbolism in the

Optentia award is a product of the name, nature of the objects in

the work, and colours used. The name ―Optentia‖ comes from the

combination of two words, namely ―optimal‖ and ―potential‖. The sun

is an emblem of glory and bril-

fortunate – giving them ―a place

in the sun‖.

The Optentia Award

Goodbye … Not Farewell to International Guests

Page 9 News

“The symbolism in

the Optentia

award is a

product of the

name, nature of

the objects in the

work, and colours

used. ”

For a worthwhile existence

Prof. Hans De Witte, Prof. Luis Neto, Dr Michelle Tytherleigh, Prof. Ype Poortinga, Prof. Ruut Veenhoven, Prof. Helena Marujo, Dr Anja Van Den Broeck, Mrs Elsabé Diedericks, Mrs Melanie Rothmann and Prof. Ian Roth-

mann

13-14 June 2011: Wellness Conference,

University of the Free State.

23-26 July 2011: Second World Con-

gress on Positive Psychology, Phila-

delphia, PA, USA.

Upcoming Events

We‟re on the web!

www.optentia.co.za

Postal Primary Business Address

Optentia Research Programme

Faculty of Humanities

North-West University

Vanderbijlpark, 1900

Phone: +27(16)9103433

Fax: +27(18)2856024

E-mail: ian@ianrothmann.com

Web: www.optentia.co.za

For a worthwhile existence

Scientific Outputs of Optentia

Joubert, P., Van Wyk, C., & Rothmann, S. (2011). The effectiveness of sexual harassment policies and procedures at higher education institutions in South Africa: Perceptions of academic staff. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 9(1), 1-10.

Joubert, P., Van Wyk, C., & Rothmann, S. (2011). The incidence of sexual harassment at higher education institutions in South Africa: Perceptions of academic staff. Acta Academica, 43(1), 167-188.

Mendes, F., & Stander, M.W. (2011). Positive organisation: The role of leader behaviour in employee engagement and turnover intention. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 37(1).

Rothmann, S. & Malan, A.M. (2011). Work-related well-being of South African hospital pharmacists. SA Jour-nal of Industrial Psychology. 37(1).

Enabling optimal expression of individual, social and institutional potential

Seligman, M.E.P. (2011). Flourish: A new understanding of happiness and well-being — and how to achieve

them. London: Nicolas Brealey Publishing.

Sheldon, K., Kashdan, T.B., & Steger, M.F. (2011) (Eds.). Designing positive psychology: Taking stock and mov-ing forward. Oxford University Press.

New Positive Psychology Books