Claude-Hélène Mayer is a German psychologist and professor in

Industrial and Organisational Psychology Industrial and organizational psychology (I-O psychology) "focuses the lens of psychological science on a key aspect of human life, namely, their work lives. In general, the goals of I-O psychology are to better understand and optimize the effec ...

at the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management,

University of Johannesburg The University of Johannesburg, colloquially known as UJ, is a public university A public university, state university, or public college is a university or college that is State ownership, owned by the state or receives significant fundi ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. As a transdisciplinary researcher, she contributed to the research areas of intercultural

conflict management Conflict management is the process of limiting the negative aspects of conflict while increasing the positive aspects of conflict in the workplace. The aim of conflict management is to enhance learning and group outcomes, including effectivene ...

and

mediation Mediation is a structured, voluntary process for resolving disputes, facilitated by a neutral third party known as the mediator. It is a structured, interactive process where an independent third party, the mediator, assists disputing parties ...

salutogenesis Salutogenesis is the study of the origins (''genesis'') of health (''salus'') and focuses on factors that support human health and well-being, rather than on factors that cause disease (pathogenesis). More specifically, the "salutogenic model" w ...

in the workplace, women in leadership,

positive psychology Positive psychology is the scientific study of conditions and processes that contribute to positive psychological states (e.g., contentment, joy), well-being, Positive psychology of relationships, positive relationships, and positive institutio ...

and emotions, the

Fourth Industrial Revolution "Fourth Industrial Revolution", "4IR", or "Industry 4.0", is a neologism describing rapid technological advancement in the 21st century. It follows the Third Industrial Revolution (the "Information Age"). The term was popularised in 2016 by K ...

and

psychobiography Psychobiography aims to understand historically significant individuals, such as artists or political leaders, through the application of psychological theory and research. Through its merging of personality psychology and historical evidence, ps ...

Early life and education

Claude-Hélène Mayer was born in

Göttingen Göttingen (, ; ; ) is a college town, university city in Lower Saxony, central Germany, the Capital (political), capital of Göttingen (district), the eponymous district. The River Leine runs through it. According to the 2022 German census, t ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. She completed her M.A. and Dr disc.pol. in Cultural Anthropology, Intercultural Didactics and Socio-Economics of Rural Development at the Georg-August-University. She furthered her qualifications at different institutions, with a MSc in psychology from

Northumbria University Northumbria University (legally the University of Northumbria at Newcastle) is a Public research university, public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, North East of England. It has been a university since 199 ...

in Newcastle, UK and a MSc in Crime Sciences, Investigation and Intelligence from

Portsmouth University The University of Portsmouth (UoP) is a public university in Portsmouth, England. Comprising five faculties, the university offers a wide range of academic disciplines. in 2022, with around 28,280 students enrolled in undergraduate and postgr ...

, UK. She obtained a PhD in

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

at the

University of Pretoria The University of Pretoria (, ) is a multi-campus public university, public research university in Pretoria, the administrative and ''de facto'' capital of South Africa. The university was established in 1908 as the Pretoria campus of the Johan ...

and a PhD in

Management Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a Government agency, government bodies through business administration, Nonprofit studies, nonprofit management, or the political s ...

at the university in Grahamstown, South Africa. Her habilitation is in Psychology, with focus on Work, Organisational and

Cultural Psychology Cultural psychology is the study of how cultures reflect and shape their members' psychological processes.Heine, S. J. (2011). ''Cultural Psychology. ''New York: W. W. Norton & Company. It is based on the premise that the mind and culture are ins ...

from the Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.

Career

Together with Paul Elovitz and Inna Rozentsvit, Mayer is one of the founding members of the International Psychobiography Group of th
Psychohistory Forum
Additionally, she is an Editorial Board Member of

Frontiers in Psychology ''Frontiers in Psychology'' is a peer-reviewed open-access academic journal covering all aspects of psychology. It was established in 2010 and is published by Frontiers Media, a controversial company that is included in Jeffrey Beall's list of " ...

, an Associate Regional Editor for the International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, as well as a Senior Editor o
Europe's Journal of Psychology
From 2011 to 2016, Mayer was the co-editor of the Series on Intercultural Mediation at Peter Lang together with Dominic Busch and Hartmut Schröder. She has been elected a fellow of th
International Academy for Intercultural Research
In 2022, Mayer was a faculty member of the Semester at Sea voyage.

Research

Claude-Hélène Mayer's research has traversed several interconnected fields. In her early career, she concentrated on the application of

in the realm of transcultural management, examining how managers comprehend and engage with the complexity of cultural dynamics and mental health within organizational settings. Her work aimed to deepen the understanding of

and sense of coherence within intercultural contexts and its influence on

intercultural competence Cultural competence, also known as intercultural competence, is a range of cognitive, affective, behavioral, and linguistic skills that lead to effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures. Intercultural or cross-cultura ...

and managerial

well-being Well-being is what is Intrinsic value (ethics), ultimately good for a person. Also called "welfare" and "quality of life", it is a measure of how well life is going for someone. It is a central goal of many individual and societal endeavors. ...

. Mayer's research has extended to shaping practical applications for managerial training. She has authored manuals on developing

and sense of coherence as health-promoting resources, with particular focus on intercultural dimensions within organizations. Her publications provide insights on systemic approaches, reflecting a commitment to fostering health and well-being across cultures. In her recent work, Mayer concentrates on

, expanding the field towards a

approach. Mayer's psychobiographical focus has also extended to exploring the lives of prominent women leaders, such as

Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office. She was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and Leade ...

, and individuals from non-Western societies, such as

Graça Machel Graça Machel (; ; born 17 October 1945) is a Mozambique, Mozambican politician and humanitarian. Machel is an international advocate for women's and children's rights and was made an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire ...

. Her current research continues to investigate the intersection of cultural influence and individual psychological experiences. Mayer has published work on topics such as

shame Shame is an unpleasant self-conscious emotion often associated with negative self-evaluation; motivation to quit; and feelings of pain, exposure, distrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness. Definition Shame is a discrete, basic emotion, d ...

, the

, women in leadership, and

, where she emphasizes culture as a crucial factor in psychological research.

Acknowledgements

Mayer's work has been acknowledged and awarded by multiple institutions, including: * In 2016, she won the best paper award at the SAIMS conference for her work on "China in Africa" together with Professor Lynette Louw et al. * In 2021 she was awarded as the Top Researcher 2020 by the

for her scientific contributions to the academic community. * Also in 2021, the paper "In Memory of Edward Diener: Reflections on his career, contributions and the science of happiness" won the outstanding best paper award at the

(Positive Psychology) Editor's Choice Awards. * In 2023 she received, together with Elisabeth Vanderheiden, The William B. Gudykunst Outstanding Book Award from th
Intercultural Academy for International Research (IAIR)
for the "International Handbook of Love". * In 2024, her publications "Unwrapping Transcultural Romantic Love Relationships" and "Women's Empowerment for a Sustainable Future" each won
Nautilus Book Award
with Special Honor in Academic Rigor. * In 2024, Mayer was acknowledged by the University of Johannesburg for her outstanding contribution to the University's DHET-accredited research outputs and graduating postgraduate students, for the 2021 and 2022 publication and graduation years.

Selected works

Research projects

* Holm-Hadulla, R. M., Mayer, C. H., Wendler, H., Kremer, T. L., Kotera, Y., & Herpertz, S. C. (2022). Fear, depression, and well-being during COVID-19 in German and South African students: A cross-cultural comparison. ''Frontiers in psychology'', ''13'', 920125. * Holm-Hadulla, R. M., Hofmann, F. H., Sperth, M., & Mayer, C. H. (2021). Creativity and Psychopathology: An Interdisciplinary View. ''Psychopathology'', ''54''(1), 39–46.

Psychobiography

* Mayer, C.-H., van Niekerk, R., Bainai, M. (2025). Psychobiographies Of Political Leaders From Across The World. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillian. * Mayer, C.-H.; van Niekerk, R., Fouché, P.J. & Ponterotto, J. (2023). Beyond WEIRD: Psychobiography in Times of Transcultural and Transdisciplinary Perspectives. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. * Mayer, C.-H., Fouché, P.J., & van Niekerk, R. (2021). Psychobiographical illustrations on meaning and identity in sociocultural contexts. Sociocultural Psychology of the Lifecourse Series. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillian. * Krasovska, N. & Mayer, C.-H. (2021). A psychobiography of Viktor E. Frankl. Using adversity for life transformation. Springer Briefs in Psychology. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Briefs. * Mayer, C.-H. & Kovary, Z. (2019). New Trends in Psychobiography. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. * Mayer, C.-H. (2017). The life and creative works of Paulo Coelho. A Psychobiography from a Positive Psychology Perspective. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

Emotions

* Mayer, C.-H., Banai, M. & Stefanidis, A. (2025). Cross-cultural perspectives on sentiments and leadership. ''International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 25''(1). * Vanderheiden, E. & Mayer, C.-H. (2024). The Palgrave Handbook of Humour Research. 2nd updated edition. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillian. * Vanderheiden, E. & Mayer, C.-H. (2024). Shame and Aging in a Transforming World. Cham: Springer. * Vanderheiden, E. & Mayer, C.-H. (2024). Shame and Gender in Transcultural Contexts. Resourceful Investigations. Cham: Springer. * Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. (2023). Love and Culture. Meaningful Investigations. ''International Review of Psychiatry, 35''(1). * Mayer, C.-H. (2023). Unwrapping transcultural romantic love relationships. Sense of coherence and identity development in cultural perspectives. SpringerBriefs in Psychology. Cham: Springer. * Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. & Wong, P.T. (2021). Shame 4.0. Investigating an Emotion in Digital Worlds and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. * Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. (2021). International Handbook of Love. Transcultural and transdisciplinary discourses. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. * Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. (2019). The Bright Side of Shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. * Vanderheiden, E. & Mayer, C.-H. (2017). The Value of Shame - Exploring a Health Resource in Cultural Contexts. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

Salutogenesis

* Mayer, C.-H. (2024). Salutogenesis. In: Mockaitis, A.I. & Butler, C.L. (eds.). Elgar Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Management (pp. 130-132). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. * Braun-Lewensohn, O. & Mayer, C.-H. (2020). Salutogenesis and coping: Ways to overcome stress and conflicts. Special Issue. ''International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health''. * Mayer, C.-H. & Boness, C.M. (2013). Creating mental health across cultures. Coaching and training for managers. Lengerich: Pabst Publishers. * Krause, C. & Mayer, C.-H. (2012). Gesundheitsressourcen erkennen und fördern. Ein Trainingsprogramm für pädagogische Fachkräfte. Göttingen: V&R. * Mayer, C.-H. (2011). The meaning of Sense of Coherence in Transcultural Management. Internationale Hochschulschriften Series. Münster: Waxmann.

Intercultural conflict and mediation

* Mayer, C.-H. (2020). Intercultural Mediation and Conflict Management Training. A Guide for Professionals and Academics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International. * Lindemann, H., Mayer, C.-H. & Osterfeld, I. (2020). Systemisch-lösungsorientierte Mediation und Konfliktklärung. Ein Lehr-, Lern- und Arbeitsbuch für Ausbildung und Praxis. 2nd edition. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. * Mayer, C.-H. (2019). ''Trainingshandbuch Interkulturelle Mediation und Konfliktlösung''. 3. Überarbeitete und aktualisierte Auflage. Münster: Waxmann.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

* Mayer, C.-H. (2024). Leaders’ views on leadership and skills development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. ''SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 50'', 11 pages. * Noriega Del Valle, M., Łaba, K., & Mayer, C-H. (2024). Unlocking technology acceptance among South African employees: A psychological perspective. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology/SA Tydskrif vir Bedryfsielkunde, 50(0), a2177. * Mayer, C.-H., Oosthuizen, R.M. & Vanderheiden, E. (2024). Transformational Competences and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Special Issue. ''Frontiers in Psychology, 15''. * Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. (2020). Positive Psychology during the 4th Industrial revolution. New discourses in social and cultural perspectives. * Guest editors: Claude-Helene Mayer and Elisabeth Vanderheiden. Special Issue. ''International Review of Psychiatry'', 32 (7-8), 2020. * Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. (2020). Positive Psychology during the 4th Industrial revolution. New discourses in social and cultural perspectives. Guest editors: Claude-Helene Mayer and Elisabeth Vanderheiden. Special Issue. ''International Review of Psychiatry'', 32 (7-8), 2020.

Positive Psychology

* Wong PTP, Ho LS, Mayer C-H, Yang F & Cowden RG (2023). A new science of suffering, the wisdom of the soul, and the new behavioral economics of happiness: towards a general theory of well-being. ''Frontiers in Psychology'' ''14.'' * Duan, W., Klibert, J., Schotanus-Dijkstra, M., Llorens, S., van der Heuvel, M., Mayer, C.-H., Tomasulo, D., Liao, Y., van Zyl, L.E. (2022). Editorial: positive psychological interventions: How, when and why they work: Beyond WEIRD contexts. Frontiers in Psychology. * Mayer, C.-H. (2022). Positive and Existential Psychology in Times of Change: Towards complex, holistic, systemic and integrative perspectives. ''nt. J. Environ. Res. Public Health'' 2022, ''19''(14), 8433.

External links

Homepage of Dr. Claude-Hélène Mayer

Homepage of Mayer's Institute for Intercultural Practice and Conflict Management

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mayer, Claude-Helene Living people German women academics German psychologists Year of birth missing (living people)