Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice
Students’ psychological well-being constitutes a critical issue that necessitates support and dedicated intervention from student affairs professionals. Positive psychology, focusing on future-oriented prospective thinking, offers valuable insights and methods relevant to student affairs. This paper...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Journal of Student Affairs in Africa
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Student Affairs in Africa |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://upjournals.up.ac.za/index.php/jsaa/article/view/5259 |
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| Summary: | Students’ psychological well-being constitutes a critical issue that necessitates support and dedicated intervention from student affairs professionals. Positive psychology, focusing on future-oriented prospective thinking, offers valuable insights and methods relevant to student affairs. This paper leverages the principles of Positive Psychology, particularly prospection, and reports a qualitative study that explored how 45 university students (26 females and 19 males; age range: 18-23) conceived of their best future selves. Phenomenological analysis revealed a dynamic interplay between students’ optimistic visions of personal and professional success, and the pressing need for practical strategies to realise these aspirations. By integrating and leveraging Positive Psychology, particularly prospection-focused methodologies, practitioners can support students in envisioning their futures more clearly and translating ambitious visions into tangible outcomes, thereby fostering individual and collective growth. |
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| ISSN: | 2311-1771 2307-6267 |