Joseph G. Ponterotto

Fordham University at Lincoln Center Campus, New York City, USA · Psychological & Educational Services, Graduate School of Education

This article promotes and advocates for the integration of psychobiography into academic training in psychology. While psychobiography has been foundational to the discipline of psychology since Freud’s study of Leonardo da Vinci, its procedures and methods have been sorely neglected in academic psychology. Following a brief introduction to psychob...

Having explored a diverse international body of psychobiography, the editors now build onto the vivid history and development of psychobiography and present ideas for possible future directions in psychobiography with special regard to extending beyond a WEIRD focus.

This chapter presents a multiple case psychobiography inclusive of two women’s tennis superstars and social activists: Billie Jean King (1943–present) and Naomi Osaka (1997–present). The study design is cross-sectional (between subjects of different generations) and longitudinal (within subjects). The overarching goal of the study was to explore th...

Psychobiography focuses on the lives of extraordinary individuals. In essence, psychobiographies are biographies that employ psychological theory to clarify and illuminate historically significant experiences, events, and contributions within an extraordinary person’s life and in the relevant sociocultural contexts of that lived experience. This ch...

Beyond WEIRD Psychobiography in Times of Transcultural and Transdisciplinary Perspectives is volume presents psychobiographical research in non-WEIRD - Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic - contexts and samples, focusing on culture, transcultural and transdisciplinary work. It creates a platform for researchers, scholars and scie...

Little is known about the experience of caring for a son with anorexia nervosa (AN). Prior research with parents of primarily daughters with AN indicate that they experience significant distress. Ten mothers participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences taking care of a son (between the ages of 11 and 18) who had inpatient...

In a global community with increased immigration and rising sociocultural tensions, there is a need for psychometrically strong instruments that assess adjustment to increasingly culturally heterogeneous environments. The Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI) is one such instrument, but previous studies have not reported the instrument’s invari...

Participant quotes from the dissertation research on which A Qualitative Examination of Relational Ethical Challenges and Practices in Underground Psychedelic Work (Brennan et al., 2022) was based

As both 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)- and psilocybin-assisted psychedelic psychotherapy near U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and gain acceptance as efficacious clinical approaches, concerns have been raised about the likelihood of sexual violation of a client and other relational boundary transgressions. In the current...

This study aimed to unveil Sylvia Plath’s (1932–1963) meaning-making narratives, within her life’s puzzle of parts, by utilising the Internal Family System (IFS) model of Schwartz. Plath was purposively selected as subject since she has been proclaimed as one of the most renowned and influential voices in 20th century Anglo-American culture and lit...

This present study utilized a mixed methods design to explore the inner emotional experiencing of John F. Kennedy Jr. during the last five years of his life. A large first-person data set culled from JFK Jr.’s letters and interviews was subjected to a qualitative theme analysis and the quantitative Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) program (Penn...

Families headed by single mothers are increasingly prevalent in the United States. These mothers face unique challenges that increase their risk of depression. Research shows children of depressed mothers are at risk of developing psychological difficulties. Little attention has been paid to emerging adult female offspring of depressed mothers. Thi...

We report the development and validation of the Multicultural Personality Inventory – Short Form (MPI-SF). Results supported the correlated seven-factor model with a sample of 333 college students. Scores from MPI-SF factors were internally consistent, temporally stable over a one- and two-month period, and predicted variance in college adjustment...

Psychobiography is a research endeavor, and as in all psychological research ethical considerations are a critical component of the research process. Traditionally, psychobiographers have devoted more attention to the psychological theories undergirding psychobiography and to the diverse methodologies employed in the research, than to ethical consi...

North American psychobiographer, Joseph G. Ponterotto, is interviewed by fellow psychobiographer Claude-Hélène Mayer. Ponterotto reflects on the history and current status of psychobiograpohy as a research enterprise. The value of psychobiography to the broader psychology field is highlighted, and some pioneering scholars in psychobiography are ack...

This article presents a careerography of John F. Kennedy Jr. (JFK Jr.), a late 20th-century iconic personality. Careerography adapts psychobiography by anchoring its interpretive lens in established theories of career development. In our longitudinal case study of JFK Jr., the theories of Donald Super and Mary Sue Richardson served as the career th...

The present article introduces the topic and research area of careerography, an adaptation of psychobiography to the field of career psychology. A brief historical overview of psychobiography is provided, and the reciprocal value of linking psychobiographical research methods to theory development in career psychology is emphasized. Best practices...

This article introduces the special section on careerography, which is positioned as a valuable tool for research, theory development, training, and practice in career psychology. Anchored in the long-established field and methodology of psychobiography, careerography profiles the lives of historically significant individuals throughout history thr...

Careerography, which is the intensive examination of the work experiences and career life course of an individual of historical or present significance through a vocational theoretical lens, has several important applications for psychologists. The present article provides a brief overview of careerography in the context of the more established fie...

In the new millennium, counseling psychologists have answered the call to address oppression related to intersectional identities. We have played a major role in the development of practice guidelines and policies, as well as in the application of ethical principles in cultural contexts. The Counseling Psychologist has served to disseminate informa...

Publishing one's research in peer-reviewed journals is generally acknowledged to be a valuable enterprise. This is particularly the case for academic and research psychologists who rely on publications for career status, stability, and advancement. Psychological researchers can devote extensive amounts of time to planning, conducting, writing up, a...

A qualitative methodology was adopted to explore the lived experiences of doctoral level students in applied psychology. A total of 15 students ranging in age from 24 to 43, who were at varying levels of their doctoral education, participated in individual semi-structured interviews exploring themes related to influences for the pursuit of graduate...

מאמר זה מציג המלצות מאת צוות המשימה לנושא כלים לפרסום מחקר איכותני ) Task Force on Resources for the Publication of Qualitative Research ( של האגודה למחקר איכותני בפסיכולוגיה ) Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (, שהיא מחלקה מתוך החטיבה החמישית באגודה האמריקנית לפסיכולוגיה American Psychology Association( APA (. יוזמה זו באה בתגובה לחשש...

This qualitative inquiry examined the lived experiences of 14 high-achieving, eighth-grade, Black males in three inner city middle schools. Anchored in a social constructivist paradigm, this study focused on factors that influence the educational experiences of early adolescent Black males. Participant selection was based on state test scores, GPA,...

Adolescents’ lives are now experienced in sophisticated digital environments, potentially warranting their consideration as a distinct cultural group. As such, clinicians who work with this population may be expected to be conversant with their clients’ digital habits to establish an efficacious therapeutic alliance and bolster treatment outcomes....

Psychobiography has been a topical area and an applied research specialty in psychology since Freud’s (1910/1989) influential psychoanalytic psychobiography of Leonardo da Vinci. Throughout the last century, psychobiographers have emphasized the importance of anchoring interpretations of life histories in established psychological theories and rigo...

The authors hypothesized that multicultural personality and ethnic identity would significantly predict variance in multicultural counseling competencies in counselor trainees, beyond the variance predicted by demographics, multicultural training, openness, and cognitive racial attitudes. Results showed multicultural personality predicted multicult...

In this reply to Young and Collins (2018), the author responds to 3 primary concerns raised about integrating psychobiography into mainstream psychology: appropriate historical context and historiographic research methods, avoiding deterministic conclusions and the role of psychobiography in theory testing, and ethical concerns related to lack of i...

This study examined the relationship between levels of multicultural personality, the quantity and quality of intergroup contact, and positive attitudes (allophilia) toward Asian Americans among college students enrolled at a Midwestern university in the United States. Asian Americans represent the fastest growing racial/ethnic cohort in the United...

This qualitative study explored the experiences of transracial Korean American adoptees who were given an Anglicized American name at the time of their adoption and have since reclaimed their Korean birth name across some or all contexts. Nineteen participants completed demographic questionnaires and in-depth, semistructured interviews. Interviews...

Psychobiography has played a critical role in the history of psychology, yet training in psychobiographical methods is limited in professional psychology programs. The present article reviews the history of psychobiography and highlights the many benefits of incorporating psychobiography into the health service psychology curriculum. Among the bene...

By nature of their interests and professional training, counsellors are ideally equipped to conduct psychobiographical research. This article positions the counselling field in the broad specialty area of psychobiography, highlights the preparedness of counsellors to conduct psychobiographical research, and emphasizes the benefits of this research...

Despite psychobiography's long-standing history in the field of psychology, there has been relatively little discussion of ethical issues and guidelines in psychobiographical research. The Ethics Code of the American Psychological Association (APA) does not address psychobiography. The present article highlights the value of psychobiography to psyc...

John F. Kennedy, Jr., (1960-1999) was one of the most recognizable fig­ ures of the 2nd half of the 20lh century. He died tragically in an airplane he was pilot­ ing on route to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts to attend the wedding of his cousin, Rory Kennedy. Though much has been written about the life of J.F.K., Jr., this article represents the first...

The current paper presents recommendations from the Task Force on Resources for the Publication of Qualitative Research of the Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology, a section of Division 5 of the American Psychological Association. This initiative was a response to concerns by authors that reviews of qualitative research articles frequentl...

The present study examined altruistic behaviour using broad personality traits (the Big Five) and the narrow personality trait of cultural adjustment (multicultural personality) while controlling for social justice attitudes and other demographic variables. Using an analogue version of a modified dictator game, 153 participants were required to div...

This phenomenological study explored the gender and career identity development of 13 urban minority young men, with an emphasis on the potential impact of father absence and single-mother parenting. Six themes were identified: (a) emotional intelligence and maternal appreciation and internalization, (b) consequent assumption of a parentified role,...

This qualitative study explored the experiences of second-generation heterosexual Chinese and Taiwanese Americans who have gay biological siblings. Participants had been aware of their gay sibling’s sexual orientation for over 2 years. Ten participants, 3 Chinese Americans and 7 Taiwanese Americans, completed demographic questionnaires and in-depth...

Reviews the film Pawn Sacrifice (2015) directed by Edward Zwick. One of a slate of recent Cold War–era films, Pawn Sacrifice portrays the story of Robert (Bobby) James Fischer (1943–2008) (played by Tobey Maguire), the enigmatic chess genius who brought the World Chess title to the United States in the “chess match of the century” where he bested r...

The present article reviews the history and emerging trends in the field of psychobiography. Five historical periods are highlighted: hagiography and pre-19th century study of lives; Freud and applied psychoanalysis; psychodynamic extensions and personology; modern multi-theoretical models; and psychobiography as interdisciplinary science. The auth...

Psychobiography holds an important position in the history of psychology, yet little is known about the status of psychobiographical training and dissertation research in psychology departments. This brief report identified psychobiography courses throughout North America and content analyzed a sample of 65 psychobiography dissertations to discern...

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of racial microaggressions in the workplace and coping strategies of Black women managers in corporate American positions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Black women who had worked as senior-level corporate professionals, acknowledged that subtle racism exists in contempora...

The authors review instruments measuring social justice and advocacy. A review of the literature revealed four scales that met inclusion criteria. The Activism Orientation Scale (AOS), Social Issues Advocacy Scale (SIAS), Social Issues Questionnaire (SIQ), and the Social Justice Scale (SJS) are evaluated in terms of item development, psychometric p...

Psychological historians and psychobiographers advance our understanding of psychological theories through the intensive study of the lives of pioneering psychologists. In the course of their archival research, psychobiographers often uncover private information on the lives of historic psychologists that may never have been intended for public vie...

The present study examined the lived experience (erlebnis) of adult transracial, Korean-born adoptees (Ibyangin; Yngvesson & Coutin, 2006) raised in the United States by White families. Long interviews (McCracken, 1988) were conducted with fourteen young adult (age 26-30) Korean-born adoptees in-person or by phone. The study was anchored in the con...

We live in a world defined by cultural diversity, and, thus, multicultural experiences and identities have become a regular component of many individuals’ lives. The Oxford Handbook of Multicultural Identity: Basic and Applied Psychological Perspectives, which consists of 22 chapters written by some of the most accomplished scholars on the topic, r...

Psychobiography has been a mainstay in psychology since Freud’s (1910/1957) influential psychoanalytic profile of the creative genius, Leonardo da Vinci. Recent evidence indicates that interest and momentum in psychobiographical research is on the increase across multiple psychology specialties. However, there has been little in the way of recent m...

Robert (Bobby) James Fischer (1943–2008) remains one of the most puzzling and enigmatic personalities in modern American history. In 1972, at the height of Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States, Bobby Fischer defeated Soviet Boris Spassky to become the first official world chess champion from the United States. Two decade...

Two studies summarize the development and initial validation of the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI). In Study 1, the 115-item prototype MPI was administered to 415 university students where exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 70-item, 7-factor model. In Study 2, the 70-item MPI and theoretically related companion instruments were ad...

This article presents a case study application of Hiller's (2011) Multi-Layered Chronological Chart (MLCC) methodology to the life story of former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. Designed for use in qualitative biographical studies, the MLCC is adapted here for psychobiographical research. In 1972, Fischer became an American Cold War hero as he...

This article addresses ethical issues relative to the conduct and reporting of psychobiographical research. The author's recent psychobiographical study of World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) is used to illustrate particular ethical challenges and responses in six areas: (1) institutional review board (IRB) evaluation and informed consen...

This article reviews the current and emerging status of qualitative research in psychology. The particular value of diverse philosophical paradigms and varied inquiry approaches to the advancement of psychology generally, and multicultural psychology specifically, is emphasized. Three specific qualitative inquiry approaches anchored in diverse phil...

This article highlights the potential value of mixed methods designs for social justice research in counseling, psychology, and related human services professions. Though representing only a small minority of research designs used in these fields, mixed methods approaches are gaining in popularity. A rationale for the use of mixed methods research...

This chapter reviews and critiques both foundational and emerging models of multicultural counseling. The chapter is organized into two major parts. In Part 1 the authors review two longer-standing, more foundational models—D. W. Sue et al's multicultural counseling competency model and J. E. Helms's racial identity theory and interaction model. Th...

This study identified the most frequently cited scholars across 28 leading multicultural textbooks used in the training of counselors and counseling psychologists. Four spheres or clusters of multicultural scholars were identified and were characterized, respectively, as having either a profound, highly significant, significant, or important impact...

This study reports on the development of the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire-Short Form among 511 participants. Using a split-sample scale validation design, Study 1 (N = 260) employed a principal component analysis and rigorous item selection criteria to extract a 40-item short form (MPQ-SF) from the original 91-item Multicultural Personal...

This study examined the relationship between multicultural personality dispositions and trait emotional intelligence. The sample included 152 graduate education students enrolled at a university in a large northeastern city of the United States. The multicultural personality dispositions of Cultural Empathy and Social Initiative predicted variance...

Biculturalism was examined as a factor that may positively affect the academic achievement of African American high school students, beyond cultural identity and self-esteem. Hierarchical regression analyses determined that cultural identity and academic self-esteem were important factors for academic achievement, but not biculturalism. Implication...

In this present grounded theory study, 16 experienced psychologists, who practiced from varied theoretical orientations and came from diverse religious/spiritual/nonreligious backgrounds, explored their personal religious/spiritual/nonreligious identity development journeys, their experiences with clients' religious/spiritual content in psychothera...

This article reviews and extends the contribution of Todd and Abrams (2011). Paradigmatic and methodological strengths of their study are highlighted, and future directions for research, training, and practice are presented. Counseling research anchored in critical theory and incorporating diverse methodologies is encouraged.

The purpose of this grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) study was to explore the experiences of racially and culturally diverse young mothers whose own mothers abused substances two decades ago when substance abuse peaked in inner city, urban neighborhoods in the United States and to identify the factors that have influenced how they parent th...

This article reviews the current and emerging status of qualitative research in psychology. The particular value of diverse philosophical paradigms and varied inquiry approaches to the advancement of psychology generally, and multicultural psychology specifically, is emphasized. Three specific qualitative inquiry approaches anchored in diverse phil...

The present article provides an update of the author’s evolving theory of the “multicultural personality” (MP). The MP is conceptualized as a narrow matrix of personality traits or dispositions (characteristic adaptations) that can be subsumed under broad trait models of personality (e.g., Big Five). MP theory posits that its constituent factors wi...

This exploratory study examined the relationship between problem-solving styles and multicultural personality dispositions among 91 graduate students enrolled in an urban university located in the northeast United States. Problem-solving style was assessed with the three dimensions of the VIEW: an Assessment of Problem Solving Style. Multicultural...

The present article extends work on Ponterotto and Ruckdeschel's Reliability Matrix for estimating the adequacy of internal consistency measures. Specifically, it uses statistical tests to determine whether a calculated coefficient alpha is equal to or greater than the hypothesized population coefficient alpha identified in the Reliability Matrix....

This article extends the relevance of multicultural development to the Strengths-Based School Counseling (SBSC; Galassi & Akos, 2007) perspective. A relatively new construct for school counselors, the "multicultural personality" (MP), is introduced and defined. The MP is conceptualized as a cluster of narrow personality traits that can be subsumed...

This article extends the relevance of multicultural development to the Strengths-Based School Counseling (SBSC; Galassi & Akos, 2007) perspective. A relatively new construct for school counselors, the “multicultural personality” (MP), is introduced and defined. The MP is conceptualized as a cluster of narrow personality traits that can be subsumed...

Reviews the film, Dialogues in behavioral health research ethics: A DVD series to facilitate ethical action with James M. DuBois and Jean Campbell (2007) and the book, Ethics in mental health research: Principles, guidance, and cases by James M. DuBois (see record 2007-02501-000). In a thoughtful and methodical way, DuBois lays a foundation for...

This article addresses the origins, mechanisms, and expressions of prejudice. A selective review of research finds strong support for the validity of G. W. Allport's (1954) contact hypothesis conditions in reducing prejudice. Methodological advances in the study of prejudice are reviewed, and implications of research findings for counselors are exp...

Guidelines and competencies for cross-cultural counseling research To sensitize readers to the challenges of conducting cross-cultural counseling research and to provide general guidelines for promoting culturally relevant and ethically vigilant research To introduce 32 specific cross-cultural research competencies to guide counseling researchers i...

The present article addresses issues in reliability assessment that are often neglected in psychological research such as acceptable levels of internal consistency for research purposes, factors affecting the magnitude of coefficient alpha (alpha), and considerations for interpreting alpha within the research context. A new reliability matrix ancho...

This study examined the relationship between psychosocial well-being and a multicultural personality disposition in undergraduates (N = 124). Measures of universal-diverse orientation, hardiness, psychosocial-interpersonal functioning, self-esteem, and political correctness ideology were administered. Results indicated that the multicultural person...

This study used path analysis to examine the relationship between perceived barriers, acculturation, and role model influence on the career self-efficacy and career considerations of a sample of Hispanic women. Two path models were examined. The male-dominated model accounted for 15% of the variance, and the female-dominated model accounted for 26%...

The present article integrates and expands on the special section contributions of K. O. Cokley (2007); J. E. Helms (2007); J. E. Trimble (2007); S. M. Quintana (2007) and J. S. Phinney and A. D. Ong (2007). The authors of the present article begin with a note on politics and ideology in writings on racial identity development and review general pr...

Racial and ethnic identity development have been important topics in counseling psychology research for the last four decades. At present, however, there appears to be some confusion and debate regarding the quality of theory and measurement in the topical area. The present article serves as an introduction to this Journal of Counseling Psychology...

This article is a guide for counseling researchers wishing to communicate the methods and results of their qualitative research to varied audiences. The authors posit that the first step in effectively communicating qualitative research is the development of strong qualitative research skills. To this end, the authors review a process model for dev...

The authors investigated the empirical relationship between K. I. van der Zee and J. P. van Oudenhoven's (2000, 2001) multicultural personality dispositions and C. D. Ryff's (1989b) dimensions of psychological well-being. The present sample included 270 students from one primarily graduate university and one primarily undergraduate university in th...

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Student affairs administrators should have a basic understanding of legal issues as they apply to affirmative action policy.

Racial/ethnic minorities and women are underrepresented at most higher education administrative and faculty levels. The minority experience on campus is often a lonely and stressful one.

A current examination of the status of racial/ethnic minorities in higher education reveals that affirmative action efforts are needed for recruiting and retaining culturally diverse students on campus.

The affirmative action debate is rooted in disagreement about fundamental issues.

As the demographic makeup of the United States shifts dramatically, affirmative action issues on campus will become increasingly important.

This article presents the results of a brief survey on the status of qualitative research training in counseling psychology doctoral programs. Sixty directors of training representing 78.9% of the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP) listserv membership responded to 3 open-ended questions regarding (a) the availability of elec...

The present qualitative study investigated the implications of parental HIV/AIDS for affected adolescents. The purpose of the study was (a) to understand adolescents' perceptions of and experiences with parental HIV/AIDS and (b) to explore how parental HIV/AIDS affects adolescents' psychosocial functioning, particularly in the home and school envir...

The authors describe an international cultural immersion field experience, make recommendations for counselor educators who want to establish a similar program, and present an example of a student's reflection on the experience as recorded in the personal multicultural competency portfolio.

The authors are pleased to present this special issue of the Journal of Counseling Psychology ( JCP) on qualitative and mixed methods research. The major goal of the special issue is to introduce a variety of qualitative and mixed methods approaches to counseling psychologists and to encourage their increased application in research. This special...

This article presents an overview of philosophy of science and research paradigms. The philosophy of science parameters of ontology, epistemology, axiology, rhetorical structure, and methodology are discussed across the research paradigms of positivism, postpositivism, constructivism-interpretivism, and the critical-ideological perspective. Counsel...