Marié Wissing

Life and work

Wissing’s past research has primarily concerned two projects (FORT3 & Eudaimonic-Hedonic Happiness Investigation), both of which focus on clarifying the nature and facets of psychosocial well-being, validation of "well-being measures in various contexts, exploration of similarities and differences across socio-demographic, cultural and international contexts, and reflection on theories and underlying philosophical assumptions and now specializing in research on meaning, goals and relatedness in local and international projects."

She has concluded that certain core assumptions and research findings (often part of "main stream Western positive psychology") do not apply elsewhere in the world and that the measuring instruments used by Western researchers are insensitive at high levels of well-being. To pursue such research, Wissing is a core leader of the international multi-country EHHI project. She is also the leader of the FORT research programme and the psychosocial health and the "dynamics and relationships with biomarkers of (ill) health in South African Social contexts."

She has participated in several other multi-disciplinary research projects (including THUSA, PURE, SOPP, POWIRS, FLAGH, SABPA).

Wissing is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Positive Psychology Association.