Stephen Baffour Adjei is Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Kumasi, Ghana. He is the Acting Dean of Student Affairs in AAMUSTED, and a Research Fellow at the Center for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Accra. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with English from the University of Ghana, Accra, Master of Philosophy in Psychology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway, and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from Aarhus University in Denmark.

He is a professionally qualified and competent teacher and research scientist with strong background in psychology and related behavioural sciences. He has taught, conducted research and directed programmes at universities and research institutions in Ghana and abroad, including Malawi, Zambia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands and the United States of America. For example, in November 2022 and March 2023, Prof Adjei was invited to teach graduate courses in psychology and research methods as a Guest Lecturer in Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, respectively. In February  and April 2024, he was invited to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in psychology and research methods as a Guest Lecturer in Davidson College, North Carolina, USA, and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, respectively. He was the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) Visiting Scholar at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, between September and December 2021. Recently, as part of Davidson’s Public Speaker Series, he was invited in February 2024 by the Psychology Department in Davidson, North Carolina, USA, to deliver a public lecture on the topic “Ubuntu and the psychological experiences of Deaf people in Ghana.”

He applies cultural psychological theories, African communitarian philosophy and theory of being/personhood, and decolonial perspectives to understand the interaction among culture, context, and psychological processes. His research focuses on such specific topics as critical/indigenous African psychology; decolonizing knowledge and being; cultural psychology of child development and learning; cultural grounding of intimate partner violence; masculinities and male shame; self, identity and agency in sociocultural contexts; psychological experiences of people with disabilities (PWDs); and discourse analysis/discursive psychology.

He is an Associate Editor for Psychological Science, a top-ranked empirical journal for psychology. He was the 2023 Inaugural Editorial Fellow at Personality and Social Psychology Review (PSPR), the top-ranked journal in personality and social psychology for the past 14 years. He is a member of the Ghana Psychological Association (GPA), Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), International Council of Psychologists (ICP) and the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD). He is also an international affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA), and a member/an emerging leader of APA’s Learning Leadership Institute (LLI). He is a Review Editor for Frontiers in Psychology and an Editorial Advisory Board member for the journal of HARM (Hostility, Anger, Repression and Malice). He serves as an expert reviewer for a number of international journals with high repute and impact including Journal of Applied Communication, Frontiers in Psychology; Journal of Social Issues; Men and Masculinities; Journal of Interpersonal Violence; Victims and Offenders; Violence Against Women; Journal of Urban Affairs; and Urban, Planning and Transport Research.

Academic Qualifications

• • Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology – Aarhus University, Denmark
  • Master of Philosophy in Human Development Psychology- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with English – University of Ghana, Accra
  • 3-Year Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’ Mampong Teachers’ College of Education, Ashanti, Ghana

Professional Affiliations/ Memberships

• • Member, Ghana Psychological Association (GPA), Ghana.
  • Member, Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS)
  • Member, Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
  • International Affiliate Member, American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Member, International Council of Psychologists (ICP)
  • Member, International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD)
  • Research Fellow, Center for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR) Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra
  • Member, Culture and Psychology Research Group (CPRG), Kansas University, USA
  • Member, University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG)

Editorial Positions

• • 2024-  Associate Editor: Psychological Science (2021 Impact Factor = 10.17)
  • Jan-Dec 2023- Associate Editor: Personality and Social Psychology Review (2022 Impact Factor =10.8)
  • 2023-  Guest Editor of a Special Issue: Personality and Social Psychology Review
  • 2022- Academic Editor: Perspectives in Psychiatric Care (2022 Impact Factor = 2.3)
  • 2021-  Review Editor: Frontiers in Psychology (Cultural Psychology Section)
  • 2021- Editorial Advisory Board Member: Journal of HARM
  • 2024- Editorial Board Member: Personality and Social Psychology Review

Teaching Interests

Postgraduate Courses

• • Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (PhD course)
  • Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (PhD Course)
  • Learning Development and Diverse Learning (MPhil Course)
  • Theories of Learning and Instructions (MPhil course)
  • Organizational Behaviour and Culture (MPhil course)

Undergraduate Courses

• • Psychology of Human Development and Learning
  • Guidance and Counselling in Education
  • Research Methods in Education
  • Pre-internship seminar
  • Philosophy of Teaching and Reflective Practice
  • Assessment of Portfolio
  • Public Speaking

Research Interests and Supervision

• • Social research and development
  • Interpersonal relationship and gender-based violence
  • Personhood, identity and agency in sociocultural contexts
  • Masculinities and male shame
  • Critical/Indigenous African psychology
  • Decolonization of knowledge and being
  • Learning development and diverse learning
  • Psychology of human development and learning
  • Machiavellianism and leadership
  • Psychosocial and cultural experiences of people with disabilities (PWDs)
  • Technology, pedagogical practices and teachers/ identity construction
  • Discursive psychology/Discourse analysis
  • Research methods

Selected Publications

Book Chapters

• • Adjei, S. B., Mayisela, S. & Oppong, S. (in press). Ethics and publication predicaments for academics from the majority of the world: Perspectives from Botswana, Ghana, and South Africa. In M. Tuli & B. Negi (Eds.), Ethical considerations and practices for research in the human sciences. Information Age Publishing.
  • Adjei, S. B., Sam, S. T., Sekyere, F. O. & Boateng, P. (2024). Ubuntu and the experiences of persons with disabilities in Ghana. In O. Mutanga (Ed.), Ubuntu philosophy and disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 163-183). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003343684-10
  • Adjei, S. B. (2023). Personhood, masculinity, and male shame in Ghana. In J. Osafo & C. S. Akotia (Eds.), Personhood, Community and the human condition: Reflections and applications in the African experience (pp. 148-165). Ayebia Clarke Publishing.
  • Gwenzi, G. D., Anaduaka, U. S., Adjei, S. B., Oladosu, A. & Sam, S. T. (2020). Methodological and ethical considerations in the study on children’s everyday lives under COVID-19 in three African Countries: Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. In H. Kara & S. Khoo (Eds.), Researching in the age of COVID-19 Volume II: Care and resilience (pp. 48-57). Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.46692/9781447360414.005

Peer Review Journal Articles

• • Anyan, F., Andoh-Arthur, J., Adjei, S. B. & Akotia, C. S. (2024). Mental health problems, interpersonal trust and sociocultural correlates of corruption perception in Ghana.  Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1269579.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1269579  
  • Adjei, S. B., Andoh-Arthur, J., Akotia, C. S. & Anyan, F. (2024). Rich people, bribes and depression– study finds link between corruption and mental health among Ghanaian students. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/rich-people-bribes-and-depression-study-finds-link-between-corruption-and-mental-health-among-ghanaian-students-225463
  • Cameron, E., Toussaint, L., Adjei, S. B., Crawford, J. N., Mounet, O., Trend- Cunningham, F., & Jacquin, K. M. (2023). Finding meaning in crisis: Gender, spiritual practice, and trauma symptomology impact posttraumatic growth in COVID-19 Ghana. Journal of Research in Psychology, 1(2), 1-20. https://jrplcwu.pk/index.php/JRP/article/view/14
  • Adjei, S. B., Adinkrah, M. & Mpiani, A. (2023). Gendered mourning: A perspective of Akandeath culture in Ghana. Death Studies.https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2236983
  • Adjei, S. B. (2023). Personhood, masculinity, and male-perpetrated intimate partner violence:Understanding the centrality of culture and context in violence research. HARM, 1, 14-22. https://doi.org/10.46586/harm.2023.9769      
  • Adjei, S. B., & Mpiani, A. (2023). Decolonising mind and being associated with marriage:Perspectives from Ghana. Psychology and Developing Societies, 35(1), 87-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/09713336231152311
  • Amoah, P.A., Adjei, S. B. & Arthur-Holmes, F. A. (2022). A social–ecological study of  perceptions and determinants of sexual enhancement drug use among men and women in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6521. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116521
  • Amoah, P., Osei-Tutu, A., & Adjei, S. B. (2022). Socio-economic and technological aspects of mental health of older persons: The role of strong and weak ties in Ghana. Ageing and Society, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X21001859
  • Adjei, S. B., Sam, S. T., Sekyere, F. O., & Boateng, P. (2022). Sign Language interpreter-mediated qualitative interview with Deaf participants in Ghana: Some methodological reflections for practice. The Qualitative Report, 27(1), 79-95. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5087
  • Adjei, S. B. & Mpiani, A. (2022). “I have since repented”: Discursive analysis of the role of religion in husband-to-wife abuse in Ghana. Journal of Interpersonal violence, 37(5-6), NP3528–NP3551. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520948528
  • Adjei, S. B. (2019). Conceptualising personhood, agency, and morality for African psychology. Theory & Psychology, 29(4), 484–505. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354319857473
  • Adjei, S. B. (2019). Conceptualizing discursive analysis as a culturally contextualized activity. The Qualitative Report, 24(9). 2233-2243. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.4020
  • Adjei, S. B. (2019). How ‘bride price’ reinforces negative stereotypes: a Ghanaian case study. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/how-bride-price-reinforces-negative-stereotypes-a-ghanaian-case-study-120337
  • Adjei, S. B., & Mpiani, A. (2018). Bride price, cultural and gender identity, and husband-to-wife abuse in Ghana. Victims & Offenders. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2018.1506372
  • Adjei, S. B. (2018). The social intentionality of battered women’s agency in Ghana. Psychology and Developing Society, 30(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971333617747320
  • Adjei, S. B. (2018). “Correcting an erring wife is normal”: Moral discourses of spousal violence in Ghana. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(12), 1871-1892. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515619751
  • Adjei, S. B. (2017). Entrapment of victims of spousal abuse in Ghana: A discursive analysis of family identity and agency of battered women. Journal of Interpersonal violence, 32 (5), 730-754. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515586375
  • Adjei, S. B. (2017). Sociocultural groundings of battered women’s entrapment in abusivemarital relationship in Ghana. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 26(8),879-901. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2017.1284171
  • Adjei, S. B. (2016). Masculinity and spousal violence: Discursive accounts of husbands whoabuse their wives in Ghana. Journal of Family Violence, 31(4), 411-422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9781-z
  • Adjei, S. B. (2015). Assessing women empowerment in Africa: A critical review of thechallenges of the Gender Empowerment Measure of the UNDP. Psychology and Developing Societies, 27(1), 58-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971333614564740
  • Adjei, S. B. (2015). Partner dependency and intimate partner abuse: A sociocultural groundingof spousal abuse in Ghana. Psychological Studies, 60(4), 422-427.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-015-0336-4
  • Adjei, S. B. (2013). Discourse analysis: Examining language use in context. The Qualitative  Report, 18(50), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2013.1502

Selected Featured Articles

• • Adjei, S. B. (April, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic and the psychosocial pain of social distancing in Africa. https://citinewsroom.com/2020/04/the-covid-19-pandemic-and-the-psychosocial-pain-of-social-distancing-in-africa-article/
  • Adjei, S. B. (June, 2012). Bridging the yawning gap between academic certificates and reality: A critical pedagogical review.http://www.modernghana.com/news/402791/1/bridging-the-yawning-gap-between-academic certific.html
  • Adjei, S. B. (November, 2012). 2012 budget statement: Science of economics or partisan politics? http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/feature/20111/76805.php or http://www.modernghana.com/news/361973/1/2012-budget-statement-science-of economics-or-part.html
  • Adjei, S. B. (April, 2012). Biometric Registration: A shadow of things to come?http://www.modernghana.com/news/388129/1/biometric-registration-a-shadow-of-  comingevents.html  or www.nanabaffour.webs.com

Conference Presentations and Participation (Peer-Reviewed)

• • Adjei, S. B. (2024, June 10-12). Decolonizing psychological science and practice in Africa:Perspectives from Ghana and Tanzania. In S. B. Adjei (Chair), Decolonizing psychological science and practice in Africa: Perspectives from Ghana and Tanzania [Symposium]. Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • de Kok, B. & Adjei, S. B. (2024, April 22). A critical analysis of shared-decision making: Conversation analysis and hospital ethnography [Symposium]. A workshop by the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences on Language and conceptualisation in healthcare provision. The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2024, February 9). Disrupting the editorial processes to be more inclusive: The PSPR model [Invited Talk/Speaker]. The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Annual Convention, San Diego, California, USA.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2023, Oct 14). Culturally responsive leadership in early childhood education: Nurturing inclusive and culturally rich pedagogy [Panel Speaker]. A Leading Education Change (LEC) community conference organised by Ubuntu Education at LUNAR City Campus, Lilongwe, Malawi.
  • Cameron, E. C., Robertson, P. A., Adjei, S. B., Toussaint, L., Trend-Cunningham, F. J. & Jacquin, K. M. (2023, January 25). COVID-19, trauma, and posttraumatic growth across four indigenous Ghanaian communities. Stanford University Annual Global Health Research Convening, Palo Alto, California.
  • Robertson, P. A., Cameron, E. C., Adjei, S. B., Toussaint, L., Cunningham, F. J., & Jacquin, Right, Dignity& Justice: Strategies for Sustainability.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2022, Oct 30-Nov 4). Using ‘non-purist’ forms of discursive psychology to understand husband-to-wife-abuse in Ghana. In B. de Kok & S. B. Adjei (Chairs), Hybrid forms of interactional research in African settings: Practical necessity or deliberate choice? [Symposium]. Digital meeting for conversation analysis.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2022, July 14-16). Towards an understanding of the relationship between communal sense of personhood and masculinity-motivated gendered violence in pre- and post-colonial Ghana. In C. von Hodenberg, J. Freeland, S. Walby & K. Shire (Chairs), Violence against women: Historical and comparative perspectives [Symposium]. A Joint workshop of the Humboldt Foundation Anneliese Maier Award and the German Historical Institute London, UK.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2022, July 18-20). The coloniality of marriage in Ghana: A cultural psychological note. In G. Adams (Chair), Decolonizing mind and being: Perspectives from Ghanaian settings [Symposium]. Ghana Studies Association 4th Triennial Conference, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 
  • Adjei, S. B. (2021, November 30). Personhood, masculinity and male-perpetrated violence in intimate relationships in Ghana. In P. Chakkarath & C. Gudehus (Chairs), Hostility, Anger, Repression, and Malice: An online workshop on the dimensions of violence [Symposium]. Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2019, August 19-22). Digitizing behavioural observation in resource limited settings [Conference Session]. The13^th International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) African Regional Workshop, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2017, September 13-15). “Correcting an erring wife is normal”: Moral discourses of spousal abuse in Ghana [Paper presentation]. The 1st International Conference on Competency-Based Training and Research (ICCBTR), University of Education, Kumasi campus, Ghana.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2014, November 20-21). “Correcting an erring wife is normal”: Moral disengagement discourses of wife-abuse in Ghana [Paper presentation]. The 16th International Conference of Social and Community Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
  • Adjei, S. B. (2013, October 25-26). Exploring the psychosocial, cultural and structural accounts of spousal abuse in rural and urban Ghana [Paper presentation]. The 9th Meeting of the Nordic Network for Research on Psychology and Law (NNPL), Aarhus University, Denmark.

Invited Talks/Keynote Speeches & Public Lectures

• • Topic: Contextualizing education in Africa: A critical transformative pedagogical approach. A keynote speech delivered at Ubuntu Education Online Conference, July 17, 2024.
  • Topic: Decolonizing psychological science and practice in Africa: Barriers and bridges. A keynote speech delivered at the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS) Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, June 12, 2024.
  • Topic: Ubuntu and the psychological experiences of Deaf people in Ghana. A Public Speaker Series organised by Davidson College, North Carolina, USA, February 5, 2024.
  • Topic: Intercontinentality and Indigenization: A Pan-African Psychological Reflection. A Public Lecture Series on “Intercontinentality III: New perspectives on an old concept” organised by the Social and Cultural Anthropology section of Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, June 28, 2023.

Useful Links

Home page:                https://sites.google.com/view/stephen-baffour-adjei/home
Google Scholar:        https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Rs89ZxcAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID:                         https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9672-9079
Scopus ID:                  https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55773694000