About the Authorssurvivors, terrorism, political psychology, and personality factors contributing to suc-
cessful human spaceflight. Her research has been published in the Journal of Positive
Psychology and Psychology Today. Cassel is completing her M.Sc. in occupational ther-
apy at McMaster University and can be contacted at [email protected].
Juris G. Draguns is professor emeritus of psychology at Pennsylvania State
University. Born in Latvia, he started his primary schooling in his native country,
graduated from high school in Germany, and completed his university studies in the
United States. He holds a B.A. degree from Utica College and a Ph.D. in clinical
psychology from the University of Rochester. His first two professional appointments
were as clinical and research psychologist at Rochester, New York, and Worcester,
Massachusetts, State Hospitals. He also lectured at the University of Rochester
and Clark University. For 30 years, he was a faculty member of Pennsylvania State
University as an associate and a full professor of psychology. Retired as professor
emeritus in 1997, he continues to be professionally active through private practice,
writing, lecturing, and research.
Draguns is author or coauthor of over 160 monographs, articles, and chapters
in psychology, psychiatry, and anthropology. He coedited Counseling Across Cultures
(in six editions); Defense Mechanisms: Theoretical, Research, and Clinical Perspectives
(in two editions); Handbook of Culture, Therapy, and Healing; Personality and Person
Perception Across Cultures; The Roots of Perception; and Psychological Processes in
Cognition and Personality.
Throughout his career, Draguns has cultivated international and cross-cultural con-
tacts and has developed a network of international collaborators. He has taught and lec-
tured, in six languages, in Germany, Sweden, Australia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Latvia,
and Mexico and has presented papers at congresses and conferences in 29 countries.
After the demise of the Soviet Union, Draguns participated in developing
undergraduate and graduate programs in psychology in Latvia. In 2006, he took part
in a site visit to the Psychology Department of the University of Kuwait. In 2001,
he received the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished
Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology. In 2003, the
University of Latvia bestowed upon him the degree of doctor honoris causa; in
2005, he was elected president of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research; and in