A peer-reviewed Cambridge University Press online journal, the Journal of Tropical Psychology has this rationale: While there continues to be argument as to how much climate change is due to human or corporate events, there is no disagreement that the earth is becoming warmer, leading to a climate with more moisture in the air, stronger storms, flooding, and a great change for all the inhabitants of the earth, particularly our human cousins in ever more nations. To understand the psychology of our planetary future, we may access the psychologists of tropical climates who are already successful in their adaptation to a daily life in an environment we may all share eventually. To provide a vehicle for these psychologists can be a valuable service, particularly since psychological journal articles originating in Europe or the United States have long provided the bulk of scientific and professional publications. Yet there is very substantial psychological work being done in tropical zone countries and regions. A few national and regional journals like the Australia's Psychological Science or the regional online Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology are examples. A Journal of Tropical Psychology is specifically circum-global and unites the rapidly growing torrid climate-related nations around the earth in the development and sharing of their psychological discoveries.

Positive psychology has identified six virtues comprising 24 character strengths of humans. This study examines the relationships among these character strengths, including Happiness, Life Purpose and Life Satisfaction as valued by Singapore Chinese, Malays, Indians and Other Asians and Caucasians. A sample of Singapore adults (N = 304) completed an online survey in English comprising four measures, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths, the Orientations to Happiness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Life Engagement Test. Results show that Zest, Hope, Curiosity, Capacity to Love and Gratitude are the top five character strengths of the sampled Singaporeans. Happiness orientation through pursuing a Life of Meaning is preferred by all four ethnic groups. Ethnic differences are found for character strengths of Kindness, Humour, Gratitude, and Religiousness and Spirituality. Life of Meaning and Life of Engagement, Happiness orientations and character strengths of Curiosity and Perseverance are direct predictors of Life Purpose. In turn, Life Purpose and character strengths of Capacity to Love and Gratitude are found to be direct predictors of Life Satisfaction. Despite its other limitations, this study lays the groundwork for future studies using more robust sampling strategies and greater participation from the major ethnic groups in Singapore.

The Singapore Mental Health Survey was undertaken to establish the prevalence of mental disorders in Singapore. This necessitated translation of several modules of the WHO's Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) into Bahasa Melayu. The aim in translation was to achieve a conceptually equivalent version to the original instrument. The translation procedure was a four-step process: 1) forward translation, 2) expert panel review, 3) pre-test and cognitive interview and 4) development of the final version. The translation procedure was effective in identifying and resolving translation problems, and adapting the language of the instrument to suit the local Malay-speaking population. We recommend this four-step process for future studies to attain a fair representation of minority groups in nation-wide studies.

The present study aimed to develop a set of video clips to elicit positive, negative, and neutral affects in male and female Asian young adults growing up with the Internet. Based on the Internet rating and past literature, we selected 12 video clips as candidates. Results of three experiments (N = 155) showed that among these video clips, six clips, two clips for each affect, were particularly effective in eliciting target affects in both genders. This set of video clips can be used as a valid tool to induce affect in the iGeneration.

Research suggests that there is a lack of focus on developing trainees’ intrapersonal skills or adequately fostering self-care. Mindfulness training may help address the gaps in training programmes. Quantitative and qualitative studies involving mindfulness training for postgraduate trainees were reviewed. There is a need to explore different designs of mindfulness training groups to ascertain what would be feasible and effective, given the trainees’ existing time constraints. Furthermore, the current understanding is limited due to the difficulties defining and operationalising mindfulness. Qualitative research would help to explore what mindfulness training means to trainees and how it impacts on their lives.

“This is a new day, fresh and untouched. What will we do with it?” -Morning welcome, Native American Church.

These days my own mornings do not begin untouched. They come with finger prints.

On our planet's north and south hemispheres outside what we think of as the tropical zone, half the year is growing warmer in an accelerating manner. The other half of the year is marked with extreme changes: sometimes even colder with heavier snowfall. Climate change has put more moisture in the air, leading to a redistribution of water on a global scale. Millennial floods in some places, severe drought in others. Insect species should thrive under these new conditions while other species, note the current devastation in our oceans, may find the new conditions more than they can survive.

The past decade has witnessed a significant resurgence of academic and developmental interest in the tropical zones of the world. The task of translating big picture academic institutional vision into practical research can, however, be quite daunting for those at the coalface of implementing such visions, not least because there is no guidance as to where exactly to start. Using James Cook University's tropical vision as a case, this commentary proposes a set of guidelines to assist research teams and organisations to translate the global tropical vision, especially the social and psychological dimensions, into practical research questions.