In honour of Women’s Month, the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) proudly presents the Women of Impact Series. This series celebrates the outstanding achievements of our female graduates, partners, and project leaders in the Humanities and Social Sciences. We showcase the groundbreaking research, extraordinary dedication, and inspiring visions of these accomplished women. Through their innovative work and unwavering commitment, they have advanced in their respective fields and shaped a more inclusive and diverse future. Join us in celebrating their remarkable contributions and stories.
- Can you please share a brief overview of your research and the significance of it in the HSS space?
Cecilia Johanna Steyn was incarcerated for being the mastermind behind eleven murders committed in South Africa. My research focused on the behaviourisms and characteristics of female serial killers within the structure and scope of a psychobiography. A psychobiography allowed me to apply phenomenological and hermeneutical methods to analyse Cecilia Steyn based on her life narratives. I interpreted her life holistically through the psychopathic checklist revised, developed by Robert Hare and Heinz Kohut’s self-psychology theory. As women are considered more empathetic than men, female serial killers are considered rare and vastly understudied. The research contributes to the HSS space by uncovering how female serial killers differ from male serial killers in how they conduct themselves and their personality characteristics. Conducting a psychobiography allows the researcher to develop an empathetic understanding of the subject. Thus, training students in psychology on psychobiography exposes them to interdisciplinary knowledge and allows them to apply diverse psychological theories ethically to analyse a subject. Psychobiographies, therefore, promote theory development and testing, which further contributes to the HSS space.
- How has funding and support from the NIHSS influenced your academic journey and personal growth?
Funding from the NIHSS allowed me to conduct my research freely without cost limitations. This allowed me to complete my master’s degree in due time. The NIHSS also provided training through hosting workshops in all aspects of research (qualitative and quantitative). The workshops advanced and often contributed to my academic understanding of the different techniques and methods that can be applied when conducting research. Members of the NIHSS are supportive and welcome critical minds to come together from diverse backgrounds and fields. This exposure and willingness to advance academic thinking allowed me to grow on a personal and academic level. It is what I believe academia is all about. From a personal growth perspective, the NIHSS enriched my ability to think critically, question everything, and be open-minded.
- What inspired you to pursue your Masters Degree and what challenges did you overcome during your academic journey?
My curiosity in understanding how men and women are similar and different in how they conduct themselves inspired me to pursue a master’s degree based on female serial killers. I also have a keen interest in understanding dark personality traits as contributors to certain behaviours and characteristics. I wanted to understand how these dark personality traits influence masculinity and femininity and vice versa. At the onset of my academic journey, I had to reevaluate my theoretical framework and change my initial theory to theories that best suited the study. It was often challenging to navigate these changes and to be open and mindful of other theories and how they could be utilised in my research study. At the onset of my master’s degree, I was quite isolated from other students as the degree was conducted mostly online. I overcame this challenge by connecting with other NIHSS students and forming meaningful relationships with them.
- What does the celebration of Women’s Month mean to you?
Women’s Month, for me, reminds us of the value and importance of women in society. Since 1956, great strides have followed in empowering women as part of the democracy. Realising that women have an impact and a voice that should be heard empowers and impacts our nation. Women’s Month celebrates the coming to consciousness of the importance, value, and impact women have holistically and allows them a space to show how impactful they can be. When I realised that female serial killers were understudied, I aimed to bridge the gap between the stereotypical image coined by society regarding violent men and women. These women should, in my opinion, not be left behind because they form part of the minority but should be considered as they surpass the stereotypical viewpoint of what women should and shouldn’t be.