Various learning philosophies, such as humanistic, constructivist, and sociocultural approaches, have accentuated the importance of emotion in learning. In this article, we reviewed these approaches and explored the affective dimensions of learning. We conducted focus group and individual interviews with a group of female students in the humanities enrolled in an academic facilitation programme employing a student-centred, experiential, and collaborative learning approach. Through a process of appreciative inquiry, we discovered which learning techniques, experiences, and educational climates encouraged learning. Students reported that a learning climate that elicits positive emotional experiences promoted increased personal involvement in learning, broadened thought processes and actions, and resulted in change and development on emotional, cognitive, and behavioural levels. These findings formed a basis for suggesting learning principles / criteria for a curriculum that has the promise to offer students constructive learning experiences towards deeper and more holistic learning. These principles include the importance of creating a safe learning environment, enhancing students' autonomy and involvement in the learning process, and providing authentic and intrinsically valuable learning experiences.

Through the lenses of transformative and experiential learning theory, this article describes South African psychology students’ transformational journey while doing service-learning in a rural community. The reflection reports of five cohort groups (2006 to 2010), capturing students meaning making experiences and interpretations during community engagements, is analysed by means of a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Through the boundary crossings facilitated by service-learning, this research unpacks students’ iterative transformational learning cycles towards more complex cognitive processes, more sophisticated perspectives of the self and society, deepened emotional realisations, and recommitment to act as, and challenge others to be, socially responsible citizens of South Africa. A contextual adaptation of the existing transformational service-learning process model is provided. Lastly, an argument is made for how service-learning and reflective practice provide ideal opportunities for the teaching of relevant and socially responsive psychology.

The first year is seen as fundamental to student success at university, therefore the promotion of mental health during this year can be valuable in ensuring flourishing experiences during students' academic journey.

Self-efficacy and future time perspective were identified as qualities that protect adolescents from engaging in risky sexual behaviours. This finding can be useful in developing prevention programmes. Intervention programmes aimed at the youth should foster a sense of hope and possibility about the future and the development of goals and aspirations to prevent risky behaviour.

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