Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers CitationSocial Sciences / Psychology in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
Social psychology
race and ethnic studies
research methods
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
22,458
8,781
0.391
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Positive Organizations
Capabilities
Engagement
Flourishing
Well-being
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,303
9,891
0.512
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Neuropsychology
Psychoanalysis
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,727
6,218
0.372
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
HIV/ AIDS
adherence
mental health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,214
7,836
0.483
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
Career (construction) counselling
narrative career counselling
life designing
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,468
7,015
0.485
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Research
Public Health
Psychology
Gender
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,504
4,308
0.345
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Career and Human Capacity Development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,149
5,416
0.534
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Psychology and law
eyewitness identification
social psychology
segregation
contact
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,981
3,594
0.400
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Youth resilience
Social Ecology of Resilience Theory
Culture & resilience
African youths' resilience processes
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,891
5,495
0.696
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Organisational Behaviour
Psychology assessment
Research methodology
Organisational development
Social sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,885
3,888
0.493
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
positive psychology
meaning
relational well-being
cultures of positivity
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,650
4,093
0.535
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Psychology
Public Health
Women's studies
Gender
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,475
2,805
0.375
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
psychology
violence
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,057
5,046
0.715
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,196
1,832
0.296
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,999
3,136
0.523
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Child and adolescent mental health and cognition
Mental health across the lifecourse Lifecourse
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,661
3,879
0.685
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Developmental Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,580
4,240
0.760
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
social psychology
interventions
masculinity
violence
gender
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,294
4,238
0.801
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
AFRICAN ETHICS
AFRICAN PSYCHOLOGY
AFRICAN LANGUAGES
PSYCHOLOGY
AFRIKOLOGY
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,293
2,121
0.401
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Neuropsychology
Clinical Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,835
2,572
0.532
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,785
1,898
0.397
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Monitoring
Over-training
HRR/HRV
Biomechanics
Orthopaedics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,776
2,651
0.555
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Neuropsychology (cross-cultural
HIV
FASD
sleep)
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,726
2,535
0.536
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
Animal Behaviour
Behavioural Ecology
Psychology
Ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,712
2,104
0.447
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,102
1,719
0.419
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
34,427
105
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Kevin Durrheim
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
22,458
8,781
0.391
Social psychology
race and ethnic studies
research methods
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
42,533
133
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Sebastiaan Rothmann
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,303
9,891
0.512
Positive Organizations
Capabilities
Engagement
Flourishing
Well-being
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
51,650
167
35
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Mark Solms
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,727
6,218
0.372
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
53,911
179
30
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Ashraf Kagee
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,214
7,836
0.483
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
62,637
211
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Kobus Maree
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,468
7,015
0.485
Career (construction) counselling
narrative career counselling
life designing
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
75,531
253
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Nompumelelo Zungu
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,504
4,308
0.345
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
96,888
345
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Melinde Coetzee
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,149
5,416
0.534
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
111,327
403
101
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Colin Tredoux
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,981
3,594
0.400
Psychology and law
eyewitness identification
social psychology
segregation
contact
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
128,655
494
43
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Linda C. Theron
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,891
5,495
0.696
Youth resilience
Social Ecology of Resilience Theory
Culture & resilience
African youths' resilience processes
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
128,756
496
23
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Gert Roodt
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,885
3,888
0.493
Organisational Behaviour
Psychology assessment
Research methodology
Organisational development
Social sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
133,085
520
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Marie Wissing
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,650
4,093
0.535
positive psychology
meaning
relational well-being
cultures of positivity
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
136,461
535
71
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Mzikazi Nduna
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,475
2,805
0.375
Psychology
Public Health
Women's studies
Gender
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
145,053
574
134
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Catherine Ward
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,057
5,046
0.715
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
165,996
658
93
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Desmond Painter
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,196
1,832
0.296
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
171,382
689
26
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Karina Mostert
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,999
3,136
0.523
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
181,650
739
93
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Tamsen Jean Rochat
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,661
3,879
0.685
Child and adolescent mental health and cognition
Mental health across the lifecourse Lifecourse
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
184,134
758
186
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Lauren Wild
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,580
4,240
0.760
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
193,786
805
14
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Andrew Gibbs
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,294
4,238
0.801
social psychology
interventions
masculinity
violence
gender
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
193,845
807
71
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Nhlanhla Mkhize
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,293
2,121
0.401
AFRICAN ETHICS
AFRICAN PSYCHOLOGY
AFRICAN LANGUAGES
PSYCHOLOGY
AFRIKOLOGY
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
211,703
886
208
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Kevin Thomas
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,835
2,572
0.532
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
213,788
894
211
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Debra Kaminer
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,785
1,898
0.397
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
214,138
896
111
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Robert Patrick Lamberts
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,776
2,651
0.555
Monitoring
Over-training
HRR/HRV
Biomechanics
Orthopaedics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
216,304
907
214
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Kevin GF Thomas
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,726
2,535
0.536
Neuropsychology (cross-cultural
HIV
FASD
sleep)
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
216,922
911
117
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Neville Pillay
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,712
2,104
0.447
Animal Behaviour
Behavioural Ecology
Psychology
Ecology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
246,662
1,043
69
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
CPH Myburgh
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,102
1,719
0.419