Mapping the Mind's Gentle Resilience: A Look at Dr. Kennedy Obohwemu’s Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT)

By Barnabas Benjamin-Iorguma 

Reading Time: 2 min read

On March 18, 2025, the world witnessed the birth of a groundbreaking framework, the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT). We never talk about our wounds, we bottle our stresses, we edit our feelings, and we hide our exhaustion with smiles. However, when the world becomes more chaotic and unstable, many people turn to soothing routines such as humming, singing, journaling, praying, drinking tea, or taking a walk away from the commotion. These little, intentional acts are more than just habits; they are self-comforting behaviours, and we have yet to find a tool that fully honours them. 

The world revolves around meaning, interpretation, culture, values, and emotions. It is about the way we live, think, and interact. It is governed by principles of physics, chemistry, and biology, which can be measured, tested, and proven. When we are overwhelmed, we fall into a vacuum. A life worth living seeks significance.

     Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu, PhD.

That hush comes to an end with Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu's Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT), a psychological breakthrough published in the Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (Vol. 04, Issue 03). The SCCT is a kind invitation into the private world of coping, where healing begins with self-awareness.

A New Language for Emotional Survival 

As part of the tools needed to validate the theory, Obohwemu developed the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS). As a renowned academic, he ensured that the scale’s development went through an interdisciplinary process that included literature reviews, expert consultations, focus groups, and thorough pretesting. The SCCS emerges not only as a scale but also as a conversation starter between psychology and personal resilience. It assesses 13 elements of self-comforting behaviour, each showing how people handle emotional upheaval with care rather than collapse. The SCCS recognises nuance, while many models treat coping as a linear problem-solving process. It values gentleness as strength, stillness as strategy, and fragility as success.

Rooted in Theory, Responsive in Practice

The SCCS measures self-comforting activities in a variety of populations. It is based on Obohwemu’s theory, which tries to elevate the silent activities that are frequently dismissed. These are not idle gestures; they are planned, intentional responses that sustain psychological well-being in times of adversity. As academic as the work is, its true value rests in its relevance: from young students dealing with academic pressure to professional nurses experiencing burnout, the SCCS serves as a mirror for self-assessment and emotional alignment.

The Future Looks Comforting and Informed

While initial testing focused on student groups, the scale's potential is broad. Future initiatives include cross-cultural validation, clinical utility, longitudinal investigations, and applications in trauma-sensitive settings. What counts is that the SCCT has established a paradigm that recognises that healing is frequently gentle, inner, and repetitious.

Why This Work Matters Now

In an age where mental health is frequently judged in terms of productivity, the SCCT maintains that how we care for ourselves is equally important. It is more than just bouncing back; it is also about what happens in the pause before we do.

At Consolidation Blog, we value academic tools that hold emotional truth. DDrObohwemu's work is such a tool: thoughtful, human-centred, and necessary. It's a gift to the field and a gentle reminder to us all that coping isn't always visible, but it is always valid.

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