Kamlesh Singh
IIT Delhi
Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the
strengths and virtues that enable individuals and
communities to thrive.
Š people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to
cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance
their experiences of daily activities.
Š There could be some specific areas of interest of
Indian positive psychologists :
-Contribution of our ancient literature
-Indian socio- cultural issue based intervention modules
- and adaptation and construction of positive
psychological tests.
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Cultural orientation: collectivistic vs. individualistic at broader
level
Š More specifically which segment/group of population is interest of
our study within the culture.
Š For example, for college students- may be effective strategies in
class room setting or web based strategies. But for rural adolescent
girls or rural women, socio- cultural impact has a great deal in
their life.
Why???
Case I- A young widow
Case II-Female feticide &women psychological health
Case III - mismatched rituals
Case IV-Rural adolescent girls` data
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Countless examples may be added, where we observe
dilemma in their life, social undue pressure,
redundant rituals……..
Hence ,there is need to review villagers women
practices which could be cause of several
psychosomatic and somato-psychological problems
and obstruct their flow and potentiality in life.
Urban women (comparatively
empowered Section)
Awareness (relatively broader vision & interaction with other sub cultural groups)
Awareness (relatively broader vision & interaction with Economic independence
other sub cultural groups)
Relatively less socio‐
cultural barriers/ increase facilitators
Economic independence
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Education
Relatively less socio‐ cultural barriers/ increase facilitators
‐Awareness (relatively broader vision & interaction with other sub cultural der
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mi- groups)
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‐Economic independence vs. poor and dependent
‐Relatively less socio‐ cultural barriers vs. increase facilitators
‐Tremendous vs. mild social pressure
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Most Deprived Section:
Rural Women
Surrounding ( SocioCultural environment )
which facilitate her
well- being
Woman`s
well being
Step one: preparation :Identify the
problems
e.g. female foeticide, obsolete and
redundant rituals, Gradually reducing and
lacking entertainment, Empowerment of
rural women
Š Step two: brainstorming Sessions: The
brainstorming sessions are designed to
generate a large set of statements related
to the focus statement from step one.
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Step three: structuring/ Developing Intervention plan
The statements collected from each group brainstorming
session are compiled into one list. Data may be compiled,
according to requirement of study.
For instance, Female foeticide: attitude, reasons, solutions
and applicability of the solution.
obsolete and redundant rituals: identify them , cause of
hurdle in progress or women empowerment, replacement
with new, help to inculcate them
Gradually reducing and lacking entertainment: Verify the
fact, reinforce it, realization of the same
Empowerment of rural women : identifying and
implementing them
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Step four: Delivery of the Module
Steps five and six: interpretation and utilization
-Next step is interpretation of obtained results which
gives scientific view of the work, facilitate to publish
and provide new vision to future research in this area. - Comparison of pre and post testing may be compared
especially in intervention based study for validating the
program.
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Lasting and meaningful empowerment/
psychological well being depends on
communities' ability to transform social norms
and cultural practices that promote it in women.