Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

Pages:60-68
Narayanan Annalakshmi (Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) Krishnan Rakhi (Psychologist (Trainee), KIMS Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala) Jothish, K.J. (Business Development, Executive, Gulf Technical, Services, Qatar, Doha) Murugesan Venkatesan (Indian Institute of Foreign, Trade, New Delhi)

Critical consciousness (CC) is the ability to perceive social, political, and economic oppression in the society and includes taking action against the oppressive elements of society. CC has been mainly explored in the western cultures. CC has not been studied in the Asian culture which is distinctly different from the western culture in several ways including the presence of social hierarchy that are firmly laid down. The present study examines the relationship between critical consciousness and psychological well-being measures like alienation, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among youth in India. It was hypothesized that a higher level of critical consciousness would be related to higher levels of well-being. This was tested on a sample of 345 (Males=164) students in the age group 17 to 26 years. Participants completed self-report measures of critical consciousness, alienation, self-efficacy and life satisfaction. Critical consciousness was assessed in terms of two factors pertaining to critical reflection, namely, perceived inequality and egalitarianism, and one factor relating to critical action, namely, socio-political participation. Females were higher on egalitarianism and lower on socio-political participation compared to males. Significant differences between communities on perceived inequality was found: MBC group was higher on perceived inequality compared to OC and BC group. The different groups on religion do not differ from each other on critical consciousness. Egalitarianism was negatively correlated with both perceived inequality and socio-political participation. All three dimensions of critical consciousness predicted alienation. Perceived inequality and socio-political participation positively predicted alienation while egalitarianism negatively predicted alienation. Egalitarianism positively predicted both self-efficacy and life satisfaction. The findings point towards a need to re-examine the meaning of critical consciousness with special reference to the cultural context.

Pages:74-77
Parul Gill (Department of Home Science, I.B. (P.G) College, Panipat, Haryana) Poonam Malik (Department of HDFS, CCSHAU, Hisar, Haryana) Pankaj Gill (Department of Home Science, Pt. CLS Govt. College, Karnal, Haryana)

The present study was undertaken to explore the decision making patterns of college girls in relation to clothing and their satisfaction level with these decision making patterns. Thirty under graduate college girls from Panipat city were approached to record their responses regarding decision making in relation to clothing and satisfaction level through a well structured questionnaire. It was found that most of the girls (56.66%) themselves made the decisions about the type of garment (Indian, western or both) they wear and majority of girls (70%) were highly satisfied with this decision making. Parents performed the role of buyers for their college going daughters' garments in most of the cases (63.33%) and the 73.33% girls had high level of satisfaction with this. In most of the cases (60%) the decision about the garment design was made by the girls themselves and they were highly satisfied with it.

Pages:83-88
Neetima Batra, Veena Sangwan, and Manju Mehta (Department of FRM, COHS, CCS Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, Haryana)

If the structure is so designed that the positive forces override that the negative forces then there is beneficial release of bio energy which helps all the inmates to be healthy. If I put Vastu in simple words “it is the traditional Indian way how people should live in house or work at their workplace as yoga is for health.” Every women workplace is started with her house and concludes her day in her house. The prior concern is her well-being's. Vastu is a hot topic of discussion these days on all the channels on T.V, internet etc. and other mass media approaches. Present study is planned to know about the knowledge of some aspects of Vastu Shastra principles and its extent of application in newly constructed houses of Hisar district. 200 homemakers were selected purposively, majority were found young 60.0% and working45.0%. Around 50 percent were having > 350 square feet house. Some miscellaneous aspects of vastu were choose to study and found that was found Usually people were interesting in application of certain aspects such as down ward slope of house should be in E and N side, rectangular house is good for living, Gomukhi house is not good for residence purpose, underground water tank should be in North East direction, no tall trees should be in North and East side and so on. Interestingly they have applied these principles on priority basis. Along with these aspects more than 90 percent of the respondents were found feeling highly satisfied by making water tank in North-East and trees in South and west side. By making central space open, eighty five percent respondents were found highly satisfied as it is the place where all energies can accumulate to make house pure, divine and peaceful.

Pages:97-102
Jini K Gopinath (Department of Psychology, University of Kerala, Kerala) Rita Krishnan (Department of Psychology, University College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)

The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of vedic mathematics training on children with specific learning difficulty. The mean age of the participants was 11.39 with a standard deviation of 0.63, and were divided into three groups. One group underwent training in Vedic Mathematics, the second group underwent conventional remediation for mathematics and the third group had sessions on general knowledge. The tools included Diagnostic Arithmetic Test (DAT) from the NIMHANS index of learning disability and a Visual Analogue Scale. One way Analysis of Variance showed that children who underwent Vedic Mathematics training and Remediation training performed significantly better on the DAT at post training assessment. The study points the option of including Vedic Mathematics Training in Schools to help children understand mathematics concepts better.

Pages:117-120
Benkat Krishna Bharti (Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) Krishna Kumari Verma (Arya Mahila PG College, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)

Spirituality is a positive aspect of human life or excellence that we must have a high regard for it. Our life is filled with spiritual qualities or values. Spirituality is helpful for the physical, social, and mental well-being. It develops harmony, peace and happiness. A spiritual person feels affection for God shall get at the spirit of spiritual quality. His requirement is to attain spiritual life with his full faith, wisdom and whole heart. Spiritual life is like a bed of roses. In this article we have discussed twelve essential qualities of a spiritual person. These are: positive thinking, inner peace, egoless, unconditional love, optimism, harmony, humility, responsibility, compassion, justice, simplicity, and reciprocity. Besides we have discussed spiritual living and the living mode to maintain spiritual health.

Pages:130-134
Satyabrata Tripathy (Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Bharatppur Area, Talcher) Fakir Mohan Sahoo (Xavier Institute of Management, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar)

Happiness is viewed as a major positive organizational behavior construct. The present study tests the prediction that happiness and job satisfaction are significantly interrelated. In addition to this objective, male and female employees in an public sector undertaking are compared with respect to these variables. The predicted pattern of interrelationship among variables is supported. However there is no significant group difference. The findings are explained in the light of current conceptualizations of happiness and job satisfaction. Major implications are also suggested for intervention programmes.

Pages:139-142
Anjana Bhattacharjee, Nabarupa Bhattacharya, and Rebeka Debbarma (Department of Psychology, Tripura University, Tripura)

The present study attempted to compare neurotic patients and normal (non-neurotic) individuals with respect to their personality pattern and quality of life. For the said purpose a group of 50 neurotic patients were purposively selected from the OPD of Psychiatric department of Tripura Medical College, Hapania. Another matched group of normal persons was also purposively selected from West District. Data were collected by using NEO-Five Factor Personality Inventory developed Paul and McCrae (2008) and Quality of Life Scale-WHOQOL-BREF (1991). Data analysis revealed significant difference between neurotic and normal individuals with respect to their personality pattern and quality of life. However, insignificant difference was observed between them with respect to openness to experience dimension of their personality.

Pages:147-151
Seema G. B. and G. Venkatesh Kumar (Department of Studies in Psychology, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore, Karntataka )

The adolescent years are transforming at all levels: physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral. Helping professionals have searched for ways for adolescents to acquire the skills necessary to face these many changes. Parents, educators and adolescents have tried to do what they can ,not only to survive ,but to make the most of major life transition that occurs from age 10-18 (Arnett, 2000). This study was done to investigate the effect of social skills training on self esteem among male and female adolescent students. The sample consisted of 200 (100 male & 100 female) adolescent students, were selected randomly and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received social skills training in 10 sessions, but the control group didn't attend the sessions. Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale by Rosenberg (1965) was administered in pre and post intervention to measuring Self esteem. Results revealed that social skills training has significantly enhanced self esteem in the selected sample of experimental group and gender did not have differential influence on enhancing self esteem due to social skills training.

Pages:155-158
Minakshi Rana (Department of Psychology, GGDSD College, Chandigarh)

Psychological aspects have acquired a very pivotal place in all spheres of life these days. Every person is getting affected by the changing world's scenario. People these days are more stressed out which has a negative impact on their well-being. The purpose of this paper is to focus on how Music constructively contributes to positive emotions and enhances Psychological well-being. Music can be considered as an informal type of self-medicated therapy. Many call it, 'Healing without Medicine'. Music has a therapeutic effect in the human life. It helps us connect with our deeper self and bring our emotions to the fore. It has the power to take the listener to a different world where there is only emotional ecstasy. Thus the present paper is an attempt to emphasize the beneficial impact of music on the Psychological well-being of people.