IAAP, 2008

Overall, the program is running well under the leadership of Dr. Jayanti Basu.   In the inauguration at National Library, some speakers pointed at use of statistics in writing research papers. Simple qualitative data analysis is not sufficient as it fails to assess multivariate properties of research decisions. Dr. Madhabi Chatterjee of US presented a nice model where in we can use nested properties of psychological variables. She proposed such model during therapy or interventions. I added difference in the nested properties of pre during and post intervention periods. Those who are using cognitive behaviour therapy can use this model. Recently, I published one article on this issue but not nested properties using box-plot analysis. The reference is given below:

Dutta Roy, D. (2008). Assessing Validity of Web-Based Computer Adaptive Training Modules, Journal Of The Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, Vol. 34, No.1, January, 127-136.

 For last few months, I am thinking to organize one workshop on " Statistical modeling in Psychotherapy" . I got inspiration to organize such after listening the talk of Dr. Chatterjee.
   Professor Olav Skille of Norway presented music therapy. He was not given much time. However, he developed music behaviour scale following the principles of music intelligence. Later on I discussed with him about neuroplasticity.
    Yesterday, I was shocked by presentation of HIV-AIDS issue. In stead of strong data base, psychiatrists talked about prevalance of HIV among the cross section of population. Without using any standardized scale, they are relating HIV incidence to different psychiatric diagnostic groups. However, I have learnt one interesting thing from them that knowledge and attitude are non linearly related. This issue is very interesting, one can study on it. They want psychologists having knowledge of statistics as I assume.
    Professor Giriswar Mishra of Delhi University presented indigenous psychology. We often depend upon western scale based on western cultural mileau  ignoring our own cultural roots. I have strong belief in it. We have to propagate research methodology so that we can develop psychological instruments based on our own culture. I expected some studies but due to unavailability of time,  he failed to show his study. However, he pointed out some methodological issues. He is the editor of well known Indian journal -  'Psychological Studies'.
    At the General body meeting, it was decided that next conference will be held in Ourangabad, Maharashtra. The place is close to Ajanta and Illora. The GB meeting selected 3 persons from Bengal as Executive Member of IAAP - Prof. Hiren Gupta, Dr. Jayanti Basu and me. So, we have large task ahead. Every body appreciated my web page of the conference. They treated it as excellent. I have made this page on my own desire without thinking of any recognition. When our institute was involved with this conference, I proposed website as I thought that providing adequate information at the right moment is very much needed and it could avoid many hassles. . I have learnt many things by designing the web page. It gives me another pleasure as I find some relation between 'nishkam' and achievement out of it. Below is the website. Pl. look at it.
http://www.iaapconf 2008.org/

We read psychology book but have we thought of application of psychology to earn money ? If we want to earn money, we have to design new approach. This is learnt from Professor Kaliappan. He has own personality development trust in Chennai. He retired from Dept of psychology, Madras university.Several times  he  visited  our  psychology dept as examiner or as speaker. I get opportunity to meet him very close in Chennai when he awarded me the best paper award. Yesterday, in his workshop on personality development, he pointed out several innovations of his trust. Some interesting areas are : psychological adoption, personality matrimony, gifted personality schools, personality clubs, Investment, psychological astrology, psychological courts, personality and spiritual services. He collects  Rs. 500 to Rs.5000 from participant in each workshop. From that trust he gave Rs.1 lakh to IAAP.
      He told me to teach his regular 67 students about web designing with some charges. I told him that I could teach but I could not take money from students. He tried to motivate me to take some money but I could not compromise my existing value system. May be I am backward in this period. I do not know when my realization will come.
    Another interesting lecture was given by Professor Avijit Ganguly on HRM practices in China. He pointed at strong conformity to the law is the key aspect for development in China.
He wants to share more, but limited time is there.
   Finally the curtain dropped with declaration that next conference will be held in Ourangabad. Jayanti and her colleagues nicely finished valedictory session. She was very meticulous in giving vote of thanks.

 

relation between Psychoanalytic approach of Freud and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita

One student (Deepa Shah) of the Dept of Psychology asked me this question. This is about that discourse.

 

Dear Deepa,

I never faced such challenges in my life to explain relation between Psychoanalytic approach of Freud and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Thank you very much to ask me such question.

Well, I am trying to write based on my own interpretations. Please tell me if I am wrong any where. I have studied Freud long ago.

I have told before that I do not find much relation between Freudian psychodynamics and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Both tried to explore the roots of anxiety.Freud assumes that anxiety occurs due to repressed energies. Repressed energies are coming out in  disguise to consciousness from unconsciousness. And when individual feels the actual image of repressed energies, anxiety occurs. Han's phobia is one example. To Freud, unconsciousness is reservoir of energy.

In Gita, we find that consciousness is reservoir of energy.  Energy comes through 'Nishkam karma'. In Mahabharata, we have seen Eklabya character who actually follows principles of nishkam karma. When man acquires knowledge and skills through nishkam karma, he becomes more confident. His self-efficacy level will be very high. Drona has understood so he exploited Eklabya. In Ramayana, I find Hanuman character as the nishkam karmi.

Person who does not acquire knowledge or skills through nishkma karma, he feels feeling of insecurity, fear of failure in front of challenges.

Freud highlighted testing the reality principle of Ego. Nishkam Karmi people always try to test the reality by accepting challenges.

Arjuna possessed all the skills, knowledges for war. I do not think that Arjuna was nishkam karmi. His initial attitude towards the competitors does not support it. He got chance to test his power of knowledge and skills against many people but not against  Karna (his strong competitor), Drona (his Guru), and Bhisma (his grand father). He could not think that his existing skills and knowledge were sufficient to fight against them. So  expressed his anxiety in the following slokas:

" Bepathushcha sharira me, romaharshacha jayate" (anxiety symptom)

Shri Krishna tried to enlighten  immense power within Arjuna through different suggestions but he failed. Finally, he showed his Biswarup. After Biswarup darshana, Arjuna was sure of his  competitors' defeat. He became confident and his anxiety was gone. The total process occurred in consciousness level.

Biswarup principle is not feasible for common men. So Krishna developed concept of 'Nishkam Karma' which is almost equal powerful to Biswarup principles.

Related to Freudian approach of defense mechanisms, Arjun used rationalization by saying that there were many elders so how could he fight against them. Shri Krishna understood the inner meaning of this words so he highlighted the principles of 'Nishkam karma' what Arjuna followed later.

Both Freud and Shri Krishna used individualistic approach of psychotherapy. Both analyzed human mind from different angles. Both explored several new constructs and their principles  to explain different phenomenon of anxiety.