Page 41 - EW FEB 2022

EW SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

Interdisciplinary Psychology Education in India:

Opportunities and Challenges

cross the world, psychology is reasons, including lack of access to mental
consistently ranked as one of the top healthcare services. Indeed, the number
Afields of undergraduate study. As an of psychologists in India is significantly
academic discipline, psychology provides lower than the number recommended by
insight into why people think, feel, and act the World Health Organization. Clearly,
the way they do. The discipline is unique as there’s an urgent need to educate and
it covers virtually every facet of human life, recruit a larger number of clinical and
including one’s education, occupation, and counseling psychologists.
relationships. Over the past few decades, While important, focusing solely
India has seen an upsurge of demand for on the diagnosis and treatment
the subject, with over 1,100 universities of mental illness presents a
and colleges currently offering psychology narrow view of the career
courses. Its growing popularity can be opportunities for psychology
attributed to the strong knowledge base and graduates. There is immense
critical thinking skills acquired by students, scope for graduates to
coupled with excellent employability engage in research, including
prospects across a wide range of careers how mental processes and behaviour Prof. (Dr.) Derick H. Lindquist
and industries. change over development or the Professor & Dean, Jindal School of
An interdisciplinary approach is biological underpinnings of psychological Psychology & Counselling (JSPC)
essential in the education and training of phenomena. Such findings add to the ever- O.P. Jindal Global University
psychology students, providing relevant evolving body of knowledge that informs
information related to disciplines such as psychological principles and practices. The
medicine, economics, and philosophy. latter, in turn, can be applied to the broader It will require multiple generations of Indian
Crossing disciplinary boundaries world, such as the education system, psychologists to spread awareness of the
encourages students to examine problems criminal justice system, government, importance of mental well-being and to
from different perspectives and helps them business, and industry. In this way, applied combat stigmatization of mental illness.
integrate learning across subjects. Beyond psychology provides the understanding and A final issue relates to the nature of
knowledge acquisition, a 2017 report by expertise to solve diverse problems related modern psychological theory and practice,
the American Psychological Association, to human experiences. which is largely rooted in Western concepts
reveals that students who earn a While the future of psychological and methodologies. In response, many
psychology degree acquire many versatile education and practice in India looks bright, psychologists are working to ground
workplace-ready skills including analytical several challenges remain. One major psychological accounts in an India-specific
thinking, effective communication, data concern relates to the gender imbalance context, as manifested by the growing
analysis, ethical decision making, creativity, of students signing up for psychology interest in cross-cultural psychology,
and empathy. Studying psychology is study programmes. The 2018 Cambridge ethnopsychology, and indigenous
advantageous for aspiring sociologists, International Global Education Census psychology. Such work aims to accurately
lawyers, businesspersons and other revealed that only 8.8 percent of Indian portray the sociodemographic realities
professionals keen on understanding the boys aspired to become psychologists. of India and rectify the cultural biases
vagaries of human behaviour. Psychology is too often perceived as prevalent in the psychological literature.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has appropriate for daughters only based With job opportunities expected to
caused worldwide disruptions, it has on various socio-cultural and economic multiply over the next few decades, an
also underscored the vital importance of concerns. interdisciplinary psychology education
psychology as a field of study and practice. In many parts of contemporary India’s offers the freedom and flexibility to secure
This is especially true in India where, even lower income households, individuals are a wide range of careers inside or outside
before the current crisis, a 2017 Lancet reticent to even acknowledge psychological the purview of the psychological sciences.
study estimated that one in seven Indians disorders. Social taboos and prejudices Students can be confident that receipt of
suffer from some form of mental distress or surrounding mental illness prevents the a psychology degree will prepare them to
illness. The ability to effectively assist such masses from seeking help, turning instead become socially responsible and productive
individuals has been hampered for many to family, community, or religious leaders. members of society.

EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2022