Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Human Right, 2020
This chapter will examine human rights in the context of an ever-changing multicultural world, wi... more This chapter will examine human rights in the context of an ever-changing multicultural world, with a specific focus on the intersection of non-Western culture, human rights issues, and mental health. Chapter authors will explore these issues in two parts of the world, Africa (presented by Dr. Ayorkor Gaba) and India (presented by Dr. Rashmi Jaipal). Specifically, the authors will examine the important relationships and histories of mental health and human rights, and their interconnections with culture. The remaining chapter utilizes the broad United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) definition of culture, which defines culture as the “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” (UNESCO, 2001). In addition, throughout the discussion, the terms mental conditions/problems/disorders/illness may be used interchangeably and will be broadly defined as a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being in which a broad array of functioning is negatively impacted.
The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations’ age... more The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations’ agenda for sustainable development (SD) 2030, they will need to shift from a model that is biologically based individual model to a holistic, contextual and cultural model. Global media and consumer culture have created unhealthy, social and cultural environments, which are seen as having an adverse effect on psychological health. The article focuses on the culture change coming about due to advancement of technology, changes in values of society and acculturation as the reasons for decrement in mental health (MH) and well-being (WB). Integration of mainstream psychology with indigenous psychology can guide building of environments that sustain physical health and MH as well as societal sustainability.
The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations' age... more The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations' agenda for sustainable development (SD) 2030, they will need to shift from a model that is biologically based individual model to a holistic, contextual and cultural model. Global media and consumer culture have created unhealthy, social and cultural environments , which are seen as having an adverse effect on psychological health. The article focuses on the culture change coming about due to advancement of technology, changes in values of society and accultura-tion as the reasons for decrement in mental health (MH) and well-being (WB). Integration of mainstream psychology with indigenous psychology can guide building of environments that sustain physical health and MH as well as societal sustainability.
Book chapter on personal impressions as an outsider of issues of race and diversity in the US. Th... more Book chapter on personal impressions as an outsider of issues of race and diversity in the US. These are my own personal impressions garnered from my experiences living in the US for many years, and which has led to a dissection of American culture and character, somewhat like the observations of a psychological anthropologist.
Psychological theories and interventions that prevail have originated in the West, and are based ... more Psychological theories and interventions that prevail have originated in the West, and are based on particular conceptions of mental health and the individual that have largely evolved within a Western cultural and historical context. This chapter attempts to look at alternative conceptions of health and the individual developed by Indian psychologists originating in an Indian cultural context. This different understanding of mental health based on a different definition of the individual has implications for treatment in India, as well as contributing to and expanding Western concepts of health and interventions. So far, psychology has been dominated by theories and interventions indigenous to the West which are applied in nonwestern cultures. The recent growth of indigenous psychologies originating in nonwestern cultures, in this case India, presents an opportunity for psychology to be built on a broader range of cultures and human experience. Indian indigenous psychology cannot be articulated without taking into account the current situation in India regarding not only psychology and treatment strategies, but also the larger social context of rapid modernization within which Indian psychology operates. Therefore the first part of the chapter is devoted to the current situation in India regarding the psychological effects of modernization and acculturation, followed by a discussion on the current status of psychology in India, both theoretical and applied, and its gradual indigenization. The second half of the chapter is devoted to a review of Indian indigenous psychology, and an attempt at synthesizing traditional Ayurvedic medicine's conceptions of mental health and the individual with the concepts of dharma and swadharma. The implications of the Ayurvedic concept of the individual as personality type is delineated as a contribution to the development of an Indian psychology. Since the purpose of the chapter is to review, discuss, and add to the formulation of an Indian indigenous psychology, it draws primarily on the work of Indian psychologists and their use of Hindu philosophical concepts, as well as their articulation of some of the underlying attitudes and beliefs of many Indians, that derive from the Hindu worldview and that seems to permeate Indian society. It does not therefore rely on philosophical, religious or anthropological sources as this would be beyond the scope of this chapter.
Abstract
This chapter articulates the fundamentally different cultural paradigm or lens through ... more Abstract This chapter articulates the fundamentally different cultural paradigm or lens through which the person and health are seen by Indian traditional medicine compared to western medicine. The concept of the person in Ayurveda plays a central role in the conception of health, and the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of physical and psychological disorders. The person is conceptualized in three ways -- as a psychophysical type or unique personality, as connected to the environment, and as an agent of action. All three aspects of the person are seen as integrally related to physical and mental health, unlike modern medicine where psychological factors do not play a primary role in the treatment of physical disease. Other contributions the chapter makes are the articulation of the underlying assumptions of the traditional Indian worldview, and the dangers of translating Ayurvedic concepts into ‘equivalent’ concepts in western medicine. Subtle phenomena described in Ayurvedic texts but dismissed by empirical science on epistemological grounds, if considered seriously, could have a great deal to offer to the understanding of health and illness. To that end the implications of concepts such as karma, bondage, moksha and salvation are explored and how they can deepen understanding of psychological functioning.
Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Human Right, 2020
This chapter will examine human rights in the context of an ever-changing multicultural world, wi... more This chapter will examine human rights in the context of an ever-changing multicultural world, with a specific focus on the intersection of non-Western culture, human rights issues, and mental health. Chapter authors will explore these issues in two parts of the world, Africa (presented by Dr. Ayorkor Gaba) and India (presented by Dr. Rashmi Jaipal). Specifically, the authors will examine the important relationships and histories of mental health and human rights, and their interconnections with culture. The remaining chapter utilizes the broad United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) definition of culture, which defines culture as the “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” (UNESCO, 2001). In addition, throughout the discussion, the terms mental conditions/problems/disorders/illness may be used interchangeably and will be broadly defined as a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being in which a broad array of functioning is negatively impacted.
The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations’ age... more The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations’ agenda for sustainable development (SD) 2030, they will need to shift from a model that is biologically based individual model to a holistic, contextual and cultural model. Global media and consumer culture have created unhealthy, social and cultural environments, which are seen as having an adverse effect on psychological health. The article focuses on the culture change coming about due to advancement of technology, changes in values of society and acculturation as the reasons for decrement in mental health (MH) and well-being (WB). Integration of mainstream psychology with indigenous psychology can guide building of environments that sustain physical health and MH as well as societal sustainability.
The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations' age... more The author argues that if psychologists are to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations' agenda for sustainable development (SD) 2030, they will need to shift from a model that is biologically based individual model to a holistic, contextual and cultural model. Global media and consumer culture have created unhealthy, social and cultural environments , which are seen as having an adverse effect on psychological health. The article focuses on the culture change coming about due to advancement of technology, changes in values of society and accultura-tion as the reasons for decrement in mental health (MH) and well-being (WB). Integration of mainstream psychology with indigenous psychology can guide building of environments that sustain physical health and MH as well as societal sustainability.
Book chapter on personal impressions as an outsider of issues of race and diversity in the US. Th... more Book chapter on personal impressions as an outsider of issues of race and diversity in the US. These are my own personal impressions garnered from my experiences living in the US for many years, and which has led to a dissection of American culture and character, somewhat like the observations of a psychological anthropologist.
Psychological theories and interventions that prevail have originated in the West, and are based ... more Psychological theories and interventions that prevail have originated in the West, and are based on particular conceptions of mental health and the individual that have largely evolved within a Western cultural and historical context. This chapter attempts to look at alternative conceptions of health and the individual developed by Indian psychologists originating in an Indian cultural context. This different understanding of mental health based on a different definition of the individual has implications for treatment in India, as well as contributing to and expanding Western concepts of health and interventions. So far, psychology has been dominated by theories and interventions indigenous to the West which are applied in nonwestern cultures. The recent growth of indigenous psychologies originating in nonwestern cultures, in this case India, presents an opportunity for psychology to be built on a broader range of cultures and human experience. Indian indigenous psychology cannot be articulated without taking into account the current situation in India regarding not only psychology and treatment strategies, but also the larger social context of rapid modernization within which Indian psychology operates. Therefore the first part of the chapter is devoted to the current situation in India regarding the psychological effects of modernization and acculturation, followed by a discussion on the current status of psychology in India, both theoretical and applied, and its gradual indigenization. The second half of the chapter is devoted to a review of Indian indigenous psychology, and an attempt at synthesizing traditional Ayurvedic medicine's conceptions of mental health and the individual with the concepts of dharma and swadharma. The implications of the Ayurvedic concept of the individual as personality type is delineated as a contribution to the development of an Indian psychology. Since the purpose of the chapter is to review, discuss, and add to the formulation of an Indian indigenous psychology, it draws primarily on the work of Indian psychologists and their use of Hindu philosophical concepts, as well as their articulation of some of the underlying attitudes and beliefs of many Indians, that derive from the Hindu worldview and that seems to permeate Indian society. It does not therefore rely on philosophical, religious or anthropological sources as this would be beyond the scope of this chapter.
Abstract
This chapter articulates the fundamentally different cultural paradigm or lens through ... more Abstract This chapter articulates the fundamentally different cultural paradigm or lens through which the person and health are seen by Indian traditional medicine compared to western medicine. The concept of the person in Ayurveda plays a central role in the conception of health, and the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of physical and psychological disorders. The person is conceptualized in three ways -- as a psychophysical type or unique personality, as connected to the environment, and as an agent of action. All three aspects of the person are seen as integrally related to physical and mental health, unlike modern medicine where psychological factors do not play a primary role in the treatment of physical disease. Other contributions the chapter makes are the articulation of the underlying assumptions of the traditional Indian worldview, and the dangers of translating Ayurvedic concepts into ‘equivalent’ concepts in western medicine. Subtle phenomena described in Ayurvedic texts but dismissed by empirical science on epistemological grounds, if considered seriously, could have a great deal to offer to the understanding of health and illness. To that end the implications of concepts such as karma, bondage, moksha and salvation are explored and how they can deepen understanding of psychological functioning.
Uploads
Papers by Rashmi Jaipal
examine the important relationships and histories of mental health and human rights, and their interconnections with culture. The remaining chapter utilizes the broad United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) definition of culture, which defines culture as the “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” (UNESCO, 2001). In addition, throughout the discussion, the terms mental conditions/problems/disorders/illness may be used interchangeably and will be broadly defined as a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being in which a broad array of functioning is negatively impacted.
This chapter articulates the fundamentally different cultural paradigm or lens through which the person and health are seen by Indian traditional medicine compared to western medicine. The concept of the person in Ayurveda plays a central role in the conception of health, and the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of physical and psychological disorders. The person is conceptualized in three ways -- as a psychophysical type or unique personality, as connected to the environment, and as an agent of action. All three aspects of the person are seen as integrally related to physical and mental health, unlike modern medicine where psychological factors do not play a primary role in the treatment of physical disease.
Other contributions the chapter makes are the articulation of the underlying assumptions of the traditional Indian worldview, and the dangers of translating Ayurvedic concepts into ‘equivalent’ concepts in western medicine. Subtle phenomena described in Ayurvedic texts but dismissed by empirical science on epistemological grounds, if considered seriously, could have a great deal to offer to the understanding of health and illness. To that end the implications of concepts such as karma, bondage, moksha and salvation are explored and how they can deepen understanding of psychological functioning.
examine the important relationships and histories of mental health and human rights, and their interconnections with culture. The remaining chapter utilizes the broad United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) definition of culture, which defines culture as the “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” (UNESCO, 2001). In addition, throughout the discussion, the terms mental conditions/problems/disorders/illness may be used interchangeably and will be broadly defined as a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being in which a broad array of functioning is negatively impacted.
This chapter articulates the fundamentally different cultural paradigm or lens through which the person and health are seen by Indian traditional medicine compared to western medicine. The concept of the person in Ayurveda plays a central role in the conception of health, and the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of physical and psychological disorders. The person is conceptualized in three ways -- as a psychophysical type or unique personality, as connected to the environment, and as an agent of action. All three aspects of the person are seen as integrally related to physical and mental health, unlike modern medicine where psychological factors do not play a primary role in the treatment of physical disease.
Other contributions the chapter makes are the articulation of the underlying assumptions of the traditional Indian worldview, and the dangers of translating Ayurvedic concepts into ‘equivalent’ concepts in western medicine. Subtle phenomena described in Ayurvedic texts but dismissed by empirical science on epistemological grounds, if considered seriously, could have a great deal to offer to the understanding of health and illness. To that end the implications of concepts such as karma, bondage, moksha and salvation are explored and how they can deepen understanding of psychological functioning.