Informatics Publishing Limited

Bhumika Kapoor ¹, Aakanksha Tomar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, IN

Abstract

There is a general consensus that children's experiences in school have a substantial bearing on various psycho-social outcomes in their lives. However, while much research has explored the impact of children's social experiences in school on their academic performance, there is relatively little empirical evidence that connects these with non-academic consequences. We contend that of the varied experiences that students have in the school context, their sense of belongingness or membership with their school, that is, the degree to which students feel accepted, respected, included, and supported in school, may be of prime importance. With this in the backdrop, this research aims to seek whether a relationship exists between students' psychological sense of school membership and their resilience, self-efficacy, and leadership skills. It was hypothesized that a high sense of school membership will be positively associated with resilience, self-efficacy, and leadership skills. To this end, standardized instruments to measure these four constructs were administered on a large sample of students (N=200) aged between 14 and 17 years, chosen from private English-medium schools in Delhi and NCR. The data was analysed using Pearson's r. Results confirmed the hypothesis. Both theoretical and practical implications of the same will be discussed.

Keywords

School Membership, Resilience, Self-Efficacy, Leadership Skills.

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Aakanksha Tomar ¹, Bhumika Kapoor ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, IN

Abstract

The first decade of the twenty-first century saw on Indian television an unprecedented emergence of soap operas with various social underpinnings focusing on women. We argue that these ostensible changes in the status of women on Indian television rarely, if ever, move beyond mere tokenism. The inherently patriarchal representations of gender roles and projected value orientations still dominate Indian television. The purpose of the present study was to explore if these representations resonate with how Indian women conceptualize gender and the issues surrounding it, and investigate the variegated ramifications of these projected images. To this end, interviews were conducted with female viewers (N=20; young adults=10,middle adults=10). Using thematic analysis certain pervasive themes were delineated from the data; these include: prototypical depiction of women as 'good' versus 'bad', women as the subordinate sex, a virtual absence of proclivity for education and ambition, a working woman paradox, and skewed couple dynamics. The ways in which television contributes to the maintenance and reinforcement of these images were also probed. We posit that television as the most widely exploited means of entertainment subliminally imposes in the viewers' minds these regressive images of women. Since television and society mirror each other, increasing insight of the limitations of one is likely to facilitate desirable changes in the other.

Keywords

Gender, Women, Television, Soap Operas.

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Sneh Kapoor ¹, Manju Mehta ², Bhumika Kapoor ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, New Delhi, IN
2 Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the fourth most prevalent among mental disorders, yet its clinical presentation varies among individuals. Much research has focused on the gender differences in the presentation of OCD subtypes. The present study aims to understand gender differences in the manifestation of OCD subtypes, and the relative prevalence of the subtypes among the two genders in the Indian context. The preliminary sample constitutes 50 consecutive patients reporting to the Outpatient Psychiatric services and Child and Adolescent Clinic at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Participants between the age of 15 to 45 years, with a diagnosis of OCD (mixed), and not suffering from comorbid Axis I disorders were included for the study. Obsessive Compulsive symptoms were studied using YBOCS and categorized under six headings of obsessions/compulsions. Significant difference was seen between males and females along various types of obsessions and compulsions. Females rated higher on contamination doubts and cleaning compulsions, while males rated significantly higher on pathological doubt and checking compulsions.

Keywords

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Subtypes, Gender Differences.

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Bhumika Kapoor ¹, Aakanksha Tomar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, IN

Abstract

The phenomenon of globalization has largely been absent from the academic discourse in psychology. However, in the past few years researchers have started to acknowledge and explore the psycho-social implications of living in a globalizing world. Keeping this in mind, this paper attempts to review research particularly with respect to the various ways in which globalization continually influences individuals' identities, lived experiences, and their understanding of the world. It is recommended that as opposed to being focused primarily on the negative implications of globalization, it would be beneficial if we paid more attention to the opportunities facilitated by it. Recommendations have been made for the efficacy of social psychological theories to exploit the positive potential of globalization to deal with emerging socio-cultural issues.

Keywords

Globalization, Psychosocial Effects, Opportunities, Recommendations.

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Bhumika Kapoor ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, IN

Abstract

Health risk behaviors are a serious threat to health and well-being, often with grave current as well as future consequences. Previous research has recognized a particular vulnerability among adolescents for the same. Keeping this in mind, the aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence and magnitude of major health risk behaviors (namely, unhealthy weight control behaviors, substance abuse, & violence and physical aggression) among adolescents, living in Delhi and NCR, India. To this end, a self-report survey was administered on a large sample of adolescents (N=300), belonging to the age range of 16-20 years (mean=17.48; SD=1.42). Results depicted that a number of participants agreed to be struggling with body image issues, resulting in poor and unhealthy dietary habits. Participants reported avoidance of food (12.3%), binge eating (29%), purging (5%), and rigorous exercising (31.4%). Moreover, use of laxatives or diet pills (without a doctor's advice) was also reported. Substance abuse also elicited noticeable prevalence, with alcohol consumption generating most current use (25.1%), followed by tobacco (15%) and drug use (6.1%). Results also highlighted adolescent engagement in bullying and physical aggression. Significant differences were revealed between males and females on substance abuse and violence and physical aggression.

Keywords

Adolescence, Health Risk Behavior, Substance Abuse, Violence.

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