India

Education in psychology in higher education is becoming more and more common in the nation of India. In fact, as of the year 2004, there were 306 universities in the country and nearly every campus had a psychology department (Stevens, 2004, p. 230). Most of the major universities in the country specialize in a specific area of psychology; for example, the University of Mumbai is especially known for its program in Applied Psychology (Stevens, 2004, p. 228). The average undergraduate degree in psychology can be obtained after three years of study (Stevens, 2004, p. 230). And achieving a master’s degree after that generally requires two more years of study (Stevens, 2004, p. 230). Research is conducted in laboratories in universities and other labs, in much the same way that it is in the United States. Findings are shared in conferences and journals, also like the United States. There are many different types of psychology practiced in this country, among these are clinical, industrial, counseling, social, and educational psychology (Stevens, 2004, p. 226). Traditionally, the predominant school of thought utilized by these and other psychologists is psychoanalysis, although other methods are utilized as well (Stevens, 2004, p. 230). Most practicing psychologists “adhere to the ethical code and conduct stipulated by the American Psychology Association” (Stevens, 2004, p. 233). Psychology as a discipline is a relatively new concept in India. However, concepts of psychology have existed since ancient times, through philosophical and religious texts, including the //Bhagwad Gita// (Pandey, 2000, p. 244). Mental illness has also been something that has been on Indians’ minds for centuries. Traditionally, mentally ill patients are treated through yoga, music, herbal medicines, religious activities, or faith healing (Prasadarao, 2001, p. 31). This country’s history of psychology, however, reflects British knowledge more so than these ancient traditions because of the role colonization played in downplaying the importance of Eastern knowledge (Pandey, 2000, p. 244). Western scientific psychology officially began in India in 1915 with the development of a psychology laboratory at Calcutta University (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). Indians needed more training so “selected scholars were sent abroad for higher training” (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). The discipline continued to grow, as The Indian Psychological Association was born in 1924, producing the first official journal of psychology two years later (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). In the next two decades, psychology departments were established at universities such as Patna, Aligarh, and Varanasi (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). It continued to grow throughout the 40s, although the majority of psychological thought originated from the West as Indians continued to be taught to ignore local knowledge of the subject (Pandey,, p. 245). A turning point in Indians’ focus came in 1947, when India was declared an independent nation(Pandey, 2000, p. 245). In the 50s and 60s, higher education flourished and psychology departments continued to grow as well (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). By 1970, master’s and doctoral programs could be found in over 30 universities throughout the country (Pandey, 2000, p. 246). Throughout this time, various current events forced psychologists to focus on practical concerns, such as the “psychological conditions necessary for peace” (Pandey, 2000, p. 246). This was influential in the move away from simply mirroring western thought. In recent years, the trend towards using borrowed methods has changed dramatically, and research has focused increasingly on the practical needs of Indian society (Pandey, 2000, p. 247). There are several psychologists throughout history that have helped shape the discipline into what it is today. The first of note is N. N. Sengupta, who brought back to his homeland ideas in techniques for research and teaching from Harvard University (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). The next influential psychologist was Girindra Sekhar Bose. Bose was an important part of the establishment of the Indian Psychoanalytic Society. He also helped further the discipline by developing an academic relationship with Sigmund Freud and by connecting the Indian Psychoanalytic Society with the International Psychoanalytic Association (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). Around this same time frame, the 1920s, the first psychology department in the south of India was established by Gopalswami (Pandey, 2000, p. 245). And a bit later, D. Sinha and Gardner Murphy were two psychologists who were influential in focusing psychological thought on social issues and improving society (Pandey, 2000, p. 246). Pandey, J. (2000). India. In Kazdin, A. (Ed.), //Encyclopedia of Psychology// (Vol. 4) (p. 244-249). Retrieved from []. Prasadarao, P. S. D.V. & Sudhir, P. M. (2001). Clinical Psychology in India. //Journal of Clinical Psychology// //in Medical Settings// (Vol. 8) (p. 31- 38). Stevens, M. J. (2004). //Handbook of International Psychology//. New York: Brunner-Routledge.