Introduction: Perspectives on Psychology in Modern India

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Psychology in Modern India

Abstract

During the past century, the modern psychology, originating in the Euro-American region, was transplanted in India during the British colonial period. With the expansion of higher education in the country, psychology has grown and diversified as an academic discipline and profession. The expansion, however, has primarily followed the paradigm and practices of the Western academic ethos and the pre-modern roots of rich psychological science in India remained neglected. The attention to social problems faced by the country and disillusionment with Western-centric understanding has led to realizing the need to develop relevant knowledge resource, decolonization of the mind-set, and creative use of indigenous knowledge. This has led to move toward broadening of academic engagements in terms of methodology and building Indian psychology rooted in classical Indian thought systems. In general, a culturally contextualized approach toward the discipline is being promoted. To this end, concerted effort and systemic changes are required.

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Misra, G., Sanyal, N., De, S. (2021). Introduction: Perspectives on Psychology in Modern India. In: Misra, G., Sanyal, N., De, S. (eds) Psychology in Modern India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4705-5_1

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