Kamlesh Singh ~ Professor (Psychology), Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences
May all beings be happy; may all beings be healthy
New Delhi, India
Key Passions: Promoting Inclusivity ~ Spiritual Growth ~ Community Wellbeing
Key Strengths:Cultural Competence ~ Research Innovation ~ Holistic Approach
A Comprehensive Approach to Integrating Diverse Perspectives
Recent advancements in the field of Positive Psychology emphasize the importance of integrating diverse domains and acknowledging the broader contexts—social, ecological, and spiritual—that shape our well-being. This shift in perspective, drawing from systems-based approaches, explores how factors such as individual health, societal norms, and environmental conditions affect overall well-being, leading to the development of Wellbeing Systems Science (WSS). This field is grounded in the belief that well-being is a complex, dynamic phenomenon influenced by multiple interacting systems and thus integrates various disciplines. A crucial aspect of WSS is the recognition of socio-cultural factors that shape well-being perceptions and practices.
In diverse cultural contexts, well-being is affected by communal norms, religious beliefs, and societal expectations. Recognizing these factors allows researchers and practitioners to design interventions that are culturally sensitive and resonate with the lived experiences of different populations, fostering a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to well-being.
When discussing well-being in a diverse country like India, it is essential to consider specific barriers (gender discrimination, child marriage, safety issues, unemployment etc.) that are deeply rooted in cultural, demographic, and socio-economic contexts. Existing Religious/Spiritual (R/S) practices such as meditation, satsang ((group singing of R/S folk songs), healthy interpersonal relationships promoting rituals, swadhyay (introspection) Meditation, etc., hold immense potential for promoting well-being. Broadly, Indian practices emphasize on ‘world within’, such as inner peace, self-realization, inner harmony, and spiritual growth. Indian holistic approach on well-being emphasizes a bio-psycho-social framework, as demonstrated in Ayurveda and Yoga.
My training and professional experiences extend beyond mainstream positive psychology to include a specialized focus on integrating Indian psychological constructs into the broader field. This involves conducting correlational studies to explore how traditional Indian concepts of well-being can be applied within contemporary psychological frameworks. This initiative aims to broaden the perspective by incorporating these critical insights, thereby promoting the integration of Indian constructs into mainstream psychological research and practice.
Let’s collaborate to make this initiative a success!
KS- https://web.iitd.ac.in/~singhk/home/index.html