Psychology

Mind Games: Understanding psychological challenges of being an Olympian

Human excellence is often closely linked to human fortitude and Olympics is the prime example of it. The Paris Games, starting on Friday, will be a gathering of 10,500 athletes, 117 of them from India, competing for a mere 329 medals. Needless to say, talent alone won't decide who finishes on the podium. It will also boil down to the mind and how one can discipline it to cope with the grandeur and pressure of the big moments. Visualisation, blocking out the noise and being focussed are among the techniques that are often talked about but are they as easy to implement in a highly competitive environment? "There is a lot of pressure (already) in sports and when you compete at the Olympics, you have to be someone who has gone through a lot of highs and lows as well," explains Dr Divya Jain, a sports psychologist with Fortis Healthcare. "In sports, you're confronted with winning and losing on a day-to-day basis, so it's not about winning every time; it's about how you recover, how qui

Govt to study online gaming addiction to prevent impulsive behaviour

Concerned over rising online gaming addiction among youngsters, the government will undertake a research study to better understand the issues, curb impulsive behaviour and promote healthy digital habits. The study, to be piloted by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, will identify the factors resulting in excessive consumption of online content, and prepare a framework to "predict, alert, and intervene with appropriate coping mechanisms". According to an official statement, the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore "proposes to undertake a research on the disruptive impulse control behavioural patterns of digital consumption that may cause vulnerabilities." A meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs. The meeting was attended by Anupam Mishra, Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Pratima Murthy, Director NIMHA

New year, new you: A challenging goal

A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, on the other hand, states that not more than 46 per cent people making New Year resolutions are successful - that means 54 per cent fail

Hostel wardens, staff to undergo professional training amid Kota suicides

Wardens and staff members of hostels in Kota will be given professional training in mess management, psychological and behavioural counselling, and other aspects of students' care to equip them to battle the rising number of suicides by aspirants in the coaching hub. The move comes in wake of a record number of suicides this year by students preparing for engineering and medical entrance exams. Three hostel associations in Kota -- Chambal Hostel Association, Coral Hostel Association and Kota Hostels Association -- have signed an MoU with the Jai Minesh Tribal University here to design special Hostel Management certificate courses for the wardens and staff. Over 2.5 lakh students move to Kota annually to prepare for competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for engineering and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges. Kota Hostel Association President Naveen Mittal said there are 3,500 hostels in the coaching hub. This year h

Offers, discounts, impulse: How retailers use psychology to make you shop

Studies suggest that as much as 50% of all groceries are sold because of impulsiveness - and over 87% of shoppers make impulse buys.

Tedious road to recovery: Covid is also altering people's signatures

Children, too, are experiencing aftereffects such as sleeplessness, fatigue, brain fog

For a more enduring New Year's resolution, pick an 'old year's resolution'

With the 'old year' approach, perhaps you can sidestep the inevitable challenges that come with traditional New Year's resolutions and achieve lasting, positive changes

DU first cut-off list: JMC announces 100% Psychology, 98.5% For Economics

The cut-offs are expected to be higher than last year as over 70,000 students students have scored more than 95 per cent in CBSE class 12 board exams

An 'evolutionary psychology' explanation

Studies have shown that across cultures, males tend to value physical attractiveness and youth in their mates, while females value financial prospects, ambition and industriousness

The weight on India's mind: Rising psychological problems amid Covid-19

Amid growing stress over isolation and job insecurity, people are developing serious psychological conditions and many with existing problems are experiencing a relapse

Depressing times: Covid-19 lockdown casts a long shadow on mental health

From doctor appointments to sale of medicines, mental health services have been disrupted across the country, even as experts note a steady spike in mental health issues

Burnout isn't just in employees' head; it's in their circumstances

The heart of burnout is emotional exhaustion - feeling so depleted and drained by your job that you have nothing left to give

The psychological benefits - and trappings - of nostalgia

But for all its benefits, nostalgia can also seduce us into retreating into a romanticised past

What is positive psychology and how can you use it for yourself?

A major misconception is that positive psychology is positive thinking