Core Principles of Indian and Modern Psychology

Posted on Feb 7, 2026 in Psychology

Self, Identity, and Self-Concept in Indian Psychology

Indian Psychology views the self as spiritual, holistic, and continuous. The self is not limited to personality or ego but is rooted in consciousness.

Core Concepts of Self

  • Atman: The true self; eternal, unchanging, pure consciousness beyond body and mind.
  • Jiva: The individual self; Atman associated with the body, mind, desires, and karma.
  • Purusha: Witness consciousness; the observer of experiences, not the doer.

Development of Self in Indian Traditions

  1. Identification with body and mind: Ego-based self.
  2. Moral and social self: Guided by Dharma and Karma.
  3. Detachment and inner awareness: Control of desires and introspection.
  4. Self-realization: Removal of Avidya (ignorance).

Identity and Self-Concept

Identity is dynamic, not fixed, and is shaped by karma, duty, and spiritual growth. The final identity is universal, not individual. The ultimate goal is Self-realization leading to Moksha (Liberation).

Intelligence: Nature vs. Nurture Influence

Intelligence refers to the ability to learn, reason, solve problems, and adapt. The core debate involves Heredity (Nature) versus Environment (Nurture).

Nature (Heredity)

  • Genetic inheritance and nervous system efficiency.
  • Sets the potential or upper limit of intelligence.

Nurture (Environment)

  • Education, family, culture, nutrition, stimulation, and training.
  • Determines actual development and performance.

Interaction View in Modern Psychology

Intelligence develops through the interaction of heredity and environment. High potential without stimulation leads to poor development, while average potential with a rich environment leads to improvement.

Improvement of Intelligence

Improvement is possible through education, an enriched environment, and diverse learning experiences. In conclusion, heredity provides capacity while environment maximizes output.

Aptitude: Meaning, Advantages, and Limitations

Aptitude is an individual’s potential ability to learn or perform a specific task with training.

Advantages of Aptitude Tests

  1. Prediction of future performance: Helps assign roles according to ability.
  2. Educational and career guidance: Assists in suitable subject and career selection.
  3. Objective measurement: Reduces personal bias.
  4. Efficient selection and placement: Saves time and resources.

Limitations of Aptitude Tests

  1. Labeling individuals: May create differences and lower self-esteem.
  2. Environmental influence: Culture, language, and socio-economic status affect scores.
  3. Limited scope: Does not assess motivation, interest, or personality.
  4. Incomplete prediction: Success depends on many non-tested factors.

Conclusion: Aptitude tests are useful but should not be used alone.

Motivation: The “Why” of Behavior

Exam Strategy: Focus on the “Why” of behavior and how to improve it.

Definition: Motivation is the force that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.

Key Comparison: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic

  • Intrinsic: Driven by internal satisfaction, curiosity, or enjoyment (e.g., studying because you love the subject).
  • Extrinsic: Driven by external rewards or avoiding punishment (e.g., studying for marks or a 40+ goal).

Theories to Know

  • Drive Reduction Theory: Acts to reduce internal tension (hunger/thirst) to maintain homeostasis (balance).
  • Optimal Arousal (Yerkes-Dodson Law): Performance is highest at a moderate level of arousal. Too much stress (panic) or too little (boredom) leads to poor results.

Creativity and Thinking Styles

Exam Strategy: Memorize the “Stages” and “Divergent Thinking.”

Definition: The ability to produce work that is both novel (original) and appropriate (useful).

Wallas’s Four Stages (PIIV)

  1. Preparation: Gathering data and initial effort.
  2. Incubation: Unconscious processing while doing other tasks.
  3. Illumination: The “Aha!” moment or sudden flash of insight.
  4. Verification: Testing the idea to see if it works.

Thinking Styles and the Threshold Hypothesis

  • Divergent Thinking: Generating many solutions (essential for creativity).
  • Convergent Thinking: Finding the one correct answer (standard IQ tests).
  • The Threshold Hypothesis: Intelligence and creativity are linked up to an IQ of 120; after that, they become independent.

Indian vs. Western Psychology Perspectives

Exam Strategy: Focus on the “Self” and “Gunas.”

The Three Gunas (Personality Types)

  • Sattva: Balance, purity, wisdom, and peace.
  • Rajas: Energy, action, passion, and restlessness.
  • Tamas: Laziness, confusion, and darkness.

Concept of Self

  • Western (Independent): Self is separate, unique, and focused on personal achievement.
  • Indian (Interdependent): Self is connected to others, defined by social roles, and guided by Dharma (duty) and Kartavya (responsibility).

States of Consciousness (Mandukya Upanishad)

  • Jagrat: Waking state (external awareness).
  • Svapna: Dream state (internal awareness).
  • Sushupti: Deep sleep (no awareness).
  • Turiya: Pure consciousness (the underlying “witness”).

Personality: Type and Trait Approaches

Definition: Personality is a dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine their characteristic behavior and thought.

Type vs. Trait Approach

  • Type Approach: Categorizes people into distinct “boxes” based on specific characteristics (e.g., Introvert vs. Extrovert).
  • Trait Approach: Views personality as a set of stable characteristics that everyone possesses in varying degrees on a continuum.

The Big Five Model (OCEAN)

This is the most modern and widely accepted trait theory. Every personality can be mapped using these five dimensions:

  • Openness: Curiosity and willingness to try new things.
  • Conscientiousness: Being organized, dependable, and disciplined.
  • Extraversion: Being outgoing, talkative, and energetic.
  • Agreeableness: Being helpful, trusting, and cooperative.
  • Neuroticism: Tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety or moodiness.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Success

Definition: The ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.

The Two Pillars (Salovey and Mayer)

They focused on four branches:

  1. Perceiving Emotions: Identifying emotions in faces, music, and stories.
  2. Using Emotions: Using emotions to facilitate thinking.
  3. Understanding Emotions: Predicting how emotions change and blend.
  4. Managing Emotions: Regulating emotions in yourself and others.

Goleman’s Model

Daniel Goleman suggested EI is more important than IQ for success in life. His model has 5 components:

  • Self-awareness: Knowing your own emotions.
  • Self-regulation: Controlling impulsive urges.
  • Motivation: Being driven to achieve for the sake of achievement.
  • Empathy: Considering others’ feelings.
  • Social Skills: Managing relationships.