Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

Pooja Pandey ¹, Archana Shukla ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Lucknow University, Lucknow, UP, IN

Abstract

This paper summarizes what we know and what we need to know in the context of HIV/AIDS. We know that the first HIV diagnosis was made in 1986 in India. Starting with this first case today almost close to 34 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. It is also a common knowledge that transmission of HIV takes place through the four modes of transmission i.e. unsafe sex, needle sharing, transfusion of infected blood or blood products and from infected pregnant mother to child. We also know that once inside the body HIV cannot be taken out, removed or cured. It can only be managed through medicines and a disciplined lifestyle. Even though we know that becoming HIV positive changes an infected person's life and also the lives of those related to this person. We somehow think that we (me and my people) are invincible and therefore HIV need not concern us. We conveniently assume that children would automatically acquire the needed knowledge as they grow up. What we need to know and remember therefore is that HIV is a behaviourally acquired infection; that in spite of the concerted efforts by the national and international agencies HIV/AIDS is still growing in India and worldwide; and that its prevention is really very simple provided one cares to change one's attitude and not indulge in high risk behaviors like unprotected sex, use of infected needle. Strategies for saving our young ones would therefore consist of providing accurate information to the children and teaching them life skills of problem solving also decision making, assertiveness and negotiation. Besides, we as a parent must develop effective parenting skills through life skills.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, High Risk Behaviours, Presentation, Effective Parenting, Life skills

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Aparna Bhattacharya ¹, Archana Shukla ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, U.P., IN
2 Department of Psychology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, U.P, IN

Abstract

Our internalized 'world' gets often reflected through our exteriors appearances, reactions, spoken words, postures, facial expressions, the way we walk and the colors that we wear, or else, avoid. Colors have a multitude of meanings and are an important aspect of our everyday experiences. The common observation of finding an elderly person dressed in white, brown and grey arouses a curiosity about the extent to which the processes of aging can render an elderly person as well as an elderly person's life achromatic or monochromatic. To understand the utility of colors in our healthy daily living achromatic or black and white photographs can be contrasted with photographs with life like colors, black dress of mourning with multihued flowery dresses, white hospital wards and dormitories with pastel colored rooms in our homes, achromatic times of the day dark cold nights or cloudy days- with warm, bright, sunny colorful days and a warm smiley face with another 'pale' face from which all colors seem to have drained. Nature is multihued. Nothing on earth is achromatic. Color characterizes a natural state of being. Colorlessness therefore brings to mind boredom, melancholy and lifelessness. This paper tries to explore the extent to which colors are or are not used in most elderly people's lives, personal choice or the societal expectations as the baste reason for a relative colorlessness, and the possible association of colorlessness with social isolation, hopelessness, reduced opportunities for useful productive work and also leisure activities, monotony in daily schedules, inability for humor and laughter and, most important of all, a substantial lowering of self esteem and life satisfaction. The paper also explores stereo typically negative ageist connotations of'color' in the context of elderly.

Keywords

Elderly, Color, Everyday Experience.

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Archana Shukla ¹, Tabinda Zaidi ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Lucknow University, Lucknow, IN
2 Department of Psychology, Lucknow University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, IN

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of fasting on altruism and self-regulation among young Muslim females. Sample taken for the present study was 50 young Muslim females age from 18-24 years who keep regular fasts (Roza). The purpose of the present study was to find out the level of altruism and self-regulation among young adults who keep fasts and their relationship with each other. For this purpose, the helping attitude scale, by Nickel 1998 and the self-regulation questionnaire, by Brown and Miller 1999 were used. It was found that the level of altruism and self-regulation is high among young Muslim females who keep fasts and Altruism and Self-regulation are highly correlated.

Keywords

Fasting, Altruism, Self-Regulation, Females.

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