Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

Edward Hoffman ¹, Neeta Relwani-Garg ², Susan Kaneshiro ³, Sonia Kapur ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Yeshiva University, New York, US
2 New Delhi, IN
3 Argosy University Orange, CA, US
4 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, US

Abstract

Though much attention has been accorded to midlife angst and turmoil, meager published research has been conducted on peak-experiences during this major lifespan period. In this study, 122 individuals born in India ages 40-65 responded to a questionnaire asking them to describe a recent joyful experience and its subsequent impact on their outlook on life. They were also asked to rate it numerically on a 5-point Likert scale. Their qualitative reports were subsequently coded into 13 categories. Peaks involving interpersonal joy were reported significantly most frequently, more than all other categories combined. These were followed in frequency by those comprising respectively external achievement and personal growth. Small percentages involved skill mastery, nature, aesthetics, religious peaks in either institutional or non-institutional settings, recovery from illness/accident, philosophical musing, developmental landmark, homecoming, and serenity. The implications for better understanding and optimizing midlife functioning in India are discussed, and future research avenues are highlighted.

Keywords

Indian Personality Growth.

Full Text

     

Edward Hoffman ¹, Garima Srivastava ², Sonia Kapur ³

Affiliations
1 Yeshiva University New York, NY, US
2 All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, IN
3 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR, US

Abstract

Nursing education has increasingly recognized the importance of dispositional factors in affecting student attrition and motivation. Yet meager empirical research exists on intrinsic motivational attributes of nursing students. In our view, early peak-experiences can provide useful information in this domain. We therefore collected data among Indian nursing students attending two nursing programs at a medical university in New Delhi. Sixty-six females responded to a questionnaire asking them to describe a peak-experience occurring before the age of 14 and its impact on their subsequent view of life. They also rated the enduring impact of their peak-experience on a 5-point Likert scale. Among their 68 reports, those involving external achievement were most frequent (35.3%). These were followed in frequency by interpersonal joy (27.9%), developmental landmark (17.7%), and receiving a material gift (11.8%). Peaks related to nature, skill mastery, or a religious experience in an institutional or non-institutional setting, were relatively rare, each accounting for less than 3% of all reports. No other categories of peak-experience, such as pertaining to aesthetics, philosophical musing, or serenity, were reported. The implications of our findings for optimizing Indian nursing education are discussed. Future avenues for research are highlighted.

Keywords

Peak-experiences, Nursing Students, Nursing Education, Indian Nurses, Abraham Maslow

Full Text

     

Sonia Kapur ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Sports Medicine And Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, IN

Abstract

The study is an attempt to investigate gender differences on need for power and values and also examines the relationship between need for power and values. Five hundred college gomg students (250 males and 250 females) comprised the sample of this study. The Thematic Apperception Test and Study of Values were used to assess need for power and values among students. The comparison of means reveals significant gender differences on need for power, male students have significantly scored higher on need for power than females. The pattern of values also differs significantly for male and female students, male students emphasize more on theoretical and political values whereas female students give more priority to social and religious values. The correlational analysis reveals insignificant relationship between need for power and values for male students, however significant positive relationship between need for power and economic values and negative relationship with political values has been obtained for female students, which implies that women high in need for power are more practical in nature and less interested in political power.

Keywords

Power Motivation, Value Orientation, Graduate Students.

Full Text