Indian Psychology-A Foreign Territory to Mental Health Researchers in India and Worldwide: Reasons and Solutions

Abstract

This paper critically analyzes the differences between the basic research methodologies followed by western academic psychology and Indian Psychology. The rigid western scientific paradigm characterized by methods of deduction, induction and generalization often fails to recognize hidden avenues for research in Indian psychology. The paper addresses the need for evolving a novel method of research that can be adopted by scholars interested in Indian psychology. KenWilber's Integral approach which gives adequate representation to the theories and findings of Indian psychology is very much revolutionary in terms of its holistic approach towards mental health. His concept of ‘holons’ challenges the very basis of constructs upon which empirical findings of psychopathology rests. Scientific world which is still under the clutch of rigid traditional fact finding methods is still far away from exploiting these treasures of wisdom. The study which mainly relied on books on Indian psychology and 33 articles from electronic media on Indian psychology investigates into impediments that discourage researchers of new generation to plunge into the treasure house of Indian psychology. It gives a glimpse into the methods used in ancient Indian culture to understand the concepts like mind and consciousness. Revelations of discussion concludes that ever widening gulf between academic psychology and indigenous psychology is solely due to lack of adequate awareness about the possibilities of later.