Psychiatry and Society

  Television and screens often serve as "electronic babysititers" for busy families. Research suggests that the timing, content, and context of a preschool child's screen exposure can have profound impacts on their behavioral, dietary, and long-term social development. Understanding this is essential for parents and caregivers to foster healthy developmental trajectories . Behavioral Regulation and the Protective Power of Culture One of the primary concerns regarding early television exposure is its link to dysregulation , which is the inability to monitor and manage emotions and behaviors. Research involving toddlers across 14 different countries has found that higher levels of TV viewing are consistently associated with difficulties in attention and self-soothing. Frequent exposure during this foundational period of can disrupt the development of executive functions such as working memory and inhibition. Interestingly, the impact of television is not universal and c...

References to wisdom and to the wise have been found in almost all ancient civilisations, mythologies, religions, and philosophy. Philosophy (philo-sophia) literally means the love of wisdom. It has often been referred to as the ‘father of all virtues’, suggesting that wisdom was considered to be the ideal of human development, even of divinity - attained only by a few. Many millennia later, we are yet to understand or even define wisdom.  Wisdom is often assumed to be the sum of one’s knowledge and experience. Thinking patterns that are associated with wisdom - the ability to contemplate and think introspectively, to consider multiple perspectives and to have insight into individual and cultural differences develops only in late adulthood, as does practical knowledge of the world. However, age, by itself, does not bring wisdom – some studies have found that many of us tend to become more rigid and live more constricted lives as we grow older, while openness to learning and exper...

Imagine if you have the freedom to wake up to a completely unstructured day, free from all constraints of time. To do whatever you want whenever you want all day long. This may sound like a dream; but try it for a few days and you will soon feel listless, dissatisfied and directionless. The feeling that life is passing you by and you have no control over it will overwhelm you, and you will long for the comfort of routine.  Such is the power of routine and structure in our lives! It anchors us to our lives, gives it meaning and purpose. It is, undeniably, one of the most important aspects of our physical and mental well-being. As exciting as an unplanned day may appear, it can be very harmful for mental health and can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and distress. Our lives involve constant interactions with our social and physical environment – at home, at work, in the neighbourhood and in the wider world around us. We have little or no control over most of these aspects of our live...

Remember that sepia-tinted class photo someone posted in your social media group? The flurry of comments, the almost-audible laughter, the warm fuzzy feeling, and the wistfulness that followed? You were indulging in a spot of nostalgia – that bittersweet feeling of pleasure mixed with sadness as you think of happy times in the past. Nostalgia, literally meaning ‘ache for home’ , was described in the 17th century and was considered an illness - a form of melancholy. While it’s true that we tend to indulge in nostalgia when we are unhappy, lonely or anxious; and during times of change and uncertainty; we also know that this yearning for the past is a universal human experience. Across cultures, we experience and indulge in nostalgia, and researchers now understand that it can serve many useful purposes. It helps us overcome negative emotions.  The positive emotions evoked by our nostalgic memories help us overcome feelings of sadness or anxiety we may be experiencing currently....

What is happiness?  Happiness is a state of subjective well-being which includes:  An affective component - A feeling of joy or pleasure A cognitive component - A sense of contentment and satisfaction of living a meaningful life The Ancient Greeks knew them by the terms hedonia and eudaimonia respectively, and though distinct, the two strongly correlate in people who report being happy. Happiness is, therefore, not about jumping from one joy to another, but also a deeper sense of fulfilment.  Each one of us is unique and is made happy by a different experience, yet some people tend to be happier than others even through hard times. Do happy people share some common traits? It does appear so. Those who report feeling happy are generally  Open to learning new things  Find joys in the small things in life.  Have healthy relationships.  Have fewer expectations and do not register small annoyances.  Tend to go with the flow.  Practice ...

Popularity is neither fame nor greatness - William Hazlitt Popularity is the quality of being well-liked , admired or supported by a number of people. But as we all know many popular people are not well-liked, and many well-liked people are not popular. Psychologists therefore define two types of popularity which are related but distinct. Sociometric popularity: is how well-liked an individual is. This is strongly determined by who a person is – their personality and pro-social behaviours – empathy, kindness and helpful attitude towards others. Perceived popularity: is closer to the commonly understood concept of popularity and is dependent on what a person is – their looks, wealth, possessions. It is related to status within the social group. Popularity also depends on the existing environment or social group one is currently a part of- a person can be popular among friends but not at work; at work among superiors but not among peers or subordinates. Why do we crav...

Covid-19 has changed the way children play, learn, and live. Children may become clingy, withdrawn, angry, or start bedwetting. What can parents do to help them cope? Respond to them supportively and listen to their concerns. Give them plenty of love and attention. Make extra time with them and remember to listen. Speak kindly and reassure them.  Make opportunities to relax and play.  Keep children in touch with their teachers, friends, and extended family. If hospitalization occurs ensure contact by phone or video. Reassure them.  Regular routines and schedules are required. Create new routines for learning, playing, relaxing and sleeping. Parents of younger children can implement a reward system to help kids stick with their new routine. Praise them whenever possible when they are doing the right thing.  Provide facts about what has happened and explain what is going on. Give clear information about what to do to stay safe in words they can understand. ...