About the Department

True to the origin of the very discipline of Psychology from the roots of Philosophy, the Department of Psychology emerged from the Department of Philosophy in the University of Madras in the year 1943. Dr. G. D. Boaz, M.A., D.Phil (Oxon) was the Founder-Head of the Department. 

Mission

• To identify unique, innate talents of human resources through psychological assessment and nurturing them for individual excellence by effective training.

Vision

• To create excellent human resources through comprehensive quality teaching and research.

The following are the significant contributions of the Department of Psychology. Teaching Programme

• M.A Applied Psychology (from 1976 to 2000)
• M.Sc Human Resource Development Psychology (since 2001)
• M.Phil Professional Psychology (1996 to 2006)
• M.Phil Psychology (1976 to 1995 and from 2007 to 2019)
• Ph. D Programme (from inception of Department of Psychology)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Learning Disabilities (2006-2007)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Organizational Development and Management of Change (since 2009-2011)

Research Projects

The Department of Psychology ever since its inception has been actively helping different segments of society through various research projects funded by Government, Non-Government and private agencies. The list of research projects carried out in the last two decades are presented below.

• UGC Major Research Project on, "Personality Development Programme for Student Youth towards Nation Building", 1997.
• UGC Major Research Project on "Enhancing the Personal, Social and Academic Performance of High School students through Life Skills Training", 1998.
• "Psycho physiological Correlation of Injury Proneness among Sportsmen" funded by the UGC - 1990
• "Adjustment Correlates of Working and Non-working Pregnant Women" funded by the UGC - 1997
• " Indian Approaches in Promotion of Health" funded by UGC - 2006.
• "Knowledge attitude and Practice related to Coronary Heart Diseases" funded by UGC - 2004.
• "A Study of Cognitive Functioning in Individuals living in High Natural Radio activity areas" funded by UGC - 2005.
• A study on "Psychological Adoption" of children funded by UGC during 2003 funded by UGC.
• "Development of a Behavioral Predictor Inventory for entry level assessment - Validation and Standardization" funded by Career India during 2004.
• "Life Skills Training for Promotion of Health among Adolescents" funded by TANSAC during the year 2008.
• "Life Skills Training for the students of Corporation Schools" sponsored by Corporation of Chennai during the year 2009.
• "Influence of Certain Psychological Variables on Occupational Stress and Well being among Women Police" funded by BPR&D, during 2008-2010.
• "Impact of Perceived Parental Expectation, Perceived Competence and Academic Pressure on Psychological Well-Being of Students during Adolescence", funded by UGC during 2009-2011.
• Research on Prision and Rehabilitation of Prisioners funded by Government of Tamil Nadu - 2015-2018.
• Construction , Validation, Standardization and Application of Battery of Tests of Intelligence Based on Gardner's theory of Mltiple Intelligence, funded by UGC, UPE - Phase II, 205-2017.
• Psychosocial determinants of high risk behaviour among college students funded by University of Madras - 2015-2017.

M. Sc HRD Psychology

The Department of Psychology offers an exclusive module on M.Sc Human Resource Development Psychology. Even though M.A Applied Psychology was offered with an objective of rendering professional service to clinical, educational, organizational and community settings, the impact of globalizing propelled the Department of Psychology to radically redesign the course curriculum to suit the needs of corporate sector by introducing M.Sc in H.R.D. Psychology. The programme was structured and the core courses were selected based on the need of the hour with the help of UGC Curriculum development. The teaching faculties of the Department framed the syllabus with a provision to modify the courses at regular intervals under the Choice Based Credit System. The students of the M.Sc HRD Psychology attend the regular classes for the first three semesters. The unique feature of the course is that the students in their fourth semester are placed for internship in different multinational organizations for a minimum of three months. They either do projects proposed by the organizations or in areas of their own interest with research guidance from the HR manager of the organization and the respective supervisors from the Department. They attend the organization from Mondays to Thursdays and on Fridays they meet their guide for reporting their progress in the project or the work allotted for them to proceeding further. Based on the performance and the merit of the students, most of them get placed in the same organizations without any formal campus recruitment. Similarly, during the first year, students are provided with the opportunity to visit different institutions, industries/organizations for hands-on experience and for the practical exposure which will be helpful during the internship. Further, in all the semesters of their course, workshops are conducted based on experiential and interactive learning on various HR topics to the students to acquire applied skills in the work set up. Students of the Department are exposed to the functioning of various Institutions and Industries namely, Delphi TVS, ICF, Britannia, American Library, UCAL fuels systems Ltd, Rane, Institute of Mental Health, Bala Vihar, V-Excel, Spastics Society of India, Sneha, Vishranthi, Vidya Sagar, SCARF etc. Such of the students of the Department who have passed SET/UGC-NET examinations and have been awarded Junior/ Senior Research Fellowships to continue their research work. Meritorious scholars are also awarded TRF/URF to further their research work.  

• Weekly seminars are organized every Friday where experts from various institutions and fields related to Psychology are invited to talk on various psychological concepts of current interests and also the M.Sc students, M.Phil and, Ph. D Research Scholars are given an opportunity to present their research papers during the seminars.
• Training in Psychological Assessment and Intervention Skills are given periodically by organizing workshops.
• Bridge courses are being conducted for I year M.Sc HRD Psychology students, to facilitate the understanding of the fundamental concepts in Psychology.

Extension services

• The Department also provides counselling to couples with marital disputes referred by Family Court, Chennai with the help of faculty members and research scholars of the Department.
• Motivational and Study Skills Training programme is being conducted for 10th and 12th unsuccessful students in collaboration with NSS since 2002 till date.
• Counselling services are offered to slum and rural students in colloboration with a Non Government Organization - Bro Siga Animation Centre, Chennai
• Training and Counselling services are offered to institutionalized students at Government Home, Royapuram, Chennai
• Psychological Training and Counselling to school students in colloboration with Well-Being Centre,  Chennai

• Selection of personnel through psychological tests was done at M.R.F, Chennai.
• In colloboration with PSCS Consultancy, Chennai, assessment is done for recruitment of personnels for various posts in leading corporate and manufacturing sectors.
• Assessing the  Intelligence Quotient of twelth standard students in a slum at Santhome, Chennai adopted by PSCS Consultancy.

The Department and the Madras Psychology Society have organized workshops for Pondicherry and Karaikkal Government Employees from 2000 to 2007 on the following topics:

• Empowerment of Women
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Stress Management
• Leadership Excellence in Government
• Performance Management in Government Department
• Excellence in Responsive Service to people,
• Motivational Techniques for Excellence in Performance
• Alumni Association was launched on 2nd December 2006 and the 1st Directory was released by the Vice Chancellor, University of Madras.
• Personality Development Level I and Level II courses are being offered by the Department of Psychology, University of Madras since 2007 as a Soft Skill component
• Faculty Resource Support is being extended for the course on, "Prospective Social Entrepreneurs" offered by Centre for Social Initiative & Management (NGO).
• Career guidance is provided to the Students of University of Madras.
• Counselling Services are being offered to the distracted groups like Tsunami victims, Marital problems between Spouses , Immoral trafficking, Juveniles, etc

Professionals/ Faculties visited from Foreign Countries to the Department 

Prof. Mohan Chinnapan, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong Australia. 

Ms. Swarna Gowri , Medical Scientist, Theosophical Society, U.S.A.

Dr. Kripakaran, Consultant Psychiatrist, Illinois, USA.

Mr. Helfried Krushe, Psychoanalyst, Germany.

Dr.Anitha Menon, University of Zambia. Zambia 

Dr.James Morley,Professor of Clinical Psychology, New Jersey,USA

Ms. Michèle Luit, part-time faculty member at the Banff Centre and the University of Calgary, Canada

Dr. Rosanna Rooney,Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist,Australia

Dr.Arpana Inman,Associate Professor,Bethlehem

Dianne Christenbery Bradley, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, USA

Dr.Lakshmi Bandlamudi, Professor, Psychology Coordinator,Social Science Department, LaGuardia Community College, New York

Dr. Jan Johannes,Franciscus, Senior Lecturer  in Developmental  Psychology, University of Utrecht, Netherlands

Dr. Sindy Banga, Senior Lecturer, School of Health, The University of Northampton

Dr. Borislav Slavchov, Department of psychology, South West University , Bulgaria.

Dr. Jyotsana Kalavar, Professor of Human Development and Family studies,  Penn State University,  USA

Dr. Elise Rivlin, Consultant Clinical/Neuropsychologist,  Honorary Senior Lecturer of Psychology, University of Leicester,  UK

Prof. Micael Wang, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Leicester, UK.

Dr Sugumar Mariappa Nadar, Senior lecturer, Catholic University, Australia.

Mr. Mahesh Balakrishnan, Principal Consultant, Valiant Technologies Group, USA.

Dr Baskaran Pillai, Scientific Researcher, Pillai Foundation, USA.

Professor Frederick Lawrence Coolidge, Professor of Psychology, University of Colorado, USA.

Dr Alvin Lai Ong Ng, Associate Professor and Head of Psychology, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University , Malaysia.

Conferences/ Seminar's Organized:

The Department of Psychology organizes Conferences/ Seminars/ Workshops at National level and such important Conferences/ Seminars Organized are given below:

• • Two day seminar on "Human Resource Information Systems" - 2001-2002.
  • Two day conference on, "HRD ? Winning the Talent War" - 2003-04.
  • National Conference on, "Contemporary trends of HRD in Business Organization - A Psychological perspective" - 2005-06.
  • National Seminar on, "Current trends in HRD and Counselling Psychology" - 2006-07.
  • National Conference on, "Psychology: Promoting Corporate Excellence" - 2007-08.
  • National Seminar on, "Psychological Approaches for Organizational Development" - 2008-09.
  • National Seminar on, "Psychosocial Impact of Economic Meltdown on Business Organizations and Employees', 2009-2010.
  • International Conference on Sexology in collaboration with Indian Institute of Sexual Medicine and Aakash Fertility Centre & Hospital during 2008-2009.
  • International Conference on Sexology in collaboration with Indian Institute of Sexual Medicine and Aakash Fertility Centre & Hospital during 2009-2010.
  • Workshop on 'HRD Assessment Techniques'- 2002-03.
  • Workshop on 'Research in Psychology - Methodological Perspective' - 6th-8th January 2004-05.
  • Workshop on 'Philosophy for Children (P4c)' organized with SAPERE, Level 1 - 2005-06.
  • Workshop on 'Personnel Management in Government Departments' (Tamil Nadu State) - March 2006-07.
  • Workshop on 'Basic Counselling Skills' was organized in collaboration with Madras Psychology Society - May 2009.
  • Organized a workshop on 'Cognitive Behaviour Therapy' during 19th & 20th July 2007-08.
  • Workshop on 'Neuro Linguistic Programming' by Brainobrain Kids Academy during 2007-08.
  • Organized a Workshop on 'Effective Communication Skills' - 2007- 08.
  • National Conference on Positive Psychological Capital and Role of Youth, 2017.
  • Platinum Jubilee Celebration Seminar 2017-2018.
  • National workshop on Emotional Competency , 2017.
  • National workshop on Transactional Anaysis , 2017.
  • International Conference on Emerging Trends in Psychology, 2018.
  • National Seminar on Fostering Positive Mental health in young adults - 2019.
  • Psychology Exhibition was organized for school children - 2019.
  • National Seminar on Psychology of Peace during February 2020 
• • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr. M.Nirmala Prasad, Principal, MOP, on 'Empowerment and Interview Skills' during the year, 2004-05.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Prof.Vijayaraghavan, Professor management Department, IIT, Chennai on 'Consumer Behavior and Advertising' during the year, 2005-06
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr.B.C.Muthiah, Former Deputy Director, NIRD, Hyderabad, on 'Organizational Diagnosis and Training needs' during the year, 2006-07.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr.Besant C. Raj, MD, Besant Raj International, Chennai, on 'Psychological Foundations of Human Resources Development' during 28th and 29th March 2007-08.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr.Jayachandran, Director, Vijay Human Services on 'Historical and Current Issues on Mental Retardation' during March 2008-09.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr. Sangeetha Madhu, Clinical PSychologist on 'Changing Minds -Schools ,Corporates ,Communities' during 2009-2010.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr.E.S.Krishnamoorthy, Senior consultant in clinical neurology and neuropsychiatry, on An Exploration of the Brain & Mind Interface during 2010-11.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr G Manoharan, Professor and Head, Department of Surgical GE and Liver Transplant, Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai on Mind and Gut during 2012-2011.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Prof Dr K V Kalippan, former Professor and Head , Department of Psychology, University of Madras on Personality Development during 2013-2014.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Mr R Venkatanarayan, President HR and  IT, Rane Group,Chennai on Leadership for growth during 2014-2015.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures on Life Skills by Dr Venkateshkumar, Professor, Department of Counselling Psychology, University of Mysore, Karnataka during 2015-2016.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr K Ramachandran, Scientist G, and Director, Defence Institute of Psychological Research, New Delhi on Military Psychology during 2016-2017.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr M V K Sharma, Head Engineering _HPP, TATA Consultancy Services, Chennai on Globalization, Industrial Revolution and Intelligence Theories during 2017-2018.
  • MPS Endownment Lectures by Dr Sabiha Sultana, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai on Mental Health during 2018-2019.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by PMJF Lion Dr Ratna Natarajan, Director, Muthu Mase Arts and Science College on Personal growth and achievement during 2019-2020.
  • Psychology Department Platinium Jubilee Endowment Lectures by Mr. Premkumar,  Executive Vice-chairman,  HCL on Psychology @ Business - The Transforming Paradigm of Importance and Impact during 2019-2020.
  • MPS Endowment Lectures by Dr B S Virudhagirinath, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Director, Care Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Chennai on Specific Learning Disabilities during 2020-2021.
  • Psychology Department Platinium Jubilee Endowment Lectures by Prof Dr Jamuna D, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Padmavathi Mahila Vishwavidhyalayam, Tirupati, AP on Geriatric  Psychology during 2020-2021.