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NOTIFICATION
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khalid Pervaiz, Dean Faculty of Arts &
Social Sciences, GC University Lahore will look after the
office of Chairperson, Department of Psychology in absence
of Dr. Muhammad Asir Ajmal, Chairperson, Psychology
Department from 17-11-2011 to 17-12-2011 in consultation with
Dr. Syeda Shahida Batool, Assistant Professor, Department of
Psychology.
Registrar
No:
EA-I/168-4/CPU/06
(16-11-2011)
16 Institutions PARTICIPATE IN PERFORMING ARTS
FESTIVAL during Mental Week 2011 at GCU
The
spiritual quacks Friday were presented as big source of
social evils in our society at the Performing Arts Festival
organized by the Psychology Department GC University Lahore.
As many as 16 university and colleges took part in the
festival and staged. The plots of mostly mimes and dramas
revolve around the spiritual quacks and their negative role
in terms of fortune telling and creating paranoia in the
minds of people.
The
opening play of the festival, presented by the Punjab
University Institute for Art and Culture, staged that how
so-called spiritual healers in our society misguide people
even on religious issues and split families for money. The
drama presented by the students of Kinnaird College Lahore
on the spiritual quacks secured the first position at the
GCU Performing Arts Festival. The story was of a girl who
was suffering from some psychological problem but her
mother-in-law, instead of consulting doctor or psychologist,
took her to a spiritual quack. The GC University Lahore
Psychology Department presented a mime in which four
different traditions, including Heer Waris Shah, Whirling
Derwasih and Dhamal, were staged. The GCU students also
presented a drama “Sayan Aur Psychiatrist”, written by the
late eminent writer Ashfaq Ahmed. The play underlined the
spiritual and social problems in our society. The Fatima
Jinnah Medical College, Rawalpindi students staged a play on
the topic of Nationalism, in which they highlighted the
invaluable love of cadets for their country. The Punjab
University Department of Psychology also presented a play on
childhood trauma and its effects and later life. The play
also shows that how a psychiatrist helps a girl for getting
out of her childhood traumas. The students of Garrison
College, Bahauddin Zakria University Multan, Queen Marry
College and several other educational institutions presented
dramas at the festival.
Chairperson Psychology Department Dr. Asir Ajmal said that
the Performing Arts festival is a significant part of the
Mental Health Week in which the students project the
psychological issues and diseases through the powerful
medium of theatrical histrionics.
(04-04-2011)
FIRST THREE DAY
International conference on Emerging Trends in Psychology
begins at GCU LAHORE
The first three day international conference on “Emerging
Trends in Psychology” started at the GC University Lahore
within an objective to introduce and encourage new paradigms
of theory and research in psychology that better address the
social and cultural issues of Pakistan.
Prof.
Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq (SI) Vice Chancellor
GCU was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the
conference being attend by psychiatrists and psychologists
form all over the country.
Dr.
Naumana Amjad presented her key note address at
the opening ceremony of the conference spread over four
academic sessions.
Addressing the conference, Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq
(SI) said that GC University is striving to work in three
additional strategic directions; institutional
collaboration, international links and open-learning to
increase flexibility and interaction. He hoped that the
conference would also deliberate upon where do we stand in
relation to modern knowledge and what practical changes can
we produce in our curriculum and research to remain an
active part of ever innovative scenario of the discipline of
psychology
Dr.
Naumana Amjad in her key note address said that
knowledge of human behaviors comes through practice and not
only from the books. In her address, she pointed out a
number of ethical considerations in psychology and concluded
that psychology should be put to service of people.
Addressing the conference,
Dr. Asir Ajmal Chairperson Department of Psychology
GCU stressed the need of developing
indigenous psychology with local models so that we could
better understand the country’s social and cultural
problems. He said that the discipline of Psychology has
undergone rapid expansion and consolidation in the past
century. Modern Psychology, as we call it today, is a myriad
of perspectives ranging from rigidly scientific and
mathematical ones to those committed to their origins in
philosophy and religion. However, Dr. Asir Ajmal said, these
modern perspectives when applied in post–colonial contexts
as Pakistan, seem unfit as either explanations or solutions
to our current crisis around identity, religion, culture and
gender. Notwithstanding the labels of ‘third world’ and
‘developing countries’ imparted by the complex hierarchies
of modern scientific world, the recent departure from
modern to postmodern psychology allows a more creative
engagement with local knowledge forms and rethinking about
modern social science itself.
(30-03-2010)
As Per Notification No REG-6-17/11 dated 10-01-2011 issued
by the Registrar Dr. Muhammad Asir Ajmal will look after the
office of Chairperson, Department of Psychology with
immediate effect.
(11-01-2011)
GCU LAHORE AWARDS PhD in Psychology
The Controller of Examinations GC University notified Iram
Fatima as Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology after the
approval of her thesis on ‘Belief in a just world and
subjective well-being in mothers of normal and down syndrome
children’. She completed her research under the supervision
of Dr. Kausar Sohail. The Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab
congratulated Iram Fatima on the completion of her PhD
programme.
(03-06-2010)
All Pakistan Performing Art Festival ORGANIZES in
connection with the Mental Health Week, 2010
The students staged plays, dramas, mimes and skits at All
Pakistan Performing Art Festival to highlight the terror
which has struck the heart of the Pakistani society due to
suicide bombings and increasing rate of crime. As many as
eight institutions took part in the festival organized by
the Psychology Department GCU as a part of four-day
activities in connection with the Mental Health Week.
The play titled ‘Cry of a Child’ by the students of Centre
for Social and Culture Studies, Punjab University met with a
loud applause at the festival. They play highlighted the
effects of terrorism on the lives and behavior of children.
The play tilted ‘3 Murday, 3 Khayanian’ was also liked by
the audience. It showed how innocent people are trapped and
made terrorists through religious, social and financial
black mailings. The students of Quaid-e-Azam University,
Islamabad presented a skit highlighting the irresponsible
attitude of youth towards their life. Fatima Jinnah Women
University, Rawalpindi team presented a mime to show the
sufferings and situations that drive people to become what
they don’t want to be. The GCU students also presented a
mime on theme of effects of terrorism. It was a spellbound
performance showing fear, depression and death anxiety among
the survivors of terror attacks. The students of Centre for
Clinical Psychology, Punjab University also underlined the
psychological and social effects of terrorism through a
mime. At the end GCU students also staged a
thought-provoking play on the topic of ‘Crime and
Punishment’.
(05-04-2010)
GCU ORGANIZES TWO PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON COPING WITH TERRORISM
AND VIOLENCE
The Psychology
department GCU organized two panel discussions on coping
with terrorism and violence in society” at the second day of
International Conference on Forensic Psychology: Issues and
Interventions. The Participants discussed a wide range of
issues pertaining to the topics. Oriya Maqbool Jan and
Mubashar Luqman, academicians Saroosh Irfani, Prof Khalid
Saeed, Amjad Tufail, barristers Mian Abdul Qudoos and
Justice (r) Zufiqar Ali Bokhari participated. Director
Shirkat Gah, Director Rescue 1122 Dr. Rizwan Nasir and
Shahzad Asif also addressed.
(Participants of Panel Discussion)
The
conference was spread over six academic sessions with a
total of 30 research papers presented, two lectures namely
‘Terrorism: New Trends in Pakistan’ by Akhtar Ali Syed and
‘Suicide Risk and Prevention’ by Dr Safiullah Afghan and
also a workshop on ‘Suicide Risk Management’.
(03-04-2010)
International Conference at GCU
Lahore deliberates on terrorism
GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab chaired the inaugural
session of International Conference on Forensic Psychology:
Issues and Interventions and called on the researchers to
analyse the quagmire of terrorism and violence in our
society and leave some words of wisdom which potentially
contribute not only to the understanding of these issues but
also to their solutions. He also appreciated the
department’s efforts for arranging the mental health week to
address to the current psycho-political scenario o our
society and urged the mental health professionals to leave a
word of wisdom to solve these issues. Participating teams
and academicians from leading the institutions deeply
appreciated Department Chairperson Dr Farah Malik’s efforts
for organizing the event at a time when addressing the issue
was needed.
In her
keynote address, Prof. Dr. Najma Najam Vice Chancellor
Karakoram International University, Gilgit said that the
terrorists are not born out of one act but is indoctrinated
through repeated physical and emotional training which turns
him to a virtual human time bomb. She said that suicide
bombers are not real terrorists, but the criminals are those
who train them.
Dr. Farah Malik, Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab and
Prof. Dr. Najma Najam
Eminent psychologists, researchers, psychiatrists and
academicians deliberated on the perceptions about terrorism
in Pakistan, its factors and coping strategies at the first
day of the conference. The experts also discussed in detail
depression, anxiety and stress among the survivors and
family members of the victims of suicide bombings.
Bothers of Charity Services, Ireland Principle Clinical
Psychologist Dr Akhtar Ali said that societies having
political instability witness more violence and terror than
others. GCU Department of Psychology researchers Dr Farah
Malik, Rabia Khawar, Saima Saeed and Rabia Ifthikar
highlighted the adverse effect impacts of War on Terror in
terms of security threats, change in religious ideology and
mental health problems among people. A research group of GCU
Psychology Department also presented study on the
Definition, Factors, Impact and Coping Strategies about
terrorism. They study based on interviews from the people
from all walks of life including religious scholars suggest
that the definition of terrorism include major themes like
horrifying, imposed, unbearable, devastating, unforgivable,
mysterious, fear inducing, coercive and threat to religion
and society. Factors include themes of economic and
political instability, foreign invasion, fanaticism, social
inequality and injustice, poverty, lawlessness,
psychological distress and flawed government polices.
Category of impact included mostly negative bust also some
positive perception which include unity, determination and
patriotism. The coping strategies which the study suggests
include development, indiscrimination, justice,
conscientiousness, improvement in foreign and national
government polices and their accurate implementation.
National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University,
Islamabad researchers Prof. Dr. Anila Kamal and Rabya Nayab
presented a paper on ‘Terrorism Catastrophizing, Perceived
Stress, Death Anxiety among the University Students.’ Their
research also found that female students felt high terrorism
catastrophizing and perceived high stress and death anxiety
then male students. However, the study found equal found no
significant difference among hostel residents and day
scholars in all three variables.
Punjab
University Department of Applied Psychology Prof. Dr. Yasmin
Nilofer and Maria Habib presented a research paper on
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) among Survivors of
Lahore Suicide Bombings said that female scored higher on
depression, anxiety and stress, even higher than security
officials who were directly targeted by terrorists. Mudassar
Ahmed from Punjab University briefed participants about his
research based on interviews of families of terror attack
victims. The study indicates that there was a significant
negative relationship of time of blasts which causes high
psychological distress among the members of these families.
He said that females of these families use avoidance and
religious focused coping strategies while males mostly
prefer practical coping.
Amjad
Tufial from MAO College Lahore called on the media to revise
the pattern of the coverage of terrorist attacks as they are
already aimed at creating panic and shaking the confidence
of people. Hina Haq presented a research paper on
psychological implications of terror attacks on traffic
wardens.
(02-04-2010)
Mental Health
Week AT GCU: ALL PAKISTAN POSTER Exhibition highlights
effects of violence, terrorism
The
GCU Psychology Department organized the All Pakistan Poster
Exhibition 2010 in connection with the Mental Health Week to
highlight terrorism, violence, child abuse and drug
addiction and their effects on mental health. As many as 200
posters inscribed with messages. ‘Crossing Eternal Peace’
‘Stop Destruction’, ‘Still We Have the Chance’, ‘Misspelled
Morality’, ‘Legal Terrorism by United States’, ‘ Our
Future???’ ‘Stop Killing’, ‘Pain’ and ‘Tug of Peace’ were
put on display at the Salam Hall. The newspapers clippings
were used in a large number of posters to highlight the
misery of people due to terrorism.
Speaking on the occasion, GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid
Aftab, the chief guest of the event, said that the
competition was aimed at mobilizing students to find ways to
help the nation against terrorism and violence. He said that
the students could play important role in enabling Pakistan
to face the challenges the country is struggling with. He
appreciated the artwork of the students, saying that the
artistic expression was best way to create awareness among
people.
Prof. Dr Khalid Aftab Vice Chancellor
GCU Lahore looks at the posters
Talking to media about their
posters, Allama Iqbal College for Women, Sailkot students
said that they had used photographs published in newspapers
to highlight Unemployment, Poverty, Injustice, Illiteracy,
Religious Prejudice and United States aggression against
Muslims as the major causes of terrorism in Pakistan. A
student of Punjab University Lahore presented a thesis in a
poster that terrorists kidnap children and train them as
suicide bombers through brain washing and economic,
religious blackmailing. The students of Home Economics
College for Women, Lahore said that they designed their
posters to show how child abuse and terrorism were
inflicting emotional and physical damage upon our society.
The students from University of Education, Lahore worked on
the menace of family violence on women in our society. The
Posters designed by the Punjab University Centre for
Clinical Psychology got the top position at the competition.
The student of the GCU, Lahore Psychology Department also
put on display poster related the fields of Forensic
Psychology, but they as hosts did not compete for the
prizes.
(01-04-2010)
International conference & mental
health week 2010
31st march to
3rd april 2010
Mental Health Week at Psychology department GC University
Lahore
The Psychology Department is going to mark the Mental Health
Week from 31st March 2010 with an aim to help
nation cope with the quagmire of violence and terrorism. The
Mental Health Week, to be started with a poster competition
on mental health, also includes a ‘four-day international
conference on ‘Forensic Psychology: Issues and
Interventions’. The conference will focus on impact of
terrorism on mental health, perceptions about suicide
bombings, attitude and perceptions regarding war on terror,
political stability and mental health, gender, violence
tactics against women in Pakistani families, spousal
violence, sexual harassment at workplaces, psychological
correlates of crime, youth and family issues in forensic
psychology and coping strategies and interventions regarding
crime and terrorism.
Dr Najma Najam Vice Chancellor Karakoram International
University, Gilgit, will deliver a key-note address while
GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Aftab will be the
guest of honour at the inaugural session of the conference.
There will be seven academic sessions at the conference
followed by plays, skits, mimes and alumni dinner on the
concluding day, April 4. The department will also screen a
movie to highlight the mental health issues in our society.
A workshop on suicide risk management is also part of week
long activities.
(31-03-2010)
Dr. Farah Malik speaks in s Seminar on
‘emotional intelligence’ held at NUST
The NUST Centre for Career Counselling & Advisory
(NUST-C3A) held a seminar on ‘Emotional Intelligence’. Lt.
Gen. Engineer Muhammad Asghar Rector NUST Islamabad was the
chief guest on the occasion. Dr. Farah Malik, chairperson
Psychology Department at GC University Lahore, Mauna Gauhar
and Dr. Siham Sikandar were the key speakers on the seminar.
Dr.
Farah in her lecture said that a lot of research has been
done on emotional intelligence. “There are many factors of
emotions and those are psychological arousal, conscious
experience and behavioural expression. First we have to
understand ourselves and then we can understand others.
There are many negative emotions that can be perceived by
stories, voices and music, which are directly not
experienced. The main domains of emotional intelligence are
interpersonal, intrapersonal, adaptability, stress
management and general mood,” she said. The seminar was
attended by a large number of students and faculty members.
(05-03-2010)
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