Psychology

A 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, Anjel Chakma, died of injuries on December 26 because of a ruthless stabbing triggered by racial slurs in Uttarakhand's capital. The incident, which happened on December 9 in Selaqui, has sparked protests demanding justice and a national law against hate crimes targeting Northeast Indians.

The incident occurred when Anjel and his younger brother Michael, both studying in Dehradun for more than a year, were on their way to buy groceries when they encountered a group of six men who used abusive terms like "Chinese". In defiance, Anjel, not one to take things lying down, shot back, "We are not Chinese. We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?" The reply was immediate-the knives lashed at the neck and spine of Anjel, leaving him critically injured. Michael, 21, suffered serious injuries and was still admitted to the hospital.

The figure, however, is not going to be symmetrical.

Friends remember Anjel as soft-spoken and affable; his last assertion of identity, a heart-wrenching resistance to xenophobia. The body was airlifted to Agartala on December 27, where grief gave way to anger. All support to the family came from Tipra Motha Party chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, who lashed out at the attack: "It’s tragic that patriotic Northeast people are called Chinese and assaulted. These incidents divide us when unity is vital." Youth Tipra Federation’s Suraj Debbarma drew out the hypocrisy at play: while the Northeast opens its doors to northern students out of hospitality, in return, it faces routine xenophobia abroad. The nursing career structure, as requested. 

The police first registered the FIR on December 12 based on Michael's complaint under BNS sections for hurt, intimidation, and weapons. By December 14, charges had escalated to attempted murder and conspiracy, and when he died, charges of murder [103(1)] and common intention [3(5)] were added. Five accused were arrested, of which two were juveniles. The prime suspect, Yagya Awasthi, managed to flee to Nepal, and a reward of Rs 25,000 was announced, with pursuit teams deployed. It was previously unthinkable and unheard of for our nationals to be interrogated or tortured by Central or local agencies for anything. Protests erupt in Northeast colleges and Dehradun, voices rise louder for systemic changes against racism that feeds on regional identities.

Tele MANAS, which stands for a National Toll-Free Mental Health Helpline in India, has proved to be a vital support service in view of growing concerns with respect to mental health in the country, with a total of nearly 30 lakh calls being registered since inception. The magnitude of reach can well be judged by stating that this registers an average of two calls a minute, which speaks volumes about a heightened demand for such support. The information was provided by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in a written form to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

Tele MANAS started operations on 10th October, 2022, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, under the National Tele Mental Health Programme by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Tele Mental Health Counseling Service aims to provide these services for FREE and uninterrupted through a common Helpline Number-14416 in 20 different languages of our country. As of now, this common helpline service has answered approximately 29.82 lakh calls through a network of 53 working cells in this country. These working cells will be guided by 23 Mentoring Institutes & five Regional Coordination Centers.

Additionally, government statistics indicate that the age bracket of 31-60 years comprises the major number of people contacting such support services, driven by worries of work pressure, family and financial responsibilities, and finally health issues. Cases of distress calls were recorded from a total of 37 states and Union Territories because of anxiety, depression, stress, and emotional disturbances among other factors. Such a broad reach indicated increased awareness on one side but a lack of accessible support services on another side. In response to these evolving requirements, the tele MANAS service platform has expanded to cater to more than the audio-format tele-counselling provisions too. 

A mobile application for conducting video sessions has been launched on World Mental Health Day in 2024. The total calls have already recorded over 18 lakh in February 2025, largely because of a post-pandemic psychology impact, loneliness, uncertainty, and insufficient mental healthcare support in the country in general, according to a surge in calls explained by psychiatry circles. While Tele MANAS service has bridged some gaps in access, especially in distant regions, support hotlines can never cope with such a massive crisis in numbers, according to psychiatry circles, when they demand increased focus on human resources and strategic handling for challenges such as suicide prevention and chronic mental health conditions. The increasing demand for calls in support hotlines indicated an expansion requirement in mental healthcare support in the country during relevant parliament sessions on handling this crisis.

Human behavior is often apparently predictable on the surface, but just beneath that veneer, a very different landscape is shaped-one of fear, desire, manipulation, and survival. The darker side of human nature isn't found necessarily in drastic acts; it can exist rather silently in offices, relationships, families, and communities. These ten books look upon that unseen terrain with candor, psychological depth, and clarity that unsettles you long after the last page. They afford an opportunity to understand the shadows that shape us, even when we choose not to see them.

Snakes in Suits by Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare

The book represents an uncommonly transparent look at corporate psychopathy. Using their extensive and intensive research, Babiak and Hare describe how those who possess the psychopathic tendencies manipulate others to get themselves through the workplace by posing as charismatic, capable, and confident people. They find their ideal ecosystem in settings where results are rewarded without scrutiny. With subtle patterns of behavior, the authors identify how such people manipulate colleagues for upward mobility. This book uses case studies and psychological insight to describe with precision just how polished professionalism often masks highly dangerous charm and just why organizations usually don't recognize the signs until damage has been done.

In Sheep's Clothing by George K. Simon

Simon writes about covert aggression, manipulation that seldom appears violent but which leaves a deep psychological mark. He explains how guilt, subtle intimidation, and distorted communication work to make points yet seem innocuous. It provides a roadmap to recognize these tactics and understand why often the victim can't seem to articulate what's happening. It is the clarity by Simon himself that makes visible these psychological patterns, which then helps the readers understand the emotional toll of strategic manipulations and the cost of staying silent when over and over again boundaries are crossed.

Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare

This groundbreaking book by Robert Hare, the creator of the psychopathy checklist, describes a condition characterized by emotional coldness, superficial charm, and a complete absence of guilt. Drawing on three decades of research, Hare describes how psychopaths think, what they do, and why so many seem invisible until it's too late. Chilling case studies show what can happen when an individual is completely devoid of empathy. It demolishes assumptions about evil and asks us to look at an unnerving possibility: some people really don't have a conscience.

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson Jon Ronson approaches the world of psychopathy with curiosity, fear, and humor, which makes what should be a deeply complex topic rather accessible. He meets clinicians, victims, self-proclaimed psychopaths, and people wrongly labeled as such. By doing this, Ronson shows the dangers of oversimplifying psychological diagnoses. The book looks at how institutions fail, how labels are used and misused, and how society tries to categorize behavior that refuses to fit neatly into boxes. This is a book that reminds one that the human mind is far more complicated than clinical checklists might suggest.

The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo The Stanford Prison Experiment by Zimbardo had sought to explain how ordinary people could be capable of extraordinary cruelty. He wrote that circumstances, systems, and social pressure can compel people to do things that they never could have imagined being capable of doing. From the case history down to psychological theory to his reflections on the experiment and how power, anonymity, and obedience affect human behavior, Zimbardo will take the readers on a historical journey. His analysis makes one confront the uncomforting idea: the capability for cruelty actually lies in every person under the right conditions. 

Dark Psychology by James Williams James Williams tackles concepts about manipulation, persuasion, and influence from a psychological perspective. He spelled out everything from emotional weaknesses down to cognitive shortcuts regarding how people with malicious intent play on the vulnerabilities of others. It looks at the motivations for destructive behavior, tactics used for control, and the extent of psychological consequences that such practices have on those who fall into these patterns. Williams gives a disturbing yet realistic view of how power can go awry when empathy is lacking. Behaviors often hidden behind polite smiles or confident personalities come into the light. 

The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin Dutton Kevin Dutton looks at psychopathy from arguably its most unlikely perspective: just how some psychopathic traits may appear in surgeons, soldiers, entrepreneurs, and athletes. He investigates the thin line between controlled ruthlessness and self-destructive behavior. The book raises unsettling questions about success, ambition, and qualities which society unwittingly rewards. Dutton’s research indicates that the traits we fear can, in certain circumstances, become tools for high performance if hardwired by discipline and context. 

People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck M. Scott Peck reports on the psychology of everyday evil, focusing not on great acts but on subtle harm within families and communities. He contends that the roots of evil are often to be found in self-deception, pride, and an unwillingness to take responsibility. Using case histories and his own experience, Peck demonstrates how destructiveness can be masked as goodness or moral righteousness. The book is a challenge to its readers to recognize patterns of harmful behavior that are frequently denied or misunderstood. 

Games People Play by Eric Berne Berne's classic work defines and outlines the psychological scripts people repeat in relationships. He explains how people play unconscious emotional games to underpin patterns of conflict, intimacy, and power. These usually mask hidden motives and unresolved pain. He shows through his analysis just how dark communication can be and why people pursue roles that hurt them. The book is timeless because it reveals just how much of human interaction is driven by fear, insecurity, and long-standing emotional habits. 

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout Martha Stout writes about one of those most basic yet disconcerting facts: a small portion of people have no conscience whatsoever. She explains how sociopaths manipulate and harm with ease, charming people while looking perfectly normal. Using lively examples, Stout shows just how to recognize the red flags and understand the emotional aftermath of deals with such personalities. The book helps readers learn to trust intuition and understand the difference between ordinary conflict and predatory behavior contrived to exploit a position of vulnerability. It is not found merely in extreme stories or rare psychological profiles but in ambitions, manipulation, deceptions, and small moral compromises people make daily. The following ten books bring that complexity into focus without judgment or sensationalism. They speak together toward a deeper understanding of the forces that shape behavior, repeating relationship patterns, and the resilience needed to confront uncomfortable truths. This is where the greatest value of these books lies-not in fuelling fear but in clarity, a gift to anyone who wants eyes to see the mind of humanity sharp.

It was Gen Z that changed how India spoke about its emotions, making invisible battles like stress, burnout, and anxiety everyday conversations. Psychologists explain why it's a trend, how social media shapes it, and what it means for this emotional evolution and all of us.

Have a more-than-five-minute-long conversation with any member of Generation Z, and there's one thing you notice above everything else: they speak this language of emotions with an ease that has never been seen in a generation before. Where millennials grew up brushing things off as "tension" or "overthinking", Gen Z is comfortable naming the uncomfortable: burnout, anxiety, delulu, OCD, and everything in between.

Some say they are being over-dramatic; psychologists say they are finally breaking patterns of silence. As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle. We reached out to Ms. Nishtha Jain, Counselling Psychologist at Lissun, Mental Health Platform, to help throw light on the subject. What is not disputable, though, is that this generation has completely turned the rules around in the way we speak about mental health, and in so doing, they have forced the rest of us to have a rethink about our emotional vocabulary too.

Their superpower is emotional literacy. Gen Z has no fear in naming what they feel. Actually, they are really good at naming it. They grew up with therapy content, mental health creators, open conversations, and way less stigma than their parents ever did. That's why what the older generation dismisses as "shyness" is confidently labeled "social anxiety," and what is just regular tiredness becomes "burnout." That's not hyperbole; that's how they feel about themselves. And that's one of the reasons they're more likely to get help than suffer in silence. But sometimes, this emotional vocabulary blurs the lines: more language, more expression, but sometimes more mislabeling. According to psychologists, that is a trend-on the rise-to make regular discomfort into clinical terms. Of course, this does not belie their feelings but reminds us that self-awareness needs to go hand in glove with accuracy. We're understanding, not self-diagnosing. Social-media effect: overstimulation, endless comparison Gen Z lives in a world of "input overload": notifications, reels, messages, curated perfection, loops of comparison. Their minds almost never get a second of quiet time. The overstimulation makes the emotions bigger, faster, and much harder to process. Add to that the pressure to be successful, relevant, productive, and emotionally aware at once, and it's little wonder they lean so heavily on mental health vocabulary to explain their internal world. They created "safe spaces" for everyone, even the generations before them. One of the most powerful shifts Gen Z has driven is in creating safe spaces around emotional struggles. Because they are unapologetic about naming their feelings, the older generations are starting to open up, too. What was once “Don’t talk about it” has become “Let’s talk about it.” According to therapists, this openness trickles into small towns, conservative families, workplaces, and schools-places that had no emotional vocabulary whatsoever before the emergence of Gen Z. In other words, Gen Z isn't just changing how they feel; they're changing how we all understand mental health.

The state govt is soon going to introduce a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive policy aimed at safeguarding students' dignity, protection and mental well-being across its higher education institutions, amid a worrisome rise in distress, harassment and student suicides.

It takes a 360-degree approach to campus safety, from abuse, ragging, cyberbullying, substance abuse, and digital harassment to addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ students and first-generation learners. Some of the suggestions in the first draft speak about measures such as a 24x7 toll-free helpline, secure e-grievance systems, and a rapid-response protocol for distress calls. Under cyber harassment, the draft also addresses emerging concerns over the use of deepfakes, trolling, and online shaming, even acknowledging the absence of digital safety cells.

The draft policy makes it obligatory for all state, deemed and private universities, and affiliated colleges and hostels to transform their approach to students' welfare and protection. The draft policy, which will be followed by some consultation and corrective changes before the final enactment, is being framed by an 11-member committee appointed by the state govt under the chairmanship of HSNC University vice-chancellor Hemlata Bagla.

A member of the committee, Neha Jagtiani, principal, R D National College, and director, HSNC Board’s Bandra campus, said they have mooted intensive gatekeeper training for faculty and staff so that early signs of student distress can be recognised and addressed with sensitivity. “The draft also underlines the need to discard any form of labelling or stigma in seeking counselling for mental health. The policy will strongly focus on the protection of vulnerable groups, including students prone to bullying, discrimination, cyber abuse, or identity-based harassment. Explicit protocols for prevention, awareness, and safe, confidential reporting mechanisms have been recommended.,” she said.

The most important mandate for colleges will be to establish a student wellness and mental health centre, which will be responsible for providing professional counseling, crisis intervention, and resilience programs. It also proposes strict human resource requirements to ensure that there is at least one qualified counsellor for every 2,000 students in urban HEIs and a higher ratio in vulnerable regions and institutions. A grievance redressal cell is mandated; it shall issue a reasoned, written order and communicate its decision regarding student complaints within 30 days. The draft policy brings in zero tolerance for stigmatising behaviour, including the use of labels such as ‘suicide case’ or ‘depressed student’, under professional misconduct. The draft lists serious consequences for institutional failure to respond to complaints. Institutional silence, delay, or negligence that endangers safety will be a grave violation.

Although the question of what to do with an associate's degree in psychology is still predominantly posed, compared to other routes, the associate's degree in psychology takes only two years and yet gives high dividends on investment.

It's a major milestone on the road to the next degree, but it's a valuable credential in its own right. Take the time to read this article and see how you can get an associate degree in psychology and what it will add to your career.

What is Involved in an Associate in Psychology?

This level of the psychology degree requires 60 credits and takes typically two years for a full-time student. While many of these programs are provided on community college campuses, others make the credential available online.

Students working on an associate degree in psychology would be exposed to a variety of courses from the discipline of psychology. Some possible courses are listed below. The course provides a framework for understanding the basic elements in the study of the human mind.

Associate in Psychology Program Costs

 How much it will cost for an associate's degree in psychology is going to depend on which school a student decides to go to and whether they must pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. Keep in mind, private schools are more expensive than public schools to attend tuition-wise. 

A career in mental and emotional care doesn’t always come with headlines or glamour, but the people who choose these paths often become quiet lifelines in someone else’s darkest moments. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition and fees for students attending two-year schools averaged $3,598 for public in-state schools and $17,408 for those attending private institutions during the academic year 2022–23. Careers for Associate in Psychology Graduates Some students who graduate with an associate degree in psychology go on to pursue a bachelor's and perhaps a master's or doctorate in the field. However, there are also some careers that only require a two-year psychology degree. 

Information about salaries below is from Payscale. Take mental health technicians, for example. Earning an average annual salary of about $37,000, they are the steady hands and patient listeners inside clinics and hospitals. Their days are a blend of administering medications, offering emotional support when someone simply needs to talk, checking vital signs and behavior changes, processing admissions, and even leading therapeutic or recreational activities that help patients feel human again.

Then there are psychiatric technicians, who earn around $50,000 a year. Their work sits at the intersection of nursing care and psychological support. They assist individuals living with mental, emotional, or developmental conditions, and beyond the clinical tasks, they gently encourage patients to rebuild essential life skills—work habits, communication, social interaction—so they can move toward more independent, fulfilling lives. Their impact often stretches far beyond what their job description suggests.

Research assistants play a different but equally crucial role in understanding human behavior. With an average salary of $43,000, they spend their days interviewing participants, conducting surveys in homes and communities, observing behavior in labs, and ensuring mountains of sensitive data are accurately recorded and stored. Their careful work often becomes the backbone of studies that shape future treatments, policies, and interventions.

And for those drawn to guiding young people through turbulent years, youth counselors earn roughly $38,000 annually while shouldering some of society’s most emotional work. They support children and teens under 18—many of them at-risk or facing complex family struggles—through counseling, mentorship, legal guidance, and everyday crisis management. Often, they are the bridge connecting young people to resources they never knew existed, helping them imagine futures beyond their immediate challenges.