Towards a Culturally Grounded Psychology : Indigenous Frameworks and Empirical Insights from India

This edited volume reimagines psychological science through Indian cultural, philosophical, and spiritual traditions, responding to growing concerns about the dominance of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) paradigms in mainstream psychology. Questioning universalist assumptions and imposed etics, the volume advances a context-sensitive, bottom-up approach that takes culture and lived experience seriously in the study of well-being, resilience, and flourishing. Grounded in Indigenous Psychology and contemporary positive psychology, the book integrates Indian constructs such as anasakti (non-attachment), samatva (equanimity). ananda (bliss), and related ideas from yoga, Vedanta, Buddhism, and the Bhagavad Gita with empirical rigor. It brings together mixed-method research, narrative inquiry, and culturally valid psychometric research to demonstrate how indigenous epistemologies can coexist with scientific standards of reliability and validity. Drawing on contributions presented at the 3rd International Conference on Positive Psychology, India, the volume is organized into three thematic sections: philosophical foundations and indigenous constructs; culturally grounded interventions and practices for well-being; and emerging empirical insights from Indian populations. Chapters engage with themes including quiet ego, wellbeing literacy, yoga-based self-regulation, mindfulness, nature connectedness, social-emotional learning, resilience in adversity, and the development and adaptation of psychological measures for Indian contexts. The volume also addresses contemporary challenges facing psychology in India, such as mental health innovation, culturally responsive assessment, ethical research practice, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, education, health, and indigenous knowledge systems. By situating individual well-being within social, ecological, and cultural systems, the book moves beyond narrow individualism toward more inclusive models of psychological functioning. By bridging ancient wisdom with modern methodologies, this volume offers a coherent framework for culturally grounded theory, research, and practice. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, graduate students, mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers seeking approaches that expand psychological science while remaining ethically and culturally attuned - both within India and in the global context.