FACULTY
Learning from some of the best minds in education and in the industry
Prof. Garima Rajan
Assistant Professor - Psychology
Email: garima.rajan@flame.edu.in
PhD in Psychology from IIT Delhi; M.A in Psychology from University of Delhi; B.A (Honours) in Psychology from Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi.
BIO
Dr. Garima Rajan is an accomplished Assistant Professor of Psychology at FLAME University. With a Ph.D. in Psychology from IIT Delhi, she possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of psychology.
Dr. Rajan has a total of eight years of experience in teaching and research. Prior to joining FLAME, she was associated with IIT Delhi, India for five years as a Teaching Assistant and also had a one-year stint at Mississippi State University, USA. In her current role, she teaches Positive Psychology, Methods of Psychological Testing, and Social Psychology to undergraduate students. Additionally, she guides psychology dissertations for students enrolled in Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies & Research.
Her research interests encompass psychometrics, positive psychology, and cognitive psychology. Her Ph.D. research focused on the psychological, affective, and cognitive benefits of yoga, meditation, and other positive practices, and involved the use of qualitative interviews, psychological assessments, cognitive tasks, and experiments. Additionally, she developed a smartphone application, PsyEx, for the purpose of data collection. She has examined executive functioning and emotion regulation in positive and negative symptom dimensions of schizophrenia for her Master’s thesis and self-conscious emotions and emotion regulation in depression and bipolar affective disorder for her Undergraduate Honours thesis. Along with her robust research aptitude, she has also demonstrated a strong scholastic orientation during her formal academic training in psychology. She has been a college topper in psychology and secured a second position at the University of Delhi.
Dr. Rajan has published numerous research papers in reputed national and international journals and has presented her work at several conferences. She is an active member of various professional organizations, including the National Positive Psychology Association (NPPA), the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), the International Congress of Psychology (ICP), the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), and the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP). She is a highly motivated and dedicated individual who is committed to advancing the field of psychology through her research and teaching.
In her free time, Dr. Rajan enjoys singing, reading, and traveling.
To know more, please visit her webpage: https://sites.google.com/view/garimarajan/home
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
Conference Research Papers and Posters:
- Rajan, G. and Singh, K. (2023, April). Do Emotion Regulation Strategies of Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression Differ in Advanced, Novice and Non-Practitioners of Yoga and Meditation?Research paper presented at The 13th Asian Conference on Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences (ACP), Tokyo, Japan from 31 March- 3 April, 2023. https://acp.iafor.org/presentation/submission69115/
- Rajan, G.and Singh, K. (2023, March). Does the Experience of Well-Being Differ for Advanced, Novice, and Non-Practitioners of Yoga and Meditation? Research paper presented at the 32nd Annual Convention of National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) hosted by Ahmedabad University from 3-5 March, 2023.
- Rajan, G.and Shah, A. (2023, February). Can just practicing yoga asanas suffice to influence affect and higher cognitive abilities in anxiety and depression in Indian college students? An exploratory study! Research paper presented at the 27th International and 58th National Conference of The Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) in association with the Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, and Indian Institute of Psychology from 15-17 February, 2023 in New Delhi, India.
- Rajan, G.and Singh, K. (2023, February). A Holistic Psycho-Spiritual Approach to Well-Being: Yoga, Meditation and Positive Practices. Research paper presented at the International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR), Inaugural Annual Conference, University of California, San Diego, USA, from 2nd to 5th February, 2023. https://iscr2023.sessionize.com/session/384803
- Daga, S. & Rajan, G.(2022, December ). Investigating Linguistic Abilities and Its Relationship with Empathy, Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Flexibility in an Indian Sample. Research poster presented at the 9th Annual Conference of Cognitive Science held at IIT Delhi, India, from 8th to 10th December 2022. ACCS 9 Schedule
- Shah, A. & Rajan, G. (2022, March). Does Hatha Yoga Impact Emotion Regulation and Emotional Well-Being in Anxiety and Depression? It Depends!Research paper presented at the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health (IKSMH) workshop organized by IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation, in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, from 25th to 27th March 2022. http://acslab.org/workshop/booklet.pdf
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2022, March). Do Emotion Regulation Strategies Differ for Advanced, Novice, and Non-Practitioners of Yoga and Meditation? An Investigation During COVID-19. Research paper presented at the 31st Convention of the National Academy of Psychology 2021-2022 organized by Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay from March 4-6, 2022. http://naopiitb2021-22.in/scheduleDownload.php?file=Abstract_List
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2022, January). Improvements in Well-Being Indicators after Attending a Short-Online, Advanced Meditation Program during COVID-19. Research paper presented at the 57th National & 26th International Conference of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) organized by Department of Clinical Psychology, Mizoram University, India, from 27th to 29th January 2022.
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2021, July). Understanding Psychological Benefits of Meditation and Associated Positive Spiritual Practices. Research paper presented at The 32nd International Congress of Psychology (ICP 2020+) Prague, Czech Republic from 18-23 July, 2021.https://abstracts.icp2020.endevel.eu/abstracts/
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2021, July). Improvements in Flourishing and Emotion Regulation among College Students Following a Week of Classroom-Based Yoga and Meditation Workshop on ‘Inner Clarity’. Research poster presented at the 7th International Positive Psychology Association World Congress 2021 (IPPA WC 2021) from July 15 – 17, 2021. http://ippa-wc-2021.p.asnevents.com.au/days/2021-07-15/abstract/73178
- Rajan, G. & Singh, K. (2021, March). Differences in Inhibitory Control, Selective Attention and Cognitive Flexibility among Novice Meditators, Advanced Meditators and Non-Meditators. Research paper presented at the 30thConvention of National Academy of Psychology 2020-2021 organized by Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur from March 19-21, 2021.
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2021, February). Changes in the Use of Emotion Regulation Strategies of Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression after an Advanced Yoga and Meditation Program. Research paper presented at the 56th National & 25th International Conference of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) organized by Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India, from 18th to 20th February 2021.
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2021, January). Examining the Cognitive Benefits in Selective Attention, Response Inhibition, Cognitive Flexibility and Emotion Regulation Strategies via a Smartphone App Among Participants From an Online Advanced Yoga and Meditation Program. Research poster presented at the 7th Annual Conference of Cognitive Science (ACCS) from 23rd-25th January, 2021.
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2019, December). Psychological Benefits of Short-Term Workshop on Yoga, Heartfulness Meditation and Positive Practices in College Students. Research paper presented in 29th Annual Convention of National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), India & International Conference on “Making Psychology Deliverable to the Society” organized by Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, India, 20th -22nd December, 2019.
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (2019, February). Effectiveness of a Course on 'Science of Happiness': A Classroom Study in College Students. Research paper presented in 54th National & 23rd International Conference of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) organized by Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India, 14-16th February, 2019.
- Singh, V. & Rajan, G.(2017, October). Do emotions make memories specific? It depends! Research poster presented at the 4th International Annual Cognitive Science Conference at University of Hyderabad, India.
- Rajan, G.& Gupta, A. (2014, December). Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation: A Comparative Analysis of Positive and Negative Symptom Dimensions in Schizophrenia. Research poster presented at the International Conference of Public Mental Health and Neurosciences (ICPMN-2014), Bangalore, India.
- Rajan, G.& Khosla, M. (2014, December). Understanding Self-Conscious Emotions and Emotion Regulation in Depression and Bipolar Affective Disorder. Research poster presented at the International Conference of Public Mental Health and Neurosciences (ICPMN-2014), Bangalore, India.
- Rajan, G.& Khosla, M. (2014, January). Examining Self-Conscious Emotions and Emotion Regulation in Depression and Bipolar Affective Disorder: Implications for Emotional Well-Being. Research paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Cognition and Health held from January 23-25, 2014 in the Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Research Paper Publications:
- Daga, S. & Rajan, G. (2023). Investigating Linguistic Abilities and Its Relationship with Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, and Cognitive Flexibility. Psycholinguistics, Special Volume: April 2023 (Vol. 33, No. 2), 57-89. ISSN 2309-1797; e-ISSN2415-3397. https://doi.org/10.31470/2309-1797-2023-33-2-57-89
- Rajan, G. and Singh, K. (2023). Do Emotion Regulation Strategies of Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression Differ in Advanced, Novice and Non-Practitioners of Yoga and Meditation? Think Tokyo, ACP/ACERP/AGen2023, 92. ISSN: 2433-7544 (Online); ISSN: 2433-7587 (Print).
- Rajan, G.& Khosla, M. (2015). Exploring Self-Conscious Emotions and Emotion Regulation in Depression and Bipolar Affective Disorder: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions. International Journal of Public Mental Health and Neurosciences, 2(2), 34-47. https://sarvasumana.in/volume-2%2C-issue-2
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (Manuscript Under Review). How Effective are Classroom-Based Yoga and Meditation Workshops and Courses for College Students? An Insight from Three Studies on Psychological Benefits of Yoga-Meditation Based Workshops and Courses.
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (Manuscript Under Review). Can a Short-Online, Advanced Yoga and Meditation Program Impact Well-Being Indicators among the Participants? An investigation during COVID-19!
- Rajan, G.& Singh, K. (Manuscript Under Preparation). Examining the Differences in Executive Functioning and Use of Emotion Regulation Strategies among Novice, Advanced, and Non-Practitioners of Yoga and Meditation.
Book Chapter Publications:
- Dhamayanthi, A. and Rajan, G. (2023). Spirituality, Forgiveness, and Authentic Happiness among College Students in a Post-Pandemic World.In the Edited Book "Mindfulness and Alternative Healing: The New Normal”(pp. 104-116), New Delhi Publishers. ISBN: 978-82-19006-18-2, eBook ISBN: 978-81-19006-15-1. https://ndpublisher.in/files/1680783643SamplePages_Mindfulness.pdf
- Kumar, S. and Rajan, G. (2023). Adversity Quotient (AQ): Exploring its Role in Higher Educational Institutions in a Post-Pandemic World. In the Edited Book"Mindfulness and Alternative Healing: The New Normal” (pp. 178-192), New Delhi Publishers. ISBN: 978-82-19006-18-2, eBook ISBN: 978-81-19006-15-1. https://ndpublisher.in/files/1680783643SamplePages_Mindfulness.pdf
- Mundhra, C. and Rajan, G. (2023). Relevance of Building Resilience and Improving Wellbeing in College Students: Strategies and Interventions for Overall Success. Book chapter accepted in the book “Indigenous Frame of Positive Psychology”, New Delhi Publishers.
- Rajan, G. and Thampi, G. (2023). Buddhist Psychology of Sexuality. Book chapter accepted in the book “Psychology of Sexuality & Mental Health Vol. 1 – Indigenous Approaches”, Springer Nature Publications.
Other Publications:
- Rajan, G.and Dhanjal, I. (2023, April). The 'appeal' of short videos. Opinion piece published in Telangana Today. https://telanganatoday.com/opinion-the-appeal-of-short-videos
- Sethi, T. and Rajan, G. (2023, April). AI and Mental Healthcare. Opinion piece published in Telangana Today. https://telanganatoday.com/opinion-ai-and-mental-healthcare
- Rajan, G. and Balsarkar, K. (2023, March). Caring for Carers. Opinion piece published in Telangana Today. https://telanganatoday.com/opinion-caring-for-carers
- Rajan, G.and Vasudeva, V. (2023, March). How Much Scrolling is “Too Much” Scrolling? Exploring The Psychological Effects of Prolonged Instagram Use on Gen Z. Article published in Volume 04, Issue 05, (pp.27-30), March 2023 of PsychoLogs Magazine. RNI. No. DELENG/2019/78469; ISSN: 2583-4193.
- Rajan, G.& Chintabattini, S. (2022, November). The Imperative Need to Explore the Reciprocal Nature Between Student and Faculty Well-Being in Indian Colleges and Universities! Article published in Volume 04, Issue 01, (pp. 58-61), November 2022 of PsychoLogs Magazine. RNI. No. DELENG/2019/78469; ISSN: 2583-4193. Psychologs: India's First Health Magazine