Bio

Suneet Varma, Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi (India). His early work was in the area of Theoretical Psychology/Philosophy of Psychology. His more recent work focuses on Indian perspectives on Psychology, - e.g., Vedanta, Yoga Psychology, Buddhist Psychology, and their links with Sri Aurobindo's Integral Psychology. Dr. Varma’s current work deals with spirituality and healing.

Engaged in Post Graduate Teaching and research for 16 years:
2003 to date     Associate Professor, University of Delhi
2000-2003       Senior Lecturer, University of Delhi
1996-2000       Lecturer, University of Delhi
1994-1996       Lecturer (Ad-hoc), Dept. of Applied Psychology, University of Delhi

Details of Ph.D. Dissertation (1996):
Carried out theoretical research on “The Scientific Paradigm in Psychology: Challenges and Possibilities” which critiqued the Logical Positivist paradigm in Psychology and reviewed the potency of the Social Constructionist perspective as a viable alternative for doing a more meaningful and fruitful Psychology, thus paving the way for establishing legitimacy of Spiritual Psychologies.

Nature of current teaching and research:
Courses Taught/Developed: (i) Paradigms of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, including psychotherapy; (ii) Counseling and Personal Growth; (iii) Indian Psychology; (iv) Research Methods in Psychology; (v) Paradigms of Psychology.

I have also contributed to workshops held on Indian/Integral Psychology at the Gnostic Centre, New Delhi (India). In addition, I have organized a number of seminars/workshops on different aspects of Indian/Integral Psychology, at the Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, during the last ten years.

Over the years, my research has increasingly focused on Indian (Spiritual) Psychology the inspiration for which is drawn from the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Recent publications include:

Cornelissen, M., Misra, G. & Varma S. (Eds.)(2011). Foundations of Indian Psychology:  A
 Handbook, Vol. I.  New Delhi: Pearson.
Cornelissen, M., Misra, G. & Varma S. (Eds.)(2011). Foundations of Indian Psychology:  A
 Handbook, Vols. II. New Delhi: Pearson.
Varma, S. & Patel (Eds.)(2011). The Integral Human Existence. Auroville (India): Centre of
 Indian Studies.
Varma, S (Ed.)(in press). Integral Psychology: Writings of Indra Sen. Pondicherry: Sri
 Aurobindo Ashram Press.
Varma S. (2010). Bhakti and well-being: A psychologist's perspective. Indian Journal of
  Positive Psychology, 1 (1-2), 25-27.

M. Phil. Students Awarded

1. University as a Learning Organization: A Psycho-diagnostic investigation - Devesh Nath Tripathi. Scientist C, Defence Institute of Psychological Research, Delhi.

1. Psychological Effects of Emotional Abuse: An Exploratory Study - Shriti Saran, Assistant Professor, Amity University, Noida (U.P.).

1. Reconstructing Childhood in the Indian Context: A Qualitative Study -  Shefali Mishra, Assistant Professor, Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi.

Doctoral Students Awarded

1. Psyche under Siege: A Study of Survivors of Domestic Violence - Fareha Fazl., Assistant Professor, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

2. Cultural Construction of Parenting: The Indian Experience – Neeti Sachdeva

Assistant Professor, Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi

3. Role of Self Construal and Context in Value Preferences among Adolescents - Devesh Nath Tripathi, Scientist 'C', Defence Institute of Psychological Research, Delhi.

4. Human Experiences, Social Conditions and Creative Writing: A Dialectical Study -  Shilpi Kukreja.

5. Sri Aurobindo’s Theory of Human Development: A Metaphysical Study - Monica Gupta, Associate Professor, Gargi College, New Delhi.

Selected Publications

Varma S. (2010). Bhakti and Well-Being: A psychologist's perspective. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 1 (1-2), 25-27. PDF