Psychosocial Research
Research on Free will and Decision-Making
The research on Awareness-Based Choice Selection (ABCS) introduces a groundbreaking approach to understanding decision-making and consciousness. This concept is based on the idea that true free will emerges when awareness actively influences the selection process, allowing individuals to make choices that are not solely dictated by instinct, conditioning, or deterministic processes. ABCS differentiates natural intelligence from artificial intelligence (AI) by emphasizing that human decisions are not just based on information processing but also on intentional awareness and discretionary selection. Unlike algorithms that function within predefined parameters, ABCS enables adaptive, reflective, and self-driven decision-making, forming the foundation of conscious agency. This research offers significant implications for cognitive science, neuroscience, and AI development, as it challenges traditional deterministic views on decision-making and provides a framework for understanding how awareness shapes human choices in ways that machines cannot replicate.
Factors Influencing Happiness and Subjective Well-Being
The research on Subjective Well-Being (SWB) examines the key factors that contribute to overall life satisfaction and how they correlate with mental health, happiness, and physiological conditions. This work explores the psychological, social, and biological factors. Using an anonymous online survey, the study assessed self-reported well-being, demographic variables, and standardized psychological measures for anxiety and depression that shape well-being and examines their implications for mental health and chronic conditions. The findings revealed a strong negative association between SWB and both self-reported and clinically assessed anxiety and depression, suggesting that individuals with lower well-being scores are more prone to mental health struggles. Additionally, household income was negatively correlated with the prevalence of anxiety and depression, highlighting the impact of financial stability on emotional well-being. This research underscores the importance of identifying specific personality traits and well-being attributes that influence mental health, opening new possibilities for targeted psychological interventions aimed at improving subjective well-being and resilience against anxiety and depression. Below is a list of key publications on this topic:
"Exploring the Self-Reported Well-Being Attributes in Anxiety and Depression"
This research investigates how well-being attributes correlate with the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression and explores the role of psychological factors in mental health.
Published in: Open Science Journal of Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2018, pp. 28-37
"Connecting Our Gut Feeling and How Our Gut Feels: The Role of Well-being Attributes in Irritable Bowel Syndrome"
This study examines the relationship between subjective well-being and gut health, particularly in individuals suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and highlights the role of psychological attributes in gut-related disorders.
Co-authors: Dwaine Banton, Laurie Keefer.
Research on Universal Priorities in Life and Happiness in a Cross-Cultural Study
This research explores the fundamental aspects of life that people consider most important and the factors that contribute to happiness across different cultures and demographics. The study, conducted in Orange County, California, a rural community in Panama and urban area in Iran, surveyed 253 adults to determine their top life priorities and sources of happiness. Findings revealed that family was overwhelmingly the most important aspect of life (59%), followed by health (14%) and faith (13%). While health ranked higher among older adults, family was prioritized more by females than males. Regarding happiness, the top contributors were the need to be loved, having someone to love, and financial security. Despite vast differences in socioeconomic status, geography, and education, the study found remarkable consistency in what people value most in life and what makes them happy, suggesting that core human priorities transcend cultural and economic boundaries. These insights reinforce the universality of human emotional needs and highlight the deep-rooted significance of relationships, well-being, and stability in achieving happiness. This study led to a publication on this topic:
"The Factors Involved in the Sense of Subjective Wellbeing (A Survey of 250 Subjects)"
This study explores the key factors that contribute to subjective well-being across different demographics and examines their influence on happiness.
Published in: World Journal of Social Science.
Research on the Power of Changing the Past: The Forgive and Forgo Paradigm
The Forgive and Forgo paradigm introduces a transformative approach to reshaping our relationship with past experiences, particularly those that are painful or unsettling. Unlike traditional forgiveness models that emphasize reconciliation or forgetting, this paradigm focuses on self-reflection, personal growth, and detachment from the emotional weight of past events. Instead of seeking closure through external validation or absolution, Forgive and Forgoempowers individuals to reinterpret their past experiences, extract valuable lessons, and consciously move forward without lingering resentment or emotional burden. This approach acknowledges that while the past itself remains unchanged, our perception and response to it can evolve, allowing us to reclaim our emotional well-being and free ourselves from cycles of regret, blame, and unresolved grief. Currently, this paradigm is being explored through an ongoing research collaboration with California State University, Long Beach, examining its psychological and emotional impact on individuals. By actively choosing to let go of the past’s hold, individuals can cultivate a future driven by clarity, resilience, and inner peace, demonstrating that while we cannot rewrite history, we have the power to reshape its impact on our present and future.
Research on Triphasic Model of Love
This research is underway and yet to be complete