Articles

Fear, Guilt, and Survival: A Socio-Psychological Analysis of Danny’s Dilemma in Aravind Adiga’s Amnesty

/in /by

Aravind Adiga’s Amnesty is a gripping socio-psychological investigation of the immigrant experience told via the story of Danny, an undocumented Sri Lankan residing in Sydney, Australia. The present research paper deals with the aspect of how the novel delves into the psychological difficulties of persons who live in legal and social limbo, always negotiating dread, guilt, and moral uncertainty, and it will also study how Danny’s identity and actions are shaped by dread of deportation, the burden of ethical quandaries, and the desire for survival, all of which are intertwined with his complicated psychological quandary. The paper also highlights how his fear is exacerbated by his awareness that his silence could have negative effects, demonstrating how cognitive dissonance and moral obligation interact to cause psychological strain in people facing such problems. The novel emphasizes the universal human need for security and belonging, as well as how these needs shape, and are affected by the hostile circumstances in which they exist. This paper will also analyze how the novel depicts the human cost of living in the shadows, emphasizing the severe emotional and psychological toll of continually balancing survival and morality.

Global Fear, Hopelessness and Media Overexposure of the Danger of COVID-19: A Cross-cultural Research

/in /by

This study analyzes the role of mass media in inducing hopelessness and fear at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was conducted online in three Asian (China, India, and Indonesia) and three European (Bulgaria, Germany, and Hungary) countries. A total of 2617 participants, between 18 and 80 years, completed an online version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and an additional questionnaire including multiple demographic characteristics. Data obtained show that Asians, compared to Europeans, demonstrated a higher level of hopelessness at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both gender and age have been found to influence levels of hopelessness, but their impact varies across cultures. In addition, data show that some demographic factors such as education, marital status, and established religiosity influence the degree of pessimism and hopelessness. This influence varies in Asian and European cultural environments. For example, highly educated representatives of both cultures display low levels of hopelessness, while those with less education demonstrate extremely high levels of hopelessness. Regarding family status and religiosity, the trends are different. The hopelessness levels increase among single and divorced Europeans and decrease among the married and those cohabiting with a partner. Unlike Europeans, only married Asians demonstrate low levels of hopelessness. Regarding religiosity, the results show that religious individuals display low levels of hopelessness, while among atheists in both cultures, these levels are dramatically high. Findings suggest that media overexposure to the danger of COVID-19, leads to an increase in hopelessness and, in turn, increases in stress, anxiety, and depression.