On 30th August 2025, the Media Psychology Lab inaugurated the academic year 2025–26 with its first workshop, Scroll, Pause, Focus: Digital Detox Through a Cognitive Lens, led by Dr. Rajeshwari Muthukumaran. The session encouraged participants to look beyond the idea of simply putting phones away and instead reflect on the cognitive and emotional costs of digital overuse. Through interactive polls, reflective exercises, and practical worksheets, students explored key themes such as cognitive overload, attention economy, executive functioning, and the paradox of being “hyperconnected yet lonely.” A thought-provoking discussion also asked: Are we bored anymore? Participants reflected on how constant digital engagement leaves little room for boredom, an essential state that often sparks deep thinking and self-reflection. With 100% positive feedback, the workshop raised awareness about mindful media engagement and offered practical strategies for digital wellness, setting the tone for the Lab’s impactful year ahead.
On 25th September 2024, a workshop on Semiotic Analysis in Research was facilitated by Dr. Rolla Das. A long-standing faculty member of the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Dr. Das’s research interests lie in Psycholinguistics.
The session introduced students to key concepts in semiotics, with a particular emphasis on its applications in psychological research. Foundational theories by renowned semiotic theorists such as Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Peirce were discussed. Interactive activities helped students engage with the signifier-signified dyad through both structural and post-structural lenses.
Dr. Das foregrounded core ideas, including signs and sign systems, the origin of meaning in symbols, the process of meaning-making, the role of the senses in semiotics, and the contrast between structuralist and post-structuralist perspectives. The session also highlighted the interdisciplinary relevance of semiotics, particularly within the field of media psychology.