Yogyakarta, May 7, 2026 – Amid the euphoria surrounding scientific publication and the obsession with global indexing systems, one fundamental question is rarely asked: are we truly producing knowledge, or merely fulfilling academic administrative standards?

Research from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada on people-pleasing behavior from the perspective of the Javanese concept of sungkan opens the door to broader reflection. The article titled “People Pleaser Behavior within the Perspective of Sungkan: A Psycho-Anthropological Interpretation” demonstrates that the tendency to please others is not merely an individual trait, but rather the result of deep cultural constructions rooted in values of respect, harmony, and social relationships.

Have you ever asked a teenager, “How was your day?” only to receive a brief reply? Or tried to have a heartfelt conversation, only to find their attention fixed on a screen? These situations often raise questions: is there something we need to better understand about communicating with today’s teenagers?

Yogyakarta, May 6, 2026 – Amid growing pressure to publish and the increasing emphasis on global indexing systems such as Scopus, researchers from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada have warned that methodological quality should not be sacrificed for publication quantity. This concern was emphasized through a recent study examining common method bias (CMB) in quantitative research methodologies.

Yogyakarta, May 5, 2026 – Researchers from Universitas Gadjah Mada have once again highlighted their contribution to strengthening governance through a recent academic publication. The study, published in the Journal of Social Sciences and Politics (JSP), examines the psychological mechanisms underlying public sector employee behavior while supporting the global agenda of Sustainable Development Goal 16 on strong, transparent, and accountable institutions.

Yogyakarta, May 4, 2026 — The persistence of corruption cases and integrity crises in society indicates a serious issue related to individuals’ attitudes toward how wealth or resources are obtained for their families. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, sheds interesting light on this issue.

Yogyakarta, April 30, 2026 — Amid rising life expectancy and global economic challenges, financial preparedness for retirement has become a critical issue. However, a recent study shows that this issue is not solely about numbers, but also about psychological factors.

Prof. Ajeng Juwita Puspitasari, PhD, LP, ABPP is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), specializing in behavioral and cognitive therapies. She currently serves as a Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. In addition, she is the founder and director of the Center for Evidence-Based Practice.

Prof. Puspitasari has expertise in evidence-based psychotherapy, particularly for depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal and self-harming behaviors, trauma, as well as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Her clinical approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioral Activation (BA), Exposure Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She is known for emphasizing culturally sensitive, recovery-oriented, and research-informed care.

Beyond her clinical practice and academic leadership, she is actively involved in publishing scientific articles, providing professional training, clinical supervision, and international consultation. Much of her work focuses on bridging the gap between research and mental health practice to ensure that effective interventions are more widely accessible.

Dr. Anke Karl is the strategic lead of the Clinical Psychology Research Group and the Mood Disorders Centre, and serves as Director of the MDC Biobehavioural Lab. Her research examines how biological and behavioral processes shape posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recovery from psychological trauma. She also works on applying biopsychological knowledge to improve therapies for people with PTSD and depression.

She trained in clinical psychology and behavioural neuroscience at Humboldt University Berlin, where she received the Young Scientist Award in 2001. She later completed postdoctoral research at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, University at Albany, before holding academic positions in Germany and the UK prior to joining the University of Exeter.

Her work has been published in leading journals and supported by major research funders. She also completed advanced training in cognitive behavioural therapy, is a licensed Psychological Psychotherapist, and practices as an associate therapist at the AccEPT Clinic.

Prof. Byron J. Good, B.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Medical Anthropology in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University, as well as in the Department of Anthropology at the same institution. He earned his Ph.D. in anthropology from University of Chicago. As a medical, psychiatric, and psychological anthropologist, Prof. Good has a longstanding interest in how diverse cultural forms shape the manifestation, experience, and response to serious mental illness across societies such as Indonesia, Iran, Turki, Amerika Serikat, and Tiongkok.

Over nearly five decades, Prof. Good has conducted extensive research focusing primarily on serious mental illness and community-based care across diverse settings, including Yogyakarta, as well as post-conflict and post-tsunami contexts in Aceh. Since 1996, he has been actively engaged in research in Indonesia, particularly through ethnographic studies of Javanese culture and its relationship to mental health. In addition, he has developed both quantitative and ethnographic research on the early phases of psychotic disorders, longitudinal trajectories of acute psychosis, and the effectiveness of mental health services.

Dr. Marijtje Jongsma, M.L.A., is an Associate Professor at the Behavioural Science Institute and the School of Psychology at Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She is a leading expert in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience, particularly focusing on the use of electroencephalography (EEG) to explore mental processes and human behavior. Beyond her role at Radboud, Dr. Jongsma is also actively involved with the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia, contributing to academic collaborations and advancing research in neuroscience and psychology. Her engagement with UGM exemplifies her commitment to fostering international academic partnerships and supporting the global exchange of scientific knowledge. In her dual capacity as a lecturer and researcher, Dr. Jongsma contributes to the development of interdisciplinary studies that bridge psychology and neuroscience. She is also engaged in academic governance as a member of the Representative Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Radboud University, further shaping academic policies and supporting the evolution of higher education. Dr. Jongsma's expertise continues to drive advancements in cognitive neuroscience, while her international collaborations help promote cross-border scientific research and education.