Program News & Events

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Bard Research Scholar Sayed Jafar Ahmadi and His Wife, Psychologist Zeinab Musavi, Recognized for Humanitarian Work in Afghanistan

Bard research scholar Sayed Jafar Ahmadi and his wife and fellow psychologist Zeinab Musavi have provided counseling for victims of trauma, bombings, the COVID-19 pandemic, and earthquakes in Afghanistan for two decades, and educated future psychologists along the way. Their work recently earned the American Psychological Association’s 2024 International Humanitarian Award, which recognizes “extraordinary humanitarian service and activism by a psychologist or a team of psychologists, including professional and/or volunteer work conducted primarily in the field with underserved populations.”

Post Date: 01-17-2024

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Bard Faculty Member Sayed Jafar Ahmadi Receives 2024 APA International Humanitarian Award

Bard College Research Scholar in Psychology Sayed Jafar Ahmadi has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 American Psychological Association (APA) International Humanitarian Award. Sponsored by APA’s Committee for Global Psychology (APA-CGP), this award recognizes extraordinary humanitarian service and activism by a psychologist or a team of psychologists, including professional and/or volunteer work conducted primarily in the field with underserved populations. The formal presentation of this award, which includes an honorarium of $1000, will take place during a virtual awards ceremony later this year. Ahmadi received this award along with his wife Zeinab Musavi, who is also a psychologist and academic scholar.
 
“I am pleased that we have been able to reflect a portion of the human suffering in my homeland within the world's largest and most important psychology organization. Receiving this award increases my responsibility to continue humanitarian activities and strive for collective empathy, as well as engage in global psychological initiatives to promote greater human peace and tranquility,” said Dr. Ahmadi. “I would like to express my gratitude for the award, extending my thanks to APA-CGP. Additionally, I appreciate TSI-OSUN, Bard College, and IIE for providing the platform for peace, research, and ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
 
Dr. Sayed Jafar Ahmadi has been a research scholar in psychology at Bard College since spring 2022. With a career spanning about two decades, Dr. Ahmadi is recognized as a pioneer in establishing the first clinical psychology department in Afghanistan, playing a crucial role in developing the counseling psychology program. The impact of his work extends through the Behrawan Research and Psychology Services Organization, significantly contributing to the advancement of psychology and the training of specialized psychologists in Afghanistan. Collaborations with institutions such as Hunter College, Monash University in Australia, and Bedfordshire University in England highlight his professional journey. Dr. Ahmadi has also spearheaded numerous research projects in Afghanistan and is the author of over 40 articles and books, primarily focusing on subjects such as autism, trauma, and peace.

Post Date: 01-04-2024

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Psychologist Sarah Dunphy-Lelii Considers the Politics of Sudden Power Transfer Among Chimpanzees

In “The Chimpanzee Wars,” a recent post to Wild Cousins, her Psychology Today UK blog, Associate Professor of Psychology Sarah Dunphy-Lelii engages in a thought experiment about how the state of knowing and of understanding of who knows and who doesn’t know could potentially impact the politics of power transfer within dominance hierarchies of chimpanzees. 

Among more than 200 Ngogo chimpanzees living in Kibale National Park, Uganda, one undisputed alpha named Jackson ruled for years until internal conflicts split the largest known chimpanzee community into two warring factions—Westerners and Centrallers. After Jackson is killed from injuries sustained in a battle, no younger alpha males step up to seize leadership of the Centrallers. A likely explanation, according to researchers, is that they didn’t know Jackson was dead. Only one Centraller, a potential alpha named Peterson, witnessed his death, and none found his body. Theoretically, Peterson could have used this position to his advantage. “Chimpanzees are socially sophisticated. Their dominance hierarchies are not based solely on physical strength. What we might call politics—the accumulation of social capital through strategic alliances over time—play a significant role in the rise to leadership. Under conditions like this one, between the Westerners and the Centrallers, insight into others’ states of knowledge could be decisive,” writes Dunphy-Lelii. She notes, however, that evidence to date suggests chimps, like Peterson, are not using this information the way humans would. 

Post Date: 05-02-2023