Journal of Cortexplore
type: channel
description: CortExplore (JCE) is an interdisciplinary journal bridging psychology, neuroscience, and marketing to decode how humans think, feel, and decide. The journal publishes empirical and theoretical research that advances understanding of cognition, emotion, and behavior in real-world contexts.
publisher: Managers Without Borders Community Confederation
language: en
publication name: Journal of Cortexplore
issn: 3108-3021
items: Cognitive Mirrors: The RCS Triad for Retrieval,Control, and Stewardship in Neuro-Inspired LLMSystems
items: Gendered Drivers of Sexual Wellness Purchase Among Indian Gen Z: Stigma, Privacy, and Digital Influence
items: Decoding Consumer Neural Response to kalories Packaging: A TRIBE v2 In-Silico fMRI Analysis
items: Impact of Automation on Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Literature Review and Conceptual Framework of Cognitive Adaptation in Human–AI Interaction
items: Cognitive Offloading Collapse: Digital Dependency and the Restructuring of attention and Reasoning in Generation Z
items: Investigating Consumer-Brand Relationships and Self-Concept in the Media Industry: Analyzing Brand Perceptions, Attributes, and Relatability
items: Exploring Music Effects on Human Emotion Emerging Through EEG: A Systematic Literature Review
items: Exploring Neurodiversity-Affirmative Therapy Outcomes in Adults with AutismSpectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analytic andTheoretical Synthesis for Inclusive Practice
items: Digital Autism in the Age of Smartphones: A Review of Neurological, Behavioural, and Cognitive Effects
items: Digital Yoga Therapy for ADHD in Children: Integrating Ayurvedic Balance, Vedantic Awareness, and Yogic Ethics for Neuropsychological Regulation
items: Exploring the Nexus Between Online Consumerism and Women’s Self-Esteem: A Critical Review
items: Intersectionality and Competency Mapping: An Industrial Psychology Perspective on the Experiences of Under-represented Groups in the Indian IT Sector
items: Sales Stress, Quota Pressure, and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Psychological Analysis of Workplace Anxiety and Performance Outcomes in High-Intensity Sales Roles

Cognitive Mirrors: The RCS Triad for Retrieval,Control, and Stewardship in Neuro-Inspired LLMSystems
type: item
description: As large language model systems evolve from standalone text generators into retrieval-enabled, tool-using, and multi-session agents, researchers increasingly turn to cognitiveneuroscience for interpretive guidance. This paper argues that such comparisons areuseful only when they are bounded, functionally specified, and empirically falsifiable. Weanalyze retrieval-augmented generation as a separation between parametric knowledgeand external evidence access, and we analyze agent runtimes as control layers responsiblefor planning, routing, tool use, and context management. We distinguish these runtimefunctions from Model Context Protocol, which is an interoperability standard for exposingresources, prompts, and tools rather than a theory of memory or executive control. On thisbasis, we propose the RCS Triad Retrieval, Control, and Stewardship as a compactframework for describing modern LLM systems. Retrieval concerns evidence access andmemory extension; Control concerns orchestration, tool selection, and active context;Stewardship concerns provenance, consent, auditability, risk boundaries, and humanoversight. The paper’s central claim is methodological rather than biological: neuroscienceshould not be used to assert one-to-one equivalence between brains and models, but togenerate disciplined architectural hypotheses. We position the RCS Triad against eightadjacent retrieval and agent frameworks in a comparative table, specify its boundaryconditions through a Convergence-Divergence Matrix across eight cognitive domains,and outline a benchmarkable empirical agenda with four falsifiable predictions. We alsointroduce two original governance concepts architectural negligence and goaltransparency as frameworks for understanding the liability and rights questions thatarise when AI systems confabulate and persist goal-states.
subject: White Papers
  topic: section
subject: Neuro-Inspired LLM Systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
  topic: keywords
subject: Agentic AI Architectures
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive Control in Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: AI Governance and Stewardship
  topic: keywords
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: disciplines
creator: Lalith Kumar Vemali
creator: Rakesh Gandla
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 63
ending page: 90

Gendered Drivers of Sexual Wellness Purchase Among Indian Gen Z: Stigma, Privacy, and Digital Influence
type: item
description: India's sexual wellness market is growing rapidly within a socio-cultural environment characterised by persistent stigma, privacy anxiety, and heterogeneous digital influence. Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers occupy a contradictory position, digitally uninhibited yet socially constrained, rendering their purchase behaviour understudied and theoretically unresolved. This study develops and empirically tests an integrated framework grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, and the Embarrassing Product Decision (EPD) framework to explain gendered sexual wellness purchase behaviour among Indian Gen Z. An anonymous online survey was administered to 658 Gen Z respondents (aged 18–27; 52.6% female) across Tier 1 and Tier 2 Indian cities. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with 5,000-iteration bootstrapping was used to test fifteen hypotheses. Gender moderation was examined through multi-group PLS-SEM. Perceived stigma (β = .464, p < .001) is the strongest inhibitor of attitude; eWOM (β = .401), social media influence (β = .258), and discreet packaging (β = .168) are facilitative antecedents. Privacy concern operates indirectly via perceived behavioural control (β = .374, p < .001). Subjective norms are the strongest predictor of purchase intention (β = .352). Influencer exposure exerts a counterintuitive negative effect on attitude (β = −.156, p = .011). The downstream loyalty chain is fully confirmed. Stigma effects are stronger for female consumers; social media influence is significant only for males. Stigma, privacy, and digital influence jointly, and differentially by gender, shape sexual wellness purchase trajectories among Indian Gen Z. Findings advance the dual-pathway stigma model and yield actionable guidance for marketers, platforms, and public health communicators.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sexual Wellness Purchase Behaviour
  topic: keywords
subject: Generation Z
  topic: keywords
subject: Consumer Behaviour
  topic: keywords
subject: Privacy Concern in e-Commerce
  topic: keywords
subject: PLS-SEM
  topic: keywords
subject: Marketing & Strategy
  topic: disciplines
creator: Sai Krishna Gopal Veluri
creator: Abhisek Dutta
creator: Rakesh Gandla
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 45
ending page: 62

Decoding Consumer Neural Response to kalories Packaging: A TRIBE v2 In-Silico fMRI Analysis
type: item
description: This study presents an in-silico neuroimaging evaluation of kalories couple dark chocolate packaging video using TRIBE v2, a tri-modal (video, audio, and language) foundation model developed by Meta FAIR. Recognized as the top-performing model in the Algonauts 2025 brain encoding competition, TRIBE v2 enables high-resolution prediction of human cortical responses to dynamic stimuli. The analysis identifies a pronounced neural engagement phase within the first 24 seconds of the video, with peak mean cortical activation (0.1329) occurring at 21 seconds, indicating the moment of highest cognitive-emotional intensity. A secondary activation cluster emerges between 56-58 seconds, reflecting a subsequent wave of neural processing. These findings provide empirical evidence for temporally concentrated attention peaks and offer actionable insights for optimizing packaging communications, enhancing advertising effectiveness, and advancing applications in consumer neuroscience.
subject: White Papers
  topic: section
subject: Consumer Neuroscience
  topic: keywords
subject: In-silico fMRI
  topic: keywords
subject: Packaging Design
  topic: keywords
subject: Luxury Food Branding
  topic: keywords
subject: Neuromarketing
  topic: keywords
subject: Neuromarketing
  topic: disciplines
creator: Rakesh Gandla
creator: Aditya Sai Jallepalli
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 35
ending page: 44

Impact of Automation on Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Literature Review and Conceptual Framework of Cognitive Adaptation in Human–AI Interaction
type: item
description: Automation systems that use artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and algorithmic decision-making are now transforming human activities, impacting mental processes, learning methods, and decision-making abilities. Research studies have mainly studied productivity and efficiency, but scientists have not yet studied how automation reshapes human brain functions and neural plasticity. The research follows PRISMA guidelines to perform a systematic review of interdisciplinary studies which combine neuroscience with cognitive psychology and human–AI interaction research from 2010 to 2025. The review investigates how prolonged automation work affects human brain activity, which produces mental workload and changes how people focus their attention and make decisions that affect their brain adaptation process. The research shows two separate paths which automation follows to help people learn and solve problems and develop neuroplasticity through active mental involvement, but its excessive use results in mental delegation which causes decreased focus and wrong behavioral responses. The research presents a new conceptual framework which identifies automation as a cognitive environment instead of its traditional role as a productivity enhancement tool. The research connects automation with brain plasticity through cognitive adaptation, which produces theoretical advancements and practical recommendations for educational settings and cognitive rehabilitation programs and human-centered AI system development that support ongoing cognitive growth.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Automation
  topic: keywords
subject: Neuroplasticity
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive Adaptation
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive Load
  topic: keywords
subject: Attentional Control
  topic: keywords
subject: Decision Reliance
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive Offloading
  topic: keywords
subject: Automation and Neuroplasticity
  topic: disciplines
creator: Anushka Batte
creator: Faiza Belal
creator: Debasis Dash
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 22
ending page: 34

Cognitive Offloading Collapse: Digital Dependency and the Restructuring of attention and Reasoning in Generation Z
type: item
description: The integration of digital technologies into everyday cognition has fundamentally altered how individuals process, store, and retrieve information. While cognitive offloading through digital devices enhances efficiency, its sustained and habitual use may reshape internal cognitive engagement. Despite growing interest in digital dependency, existing research remains fragmented, with limited understanding of the mechanisms linking externalized cognition to higher-order reasoning outcomes. Addressing this gap, the present study introduces the Cognitive Offloading Collapse (COC) framework, which conceptualizes a sequential pathway through which digital dependency influences analytical reasoning via cognitive offloading, attention fragmentation, and working memory engagement. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 415 Generation Z participants (aged 18–25 years), and the proposed model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that digital dependency is positively associated with cognitive offloading, which in turn contributes to increased attention fragmentation. Attention fragmentation was negatively related to working memory engagement, which subsequently predicted analytical reasoning performance. Mediation analysis suggests that cognitive offloading operates as a central mechanism, with a significant serial pathway linking digital dependency to reasoning outcomes. Importantly, the results reflect moderate effect sizes, indicating patterns of cognitive restructuring rather than deterministic decline. The study contributes to emerging discussions on human–technology co-cognition by offering a theoretically integrated and empirically supported model of how digital environments influence cognitive processes. Practical implications are discussed for educational design, digital behavior regulation, and human–AI interaction in contemporary learning and work contexts.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Cognitive Offloading
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Dependency
  topic: keywords
subject: Attention Fragmentation
  topic: keywords
subject: Working Memory Engagement
  topic: keywords
subject: Analytical Reasoning
  topic: keywords
subject: Generation Z
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive Restructuring
  topic: keywords
subject: Human–AI Interaction
  topic: keywords
creator: Reem Suju Michael
creator: Renuka Devi D M
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 13
ending page: 21

Investigating Consumer-Brand Relationships and Self-Concept in the Media Industry: Analyzing Brand Perceptions, Attributes, and Relatability
type: item
description: This study explores consumer-brand relationships and self-concept in engagement with high-value media properties, specifically superheroes. Despite their cultural prominence, limited research exists on this connection. Using a mixed-method approach—focus groups and survey data from 481 Marvel and DC fans analysed via regression, multi-dimensional scaling, and perceptual mapping the study identifies relatability, shared values, and transcending limitations as key drivers of brand engagement. Interestingly, consumers often overlook narcissism and the absence of superpowers. The findings offer strategic insights for brand managers and product developers, highlighting the value of adaptable portrayals to reach diverse audiences. This research advances marketing literature by revealing how consumers perceive superhero brands, enhancing strategies for branding, engagement, and product alignment in the entertainment and consumer goods sectors.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: self-concept
  topic: keywords
subject: consumer-brand relationships
  topic: keywords
subject: brand perceptions
  topic: keywords
subject: brand attributes
  topic: keywords
subject: media managers
  topic: keywords
subject: Marketing & Strategy
  topic: disciplines
creator: Harsha Sheelam
creator: Sunny Bose
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 12

Exploring Music Effects on Human Emotion Emerging Through EEG: A Systematic Literature Review
type: item
description: This comprehensive review investigates the intricate relationship between music and brain activity, focusing on insights gleaned from electroencephalography (EEG) studies. Music's impact on cognition, emotion, and behaviour is examined through the lens of EEG signals, elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying musical perception and processing. Rhythmic entrainment, emotional modulation, and cross-modal integration are explored as fundamental aspects of music-brain interactions. Clinical applications, therapeutic interventions, and future directions in music neuroscience are discussed, highlighting the potential for personalized interventions and cognitive enhancement. By synthesizing findings from diverse disciplines, this review underscores the transformative power in promoting health, cognitive vitality and well-being by music. Embracing interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation, we can continue to explore in depth of music's involvement on the brain and harness its therapeutic potential for the benefit of EEG and giving a brief information of EEG signal and its Technologies and process of signal acquiring. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.7
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Music neuroscience
  topic: keywords
subject: EEG
  topic: keywords
subject: Neural correlates
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive functions
  topic: keywords
subject: Emotional responses
  topic: keywords
subject: Rhythmic synchronization
  topic: keywords
subject: Therapeutic potential
  topic: keywords
subject: Technological innovation
  topic: keywords
subject: EEG signals
  topic: keywords
subject: Different frequency bands
  topic: keywords
creator: Monishwar Vardireddy
creator: Pranjali Gajbhiye
creator: Hemachandran Kannan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 60
ending page: 79

Exploring Neurodiversity-Affirmative Therapy Outcomes in Adults with AutismSpectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analytic andTheoretical Synthesis for Inclusive Practice
type: item
description: This meta-analytic and theoretical review synthesizes research on neurodiversity-affirmative therapy (NAT) for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) published between 2015 and 2025. Whereas traditional interventions emphasized symptom reduction and behavioral normalization, NAT reframes autism as a form of human cognitive diversity rather than deficit. Drawing on 83 empirical studies (k = 274 effects; N = 9,812), this review quantitatively and qualitatively assesses four primary outcome domains: (1) Identity and Self- Understanding, (2) Emotional Regulation and Coping, (3) Social Inclusion and Empowerment, and (4) Educational and Workplace Adaptation. Random-effects models yielded a small-to-medium overall effect (d = 0.34, 95% CI [0.22, 0.46]) favoring affirmative over deficit-based approaches. Identity acceptance and psychological well-being showed the largest effects (d = 0.42 and 0.39 respectively). Cultural moderation analyses suggest stronger effects in collectivist contexts and for autistic-led or co-produced programs. Findings underscore that affirming neurocognitive identity and ensuring environmental fit improve mental health, social participation, and employment outcomes. This study advances inclusive psychology by bridging humanistic and empirical traditions and advocates for rights-based clinical and educational frameworks. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.6
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: neurodiversity | affirmative therapy | autism | inclusive education | adult autism | psychological well-being | meta-analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Psychology , Biology, Cognitive sciences
  topic: disciplines
creator: Madhavi Govada
creator: Uma Maheswara Rao Sirigiri
creator: Madhavaiah c
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 55
ending page: 59

Digital Autism in the Age of Smartphones: A Review of Neurological, Behavioural, and Cognitive Effects
type: item
description: The ubiquity of smartphones in contemporary life is reshaping how people think, feel, and interact, with growing evidence suggesting that excessive screen exposure can disrupt cognitive and emotional development—particularly in children and adolescents. Emerging research frames "Digital Autism" as a metaphor for autism-like behaviors resulting from prolonged device use, including diminished social reciprocity, deficits in empathy, and fragmented attention, though it is not a formal diagnosis. This review synthesizes interdisciplinary findings from 2015 to 2025, aggregating studies sourced from major scholarly databases to investigate the neurological, behavioral, and cognitive consequences of heavy smartphone use. Using a hybrid systematic-narrative approach under PRISMA 2020 guidelines, seventy empirical and meta-analytic studies were analyzed according to domains of neurological function, behavior, and cognition, with attention to age, exposure duration, parental mediation, and socio-cultural context. The results indicate that chronic smartphone exposure alters neural regions governing executive control, attention, and social cognition, while also promoting emotional dysregulation, social withdrawal, communication delays, and impairments in working memory and attentional focus. "Digital Autism" thus offers a heuristic framework for understanding environmental neuroplasticity in response to digital overstimulation, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action by educators, clinicians, and policymakers to advance digital well-being in children and adolescents facing cognitive saturation. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.5
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Digital Autism
  topic: keywords
subject: Smartphone Overuse
  topic: keywords
subject: Cognitive Development
  topic: keywords
subject: Neuroplasticity
  topic: keywords
subject: Behavioral Effects
  topic: keywords
subject: Child Development
  topic: keywords
subject: Psychology , Biology, Cognitive sciences
  topic: disciplines
creator: Madhavi Govada
creator: Uma Maheswara Rao Sirigiri
creator: Madhavaiah c
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 48
ending page: 54

Digital Yoga Therapy for ADHD in Children: Integrating Ayurvedic Balance, Vedantic Awareness, and Yogic Ethics for Neuropsychological Regulation
type: item
description: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Conventional pharmacological treatments often manage symptoms but rarely address the underlying psychophysiological imbalance or long-term self-regulation deficits. This study evaluated the efficacy of Digital Yoga Therapy (DYT)—an AI-assisted, biofeedback-integrated intervention that synthesizes Ayurvedic balance, Vedantic awareness, and Yogic ethics—for improving cognitive, behavioral, and physiological outcomes in children with ADHD. A total of forty-two participants aged 7 to 12 years were randomly assigned to the DYT intervention (n = 21) or control group (n = 21) for eight weeks. The DYT program combined guided asanas, pranayama, and mindfulness meditation with real-time heart rate variability (HRV) and EEG feedback. Standardized instruments including the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-3), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), HRV, and EEG theta–beta ratios were administered before and after intervention. Statistical analyses indicated significant improvements in sustained attention (t(20) = 4.92, p < .001, d = 0.91, 95% CI [0.52, 1.26]), HRV (t(20) = 3.89, p = .001, d = 0.83, 95% CI [0.47, 1.19]), and hyperactivity reduction (t(20) = 2.74, p = .012, d = 0.78, 95% CI [0.32, 1.16]). Between-group ANCOVA confirmed robust effects for attention (F(1,40) = 18.42, p < .001, η² = .32) and HRV (F(1,40) = 14.36, p = .001, η² = .27). The findings affirm that Digital Yoga Therapy significantly enhances attention, emotional control, and autonomic regulation, establishing it as a scientifically rigorous and culturally attuned digital therapeutic model for ADHD management. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.4
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Digital Yoga Therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: ADHD
  topic: keywords
subject: Ayurveda
  topic: keywords
subject: Neuropsychology
  topic: keywords
subject: Mindfulness
  topic: keywords
subject: Child Development
  topic: keywords
subject: PSYCHOLOGY
  topic: disciplines
subject: Yoga
  topic: disciplines
subject: Hindu Dharma
  topic: disciplines
subject: ADHD
  topic: disciplines
creator: SIREESHA BETHA
creator: Shanthamma M
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 36
ending page: 47

Exploring the Nexus Between Online Consumerism and Women’s Self-Esteem: A Critical Review
type: item
description: The rapid raise of digital technologies has significantly transformed consumer habits, establishing online shopping as a dominant mode of consumption. This review critically examines the relationship between online consumerism and women’s self-esteem, discussing both positive and negative psychological effects. Grounded in frameworks like, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Model, Sociometer Theory, and Social Comparison Theory, analyzing the psychological, sociocultural, and consumer behavior aspects. This review explores how digital platforms, and different forms of marketing, algorithmic targeting, influencer marketing, and aspirational branding shape women’s self-perception, identity formation, and emotional regulation. Online shopping positively stimulates, self-expression, and perceived control, offering instant validation on self-esteem and a sense of empowerment among women who indulge in it. However, constant exposure to idealized images, social comparisons with their ideal figures, and compulsive purchasing behaviors can exacerbate body dissatisfaction, psychological and emotional reliance, and diminished self-esteem. In the emerging study of consumer behaviour, this review identifies significant gaps in the current body of work, including the overrepresentation and the uncoerced infliction of Western culture on women, the lack of intersectional and longitudinal studies, and limited exploration of emerging technologies such as AI shopping assistants and augmented reality. By addressing these gaps, this future research can further research the dual role of online consumerism as both an instrument of empowerment and a source of social and psychological pressure. The paper highlights the importance of inclusivity, culturally sensitivity, and psychologically informed approaches to digital consumer experiences, especially in the case of women, further elaborating on the digital consumer policies. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.3
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Online consumerism
  topic: keywords
subject: Women consumers
  topic: keywords
subject: Self-esteem
  topic: keywords
subject: Social comparison
  topic: keywords
subject: Emotional well-being.
  topic: keywords
creator: Pallavi M.S
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 23
ending page: 35

Intersectionality and Competency Mapping: An Industrial Psychology Perspective on the Experiences of Under-represented Groups in the Indian IT Sector
type: item
description: The Indian information technology (IT) sector exemplifies global competitiveness and rapid digital transformation, yet its celebrated meritocracy conceals enduring patterns of psychological and structural inequity. Grounded in the discipline of industrial psychology, this study explores how intersectional identities—particularly gender, caste, disability, and regional background—influence the experiences of underrepresented employees within competency mapping and digital HR assessment systems. Employing a qualitative interpretive design, forty-eight professionals from eight major IT organizations were interviewed to examine behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual dimensions of workplace inclusion. Findings reveal that competency frameworks—though intended to be objective—often reflect hidden psychological and cultural biases through language, communication norms, and algorithmic evaluation tools. Intersectionally marginalized employees reported lower recognition, limited psychological safety, and reduced access to developmental feedback. Drawing upon intersectionality theory and industrial-organizational psychology, the study introduces the Intersectional Competency Inclusion Framework (ICIF), which integrates fairness, cognitive awareness, and inclusive behavioral design into HR processes. The framework’s five pillars—Recognition, Representation, Reflection, Re-skilling, and Resilience—emphasize equity-centered leadership and the psychological conditions necessary for belonging and performance. The research contributes theoretically by linking industrial psychology with intersectional HRM, reframing competencies as context-sensitive, socially co-constructed, and psychologically dynamic constructs. Practically, it offers actionable pathways for developing inclusive, evidence-based HR systems that balance meritocracy with empathy, equity, and human flourishing in India’s evolving IT workforce. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.2
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Underrepresented Workforce
  topic: keywords
subject: Algorithmic Fairness
  topic: keywords
subject: Indian IT Sector
  topic: keywords
subject: Organizational Behavior
  topic: keywords
subject: Employee Experience
  topic: keywords
subject: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
  topic: keywords
subject: Competency Mapping
  topic: keywords
subject: Industrial Psychology
  topic: keywords
subject: Intersectionality
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital HR
  topic: keywords
subject: Human Resources
  topic: disciplines
subject: Psychology
  topic: disciplines
creator: D Narasimha Rao
creator: Rajeshwari B
creator: S UMA MAHESWARA RAO
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 13
ending page: 22

Sales Stress, Quota Pressure, and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Psychological Analysis of Workplace Anxiety and Performance Outcomes in High-Intensity Sales Roles
type: item
description: This research investigates the psychological and performance consequences of sales stress and quota pressure among professionals occupying high-intensity sales roles in emerging and developed market contexts. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) and Affective Events (AET) frameworks, we conceptualize sales stress as a chronic demand condition characterized by perceived inequity in performance targets, temporal overload, and client-driven pressure, all of which contribute to workplace anxiety and depressive symptomatology. Using a mixed-methods design integrating structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA), data from 320 quota-driven sales professionals reveal that quota pressure and role ambiguity significantly predict anxiety (β = 0.38, p < .001) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.32, p < .001). Anxiety and depression mediate the effects of stress on sales performance (β = –0.29, p < .01) and turnover intention (β = 0.34, p < .01). The fs/QCA results uncover equifinal configurations in which high demands combined with low perceived support yield poor outcomes, whereas balanced demands and strong coping resources maintain productivity. These findings extend the JD-R model by incorporating affective and cognitive mediators, offering actionable insight for sales management and occupational-health practitioners. DOI: doi.org/10.65320/jce.vol.1.issue1.1
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sales Stress
  topic: keywords
subject: Quota Pressure
  topic: keywords
subject: Workplace Anxiety
  topic: keywords
subject: Sales Performance
  topic: keywords
subject: JD-R Model
  topic: keywords
subject: fsQCA
  topic: keywords
subject: Sales Stess
  topic: subjects
subject: quota pressure
  topic: subjects
subject: fsQCA
  topic: subjects
subject: JD-R model
  topic: subjects
subject: turnover intention
  topic: subjects
subject: sales performance
  topic: subjects
subject: depression
  topic: subjects
subject: workplace anxiety
  topic: subjects
subject: PSYCHOLOGY
  topic: disciplines
subject: SALES
  topic: disciplines
creator: S UMA MAHESWARA RAO
creator: Supriya Evangeline
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Cortexplore https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 12