Collectivism vs. Individualism

Asian societies tend to be "collectivistic" in nature, as are many other ethnically diverse communities. This means that the members of a group would behave in ways that are more conducive to the community, rather than thinking about the individual first. This is in contrast to Western societies, where "individualism" is valued. An example would be Americans are taught to be number one and competition is often between individuals. In societies that are collectivistic, individuals may sacrifice their personal needs on behalf of the greater good. An example would be all members of a household working at a family owned business on top of their own responsibilities.

What might be a reason for the collectivism? Asian famly structures often translate into intergenerational households. In addition to the nuclear family of parents and children, grandparents may also reside in the same home. At times, unmarried siblings of the parents may also live with the host family. In other instances, siblings and their respective families may live in close proximity with one another. This would mean that all members need to learn to live in harmony with one another without disrupting others. Therefore, the members of the household learn to interact with family members in a way that does not cause tension for others.

Somaticization

Asian Americans aren't encouraged to say things like: "I feel nervous now." "You make me upset." or "Hearing that saddens me." These are considered too direct methods of conveying negative states of emotions. In fact, there are very limited ranges of negative feelings that can be expressed in many of the Asian languages. However, in Western languages, there are a wide range of ways one can express feeling angry. For example, one can be annoyed or perturbed vs. incensed and outraged.

Instead, Asian Americans have alternative methods of conveying their negative feelings. These are usually expressed physiologically. This means that one could have recurring stomach aches or head aches when they are actually experiencing stress or relationship difficulties. This is why it is not uncommon for primary care physicians to refer Asian Americans for mental health screenings when an organic explanation is not available for a somatic complaint. Therefore, pay attention to your body and what it might be telling you.

PTSD & Asian Americans

There was an earthquake in Southern California this past week. Did anyone feel it? Did it remind you of earthquakes years ago? For some, traumatic events such as earthquakes bring about nightmares, frightening memories, or even physical symptoms. If you are Asian American, chances are you express your post-traumatic stress disorder (aka: PTSD) as somatic symptoms. This means that instead of being able to say to others that a frightening event continues to haunt you, it may be more common for you to have a head ache or stomach ache. Stay tuned to hear more about Asians and somaticization of symptoms.

Within Group Differences

Folks who are not Asian may think that all Asians look and act alike. Turns out that differences transcend food and language preferences. A little known fact is that there are many "within group" differences that may lead to splintering within the Asian American community. The historical impact of wars fought centuries ago many lead to current day inability to collaborate with one another. Some Asians are the most "xenophobic" (fear of others) and this may lead to an unwillingness to learn about other groups.

How to combat this? Communication and a willingness to explore similarities rather than highlighting differences may help to reduce the within group tensions that are experienced within the Asian American community. Be open to learning about other groups beyond a superficial level and one may find that there are more commonalities than previously thought.

Saving Face & Stigma

Asian Americans tend to seek mental health services at a lower rate than the general public. Is this because they tend to have fewer mental health issues? It is actually because Asian Americans have a cultural value called "saving face" that prevents them from airing dirty laundry publicly (e.g., seeking help through a third party). By the time an individual or family seeks mental health treatment, they are usually far more severe than their counterparts. Therefore, it's important to understand the cultural implications for "losing face" by seeking services and encourage Asian Americans to seek help in the earlier phases of potential problem resolution since studies also show that prevention (before a problem arises) and early intervention (just when an issue becomes problematic) tend to be more effective than crisis intervention (when a problem has gotten out of control).

Model Minority Myth

Asian Americans are often touted as the model minorities. This usually means that Asians get good grades, make an above average household income, and are generally good citizens that cause little civil disturbances.

Sounds good? This is actually a harmful stereotype that pits Asian Americans against one another and other minority groups. What happens if an Asian American youth doesn't fall into the category of being good at math, playing a musical instrument, and being college-bound?

Not conforming to the Model Minority Myth could lead to symptoms of anxiety or depression. This also means that those families who might benefit from social services may not be able to readily seek help. Statistics actually show that most Asian Americans do not fit this stereotype, yet the myth is perpetuated.

Acculturation

Different levels of acculturation are often the main contributing factor to immigrant families experiencing conflicts. What does this mean? Simply, that those who bring values from another culture (e.g., Asia) and raise children in the host culture (e.g., United States), may have different ideas of what types of food, music, and romantic relationships are appropriate. How to get around this? Communication is the key. Cherishing differences and talking out our expectations with one another can help to reduce the culture gap. For more information, contact Dr. Michi Fu at drmichifu@gmail.com.