COUNSELING STUDIES

Counseling Studies

Counseling Studies

Part 1: Using your personal interest, discuss an idea for research in the field of counselling studies, and relate it to your personal narrative, situated in cultural and historical context. (500-1,500 words)

Adopting an international perspective has brought a new vision to psychology and counseling psychology in the United States. It has challenged counseling psychologists in the United States to confront ethnocentric bias through questioning the universality of Eurocentric theories and models and the validity and applicability to populations outside the United States (Douce, 2004; Gerstein & JEgisdottir, 2005; Heppner, 2006; Kwan & Gerstein, 2008; Leong & Ponterotto, 2003; Pedersen, 2003). Meanwhile, the importance of developing indigenous models has been recognized by a growing number of non-Western psychologists (Hwang, this issue). Indigenous psychologists advocate understanding human behavior in its ecological, historical, philosophical, religious, and cultural context (Kim, Yang, & Hwang, 2006). Scholars from Chinese communities (Chen, 2003; Duan & Wang, 2000; Kwan, 2000) contended that counseling psychology in Chinese communities needs to develop counseling ethics and practices based on the Chinese cultural context. Developing an indigenous, Chinese, culturally specific counseling model not only can expand the counseling literature, practice, and training beyond the United States but also can provide valuable information for counseling and training to Chinese American population in the United States.

Counseling ethnically Chinese people who still embrace and practice Confucian cultural traditions is a complex process. It requires a deep understanding of traditional Confucian values and morality and their influence on the psychological and interpersonal behavior of ethnically Chinese people. The rapid social and cultural changes over the past few decades in Confucian societies have also had a great impact on the people living in these societies. The effects of these changes have further compounded the issue and need to be addressed.

The Confucian tradition is a mode of thinking and a way of life that still provides a standard for ethical and social behaviors in many East Asian cultural groups, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, which are identified as Confucian societies (Hwang, 2001; Tu, 1985). The cardinal characteristic of Confucian thought is concern for social ethics. Knowledge of the Confucian cultural traditions that emphasize role relationships and obligations is crucial to a comprehensive understanding of social behavior in Confucian societies (Hwang, 2001). This section provides an introduction to Confucian social ethics, particularly in the family context, and the concept of Confucian selfhood and the self in relation to others.

Confucian philosophy promoted a number of virtues, including benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), appropriateness (Ii), wisdom (zhi), trust (xin), filial piety (xiao), brotherly love (di) , courage (yang), moderation or "the Middle Way" (zhong yang), and love (ai). These virtues constitute a constellation of positive duties that must be practiced in order to be ren zhen, a person of great character and virtue who is widely admired and respected as a model human being (Wei, 1998). Ren means benevolence and is demonstrated through an individual's transactions with fellow human beings (Hsu, ...