Asian psychology

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World Psychology: Psychology by Country · Psychology of Displaced Persons

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Asian psychology or Eastern psychology is a branch of ethnic psychology that studies psychological concepts and relates it to Asian setting.

Asian psychology is particularly different from other psychologies in that Asians as a group tend to be more familial in orientation, hence, personality evaluation is more inclined on family therapy rather than on the individual. Although there is no central hierarchical order or organization, Asian psychology thrives in its applications.

Many asian psychologies are derived from a ancient systems of physical and mental health that assume an energy system within the human body. See for example Traditional Chinese medicine, Yoga

The energy, which is variously named, Qi, (or Ch'i), Prana or Yin and yang is said to run in channels known as meridians or nardi through points of exchange known as chakras.

Broadly speaking mental and physical health is maximized when these channels are open and free flowing, and impaired when there are blockages in the flow of this energy. It is characteristic of these systems of medicine that psychological and physical conditions are seen as interlinked.

Psychological therapy depends on various techniques for improving flow, through diet, fasting, accupuncture, massage, exercise, Yoga etc. Most approaches emphasise the benefit of preventative strategies laid out in prescribed maintenance routines for daily living, rather than short term treatment for when things go wrong. See Qigong, Yoga

Some of these approaches are infused with religious elements and are derived from religious practices and are embedded within religious philosophies, which makes it difficult to decide what are the basic psychological, testable procedures being recommended and where the exactly the boundaries between psychology, philosophy and religion lie.

Branches of eastern psychology

• Philippine psychology

See also

• Siddha
• Traditional Mongolian medicine

Key texts

Books

• Suler, J.R. (1993). Contemporary Psychoanalysis and Eastern Thought. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.

Additional material

Papers

• Google Scholar