Emerging Identities in a Changing Society:

The Intersection of Contradictory Forces of Culture and History in China

 

 

Dr. Lakshmi Bandlamudi

Professor of Psychology

LaGuardia Community College

Fulbright – Hays Seminar. 2004.

 

 

            This project is designed to introduce the culture and history of China in order to understand the dynamic interplay of psychological factors. In the present global community, it is necessary for students of psychology to understand the cultural and historical factors that shape individual identity. The project is to be implemented in the following college level courses:

-         Introduction to Psychology

-         Developmental Psychology I (Theoretical Issues)

-         Developmental Psychology II (Adulthood and Life Span)

-         Psychology of Women

 

The following are some central themes and topics that will be highlighted and discussed in the classrooms:

 

·                    China has been the focus of much attention because of its rise as an economic power.

 

·                    The changes in China in all walks of life are unprecedented.

 

·                    When cultures undergo rapid change, the “past” is forcefully contested, anxiously preserved and actively reconstructed.

 

·                    When particularly ‘old civilizations’ undergo rapid change, the ‘past’ – both cultural and individual becomes a contested zone.

 

·                    The most visible outcome of the unprecedented economic growth is the great divide between the urban rich and the rural poor.

 

·                    Chinese culture must be understood because it is 23% of the world population.

 

·                    There are contradictory forces in Chinese culture. On one hand it is experiencing rapid changes and on the other hand within the collective consciousness their worst fears are about instability, chaos and disintegration. They would rather give up freedom to maintain stability.

 

·                    Some traditional values that Chinese live by are: Loyalty, Filial piety, Act on your words, Believe in truth, Nationalism, Diligence, Be Frugal, Be Brave, Be Wise. Loyalty was historically bi-directional – the powerful and powerless were loyal to each other. But now it is uni-directional.

 

·                    The Chinese culture is fervently nationalistic.

 

·                    The official ‘One Child Policy’, while it has controlled population growth, there are unintended consequences. The policy is successful only in big cities. Furthermore, it is a patriarchal society and hence there is preference for boys. Availability of advanced Sonogram has led to female feticide. Thus, the sex ratio is skewed – 116 boys: 100 girls.

 

·                    The ‘One Child Policy’ is implemented only for the majority Han. The minority groups are exempt from it resulting in passive resentment towards the minorities.

 

·                    Some negative consequences of economic change are

-         unemployment

-         underemployment

-         state owned enterprises laid off

-         huge floating population of migrant workers

-         health care

-         socio-economic extremes

-         environmental pollution

-         23% of the world population concentrated on 7% of the world land is a problem.

 

·                    An important point to be considered regarding mental health issue is that China has the highest suicide rate in the world. Furthermore an important gender factor is that 56% of the suicides are females.

 

·                    Economic changes combined with ‘One Child Policy’ have adverse effects on the elderly. The old social security provided by the government is withdrawn and because of one child policy there are fewer children to take care of the aging population.

 

·                    Education is highly valued and emphasized in China. However the system is exam oriented.

 

·                    The autonomous regions face the problem of split identity. The split is most distinct in Tibet. Tibet is a deeply spiritual and theocratic society and they share very little with the Chinese. While the Chinese recognize the cultural differences, they have no interest in granting independence or autonomy. Tibet is a human rights issue.

 

·                    HongKong is an interesting situation. While they share cultural values with the Mainland China, they have had different history and therefore the political climate is different. HongKong was a British colony and in 1997 it officially became part of China. Now efforts are being made to assimilate Hongkong with China.

 

The objective in the course work is to discuss various psychological issues focusing on the culture and history of China. Based on the broad themes, the students are expected to explore some of the following questions:

 

·                    What is the impact of the ‘one child policy’ on the family, the growing individual and the society?

 

·                    What problems do you foresee as a result of shifting sex ratios?

 

·                    Discuss the gender dynamics and gender discrimination in this rapidly changing society.

 

·                    What are the challenges to the cultural norms and values in a rapidly changing society, particularly in the economic sphere?

 

·                    Who benefits and who loses and what are the benefits and the losses in these rapid economic changes?

 

·                    This question is specific to developmental courses. The philosophy of dialectical materialism holds that individual psychological change follows changes in material conditions. China’s situation is somewhat unique. While the economic sphere has been liberalized, the social and political sphere is restricted, with no democratic rights and controlled press and closely monitored academic sphere. What are the challenges to the individual when the changing landscape is not fully visible and the tools for critical analysis are withheld?

 

·                    Explore the problems of split identity in Tibet and HongKong.

 

·                    Investigate the problems faced by the elderly – the economic security once provided by the government is withdrawn and the familial support is dwindling with fewer children available to provide care. As a student of psychology discuss the psychological issues like depression and anxiety faced by the elderly.

 

·                    In a culture that values loyalty and respect, how do you think frustration will be expressed?

 

Resource Materials for Students

 

            The following are the reference materials placed in the library on reserve for students to do their term project. In addition to these materials students are expected to conduct their library research to explore the issues in an in-depth manner.

           

·                    Field notes made by me in China.

 

·                    Reference materials provided by the National Committee on US- China Relations.

 

·                    Reference materials given by various educational institutions in China.

 

·                    Newspaper clippings: series of articles on China in New York Times – ‘The Great Divide’.

 

·                    Spence, Jonathan D. The Search for Modern China. Revised Edition. NY: W.W. Norton and Company. 1999.

 

·                    Clayre, Alasdair. The Heart of the Dragon. A Companion to the PBS Series. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 1985.

 

·                    Spence, Jonathan D. Mao Zedong. NY: Viking/Penguin. 1999.

 

·                    Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two years on the Yangtze. London. John Murray. 2001.

 

·                    Xinran. The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices. New York. Anchor Books. 2002.

 

·                    Chang, Jung. Wild Swans: Three daughters of China. New York. Anchor Books. 1991.

 

·                    Kingston, Maxine Hong. The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts. New York. Vintage International. 1989.

 

·                    Xingjian Gao. Soul Mountain. New York. Harper Collins. 2000

 

·                    Xingjian Gao. One Man’s Bible: A Novel. New York. Harper Collins. 2002.

 

Standards

 

            Students are expected to undertake a college-level research paper and discuss psychological issues with a focus on China. They must show that they have made an attempt to understand a culture according to its internal laws and values and not impose their cultural biases even as they give their critique. They should draw converging and diverging points between cultures, and identify the universals and cultural specifics.

 

 

Objectives

 

            The objective is to gain awareness of another culture and not assume that psychological factors are universal. Furthermore it is an exercise in understanding that the developing individual is always embedded in the contradictory forces of culture and history.

 

            Students will be encouraged to undertake creative projects like review of a film or a book or conduct case studies of ‘Life in China’ or critique and analyze a short story from Xinran’s The Good Women of China, or any other book that focuses on life in China.

 

Assessment

 

            The projects will be evaluated according the standards set for a college level research paper.

 

Follow-up Activities

 

            Students will be encouraged to hold extra-curricular activities like ‘film series’ or ‘book club’ with a focus on China in Student clubs like the Psychology Club or Student Center for Women.