Modern psychology, tied closely to coloniality, is heavily influenced by the Western bio-medical model. Assumptions of dualism that severs the mind and spirit from the body are a legacy of the European philosophical and theological tradition. However, among East Asian cultures with roots in Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the holistic integration of physical, psychological, and spiritual realities situates mental illness as having social, spiritual, and metaphysical etiologies. Western treatment modalities are grounded in their own Euro-American cultural milieu and may not be optimal interventions if they are translated and imported into non-Western contexts. Furthermore, the uncritical adoption of Euro-American psychological frameworks risks perpetuating colonial mentalities on marginalized peoples and the Majority World. As such, this paper systematically presents the ways in which East Asian philosophies shape culturally congruent mental health beliefs, and challenges attendees to consider decolonizing psychological study by researching, understanding, and valuing indigenous knowledge. Examples of research and treatments will be provided to encourage attendees toward a more decolonized practice.

Authors:
Charles Liu, Wheaton College, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Charles Liu is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Wheaton College in United States

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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