Japanese Psychology and Intercultural Training: Presenting Wa in a Nomological Network

Summary

The usefulness of viewing a culture through the lenses of indigenous psychology keywords is the central premise of this chapter. The authors argue that understanding the essence of wa (和) – harmony – in the Japanese experience is vital. Without denying possible etic phenomenology, the chapter argues that several Japanese emic concepts connect with 和 in a nomological network: namely, amae (presumed indulgence), aimai (ambiguity), giri and on (obligation and duty), honne and tatemae (true feelings and overt behavior), and shūdan-ishiki (group consciousness). We conclude by suggesting the use of a folk psychology approach to intercultural training – positive goal-oriented intercultural dialogue leading to the intercultural understanding of indigenous psychology keywords.

Keywords

Japanese indigenous psychology, wa (harmony), amae (presumed indulgence), aimai (ambiguity), giri and on (obligation and duty), honne and tatemae (true feelings and overt behavior), shūdan-ishiki (group consciousness)

Link to book chapter

https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108854184.024

Citation

Dalsky, D., & Su, J. Y. (2020). Japanese Psychology and Intercultural Training: Presenting Wa in a Nomological Network. In D. Landis, & D. Bhawuk (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of intercultural training  4th Edition (pp. 584-597). Cambridge University Press.