Psychiatry is a human science and its subject matter is the individual's psychic reality which de... more Psychiatry is a human science and its subject matter is the individual's psychic reality which defies the degree of certainty and validity required of the discourse in natural sciences. However, modern psychiatry, as we know it, in the 21st century has moved from understanding the psychogenic cause of a symptom to a medical model of controlling and manipulating symptoms. An important reason for this shift was the increasing awareness that some medications (lithium carbonate, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics) were of benefit to certain kinds of disorders, and the ongoing research in this area held a promise for better and more effective medications that could target many other mental disorders. Equally important was the dissatisfaction and conflict within the profession, as well as the attacks, in the 1950's, from the antipsychiatry movement that challenged the arbitrariness of psychiatric diagnosis which lacked a pathophysiologic explanation for the illness. An indication of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) struggle to develop a credible classification system of psychiatric disorders is best reflected in the history of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM). This manual was first published in 1952, with subsequent revisions, the latest being the publication of DSM-5, in 2013. Until the 1970's the manuals (DSM-I and DSM-II) were conceived on a biopsychosocial model with a psychodynamic tilt influenced by Freud's theory of personality development and intrapsychic conflict, as well as Meyer's psychosocial model, which downplayed psychiatric disorders as discrete, specific pathological entities. This model had a significant impact in teaching and clinical practice with individual psychotherapy becoming an essential feature of psychiatry. However the shortcoming of this approach was that it lacked a clear demarcation between the mentally healthy and sick; this lead to questions about the status and legitimacy of psychiatry as a medical science. Added to the grave doubts about the validity and reliability of psychiatric diagnosis was the embarrassment when in the early 1970's the gay rights movement lobbied against homosexuality being labeled as a disorder in DSM-II, which was later excluded from DSM III published in 1980. So the removal of a disorder was based on political pressure, rather than scientific research. DSM-III (followed by DSM-III-R, 1989) which was a significant turning point in the history of psychiatry in USA, adopted a descriptive, nosological approach which could be supported by research findings that lent greater reliability and validity to psychiatric constructs. Assessment through description of symptoms which were publicly visible was stressed over psychological etiology which by its very nature was private and invisible. This bold and creditable step by the APA was not free from criticisms, many of which were warranted. A most vocal critic of DSM-III-R, Dr. Paula Caplan a clinical and research psychologist, and a human rights advocate, forwarded a trenchant argument against the inclusion of diagnostic labels, such as Self-Defeating Personality Disorder (SDPD) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Both these disorders were applicable to a majority of women. The former (SDPD), facetiously referred to as "good wife syndrome", included characteristics such a putting needs of others ahead of one's own, feeling unappreciated etc. Interestingly, this "portrait" of SDPD is most germane to the accepted and desirable gender role for Pakistani women as well. The latter's (PMDD) diagnostic features consist of "bloating" breast tenderness coupled with irritability, fatigue, being "on edge" etc. Dr. Caplan questioned the scientific basis of inclusion of PMDD in a psychiatric manual, pointing out that it is just a fancy name for PMS. In lieu of the scathing criticism from feminists, the two diagnoses were not included in the main text of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV-TM (2004) but were instead placed in an appendix titled "Diagnostic Categories Needing Further Study." The publication of DSM-5 in 2013, nine years after DSM-IV-TM was awaited with much anticipation. Surprisingly, mental health professionals expressed concerns while DSM-5 was in the making. Most of these concerns were around newly introduced categories and the lowering of thresholds for many disorders which would invariably lead to over diagnosis of the existing disorders. Allen Frances, who chaired the task force of DSM-IV was the most forceful and potent critic of DSM-5. In his high profile articles he argued that many changes were arbitrary and scientifically untenable and with the expansiveness of diagnostic categories and diagnosis based on checklists of symptoms, would be more beneficial to drug companies than to the client themselves. He also bemoaned the fact that DSM's descriptive and atheoretical approach was biased in favor of medication and downplayed the role of psychotherapy and counseling. While it is not possible to address all the contentious changes in DSM-5, the elimination of bereavement exclusion from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), increases
There is considerable amount of research which indicates that in any type of relationship, the pe... more There is considerable amount of research which indicates that in any type of relationship, the person who is first to seek therapy is not necessarily the more disturbed member. In marriage, it is found that the wife more frequently initiates and is more willing to be involved in therapy, than the husband. The present research compared two comparative groups of married couples, in one the females were the initiators of psychotherapy, (F1 group), and in the other the males were the initiators of psychotherapy (M1 group). It was hypothesized that the M1'group would have greater perceptual incongruency •than the F 1 group. The underlying assumption was that the males in the M1 group were engaging in atypical role behaviour, which is often associated with marital maladjustment. Thus, the maritally maladjusted group would also be the group with greater perceptual incongruency. Besides answering a biographical questionnaire, the subjects were also required to check the Leary Interpersonal Check List (ICL), for perception of the "Self" and "Spouse".
Science Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science, 2013
Considerable cross-cultural research has been conducted on Western or individualistic cultures an... more Considerable cross-cultural research has been conducted on Western or individualistic cultures and Asian or collectivistic cultures. In the latter case, mostly Chinese populations or Asian immigrants in the United States have been the subject of study. A great deal less is known about cultures from South Asia. The present chapter uses examples from my psychotherapy experience with Pakistanis to highlight common family norms and religious values that underlie childrearing practices. I will also provide a brief overview of research related to individualistic and collectivistic cultures and how these inform the self and its relationship. This chapter will also describe the few studies that have been conducted in this country. While my insights and experiences are by no means wholly representative of a country that includes several ethnic, linguistic, and cultural traditions, I will highlight some of the commonalities that are observable in Pakistani parenting styles.
Although psychological problems of medical students in the West have received attention, comparab... more Although psychological problems of medical students in the West have received attention, comparable studies for African or Asian countries are rare. This article seeks to fill this gap by providing data on students seeking counseling in a medical college in Pakistan, over 2 academic years (n = 60). Some 9% of students enrolled sought help, which is comparable to proportions reported in Western countries. Unlike studies abroad, the difference between female and male students seeking help was not statistically significant. The most frequent presenting symptom was low mood (39%), followed by anxiety (36%), and depression (25%). Interpersonal and academic problems were the most frequent reasons for seeking help. Consultation rates were significantly higher among on‐campus residents from out of town than among off‐campus local residents. Cultural factors are highlighted in the comparative discussion of results.
This paper suggests that psychology can contribute to a better understanding of conditions prevai... more This paper suggests that psychology can contribute to a better understanding of conditions prevailing in "underdeveloped" countries. To do so, however, psychologists must overcome psychology's almost exclusive focus on the individual; and economists the tendency of their to look at "developing" societies not in terms of their own experience but in terms of the experience of European-type societies. With these shifts, the paper proposes a three point strategy: a) "underdevelopment" should be defined not in terms of deficits of wealth and capital accumulation, but in terms of appropiately selected psychological variables (for example, by combining Hirsehman's Exit-Voice-Loyality framework with Bandura's social cognitive theory, deficits of perceived self-efficacy-at individual and collective levels-can provide a potential alternative defination); b) an ideological theory of "social helplessness" if then sketched, in the light of historical experience of Pakistan; and c) the possiblity of psychological thearapeutic (or, policy) interventions with reference especially to Bandura's work on human agency and Beck's work on treatment of depression. In conclusion the paper calls for a greater consensus on the paradigm proposed, or extentions of it, before further research takes place.
Psychological separation from parents is considered an important task in the development of the a... more Psychological separation from parents is considered an important task in the development of the autonomous self. However, theorising about the importance of autonomy from parents for normal development has originated from individualistic cultures that socialise for independence. Urban, Pakistani middle-class, early and late adolescents completed measures related to behavioural autonomy (BA), emotional autonomy (EA) and detachment, and completed measures of psychological adjustment. Low detachment from parents and early BA in matters of personal choice is associated with good psychological adjustment. In contrast to the West where detachment is adaptive in families where parenting is not optimal, detach ment was not associated with good functioning even when parents are not perceived as sup portive. The pattern of findings complement those from the West, but also emphasise some important differences in the persistence of emotional interdependence across generations that distinguish t...
This article reviews the state of psychology in Pakistan, with special reference to clinical psyc... more This article reviews the state of psychology in Pakistan, with special reference to clinical psychology. The issues of statutory recognition, credentials required for practice, public perception of psychology, the practice of indigenous "clinical psychology", sources of payment for psychological services, and relations between psychologists and psychiatrists are reviewed.
In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 mothers of adolescents in Pakistan to explore the mean... more In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 mothers of adolescents in Pakistan to explore the meaning of “autonomy” in this collective, highly gender-differentiated culture. Middle class mothers did not spontaneously mention autonomy as a basic human need; positive relationships were, however, readily emphasised. Nevertheless, on specific questioning, all mothers indicated that autonomy was a basic need for both sexes. Autonomy was seen as potentially threatening to important goals for both sexes. Female kin were frequently described as an important source of restriction on women's autonomy. In raising daughters, mothers discouraged autonomy, emphasising the central importance of marriage and the attendant requirement of adjustment to in-laws. Increasing autonomy was seen as part of the life cycle as women attained seniority within their married families. Autonomy was seen as an environmentally determined and life-staged related opportunity rather than a right. The study sheds light on a universally important psychological need and its manifestations in an understudied modernising collective group.
This study reverses the usual process of assessing universality by examining whether a construct ... more This study reverses the usual process of assessing universality by examining whether a construct originating in non-western cultures has functional relevance in the West. The construct of guan or "training" was proposed by Chao (1994) as re ecting important Chinese parenting practices also shared by other Confucian cultures. She proposed that this construct is more relevant to the understanding of outcomes among Asian-American youth than constructs that have been developed in the West, such as "authoritative" parenting. The association among the behaviours incorporated in this construct and other "universal" parenting styles such as parental warmth has not been previously reported. Nor has there been a previous report of the prevalence and perceived desirability of guan behaviours from Western individuals. Participants in the present study were US (N = 118), Hong Kong (N = 171) and Pakistani (N = 98) nursing students. In all three cultures, guan items had adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from .69 to .76), associated positively with parental warmth (Pearsons' r ranging from .37 to .52), and were seen as attributes of ideal parents. Mothers in all three cultures were perceived as showing more guan than fathers show. The associations between parental guan and the outcomes of perceived health, relationship harmony and life satisfaction were signi cant for the Asian participants. Tests of guan's functional relevance in the West had equivocal results with weak associations to positive outcomes in the West compared to Asia. However, the differences between cultures did not reach statistical signi cance. When the cultures were merged, parental training perceptions predicted a signi cant proportion of the variance in outcomes. Mothers' guan predicted self-esteem in their children, whereas fathers' guan predicted life satisfaction. Although guan may have emerged from a Chinese cultural context, it appears to function similarly in many cultural systems, and may represent the Asian face of authoritative parenting. Cette étude renverse le processus habituel d'évaluation de l'universalité en examinant si un construit issu des cultures non occidentales possède une pertinence fonctionnelle en Occident. La structure de guan ou "entraînement" a été proposé par Chao (1994) a n de montrer des pratiques parentales chinoises importantes partagées également par d'autres cultures d'adeptes de Confucius. Elle a suggéré que ce construit était plus pertinent pour la compréhension des effets de l'éducation sur la jeunesse asiatico-américaine que d'autres construits développés en Occident, tel que l'autoritarisme parental. Il n'existe aucun rapport précédant sur l'association entre les comportements incorporés à ce construit et d'autres styles parentaux "universels", comme la chaleur parentale. Il n'y a pas non plus d'autre rapport sur la prévalence et la désirabilité perçue des comportements guan de la part d'individus occidentaux. Les participants à cette étude étaient des élèves in rmiers des USA (N = 118), de Hong Kong (N = 171) et du Pakistan (N = 98). Dans les trois cultures, les réactifs guan avaient une consistance interne adéquate (les alpha de Cronbach allaient de .69 à .76), ils s'associaient positivement avec la chaleur parentale (les Pearsons allaient de .37 à .52), et étaient considérés comme des attributs parentaux idéaux. Dans les trois cultures, les mères ont montré selon les participants plus de guan que les pères. Les associations entre les guan des parents et les effets sur la santé, l'harmonie dans les relations et la satisfaction dans la vie perçues ont été signi catifs pour les participants asiatiques. Les tests sur la pertinence fonctionnelle de guan parmi les occidentaux ont eu des résultats inconsistants avec des associations faibles à des effets positifs en Occident en comparaisons avec les Asiatiques. Cependant, la différence entre les cultures n'a pas été statistiquement signi cative. Quand les cultures ont été intégrées, la perception de l'entraînement parental a prédit une proportion signi cative de la variance. Le guan des mères a prédit l'auto estime de leurs enfants, tandis que le guan des pères a prédit la satisfaction dans la vie. Bien que le guan soit issu du contexte culturel chinois, il paraît fonctionner de manière similaire dans beaucoup de systèmes culturels et peut représenter l'aspect asiatique de l'autoritarisme parental. Este estudio revierte el proceso usual de evaluar la universalidad examinando si un constructo que se origina en una cultura no occidental tiene relevancia funcional en occidente. Chao (1994) propuso el constructo de guan o "entrenamiento" para re ejar importantes prácticas parentales chinas también compartidas por otras culturas seguidoras de Confucio. Propuso que este constructo es más relevante para el entendimiento de los efectos de la crianza entre la juventud asiático-americana que constructos desarrollados en occidente, tales como crianza "autoritativa". No se ha informado previamente de la asociación
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 1999
We obtained information regarding parenting perceptions and psychosocial adjustment from 102 Paki... more We obtained information regarding parenting perceptions and psychosocial adjustment from 102 Pakistani young women. Parenting behaviours assessed pertained to warmth and dominating control, as well as to “training” (proposed by Chao as having relevance in other Asian cultures), and indigenously relevant items related to religion and shame/honour. Adjustment measures included self-esteem, relationship harmony, and self-perceived health, shown to have relevance in other Asian cultures. In two-factor analyses, perceptions of parents’ warmth and training behaviours combined into a factor that correlated positively with adjustment measures, whereas the dominating control factor correlated negatively. In three-factor analyses, perceptions of mothers’ training behaviours predicted variance in relationship harmony, independent of perceptions of warmth and dominating control behaviours. These findings support Chao’s views that the dimension of training may play a particularly important role ...
In theory, a market for kidneys could increase the supply of organs while benefiting impoverished... more In theory, a market for kidneys could increase the supply of organs while benefiting impoverished people. In-depth sociological work reveals a different set of realities.
Objective: Attitudes of medical students toward a specialty is strongly related to their future c... more Objective: Attitudes of medical students toward a specialty is strongly related to their future choice of specialty. In developing countries like Pakistan, where there is a shortage of psychiatrists, there is a need to assess the effect of exposure to psychiatry on medical students.
This paper describes the usage of a force feedback steering wheel interface in sound environments... more This paper describes the usage of a force feedback steering wheel interface in sound environments focusing on the example of sound.toy. Sound.toy is a student’s project for creating and producing electronic music. Well known artists have experimented with sound installations before, e.g. Chris O’Shea developed his Echo Chamber and Golan Levin performed Scribble. The use of an intuitive interface became a crucial point in developing sound.toy. The installation I Am Driving Through Sound Space by Carlos A. Rocha inspired our User Interaction.
In-depth sociological work on those who opt to sell their kidneys reveals a different set of real... more In-depth sociological work on those who opt to sell their kidneys reveals a different set of realities.
Psychiatry is a human science and its subject matter is the individual's psychic reality which de... more Psychiatry is a human science and its subject matter is the individual's psychic reality which defies the degree of certainty and validity required of the discourse in natural sciences. However, modern psychiatry, as we know it, in the 21st century has moved from understanding the psychogenic cause of a symptom to a medical model of controlling and manipulating symptoms. An important reason for this shift was the increasing awareness that some medications (lithium carbonate, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics) were of benefit to certain kinds of disorders, and the ongoing research in this area held a promise for better and more effective medications that could target many other mental disorders. Equally important was the dissatisfaction and conflict within the profession, as well as the attacks, in the 1950's, from the antipsychiatry movement that challenged the arbitrariness of psychiatric diagnosis which lacked a pathophysiologic explanation for the illness. An indication of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) struggle to develop a credible classification system of psychiatric disorders is best reflected in the history of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM). This manual was first published in 1952, with subsequent revisions, the latest being the publication of DSM-5, in 2013. Until the 1970's the manuals (DSM-I and DSM-II) were conceived on a biopsychosocial model with a psychodynamic tilt influenced by Freud's theory of personality development and intrapsychic conflict, as well as Meyer's psychosocial model, which downplayed psychiatric disorders as discrete, specific pathological entities. This model had a significant impact in teaching and clinical practice with individual psychotherapy becoming an essential feature of psychiatry. However the shortcoming of this approach was that it lacked a clear demarcation between the mentally healthy and sick; this lead to questions about the status and legitimacy of psychiatry as a medical science. Added to the grave doubts about the validity and reliability of psychiatric diagnosis was the embarrassment when in the early 1970's the gay rights movement lobbied against homosexuality being labeled as a disorder in DSM-II, which was later excluded from DSM III published in 1980. So the removal of a disorder was based on political pressure, rather than scientific research. DSM-III (followed by DSM-III-R, 1989) which was a significant turning point in the history of psychiatry in USA, adopted a descriptive, nosological approach which could be supported by research findings that lent greater reliability and validity to psychiatric constructs. Assessment through description of symptoms which were publicly visible was stressed over psychological etiology which by its very nature was private and invisible. This bold and creditable step by the APA was not free from criticisms, many of which were warranted. A most vocal critic of DSM-III-R, Dr. Paula Caplan a clinical and research psychologist, and a human rights advocate, forwarded a trenchant argument against the inclusion of diagnostic labels, such as Self-Defeating Personality Disorder (SDPD) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Both these disorders were applicable to a majority of women. The former (SDPD), facetiously referred to as "good wife syndrome", included characteristics such a putting needs of others ahead of one's own, feeling unappreciated etc. Interestingly, this "portrait" of SDPD is most germane to the accepted and desirable gender role for Pakistani women as well. The latter's (PMDD) diagnostic features consist of "bloating" breast tenderness coupled with irritability, fatigue, being "on edge" etc. Dr. Caplan questioned the scientific basis of inclusion of PMDD in a psychiatric manual, pointing out that it is just a fancy name for PMS. In lieu of the scathing criticism from feminists, the two diagnoses were not included in the main text of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV-TM (2004) but were instead placed in an appendix titled "Diagnostic Categories Needing Further Study." The publication of DSM-5 in 2013, nine years after DSM-IV-TM was awaited with much anticipation. Surprisingly, mental health professionals expressed concerns while DSM-5 was in the making. Most of these concerns were around newly introduced categories and the lowering of thresholds for many disorders which would invariably lead to over diagnosis of the existing disorders. Allen Frances, who chaired the task force of DSM-IV was the most forceful and potent critic of DSM-5. In his high profile articles he argued that many changes were arbitrary and scientifically untenable and with the expansiveness of diagnostic categories and diagnosis based on checklists of symptoms, would be more beneficial to drug companies than to the client themselves. He also bemoaned the fact that DSM's descriptive and atheoretical approach was biased in favor of medication and downplayed the role of psychotherapy and counseling. While it is not possible to address all the contentious changes in DSM-5, the elimination of bereavement exclusion from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), increases
There is considerable amount of research which indicates that in any type of relationship, the pe... more There is considerable amount of research which indicates that in any type of relationship, the person who is first to seek therapy is not necessarily the more disturbed member. In marriage, it is found that the wife more frequently initiates and is more willing to be involved in therapy, than the husband. The present research compared two comparative groups of married couples, in one the females were the initiators of psychotherapy, (F1 group), and in the other the males were the initiators of psychotherapy (M1 group). It was hypothesized that the M1'group would have greater perceptual incongruency •than the F 1 group. The underlying assumption was that the males in the M1 group were engaging in atypical role behaviour, which is often associated with marital maladjustment. Thus, the maritally maladjusted group would also be the group with greater perceptual incongruency. Besides answering a biographical questionnaire, the subjects were also required to check the Leary Interpersonal Check List (ICL), for perception of the "Self" and "Spouse".
Science Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science, 2013
Considerable cross-cultural research has been conducted on Western or individualistic cultures an... more Considerable cross-cultural research has been conducted on Western or individualistic cultures and Asian or collectivistic cultures. In the latter case, mostly Chinese populations or Asian immigrants in the United States have been the subject of study. A great deal less is known about cultures from South Asia. The present chapter uses examples from my psychotherapy experience with Pakistanis to highlight common family norms and religious values that underlie childrearing practices. I will also provide a brief overview of research related to individualistic and collectivistic cultures and how these inform the self and its relationship. This chapter will also describe the few studies that have been conducted in this country. While my insights and experiences are by no means wholly representative of a country that includes several ethnic, linguistic, and cultural traditions, I will highlight some of the commonalities that are observable in Pakistani parenting styles.
Although psychological problems of medical students in the West have received attention, comparab... more Although psychological problems of medical students in the West have received attention, comparable studies for African or Asian countries are rare. This article seeks to fill this gap by providing data on students seeking counseling in a medical college in Pakistan, over 2 academic years (n = 60). Some 9% of students enrolled sought help, which is comparable to proportions reported in Western countries. Unlike studies abroad, the difference between female and male students seeking help was not statistically significant. The most frequent presenting symptom was low mood (39%), followed by anxiety (36%), and depression (25%). Interpersonal and academic problems were the most frequent reasons for seeking help. Consultation rates were significantly higher among on‐campus residents from out of town than among off‐campus local residents. Cultural factors are highlighted in the comparative discussion of results.
This paper suggests that psychology can contribute to a better understanding of conditions prevai... more This paper suggests that psychology can contribute to a better understanding of conditions prevailing in "underdeveloped" countries. To do so, however, psychologists must overcome psychology's almost exclusive focus on the individual; and economists the tendency of their to look at "developing" societies not in terms of their own experience but in terms of the experience of European-type societies. With these shifts, the paper proposes a three point strategy: a) "underdevelopment" should be defined not in terms of deficits of wealth and capital accumulation, but in terms of appropiately selected psychological variables (for example, by combining Hirsehman's Exit-Voice-Loyality framework with Bandura's social cognitive theory, deficits of perceived self-efficacy-at individual and collective levels-can provide a potential alternative defination); b) an ideological theory of "social helplessness" if then sketched, in the light of historical experience of Pakistan; and c) the possiblity of psychological thearapeutic (or, policy) interventions with reference especially to Bandura's work on human agency and Beck's work on treatment of depression. In conclusion the paper calls for a greater consensus on the paradigm proposed, or extentions of it, before further research takes place.
Psychological separation from parents is considered an important task in the development of the a... more Psychological separation from parents is considered an important task in the development of the autonomous self. However, theorising about the importance of autonomy from parents for normal development has originated from individualistic cultures that socialise for independence. Urban, Pakistani middle-class, early and late adolescents completed measures related to behavioural autonomy (BA), emotional autonomy (EA) and detachment, and completed measures of psychological adjustment. Low detachment from parents and early BA in matters of personal choice is associated with good psychological adjustment. In contrast to the West where detachment is adaptive in families where parenting is not optimal, detach ment was not associated with good functioning even when parents are not perceived as sup portive. The pattern of findings complement those from the West, but also emphasise some important differences in the persistence of emotional interdependence across generations that distinguish t...
This article reviews the state of psychology in Pakistan, with special reference to clinical psyc... more This article reviews the state of psychology in Pakistan, with special reference to clinical psychology. The issues of statutory recognition, credentials required for practice, public perception of psychology, the practice of indigenous "clinical psychology", sources of payment for psychological services, and relations between psychologists and psychiatrists are reviewed.
In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 mothers of adolescents in Pakistan to explore the mean... more In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 mothers of adolescents in Pakistan to explore the meaning of “autonomy” in this collective, highly gender-differentiated culture. Middle class mothers did not spontaneously mention autonomy as a basic human need; positive relationships were, however, readily emphasised. Nevertheless, on specific questioning, all mothers indicated that autonomy was a basic need for both sexes. Autonomy was seen as potentially threatening to important goals for both sexes. Female kin were frequently described as an important source of restriction on women's autonomy. In raising daughters, mothers discouraged autonomy, emphasising the central importance of marriage and the attendant requirement of adjustment to in-laws. Increasing autonomy was seen as part of the life cycle as women attained seniority within their married families. Autonomy was seen as an environmentally determined and life-staged related opportunity rather than a right. The study sheds light on a universally important psychological need and its manifestations in an understudied modernising collective group.
This study reverses the usual process of assessing universality by examining whether a construct ... more This study reverses the usual process of assessing universality by examining whether a construct originating in non-western cultures has functional relevance in the West. The construct of guan or "training" was proposed by Chao (1994) as re ecting important Chinese parenting practices also shared by other Confucian cultures. She proposed that this construct is more relevant to the understanding of outcomes among Asian-American youth than constructs that have been developed in the West, such as "authoritative" parenting. The association among the behaviours incorporated in this construct and other "universal" parenting styles such as parental warmth has not been previously reported. Nor has there been a previous report of the prevalence and perceived desirability of guan behaviours from Western individuals. Participants in the present study were US (N = 118), Hong Kong (N = 171) and Pakistani (N = 98) nursing students. In all three cultures, guan items had adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from .69 to .76), associated positively with parental warmth (Pearsons' r ranging from .37 to .52), and were seen as attributes of ideal parents. Mothers in all three cultures were perceived as showing more guan than fathers show. The associations between parental guan and the outcomes of perceived health, relationship harmony and life satisfaction were signi cant for the Asian participants. Tests of guan's functional relevance in the West had equivocal results with weak associations to positive outcomes in the West compared to Asia. However, the differences between cultures did not reach statistical signi cance. When the cultures were merged, parental training perceptions predicted a signi cant proportion of the variance in outcomes. Mothers' guan predicted self-esteem in their children, whereas fathers' guan predicted life satisfaction. Although guan may have emerged from a Chinese cultural context, it appears to function similarly in many cultural systems, and may represent the Asian face of authoritative parenting. Cette étude renverse le processus habituel d'évaluation de l'universalité en examinant si un construit issu des cultures non occidentales possède une pertinence fonctionnelle en Occident. La structure de guan ou "entraînement" a été proposé par Chao (1994) a n de montrer des pratiques parentales chinoises importantes partagées également par d'autres cultures d'adeptes de Confucius. Elle a suggéré que ce construit était plus pertinent pour la compréhension des effets de l'éducation sur la jeunesse asiatico-américaine que d'autres construits développés en Occident, tel que l'autoritarisme parental. Il n'existe aucun rapport précédant sur l'association entre les comportements incorporés à ce construit et d'autres styles parentaux "universels", comme la chaleur parentale. Il n'y a pas non plus d'autre rapport sur la prévalence et la désirabilité perçue des comportements guan de la part d'individus occidentaux. Les participants à cette étude étaient des élèves in rmiers des USA (N = 118), de Hong Kong (N = 171) et du Pakistan (N = 98). Dans les trois cultures, les réactifs guan avaient une consistance interne adéquate (les alpha de Cronbach allaient de .69 à .76), ils s'associaient positivement avec la chaleur parentale (les Pearsons allaient de .37 à .52), et étaient considérés comme des attributs parentaux idéaux. Dans les trois cultures, les mères ont montré selon les participants plus de guan que les pères. Les associations entre les guan des parents et les effets sur la santé, l'harmonie dans les relations et la satisfaction dans la vie perçues ont été signi catifs pour les participants asiatiques. Les tests sur la pertinence fonctionnelle de guan parmi les occidentaux ont eu des résultats inconsistants avec des associations faibles à des effets positifs en Occident en comparaisons avec les Asiatiques. Cependant, la différence entre les cultures n'a pas été statistiquement signi cative. Quand les cultures ont été intégrées, la perception de l'entraînement parental a prédit une proportion signi cative de la variance. Le guan des mères a prédit l'auto estime de leurs enfants, tandis que le guan des pères a prédit la satisfaction dans la vie. Bien que le guan soit issu du contexte culturel chinois, il paraît fonctionner de manière similaire dans beaucoup de systèmes culturels et peut représenter l'aspect asiatique de l'autoritarisme parental. Este estudio revierte el proceso usual de evaluar la universalidad examinando si un constructo que se origina en una cultura no occidental tiene relevancia funcional en occidente. Chao (1994) propuso el constructo de guan o "entrenamiento" para re ejar importantes prácticas parentales chinas también compartidas por otras culturas seguidoras de Confucio. Propuso que este constructo es más relevante para el entendimiento de los efectos de la crianza entre la juventud asiático-americana que constructos desarrollados en occidente, tales como crianza "autoritativa". No se ha informado previamente de la asociación
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 1999
We obtained information regarding parenting perceptions and psychosocial adjustment from 102 Paki... more We obtained information regarding parenting perceptions and psychosocial adjustment from 102 Pakistani young women. Parenting behaviours assessed pertained to warmth and dominating control, as well as to “training” (proposed by Chao as having relevance in other Asian cultures), and indigenously relevant items related to religion and shame/honour. Adjustment measures included self-esteem, relationship harmony, and self-perceived health, shown to have relevance in other Asian cultures. In two-factor analyses, perceptions of parents’ warmth and training behaviours combined into a factor that correlated positively with adjustment measures, whereas the dominating control factor correlated negatively. In three-factor analyses, perceptions of mothers’ training behaviours predicted variance in relationship harmony, independent of perceptions of warmth and dominating control behaviours. These findings support Chao’s views that the dimension of training may play a particularly important role ...
In theory, a market for kidneys could increase the supply of organs while benefiting impoverished... more In theory, a market for kidneys could increase the supply of organs while benefiting impoverished people. In-depth sociological work reveals a different set of realities.
Objective: Attitudes of medical students toward a specialty is strongly related to their future c... more Objective: Attitudes of medical students toward a specialty is strongly related to their future choice of specialty. In developing countries like Pakistan, where there is a shortage of psychiatrists, there is a need to assess the effect of exposure to psychiatry on medical students.
This paper describes the usage of a force feedback steering wheel interface in sound environments... more This paper describes the usage of a force feedback steering wheel interface in sound environments focusing on the example of sound.toy. Sound.toy is a student’s project for creating and producing electronic music. Well known artists have experimented with sound installations before, e.g. Chris O’Shea developed his Echo Chamber and Golan Levin performed Scribble. The use of an intuitive interface became a crucial point in developing sound.toy. The installation I Am Driving Through Sound Space by Carlos A. Rocha inspired our User Interaction.
In-depth sociological work on those who opt to sell their kidneys reveals a different set of real... more In-depth sociological work on those who opt to sell their kidneys reveals a different set of realities.
Uploads
Papers by Riffat M Zaman