Innovations and Reproductions in Cultures and Societies
(IRICS) Vienna, 9 - 11 december 2005

 
<< Buddhist Psychology: A Transcultural Bridge to Innovation and Reproduction

Can a knife and fork be used to eat fried rice? - The compatibility of Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy and Chinese culture

Tian P.S. Oei (University of Queensland, Australia)

 

ABSTRACT:

Hodges and Oei have explored the conceptual compatibility between the distinctive processes of Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) - an evidence-based western method of psychotherapy - and the common values of Chinese Culture that is rooted in three systems Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism pervading the Chinese way of living. Can CBT be successfully applied to the Chinese population - can a knife and fork be used to eat fried rice? In order to answer such a question, the distinctive processes attributed to CBT, as summarized by Blagys and Hilsenroth (2002), and the core values of Chinese Culture, determined through an integration of The Hofstede Project (1980), The Chinese Value Survey (1987) and The Schwartz Value Survey (1994), were used. A strong degree of compatibility between the two was found. Future recommendations for increasing the compatibility of CBT to Chinese culture are made.


Blagys, M., & Hilsenroth, M. (2002). Distinctive features of Short-Term Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy: An Empirical Review of the Comparative Psychotherapy Process Literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 22, 671-706.
Hofstede, G. H. (1980). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-related Values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Chinese Culture Connection, (1987). Chinese values and the search for culture-free dimensions of culture. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, 18, 143-164.
Schwartz, S. H. (1994). Beyond individualism-collectivism: New dimensions of values. In U. Kim, H. C. Triandis, C. Kagitcibasi, S. C. Choi, & G. Yoon (Eds.), Individualism and collectivism: Theory, method and application (pp.85-119). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.


Innovations and Reproductions in Cultures and Societies
(IRICS) Vienna, 9 - 11 december 2005

H O M E
WEBDESIGN: Peter R. Horn 2005-09-09