Japanese psychology is the world-renowned school of thought with its unique principles and approaches to behavior and social interaction. The teachings of ancient philosophers have left their mark on the modern Japanese way of life. The worldview of people living in the land of the rising sun is often the subject of study and comparison with Western cultures. By using the methodology of the four attributes (principles, values, subject matter, and research methods and other applied methodologies), one can define the unique features of Japanese psychology as an individual school of thought.
Principles
The rules and standards that characterize Japanese philosophy are largely based on the principle of collectivism. The concept of duty to society is fundamentally different from the Western one and implies rejecting personal benefits for the good of the collective. According to Sato and Fumino (2005), such principles were formed many years ago but became known to the world only in the 19th century. The role of a person in society is less important than society itself.
Values
In relation to values, Japanese psychology may be characterized as the school of thought that promotes mindfulness as one of the main aspects of mental balance. The very concept of mindfulness includes adherence to various behavioral practices, for instance, food culture, conflict resolution, and other areas (“The Morita school of Japanese psychology,” 2015). Mental well-being is valued above material well-being, which also distinguishes Japanese psychology patterns from Western ones.
Subject Matter
The subject matter, or the issues focused by practitioners of Japanese psychology, is based on researching manifestations of spiritual and mental characteristics in real life. As Sato and Sato (2005) argue, the bulk of 20th-century research was concerned with the study of human interests and people’s abilities to abstract from earthly challenges and adversities. In addition, according to Sato and Fumino (2005), since the 1990s, clinical psychology has become one of the branches of Japanese psychology, which has earned research interest. Earlier, this field was studied in the context of educational psychology. These methods of searching for truth form a unique background that includes the findings of the human place in the world, behavioral patterns, and meditation practices.
Research Methods and Other Applied Methodologies
As approaches to research in Japanese psychology, applied practices are used less often than analytical ones. Sato and Sato (2005) remark that intellectual research is minimized because the analysis of experience and the interpretation of symbols are valued higher in this school of thought. In addition, the authors note that psychophysics, as a branch of psychology, requires utilizing sociocultural analyses and techniques that involve collecting data in a real environment (Sato & Sato, 2005). Thus, Japanese psychology is a discipline that focuses on the assessment of personality in the context of a social background and, therefore, promotes empirical research methods.
While comparing Japanese and Western schools of thought, one can note that different directions have influenced each other. Due to the isolation of Japan until the 19th century, Western researchers sought to learn from the Japanese and reveal their unique approaches and practices. Certain aspects, for instance, collectivism and an emphasis on maintaining peace of mind, have become common in Western schools. At the same time, the Japanese, being separated from the rest of the world, began to adapt certain practices to their value system. As an example of this adaptation, clinical psychology may be cited. Therefore, researchers from different cultures influenced each other’s approaches, but in general, the contribution of the Japanese system to Western practices can be considered more significant and noticeable.
References
The Morita school of Japanese psychology. (2015). The Morita School of Japanese Psychology. Web.
Sato, T., & Fumino, Y. (2005). Psychology in Japan. Psychologist, 18(3), 156-157.
Sato, T., & Sato, T. (2005). The early 20th century: Shaping the discipline of psychology in Japan.Japanese Psychological Research, 47(2), 52-62. Web.