The effects of cultural differences between Chinese and Americans on analyses and supervisions

CHINA AND PSYCHOANALYSIS

American Psychoanalytic Association at

The Waldorf Astoria Hotel

January 17, 2008

The effects of cultural differences between Chinese and Americans on analyses and supervisions

Charles Fisher, M.D.

1. Carole Rosen, MA. MSW, LCSW

Overview of Some Cultural Differences and History with Some Comments on Clinical Implications

My comments reflect my experience with Chinese immigrants and my own life in China in the late 1970’s, and also being part of a Chinese family for 7 years.

The motivated patients who are in treatment or supervision with CAPA members are an unusual group in China. While the historical aversion to psychotherapy is changing, much psychotherapy in China is conducted in groups. For example, a group focused on road rage. To go outside the family with personal matters has been considered shameful. The Chinese “ego ideal” emphasizes interdependency and intergenerational bonding, in contrast to the Western ideal of separation/individuation. [Editorial note: The very term “ego ideal” contains the Western idea of ego.] Cultural change in China creates a problem for young people relating to traditional elders. Their internal conflicts between filial piety and desires for self-sufficiency and personal fulfillment, lead to guilt. Some individuals seek treatment with Western psychoanalysts in order to minimize their conflict about acting “more Western”. Cultural values de-emphasize open discussion and challenges to authority. Clearly this is relevant to clinical work. Continue reading The effects of cultural differences between Chinese and Americans on analyses and supervisions

Information for Recommendation Letters

Information for Recommendation Letters

一般需要提供三位推荐人。其中应该有一到二位是申请人的任课老师、导师、系主任或院系领导。已经工作的申请人最好请你的上司写一篇推荐信。若能找到相关专业领域的学术权威或有国际知名度的教授(比如在国际性刊物上发表学术论文的人)担任推荐人,则会对申请有一定的帮助;但不必强求,如果推荐人不了解你,则即使写了推荐信也不能让对方学校的评审委员信服。推荐人必须和申请人有一定的接触,他/她可以从学术成绩、科研能力和潜力、性格、特长、语言能力等各个方面推荐申请人。每个推荐人只应该评论与申请人接触到的方面并稍作拓展,不太可能面面俱到。

注:

1. 若推荐人是海外老师或领导,请与其充分沟通,确保其可以按时自行写作并提交推荐信,确认无误的,表格中详细描述部分可省。

2. 提供素材时要从老师的角度出发考虑问题,而且要提供实际的事例。比如:你上课喜欢问问题,那这种方式是否促进了班级学习的积极性,辅助老师更好地教学,增强了学习效率?有没有印象特别深刻的事例,体现了你某方面的突出能力?你在课下是如何和老师联系的,探讨了哪些问题,让老师感受到了你怎样的学习态度,学习进展以及学习成果?成绩是班上最好的,除了学术成绩以外,你还有什么特别的优势或者素质呢?作为班上成绩最好的学生,你为老师,为同学,为班集体做了什么贡献,比如以你自己的方式影响了同学,提高了他们的学习积极性?或者对课程本身的理解,是通过哪些特殊的事情体现出来的?

 

 

 

Part 1:第一推荐人
姓   名(Name)   性   别(Gender)  
职   称(Title)   学   历(Educational Qualification)  
所在单位(Organization)   在此单位工作时间年限(Duration)  
职   务(Position)   工作邮箱(Work Email)  
电   话(Telephone)   手机(Cell Phone)  
通信地址(Postal Address)   邮政编码(Zip Code)  
是否需要后期老师撰写推荐信(Requirement)   推荐信提交方式(Method) 自行提交 or 转发邮件给后期老师?
推荐人是否有国外留学或访问的经历(The brief information of the referee)如推荐人有相关介绍,请提供链接(Link of referee)
  
推荐人对申请者详细描述
  1. 与申请者关系描述
推荐人与申请者关系Relationship to the applicant  
相识时间(具体时间年数)Duration of knowing each other  从  至  ,截至申请时认识了  年   月
如果是教过你课程的老师,课程的中英文名称,上课时间区间(年,月),你的那门课程考试结果如何(如分数,排名等等),课堂表现如何?(比如你和老师共同讨论的某些话题,你在group project中term papers中的表现等)

(Suppose he/she taught the applicant a course, please list the Chinese and English names of the course, the time, exam result and how did the applicant behave himself/herself in class.)

 
2. 以时间为序描写推荐人与被推荐人关系发展,并说明你们的熟悉程度。(How did you know each other? Do you know the applicant well?)

注:回答问题时可以先从第一次如何认识;进一步了解是通过某件事或某次活动等给推荐人留下深刻印象;进一步接触等等,如偶尔见面或密切接触,或教过一年课。

 
3. 该推荐人是否指导你进行过什么研究或工作?详细介绍研究/工作的项目以及所取得的成绩。(Please introduce in details the research/work project and the achievement if the referee instructed the applicant about the project.)
 
4. 请先选择两个以上给推荐人留下深刻印象的特点用事例描述,请从推荐人的角度来说(以下内容切忌空泛)
Scholastic Aptitude(学术倾向): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Native intellectual ability(天赋) Imagination(想象力) Creativity(创造力) Capacity for analytical thinking(分析思考能力) Intellectual curiosity or Spirit of inquiry(好奇心) Ability to work independently(独立学习工作能力) Memory(记忆力) Accuracy(精确) Methodology(研究方法) Capability for abstract reasoning(抽象推理能力) Potential as a researcher(研究潜力) Potential as a teacher(教学的潜力) Ability to express ideas orally and in writing(口语或文字的表达能力) Capacity, desire and determination for good quality graduate work(是否有获得学业成功的能力、企图与决心) Probable success as a graduate student(研究生成功的可能性)
  

 

 

 

 

 

Academic performance(学业表现): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Breadth of general knowledge(常识是否丰富) Knowledge of literature in his/her field(本科知识) Grade or achievement(成绩表现或成绩) Industry; diligence(勤勉) Participation in discussion(参与讨论是否热烈) Academic maturity(学业上成熟度)
 
Languages(语言能力): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Ability to speak, listen, read and write the English language(英语文的听、说、读写能力)

Ability to read significant literature in other languages than English(英语或母语之外的语言能力)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character(品行): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Honesty; integrity(诚实) Sincerity(诚恳) Sense of responsibility(责任感) Cooperation(合作) Enthusiasm(热诚) Conscientiousness(自觉性) Ethical and moral standards(伦理与道德标准) Reliability; dependability(可靠性) Concern for others(关怀他人) Patience(耐性) Perseverance(恒心) Seriousness of purpose(求学认真) Work habits initiative(工作习惯) Record of disciplinary action or misconduct(曾受惩罚或品行不良记录)
 
Leadership(领导力):请用事例描述
 
 
  1. 客观评价被推荐人的有待提高之处 (Briefly describe the applicant’s weakness)
 

 

Part 2:第二推荐人
姓   名(Name)   性   别(Gender)  
职   称(Title)   学   历(Educational Qualification)  
所在单位(Organization)   在此单位工作时间年限(Duration)  
职   务(Position)   工作邮箱(Work Email)  
电   话(Telephone)   手机(Cell Phone)  
通信地址(Postal Address)   邮政编码(Zip Code)  
是否需要后期老师撰写推荐信(Requirement)   推荐信提交方式(Method) 自行提交 or 转发邮件给后期老师?
推荐人是否有国外留学或访问的经历(The brief information of the referee)如推荐人有相关介绍,请提供链接(Link of referee)
 
推荐人对申请者详细描述
  1. 与申请者关系描述
推荐人与申请者关系Relationship to the applicant  
相识时间(具体时间年数)Duration of knowing each other  从  至  ,截至申请时认识了  年  月
如果是教过你课程的老师,课程的中英文名称,上课时间区间(年,月),你的那门课程考试结果如何(如分数,排名等等),课堂表现如何?(比如你和老师共同讨论的某些话题,你在group project中term papers中的表现等)

(Suppose he/she taught the applicant a course, please list the Chinese and English names of the course, the time, exam result and how did the applicant behave himself/herself in class.)

 
2. 以时间为序描写推荐人与被推荐人关系发展,并说明你们的熟悉程度。(How did you know each other? Do you know the applicant well?)

注:回答问题时可以先从第一次如何认识;进一步了解是通过某件事或某次活动等给推荐人留下深刻印象;进一步接触等等,如偶尔见面或密切接触,或教过一年课。

 
3. 该推荐人是否指导你进行过什么研究或工作?详细介绍研究/工作的项目以及所取得的成绩。(Please introduce in details the research/work project and the achievement if the referee instructed the applicant about the project.)
 
4. 请先选择两个以上给推荐人留下深刻印象的特点用事例描述,请从推荐人的角度来说(以下内容切忌空泛)
Scholastic Aptitude(学术倾向):针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Native intellectual ability(天赋) Imagination(想象力) Creativity(创造力) Capacity for analytical thinking(分析思考能力) Intellectual curiosity or Spirit of inquiry(好奇心) Ability to work independently(独立学习工作能力) Memory(记忆力) Accuracy(精确) Methodology(研究方法) Capability for abstract reasoning(抽象推理能力) Potential as a researcher(研究潜力) Potential as a teacher(教学的潜力) Ability to express ideas orally and in writing(口语或文字的表达能力) Capacity, desire and determination for good quality graduate work(是否有获得学业成功的能力、企图与决心) Probable success as a graduate student(研究生成功的可能性)
  

 

 

 

 

 

Academic performance(学业表现): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Breadth of general knowledge(常识是否丰富) Knowledge of literature in his/her field(本科知识) Grade or achievement(成绩表现或成绩) Industry; diligence(勤勉) Participation in discussion(参与讨论是否热烈) Academic maturity(学业上成熟度)
 
Languages(语言能力): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Ability to speak, listen, read and write the English language(英语文的听、说、读写能力)

Ability to read significant literature in other languages than English(英语或母语之外的语言能力)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character(品行): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Honesty; integrity(诚实) Sincerity(诚恳) Sense of responsibility(责任感) Cooperation(合作) Enthusiasm(热诚) Conscientiousness(自觉性) Ethical and moral standards(伦理与道德标准) Reliability; dependability(可靠性) Concern for others(关怀他人) Patience(耐性) Perseverance(恒心) Seriousness of purpose(求学认真) Work habits initiative(工作习惯) Record of disciplinary action or misconduct(曾受惩罚或品行不良记录)
 
Leadership(领导力): 请用事例描述
 
 
  1. 客观评价被推荐人的有待提高之处 (Briefly describe the applicant’s weakness)
 

 

Part 3:第三推荐人
姓   名(Name)   性   别(Gender)  
职   称(Title)   学   历(Educational Qualification)  
所在单位(Organization)   在此单位工作时间年限(Duration)  
职   务(Position)   工作邮箱(Work Email)  
电   话(Telephone)   手机(Cell Phone)  
通信地址(Postal Address)   邮政编码(Zip Code)  
是否需要后期老师撰写推荐信(Requirement)   推荐信提交方式(Method) 自行提交 or 转发邮件给后期老师?
推荐人是否有国外留学或访问的经历(The brief information of the referee)如推荐人有相关介绍,请提供链接(Link of referee)
 
推荐人对申请者详细描述
  1. 与申请者关系描述
推荐人与申请者关系Relationship to the applicant  
相识时间(具体时间年数)Duration of knowing each other  从  至  ,截至申请时认识了  年   月
如果是教过你课程的老师,课程的中英文名称,上课时间区间(年,月),你的那门课程考试结果如何(如分数,排名等等),课堂表现如何?(比如你和老师共同讨论的某些话题,你在group project中term papers中的表现等)

(Suppose he/she taught the applicant a course, please list the Chinese and English names of the course, the time, exam result and how did the applicant behave himself/herself in class.)

 
2. 以时间为序描写推荐人与被推荐人关系发展,并说明你们的熟悉程度。(How did you know each other? Do you know the applicant well?)

注:回答问题时可以先从第一次如何认识;进一步了解是通过某件事或某次活动等给推荐人留下深刻印象;进一步接触等等,如偶尔见面或密切接触,或教过一年课。

 
3. 该推荐人是否指导你进行过什么研究或工作?详细介绍研究/工作的项目以及所取得的成绩。(Please introduce in details the research/work project and the achievement if the referee instructed the applicant about the project.)
 
4. 请先选择两个以上给推荐人留下深刻印象的特点用事例描述,请从推荐人的角度来说(以下内容切忌空泛)
Scholastic Aptitude (学术倾向): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Native intellectual ability(天赋) Imagination(想象力) Creativity(创造力) Capacity for analytical thinking(分析思考能力) Intellectual curiosity or Spirit of inquiry(好奇心) Ability to work independently(独立学习工作能力) Memory(记忆力) Accuracy(精确) Methodology(研究方法) Capability for abstract reasoning(抽象推理能力) Potential as a researcher(研究潜力) Potential as a teacher(教学的潜力) Ability to express ideas orally and in writing(口语或文字的表达能力) Capacity, desire and determination for good quality graduate work(是否有获得学业成功的能力、企图与决心) Probable success as a graduate student(研究生成功的可能性)
  

 

 

 

 

 

Academic performance(学业表现): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Breadth of general knowledge(常识是否丰富) Knowledge of literature in his/her field(本科知识) Grade or achievement(成绩表现或成绩) Industry; diligence(勤勉) Participation in discussion(参与讨论是否热烈) Academic maturity(学业上成熟度)
 
Languages(语言能力): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Ability to speak, listen, read and write the English language(英语文的听、说、读写能力)

Ability to read significant literature in other languages than English(英语或母语之外的语言能力)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character(品行): 针对以下提示的某一方面用事例描述Honesty; integrity(诚实) Sincerity(诚恳) Sense of responsibility(责任感) Cooperation(合作) Enthusiasm(热诚) Conscientiousness(自觉性) Ethical and moral standards(伦理与道德标准) Reliability; dependability(可靠性) Concern for others(关怀他人) Patience(耐性) Perseverance(恒心) Seriousness of purpose(求学认真) Work habits initiative(工作习惯) Record of disciplinary action or misconduct(曾受惩罚或品行不良记录)
 
Leadership(领导力):请用事例描述
 
 
  1. 客观评价被推荐人的有待提高之处 (Briefly describe the applicant’s weakness)
 

 

French Chinese Movie

I just saw a preview of the Chinese/French movie “Summer Palace”. During the discussion following the showing there were passionate reactions to the film–split 50/50 for and against. I thought it was a very brave film that depicted the journey of a young, depressed teen-aged woman from her home town to Beijing University, before and after the 1989 uprising. A hand held camera, took me, and those who agreed with my experience, inside the mind and bodies of the protagonist and her lovers. The pain and passion were palpable and with the camera lingering as it did, one could not escape the emotions that bubbled up. I won’t say more, other than it gave me a deep look into the student, dormitory life at Beijing U. and everyday existence that I missed when I was in China last May for a Wu Tai Chi gathering for practitioners from around the world.

Reactions from the Cannes film festival were also split but somewhat tilted to the negative side. I have a feeling that analysts will load up on the side of intense engagement with the film. Click here to read a review that captures the essence of the film.

Myron S. Lazar, Ph.D.