Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Concept Of Shame And The Mental Health Of Pacific Asian Americans, Masayuki Sato

Explorations in Ethnic Studies

One priority of the Health Task group of the Conference on Pacific and Asian American Families (1978) was the need for research into the psychological and emotional problems of Pacific and Asian American (PAA) groups and their possible remedies. Specifically, the report identified the importance of shame in the education and socialization process of PAA families in controlling behavior. As a cultural characteristic among PAAs, shame or “saving face” remains an important concept to the individual, the family, the community, and to the racial group as a whole.