PSY 324 Final Project Guidelines and RubricOverview The final project for this course is the creation of an analysis paper. In the paper, you will analyze a particular culture from the perspective of

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Cultural Dimensions and Psychological Characteristics of the Hmong People

Katherine Alexandre

SNHU

February 18, 2024

Introduction

Hmong culture places great importance on respect, conformity to social norms, and academic and career achievement. From a young age, Hmong children are expected to respect and obey their parents and elders. The family unit is tightly bonded, and parents take an authoritative role in strongly guiding their child's behavioral, social, and educational development. This emphasis on obedience, discipline, and scholastic achievement through childhood aligns with Confucian cultural values and can influence how successfully Hmong children progress through Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. The parenting style common in Hmong may help children establish trust and learn important social skills in early stages, but could also potentially hinder independence, identity exploration, and intimacy in later stages if not balanced with autonomy support.

Erikson proposed eight psychosocial stages from infancy to older age in which children and adults develop a healthy sense of self or risk role confusion. They include Trust vs Mistrust, Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt, Initiative vs Guilt, Industry vs Inferiority, Identity vs Role Confusion, Intimacy vs Isolation, Generativity vs Stagnation, and Integrity vs Despair. Hmong culture highly values respect for elders, conformity to social norms, discipline, interdependence over independence, and academic and professional achievement and success (Orenstein and Lewis, 2022). Additionally, familial piety, emotional restraint, humility and maintaining group harmony are hallmarks of the collectivist society.

Infancy

Within the authoritative parenting style common in Hmong, infants experience very close bonding with parents through uninterrupted around-the-clock caretaking. Parents take full responsibility of their child's needs and strongly direct them toward cultural expectations. This helps infants successfully navigate Erikson's Trust vs. Mistrust stage by establishing a secure attachment and trust in the loving care and predictability of parents. However, the strict parenting approach also risks fostering dependence rather than autonomy if separation anxieties are not addressed and children are not gradually encouraged to explore independently. An infant's needs for nurturing as well as emerging curiosity and willingness may become undermined with too narrow a focus on obedience during this critical stage of development.

Early Childhood

As Hmong children enter early childhood, they face Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage. Strict discipline enforced through obedience at this age helps children gain control over bodlily functions and behaviors while preparing them for the controlling educational system's demands (Orenstein and Lewis, 2022). However, an overly authoritative approach risks making children feel insecure or ashamed when asserting their independence through normal exploratory behaviors. Too narrow a focus on conformity limits healthy autonomy development needed at this stage. It is important for parents to balance discipline with opportunities for age-appropriate freedom, choice and self-affirmation to avoid hindering healthy progression through this critical phase.

Initiative vs Guilt Stage (Pre-School Age)

At this stage, Hmong children begin preschool where limited independent play is encouraged under close supervision. This allows for some initiative development needed at this phase. However, the strong focus on obedience at home means children internalize high expectations to behave properly and make the family proud from a young age (Orenstein and Lewis, 2022; Mao et al., 2022). While ensuring good behavior, this approach risks hindering children’s willingness to independently explore their expanding worlds without excessive anxiety or guilt over small failures and mistakes.

Industry vs Inferiority Stage (School Age)

Upon entering elementary school, academics and bringing honor to the family become top priorities. Long hours are spent on educational activities, classes, tutoring, and homework. Competition grows significantly within the high-achieving culture. While motivating competence, constant comparisons and the inability to ask for help for fear of shame can induce undue stress, anxiety and feelings of inferiority in students if they struggle. The immense pressure to outperform peers and earn the family prestige may undermine children’s mental wellbeing and confidence if they fall behind often impossible standards.

Identity vs Role Confusion Stage (Adolescence)

Hmong adolescents face intensifying confusion in this stage. They experience a surge in independence needs while facing heavy pressure to conform to parental expectations and societal norms. Teenagers uncertainly explore career paths, but many feel limited to only a few acceptable options pre-approved by family tradition (Orenstein and Lewis, 2022). The desire to independently form an identity and future role clashes directly with demanding filial piety. Without adequate outlets, stress and inner turmoil may emerge for those unable or unwilling to follow the single path laid out for them. Questions over self and values are difficult to healthily navigate under such limitations, risking depression if conflicts cannot be resolved.

Intimacy vs Isolation Stage (Young Adulthood)

Entering this stage, Hmongs face deeply entwined family bonds leaving little space to form intimate relationships independently. Dating is typically arranged and strongly emphasizes parental approval over self-discovery and personal fulfillment. Additionally, societal pressures discourage pre-marital intimacy (Mao et al., 2022). These factors mean many Hmongs delay pairing off or marriage until their late 20s/early 30s compared to global trends, risking isolation or incomplete adult development.

Generativity vs Stagnation Stage (Adulthood)

Hmong culture focuses on educating and guiding the next generation as the primary way adults give back. But outside of work and family roles, identity formation is limited. Without community involvement or empowerment to affect change, healthy generativity expression is restricted (Cao et al., 2022). This stagnation becomes increasingly likely beyond middle age where value shifts to retirement and leisure over productivity.

Integrity vs Despair Stage (Older Adulthood)

In old age, taking pride in carrying out filial and social duties preserves integrity for many Hmongs. However, increasing restrictions on autonomy and career endings without replacement roles increases the risk of despair, especially if new support systems are lacking. Regrets over paths not taken due to conformity pressures earlier in life may also stir discontent without outlets for expression. Community involvement and maintaining purpose remain important protective factors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Hmong cultural practices promote positive virtues like respect, achievement and family cohesion, a lack of balance with autonomy and individuation creates vulnerabilities at various psychosocial stages. Future directions focused on healthy navigation of cultural norms and independence across the lifespan could promote optimal wellbeing and development for all Hmong.

References

Freitas, L. B., Palhares, F., Cao, H., Liang, Y., Zhou, N., Mokrova, I. L., ... & Tudge, J. R. (2022). How weird is the development of children’s gratitude in the United States? Cross-cultural comparisons. Developmental Psychology.

Mao, L., Zhang, X., Ma, J., & Jia, Y. (2022). Cultural relationship between rural soundscape and space in Hmong villages in Guizhou. Heliyon, 8(11).

Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis, L. (2022). Eriksons stages of psychosocial development. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.