Global Psychology is a suitable terminology or category of fields that covers the overall scope of my current research orientation and direction. It reflects the central idea that, while basic psychological processes are common to our human species, their development and expression are deeply influenced by cultural contexts (Berry, 2013). This platform embodies an approach that integrates cultural psychology, which explores how culture shapes and interacts with human psychology, and cross-cultural psychology, which investigates cultural similarities and commonalities in the adaptation processes of individuals in different cultural contexts. It also concerns how global issues (e.g., immigration, climate change, inequality impact people’s well-being and psychological experiences across different societies. Below I describe specific research areas I have been investigating so far.
1. East Asian Psychology
Cultural psychological research suggests that collectivism is not a uniform construct. My work aims to uncover the diverse forms of collectivism by examining the unique mentalities of different East Asian societies, such as Japan and South Korea. I focus on ecological and cultural factors that shape these mentalities and explore their implications for social behavior.
Keywords: different facets of group-based collectivism, relationship-based collectivism, Tightness-Looseness
2. Acculturation Psychology
I investigate how both majority and minority group members perceive their social environments and how these perceptions influence their acculturation processes and adaptation strategies. My research explores the psychological mechanisms behind successful cultural adaptation and the factors that facilitate or hinder these processes.
Keywords: multicultural ideology, acculturation, coping strategies
3. Environmental Psychology
My research examines how individuals perceive environmental issues and climate change, and how these perceptions drive behavior and adaptation. I am particularly interested in the cultural factors shaping East Asians’ pro-environmental orientations, including their beliefs about societal futures and justice in the face of environmental challenges.
Keywords: beliefs about future society, climate anxiety, climate justice
4. Social Cognition
I explore how people perceive social categories, societal structures, and social inequalities, and how these perceptions influence their behaviors, emotions, and overall well-being. My work investigates the cognitive and emotional processes underlying social beliefs and their broader implications.
Keywords: essentialist beliefs about human nature, intergroup dehumanization, self-humanization, perceptions about social inequality, perceptions about future society
5. Other Collaborative Research
Driven by a broad curiosity about human psychology and a commitment to advancing knowledge for societal well-being, I actively collaborate with international scholars on diverse topics in sociocultural psychology. These collaborations span various areas beyond my primary research focuses, addressing complex global challenges through interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives.
Keywords: Interdisciplinary research, Cross-cultural collaboration, Global psychological issues