Stress factors and mechanisms to coping in modern Japan - Дипломная работа

Table of Content Introduction Part One. Stress Factors in Modern Japanese Culture 1.1 Socialization and Social Control 1.2 Educational Sphere 1.3 Labor Sphere Part Two. Mechanisms of Coping in Modern Japanese Culture 2.1 Ijime 2.2 Kireru 2.3 Hikikomori 2.4 Amae 2.5 Ibasho Conclusion Sources Introduction The topicality of my work derives from dramatic transitions that Japan faces nowadays. Due to economic turbulences the country experienced in the 1990s, the stability of a number of vital social institutions, i.e. school and work, was jeopardized. New, external for traditional Japanese culture patterns of social relations were created, modifying the process of socialization and social reality. Respectively, this transition deeply influenced Japanese individuals and society as a whole. It introduced new possibilities for development of Japan, renewing the perception of itself and the surrounding world. Nevertheless, a necessity to adapt to unexpected changes, the destruction of accustomed norms and practices and the vagueness of future generated a certain amount of stress, the elaboration on which occupied a vivid part of statistics, researches and mass media articles on Japan. In general, the issues of social exclusion, bullying, truancy, depression, suicide and etc. were reinforced or received unforeseen content. Therefore, to fully comprehend the structure and possible locus of development of Japanese society and culture, such stress factors and mechanisms of coping with them should be concerned as they directly affect the behavior of modern Japanese individuals and the society they form, and the culture they postulate. Regarding the sources of my work, a number of reliable documents were applied for current research. Primary sources are represented in English and Japanese languages. English language sources are publically open articles on stress-related issues in modern Japan from eminent mass media agencies: The Guardian, The Independent, The Japan Times, etc. The majority of Japanese language sources are divided into two categories. Firstly, newspaper articles from Asahi and Sankei Newspapers. Both are the pillar news agencies in Japan, the viewpoints and investigations of which are recognized worldwide. Though news agencies in Japan has specific nature of being indirectly influenced by Japanese government by the means of so-called kisha kurabu (?????) or journalist clubs, Asahi and Sankei maintains the reputation of trustworthy sources, applicable for this work. Secondly, official government statistics on stress-related issues from Cabinet Office, Ministry of Education, National Police Agency, etc. The access to these sources is publically open, while the statistics is confirmed by corresponding data. It is problematic to claim that current statistics exhaustingly represent the state of affairs of Japanese society, however Japanese government is rarely caught falsifying official data, which makes such sources trustworthy as well. Nevertheless, a critical perception of them is demanded, as some tend to embellish reality. For instance, an official proclamation of Prime Minister Abe “Let the Women Shine in Japan” (????????) proposes the idea that women in Japan have prominent opportunities for self-realization, while in reality those opportunities are heavily suppressed by traditional sexism. Aggressive yanki became the constant subject of concern for authorities which led to the reinforcement of control management in public institutions, basically in schools where the number of police officers who supervise student’s actions was enlarged.However not all the troublesome Japanese youngsters were this aggressive to be called indulgent or spoiled. Most of them behaved rather as exhausted victims, whether it was bullying or school absenteeism and especially suicide. In these terms Dr. Walter Tubbs from the Stanford University proposed the theory that Japanese pattern of antisocial behavior and its stressful content is not related to indulgent relationships between particular parents and children, yet much stronger depends on general social practices of child-bring among the majority of Japanese families. According to his theory, Japanese society emphasizes the external locus of individual control (by the means of rules, regulations, authority figures, etc.), while the aspect of self-(internal) control is merely neglected. Indeed, Japanese youngsters who hurt others and commit suicide are out of control, but not in the Western connotation, because control has never practically belonged to them. Respectively, the concept of self-control is extremely important, as Tubbs states further in his article that whether people believe that they can determine their own fates, it will be the critical importance to the way in which they cope with stress and engage in challenges, as well as give service and to enjoy life. Regarding Japanese individuals, what they basically acquire through socialization is far from the skill