PSY352 Cultural Psychology

The movie, “The Farewell”, follows actress Awkwafina in her on-screen role as “Billi” – a second generation Chinese-American whose grandmother (“Nai Nai”) is diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Nai Nai’s family decides to keep her condition from her (Nai Nai), sparking a clash between the Western ideals held by Billi and the Eastern ones held by her extended family. Below is an extract taken from a review of the movie: “For most Westerners, perpetuating such a bald-faced lie, especially if told to a beloved family member is unforgivable. But in most Asian societies, telling someone the truth isn’t necessarily in everyone’s best interest. For Nai Nai’s family, there are good and bad lies. For them, lying to Nai Nai about her health is a good lie, because it helps maintain harmony and avoids the stress and the unavoidable grief that comes with a loved one who is terminally ill. Having a harmonious family is a priority for Asians.” Source: Coo, A. (2019). “The Farewell”: A film review. Retrieved from https://america.cgtn.com/2019/08/16/the-farewell-a-film-review Drawing on relevant theories and concepts, examine how cultural differences in self-concept are portrayed in the extract above. Develop your discussion by using empirical research to support each theory/concept.