Perceived Family Perfectionism and Perfectionism in Asians

Field: Psychology (Social Sciences)

As the number of immigrants coming to the United States grows, mental health professionals are faced with the responsibility of addressing their needs (Rogler, Malgady & Rodriguez, 1989). Although addressing the needs of ethnic minorities is a challenge that mental health professionals continue to face, (Sue, Ivey & Pederson, 1996), little research has focused on the concerns of ethnic minorities and a smaller amount of research has focused on the needs of Asians. The importance placed on the family and expectations for high achievement are common aspects of the Asian culture (Inman, Ladany, Constantine & Morano, 1999). Asian parents tend to emphasize obedience with parental expectations but self-assertion for the academic success of their children (Rhee, 1996). Cross-cultural studies on perfectionism indicate that Asians have a higher number of maladaptive perfectionists than other ethnic minority groups. Moreover, Castro and Rice (2003) state that Asian American college students may feel pressure to meet parental expectations for success. Asian students experience considerable pressure from themselves and their families to perform at high levels and this pressure can lead to psychological distress. Thus for Asians, it seems relevant to understand the construct of perfectionism not only from the individual perspective but also regarding influences from the family. The presenters will use the clinical and empirical literature as well as practice knowledge in this area to inform guidelines for Best Practices.\nEducational Objectives: Based on this presentation the participants will be able to:\nI. Describe the impact that perfectionism has on an individual’s mental health II. Discuss the relevance of perfectionism in the Asian population III. Describe the relationship between perceived family expectations and perfectionism in Asians\nTarget Audience: Doctoral Level Psychologists and Other Mental Health Practitioners Level of Instruction: Intermediate Number of CE Credits Offered: 1.5 Cost: Free\nAbout the Speaker: Bindu Methikalam, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Psychology and the Assistant Director of Clinical Training at Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia. Dr. Methikalam completed her doctorate in Counseling Psychology at The Pennsylvania State University in 2008. She has worked with undergraduate and graduate students for over five years doing individual, couples, and group therapy. She completed her internship at the Counseling Center at Penn State University and post-doctoral residency in college student mental health with a specialization in alcohol and drug counseling at Princeton University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Her dissertation focused on family expectations and perfection in the Asian Indian populations. Dr. Methikalam’s research interests are in perfectionism, family expectations, multicultural issues and South Asian concerns, particularly, immigrant experiences, acculturation, cultural identities, and the psychology of women. She has presented her work at several conferences nationally and has led workshops and created programs at local universities including Villanova, Penn State, and Princeton.