0
Article   |    
ON ORIENTAL STOICISM
JAMES CLARK MOLONEY
Am J Psychiatry 1946;103:60-64.
View Article Information
The Haven Sanitarium, Rochester, Mich.
text A A A
PDF of the full text article.
Abstract
The unruffled mien of the Asiatic is legendary. When not attributed to constitutional factors, it is traditional for the Occidental to believe that the Oriental, deliberately blocks the natural egress of emotional energy. It is generally supposed that the flatness of affect is achieved through a studied and energetic suppression of feeling. Oriental unresponsiveness has been likened to the active stoicism of the Spartan youth, who unwincingly permitted a fox to eat out his entrails. Calmness under such circumstances demands the utmost in energy suppression.But energy is indestructible. Its normal egress blocked, it canalizes physiological pathways neither designed nor adapted to its use. The surge and impact charge strange tissues with severe and unexpected stresses. In time these stresses induce demonstrable structural changes. This dynamism embraces the most fundamental evocative of psychosomatic disease. Since the Okinawa Oriental is free from psychosomatic disease, one is forced to the conclusion that the Okinawan neither consciously suppresses nor unconsciously represses his emotional intent. Incredible as it may seem, he just doesn't react to situations which customarily disturb the Occidental. The Oriental is different.Abstract Teaser
Figures in this Article

    Your Session has timed out. Please sign back in to continue.
    Sign In Your Session has timed out. Please sign back in to continue.
    Sign In to Access Full Content
     
    Username
    Password
    Sign in via Athens (What is this?)
    Athens is a service for single sign-on which enables access to all of an institution's subscriptions on- or off-site.
    Not a subscriber?

    Subscribe Now/Learn More

    PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-IV-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

    Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing PsychiatryOnline@psych.org or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

    +
    +
    +

    CME Activity

    There is currently no quiz available for this resource. Please click here to go to the CME page to find another.
    Submit a Comments
    Please read the other comments before you post yours. Contributors must reveal any conflict of interest.
    Comments are moderated and will appear on the site at the discertion of JBJS editorial staff.

    * = Required Field
    (if multiple authors, separate names by comma)
    Example: John Doe



    Related Content
    Articles
    Psychiatric News
    PubMed Articles
    Selective attention to threat bias in delusion-prone individuals.
    The Journal of nervous and mental disease 2011 Oct