Title

Toward a Multicultural Positive Psychology: Indigenous Forgiveness and Hmong Culture

School/Department

Rosemead School of Psychology

Publication Date

9-2003

Abstract

The growing field of positive psychology is encouraging advances in the scientific research of developmental strengths and virtues like forgiveness. However, multicultural and indigenous psychology perspectives can raise valuable questions about positive psychology and the relationship between cultural particularity and virtues like forgiveness. In this article, the authors consider the meaning of virtue in psychology and then focus on the culturally embedded nature of forgiveness as a virtue. They illustrate the value of an indigenous psychology approach by describing some of the dynamics related to conflict resolution and forgiveness in traditional Hmong culture. They then consider ways forgiveness research and intervention might need to be contextualized with Hmong Americans.

Keywords

Forgiveness; Positive psychology; Multicultural; Virtue

Publication Title

The Counseling Psychologist

Volume

31

Issue

5

First Page

564

Last Page

592

DOI of Published Version

10.1177/0011000003256350

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