Disorders of interdependence in Japan

There now have been several studies of the phenomenology of Western persona lity disorders in Japan. Although the results of these studies have been in terpreted to support the contention that concepts of Western personality di sorders can be appropriately employed in Japan, it is essential that a cons ideration of the area is made from an emic perspective. As the psychology o f Japanese individuals is better conceived in terms of interdependence than in terms of personality, longstanding disorders of interpersonal functioni ng may he better understood as disorders of interdependence than as persona lity disorders. Based on literature review and ethnographic studies by the author, it is proposed that there are six conditions which may represent di sorders of interdependence in Japan: taijinkyofusho amaesugi, amayakashisug i, utsu, wagamama, and mushinkei. The current knowledge in regards to these conditions is presented, and prototypical descriptions of the conditions a re provided.