The consideration of cultural factors in the research of elder mistreatment with an in-depth look at the Japanese

• Published in: Journal of cross-cultural gerontology Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 39 - 52
• Main Author: TOMITA, S.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 1994
• Subjects: Abuse of the aged; Adult Children; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cultural factors; Elder Abuse; Ethnicity; Family Relations; Japan; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Punishment; Sociocultural Factors; Asia; Japan; Human; Victimology; Elderly; Ethnic group; Communication
• ISSN: 0169-3816; 1573-0719
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00972064

Within the context of elder mistreatment, little attention has been paid to ethnicity and cultural factors as independent or causal variables. Focusing on the Japanese as an example, this paper explores cultural factors that may be associated with family conflict and elder mistreatment, including the use of silence as an extreme form of punishment. Also explored are the interrelationships of dependency (amae), holding back (enryo), and being in the way (jama); of social obligation (giri), personal indebtedness (on), and natural feelings or desires (ninjo); and of filial piety and casting away the elder (obasute). Currently-used research and detection protocols will not identify elder mistreatment among the Japanese unless they are modified. This paper provides suggestions for these modifications, as well as suggestions for practitioners who may treat Asian victims of elder mistreatment.