- Research Article
- 10.1037/aap0000413
A dialectical framework of work ethic and rest ethic for Asian American psychology: Korean American client cases.
- Mar 26, 2026
- Asian American Journal of Psychology
- Yunkyoung Loh Garrison + 6 more +6
The present practice-oriented article is informed by dialectical epistemologies embedded within Asian cultural traditions.It introduces a new healing framework that integrates work ethic and rest ethic for Asian American counseling practice.The article posits that engaging in the dialectics of work ethic and rest ethic provides a meaningful and practical approach to foster greater value placed on rest, both collectively and individually, within Asian American communities.Using the framework, the article discusses case illustrations of the work and rest ethic for Korean immigrant and Korean American clients, further contextualized by Korean indigenous psychological concepts.The case illustrations present examples of the intergenerational emotions of haan, jeong, and heung as keys to understanding their lived experiences and fostering healing in their communities.Suggestions for Asian American counseling practice are discussed. What is the public significance of this article?The article, grounded in dialectical epistemologies, introduces a new framework for work ethic and rest ethic applicable to Asian American and immigrant clients in the United States.As concrete examples, the article illustrates two Korean American counseling cases further informed by Korean indigenous psychological concepts.The new framework contributes to Asian American psychology practice by holding the societal and emotional complexity of work ethic among Asian American history while bringing the rest ethic to the forefront.
Read more
1