Psychology in China

Mit Dr. FANG Man.
In this episode of ChinaConnect – Your Guide for Research and
Transfer, we speak with Dr. FANG Man, psychologist and
psychotherapist trained in China and Germany, about the evolution
and practice of psychology in China. With over 20 years of
experience, she shares insights into the field’s development—from
early Western and German influences, through disruption during
the Cultural Revolution, to today’s efforts to localise
psychological theory and practice.
The discussion explores how cultural factors such as "face,"
relationships, and harmony shape the expression of psychological
distress, as well as the integration of Western clinical methods
with traditional Chinese practices like body-based therapies and
TCM. The episode also addresses rising mental health diagnoses
among young people in urban China and ongoing debates around
medicalisation. Drawing on her work in trauma and disaster
response, Dr. Fang compares strengths of emergency psychological
support systems in China and Germany.