Cultural Identity within Psychoanalysis: Reframing the Asian American Experience, with Kris Yi

The Art of Listening

Cultures are dynamic and powerful forces that shape our identities and influence our perspectives on the world. They serve as bridges, effortlessly connecting the depth of our heritage with the construction of our futures. But for Asian Americans, the balance between traditional values and modern ideals poses a distinct challenge as they strive to find their place within society.

Between visibility and invisibility, the pervasive presence of racism, the necessity for adaptation, and the negotiation between individuality and community… The Asian American experience is as complex as it is resilient. Today’s guest embodies this truth in more ways than one.

Kris Yi, Ph.D., Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Throughout her career, she has dedicated her work to highlighting and raising awareness of the Asian American experience, and racial bias within psychoanalysis.

In today’s episode, Kris invites us to step into her world. She illustrates her journey from South Korea to the United States, sharing the challenges of migration, the enduring impact of cultural trauma, and the art of finding the balance between two distinct cultures. Determined to break free from bias, Kris lends her voice to the Art of Listening, to offer a fresh and often overlooked perspective that defies stereotypes.

Join us as Kris boldly rewrites the narrative of the Asian American experience, carving out a unique space within the realm of psychoanalysis.

Chapters

1 - Juggling Korean and American cultures (4:22)

2 - Anti-Asian racism and the Model Minority myth (10:41)

3 - Kris’s experiences with Discrimination and Hypersexualisation (17:14)

4 - Historical racism in Psychoanalysis (22:41)

5 - Bringing new visibility to the Asian Perspective (26:08)

Links

• Kris Yi
• Kris’ Journal on the Asian Perspective in Psychoanalysis
• Eileen Dunn
• More from ‘The Art of Listening’