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News Release
Psychologist Provides Cross-cultural
Perspective of Virginia Tech Killing
April 23, 2007
TORONTO, ON- Tyndale University College psychology professor Paul
T. P. Wong says he has identified several culturally-based risk
factors which may have contributed to the Virginia Tech shooting.
Dr. Wong, an internationally recognized expert on cross-cultural
psychology, comments, "Cho Seung-Hui had experienced difficulties
common to many new immigrants. These included acculturation stresses,
language barrier, poverty and discrimination. The cumulative stress
of these risk factors coupled with problems of mental illness, autism
and personal grievances might have pushed Cho over the edge."
According to Wong, every society has its underclass - often the
poor, mentally ill, "sweat shop" foreign workers, and
new immigrants who are unable to express themselves adequately in
the English language, and carry a sense of being talked down to
and neglected. Our society often lets powerless and voiceless people
fall through the cracks in our systems.
Wong says, "The Virginia Tech killing might have been averted
if Cho's parents had been able to provide him with proper medical
care and protection from the harsh realities which he had long endured."
"There can be no justification for the evil of mass killing,"
Wong emphasizes, "but most new Asian immigrants can relate
to what Cho went through and why he may have snapped."
Wong suggests that a system should be devised in order to assist
those transplanted into a totally new environment and separated
from the usual support systems. Special support is also needed for
those diagnosed as autistic children. There is already a societal
focus on bullying, but there needs to be a better understanding
of the impact that the mocking and humiliation from bullying has
on immigrant children who have an English language deficiency, or
who are deprived of a normal social life at a time when peer relationships
are so important.
Evidence indicates that Cho was insulted by rude customers at his
parents' laundry shop; overshadowed by an academically superior
sister; expelled from his creative writing class; and rejected by
objects of his romantic interests, detained and diagnosed as mentally
ill.
"This relentless litany of rejection, failure and humiliation
is sufficient to crush any person," notes Wong. "These
negative life experiences mixed with Cho's mental condition, coupled
with the fact that he came from a shame-based Korean culture, where
parents tend to keep quiet about family problems, and avoid getting
help from social and mental health agencies, resulted in him becoming
an active volcano ready to explode at anytime. He had given out
many warning signals of his condition, but no one had entered into
his innermost dark places of pain and rage to provide culturally-sensitive
interventions."
Wong adds that, "His murderous act was one of anger turned
outward, while his suicide was anger turned inward. It was also
a final act of defiance; one he believed would restore his manhood
and honour after years of feeling helpless and humiliated. From
the writings and videos he left behind, it is clear that, in his
twisted logic, he saw himself as taking a last stand and dying as
a hero."
When asked what we can do to prevent similar tragic incidents,
Dr. Wong suggests, "On the individual level, caring individuals
and professional counsellors can often make a dramatic difference.
On the institutional level, we need more ethnic counsellors in schools
and communities to serve the mental health needs of immigrants and
ethnic minorities who tend to avoid mainstream counselling services."
He points out that Tyndale University College prepares counsellors
with multicultural competencies.
"On the societal level, we need to make medical and psychological
services available to all who cannot afford them," Dr. Wong
appends. "We need to address social issues of poverty, injustice
and discrimination. Racism will always be with us, but if we are
able to recognize it, we can combat it whenever and wherever it
raises its ugly head."
Dr. Wong says a caring society will ensure no child is left behind,
and no one is denied a fair chance to succeed. If we extend justice
and compassion to all, regardless of ethnicity, disability and other
minority status, we will reduce the likelihood of another Virginia
Tech incident.
-30-
Paul T.P. Wong, Ph.D., C.Psy., is Professor of Psychology at
Tyndale University College, and a Registered Clinical Psychologist
in Ontario. He has more than three decades of experience working
with international students and Asian immigrants. He is available
for interviews and comment regarding Cho's mental condition and
the Virginia Tech massacre. For more information on Wong's psychological
profile of Cho, please visit his website: http://www.meaning.ca
Contact:
Rachel Collins, Marketing Assistant
Tyndale University College & Seminary
25 Ballyconnor Court, Toronto ON M2M 4B3
416-226-6620 ex. 2175
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