The author argues that the Eastern concept of “self” is quite different
from the corresponding Western concept./Asians’ sense of feeling good often
comes from participation in a group, as can be seen by the fact that “In Chinese
there is no word for ‘individualism/The closest one can come is the word
‘selfishness.’”/ Not only are Asians less aware of the individual, they also see
themselves as being more malleable, describing “themselves” in different ways
according to the occasion/ Indeed, individuals in Eastern culture take pleasure in
being involved in a harmonious “network of supportive social relationships" and
in playing “one's partin achieving collective ends.