question archive CASE ILLUSTRATION The Chens Wen and Mei Chen are upset because their only son, Park, decided to go against their wishes and major in biology instead of business
Subject:PsychologyPrice: Bought3
CASE ILLUSTRATION
The Chens Wen and Mei Chen are upset because their only son, Park, decided to go against their wishes and major in biology instead of business. He wants to be a horticulturist when he finishes his studies. His parents wanted him to earn an MBA and follow in the footsteps of his father, a CEO and manager of a hotel chain. If not that, they hoped Park would become a physician. However, Park is somewhat reserved and wants nothing to do with the two professions his parents wish him to pursue. Furthermore, he states he is an American and “free” from any cultural obligation to follow his parents’ mandates. The parents are furious, especially Mr. Chen. They want you to “talk some sense” into Park since he is only a sophomore in college and still has time to change his major. You feel trapped in wanting to advocate both for the parents and their cultural heritage and for Park and his cultural milieu. What could you say to the Chens as a family? How could you approach their situation from a systemic point of view? What could you do therapeutically with them without putting them in therapy per se?