Running Head: PARIS SYNDROME: DREAM VERSUS REALITY IN THE PSYCHE OF THE TRAVELER

Paris Syndrome: Dream Versus Reality in the Psyche of the Traveler

Ashley Adams-Jack
2014 August

Florida State University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the possible relationship between Japanese travelers’ knowledge of Paris and their propensity for developing Paris Syndrome upon reaching Paris. Previous observations have indicated that the propensity for developing Paris Syndrome and the traveler’s prior knowledge of the city of Paris are negatively correlated, and this study aims to quantitatively associate these two variables. Additionally, due to studies indicating that Japanese women have a higher tendency for idealization of the West than men, it is predicted that they will be most affected overall. To test this hypothesis, participants utilized will be an aimed for 2500 Japanese citizens, traveling to Paris. A 2x2 ANOVA factorial design will be utilized, with randomly individuals sorted into groups of whether they receive explicit cultural knowledge of Paris and France or not. The moderator will be that of a binary categorization of gender. The results are predicted to show that Japanese travelers to Paris without knowledge of the city will be more likely to present symptoms of Paris Syndrome. Additionally, it is expected that female Japanese travelers to Paris will have a higher propensity for the syndrome overall.

Introduction

         Paris Syndrome is a mental state experienced exclusively by Japanese who travel to the city of Paris. It is said that these Japanese tourists suffer from a major cultural shock due to the disparity between their culturally influenced imaging of Paris and the reality they are presented with (Aishiwariya 2013). Paris Syndrome presents many symptoms, some quite severe and rare, requiring hospitalization. Most commonly, however, symptoms are similar to those of depressive episodes (Fagan 2011). Figures state that an underestimated minimum of 20 Japanese people suffer from this syndrome every year. The Japanese embassy has created a hotline especially for the people who present symptoms of Paris Syndrome so that they can avail immediate hospital treatment (Aishiwariya 2013).

An analysis in the French psychiatry journal, Nervure, reports that the syndrome is speculated as manifesting from an individual's inability to reconcile a disparity between the Japanese popular image and the reality of Paris (Viala 2004).

         In The Japan Times, Fiona Webster details Karen Kelsky’s exploration of the “destabilizing pull experienced by Japanese women between the expectations and demands of their own nation and their attraction to and idealization of the West”
(Webster 2002).
        This study will examine if these observations can be quantifiably confirmed. The hypotheses for this study are that “If the presence of the psychological disorder “Paris Syndrome” in Japanese travelers results largely from an idealized view of the city, then providing travelers from Japan to Paris with in-depth knowledge of the city will reduce the likelihood of the travelers developing Paris Syndrome”. The second hypothesis is that “If Japanese women have the propensity to idealize the West more than men, they will be more highly affected by the larger disparity in their expectations for Paris”.

         Thus, it is predicted that there will be a negative correlation with one’s knowledge of Paris and their propensity for the syndrome and that women’s propensity for the syndrome will be collectively higher than those of the male participants.

Methods

Participants

         A 2x2 ANOVA factorial design will be utilized, with randomly individuals sorted into groups of whether they receive explicit cultural knowledge of Paris and France or not. The moderator will be that of a binary categorization of gender.          

         Participants will be native Japanese citizens, booking a flight to the city of Paris as their final destination. The number that will be aimed for is 2500 individuals; however, although travelers to Paris from Japan number very high per year, it must be seen whether they will have an interest level that makes this a feasible number. If it does not appear that such a number will be reached within a feasible span of time, the study will be limited to two years. Participants will be obtained through cooperation with airlines, having them inquire about the travelers’ interest in the study upon booking, making participation encouraged but optional. Upon ticket confirmation from Japan to Paris, they will provide private survey links to those who volunteer.

Design and Procedures

         Subjects will be provided with a link to the questionnaire. Naturally, the information will be translated utilizing native-Japanese language speakers and Japanese language professors to accurately translate the information that will be communicated to the participants.

         The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale will be utilized in order to discover the mental state of the participants. The English-language version of the scale is presented in Appendix D. It will be administered upon receiving the link to the survey. Upon completion of the Zung Self-Rating Scale, participants will be provided with an “opinion survey” regarding their ideas of the city of Paris.

         An example question is included in Appendix B. The reason such a question type will be utilized is so that the participants cannot research the “correct” answer. Thus, questions such as, “How many people cross through the central square on a daily basis?” cannot be utilized. As such is quantifiable, it would give participants an opportunity to research the “correct” result, removing their baseline similarity to other participants. If the groups of participants who are not designated to receive researcher-provided information about Paris do independent research, it will confound the results.

         Following the “quiz,” the randomized group of individuals who have been sorted into the “to be informed” category will be provided with explicit information regarding the city. Examples of information provided are present in Appendix C.
        Three days into the individual travelers’ stay in the city of Paris, they will be asked to re-answer the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. While recidivism is certainly a possibility, the short length of the request encourages continued participation. Additionally, a reimbursement of a $50 discount voucher on their next flight booking will be provided in order to discourage recidivism rates. The numerical scores will be analyzed in relation to the earlier scores to confirm an overall increase in number, indicating higher symptoms.

                                         Concluding Results

         It is predicted that the values of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale for those individuals who did not receive the researcher-provided information regarding the city of Paris will increase significantly from point A (not in Paris) to Point B (in Paris) when compared to those of the group who did receive the information. Additionally, due to the aforementioned idealizing inclinations of women, their subsequent scores will collectively be higher than those of the male participants. A graph representing this predicted results can be found in Appendix A.

References

Abe, E. (September 2014). A Note on Psychological Disorders Named After Cities. Names: A Journal of Onomastics, Volume 62 Issue 3, 177- 182.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/0027773814Z.00000000087

Aishiwariya. (October 8 2013). "The Top 10 Weird Psychological Disorders". List Crown. Retrieved from http://listcrown.com/top-10-weird-psychological-disorders/

Chrisafis, A. (25 October 2006). Paris syndrome hits Japanese. London: The Guardian.  Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/25/japan.france

Fagan, C. (October 18 2011). Paris Syndrome: A First-Class Problem for a First-Class Vacation. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/paris-syndrome-a-first-class-problem-for-a-first-class-vacation/246743/

Halim, N. (December 2008). Mad Tourists: The “Vectors” and Meanings of City-Syndromes. Retrieved from  https://www.interdisciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/halim-paper.pdf

Tamami, K. (1998). "Reflexions on a case of Paris syndrome". Journal of the Nissei  Hospital 26(2): 127–132. Retrieved July 8th, 2014.

Viala, A.; H. Ota, M.N. Vacheron, P. Martin, and F. Caroli (2004). Les Japonais en voyage pathologique à Paris : un modèle original de  prise en charge transculturelle. Nervure de  journal Psychiatrie 5, 31–34. Retrieved July 8th 2014.

Webster, F. (Febuary 10 2002). “Japanese women ‘defect’ to the west.” The Japan Times. Retrieved from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2002/02/10/books/book-reviews/japanese-women-defect-to-the-west/#.U-DVWLGJpx0

Wyatt, C. (December 20, 2006). "'Paris Syndrome' strikes Japanese". BBC News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6197921.stm

Wyatt, C. (December 23 2006). "Mastering French manners, the hard way". BBC News.  
        Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi//6205403.stm

Appendix A

Graph 1: Predicted Results

                                         Appendix B

Which image best fits your idea of the city of Paris?

Image 1                                                Image 2

Appendix C

1. “# of people walk through the main square of Paris each day.”
2. “This particular picture was taken on -*-*- Street in Paris on Month/Day/Year at noon.”