Abstract

The present study was intended to analyse psychological foundations on and functions in which Cheong and Cheong relationships operate in everyday life of Koreans. Empirical self-reports were obtained from 74 undergraduate students in terms of specific case references. Data were content-analysed and cross-validated against earlier conceptualisations and empirical findings on Cheong. Comparative analysis of data obtained from different groups of subjects and with different methods revealed both consistent and coherent results. So, the earlier data were conglomerated with the present data in complementary way. The psychological nature of Cheong-mind was characterized with three major dimensions; 1)identification of we-connoting oneness and sameness, 2)disposal of the same kind of mind of helping him/herself to the counterpart persons in Cheong relationships, and 3)being void of self-consciousness about one's own self and behavior in the context with the counterpart persons. The types of activities implying Cheong-mind to the counterpart persons were characterized with 'giving calls and visits', 'giving helpings and supports', and 'giving authentic personal mind', which psychologically correspond to the psychological nature of Cheong-mind. The teleological functions of Cheong were geared more into psychological rather than practical benefits. The major functions of Cheong were consisted of 'sense of having helping hands' and 'feeling of liberation, freedom, and comfort just as when one is alone, even when with the person in Cheong relationship but who is ultimately another individuality of one's social concern'. Those functions were related more to having guarantee which could be beneficial to oneself when future necessity for the use of guarantee would arise, rather than to procuring practical help referenced to the immediate needs. In this connection, the functions of Cheong were metaphored as 'psychological-insurance'. The findings above implicate that the persons tied with Cheong-mind become incorporated into 'step-family-members' socially formulated, and thus could function as 'acting family agent'.