Latest News | FGU Psychology Student Research Recognized: Tzu-Yu Lin Wins the Yang Kuo-Shu Thesis Award

Tzu-Yu Lin, a Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology track of the Graduate Institute of Psychology at Fo Guang University (supervised by Professor Jung-Kuo Liu), has been honored with the "Professor Yang Kuo-Shu Graduate Thesis Award for Chinese Indigenous Psychology" for her master's thesis: "The Mediating Role of Sense of Control in Folk Religious Rituals: An Exploration of the Religious Resource Hypothesis." This award is one of the most significant honors in the field of psychology in Taiwan, aiming to recognize outstanding research that demonstrates insights into Chinese cultural characteristics and social contexts.

Tzu-Yu Lin’s research used the common Taiwanese folk religious rituals of "Supplementing Luck/Treasury" (Bu-Yun/Bu-Ku) as the research field. She employed a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design that balanced cultural sensitivity with scientific rigor. The results indicated that folk religious rituals do not only serve to soothe emotions but also provide accessible and effective psychological support for people from various socioeconomic backgrounds by enhancing their sense of control. This finding not only validates the "Religious Resource Hypothesis" but also provides significant inspiration for the development of indigenous psychological theories and the application of community mental health practices.

The "Professor Yang Kuo-Shu Graduate Thesis Award for Chinese Indigenous Psychology" aims to promote Chinese indigenous psychology by selecting exemplary works from Master’s and Doctoral theses, as well as young scholars' papers, that best embody the indigenous spirit. Professor Yang Kuo-Shu served as a Chair Professor at the Fo Guang University Department of Psychology from 2002 to 2006, dedicating himself to the establishment and transmission of indigenous psychology. Our student winning this award is not only a recognition of Tzu-Yu Lin’s research but also symbolizes the Department’s commitment to continuing Professor Yang’s legacy and its efforts in deepening indigenous psychological research.

The faculty and students of the Department of Psychology at Fo Guang University congratulate Tzu-Yu Lin on this great honor. We hope that more students will continue to conduct psychological research with cultural depth and social care based on local traditions in the future.