Explain one study of acculturation

Question 1

Acculturation (1)

Answer 1

Acculturation is the cultural and psychological change that takes place as a result of contact between two or more cultural groups. When moving to another culture, individuals make choices, both consciously and unconsciously, to what extent they will maintain their own culture versus adopting the culture of their new home country.

Question 2

Acculturation (2)

Answer 2

Berry argued that there are different acculturation strategies. One is assimilation – when a person adopts the cultural behaviors and values of the new culture. If they do this while maintaining their original culture as well, this is called integration. If a person fails to integrate into their new culture and maintains their own culture, this is a form of isolation in society.

Question 3

Acculturation (3)

Answer 3

If the person fails to integrate into the new culture and also loses contact with their home culture, they can experience what Berry called marginalization.

Question 4

Acculturation stress (1)

Answer 4

Psychologists recognize that the process of acculturation can be stressful for people. This is referred to as acculturative stress - the psychological, physiological, and social difficulties of acculturation, often resulting in anxiety or depression.

Question 5

Acculturation stress (2)

Answer 5

The result is a decrease in one’s mental health. This is often experienced by immigrants when they move to a new country and try to balance the culture in which they were enculturated and the new culture into which they are trying to acculturate.

Question 6

Miranda and Matheny

Answer 6

Miranda and Matheny (2000) carried out a study to see which factors most affect acculturative stress in Latino immigrants in the USA. They used a sample of 200 immigrants and had them complete a questionnaire to test their level of acculturative stress and several factors that might influence it.

Question 7

Results of Miranda and Matheny

Answer 7

The study found that immigrants with effective coping strategies, good proficiency in English, and a strong family structure were less likely to experience acculturative stress. The study shows that there are many protective factors that influence the extent to which a person acculturates effectively. This would then have a positive effect on their mental health.