L18 - Cultural Internalization

Question 1

“The Best of Both Worlds”, Gazette, 2/23/2005

Answer 1

“Parents inevitably want to pass on some of the values that shaped their upbringing (e.g., politeness, respect). For some immigrant parents trying to do this can be challenging as their children navigate two different cultural universes”

Question 2

What are some “Austrian” things that the prof did not internalize?

Answer 2

going to German school Saturday mornings
eating wursts
wearing leder hosen
accordian lessons
polka dancing
playing soccer

Question 3

What is cultural internalization?

Answer 3

process by which cultural beliefs and practices are adopted by the individual and then enacted in the absence of immediate external contingencies or constraints

Question 4

What is Deci and Ryan’s theory of internalization?

Answer 4

1. Children are willing and even active Ps in the process
2. There are different processes by which internalization occurs
   – introjection: taking in a value or regulatory process but not accepting it as one’s own
   – identification and integration: fully assimilating a regulation with one’s core sense of self
3. These different internalization processes result in qualitatively different styles of self-regulation
4. The social context influences which internalization process and regulatory style occurs

Question 5

What was Downie et al.’s finding on cultural internalization?

(2004)

Answer 5

The degree to which immigrants fully internalize their host and heritage cultures will importantly relate to their adjustment

Question 6

Give some examples of external, introjected, and identified regulations

Answer 6

External: “my parents and relatives want me to”

Introjected: “I would feel ashamed, guilty, or anxious if I did not - I feel I ought to do this”

Identified: “I really believe it is important to do - I endorse it freely and value it whole-heartedly”

Question 7

What are some adjustment measures?

Answer 7

Positive and negative affect experienced in heritage and host cultural contexts

global well-being

note: included both self and peer reports

Question 8

What were the key results of the study on relative autonomy of cultural internalization?

Answer 8

Specific links between internalization of each culture and affect in those cultural settings

Significant association between bi-cultural integration and global well-being

results confirmed by peer reports

Question 9

Why are some immigrants better able to internalize and integrate their multiple cultures?

(Downie et al., 2007)

Answer 9

Hypothesis: parental autonomy support around cultural issues will promote autonomous internalization

Question 10

How is parental autonomy support regarding culture measured?

Answer 10

“My mother, whenever possible, allows me to choose how I will participate in my heritage culture”

“My father insists upon my doing things like a typical member of my heritabe culture” (reverse-scored)

If I dated an individual who was not a member of my heritage culture, my mother (or father) would…
- forbid me to date them
- treat them coldly and firmly emphasize the importance of dating someone from our own culture
- express their disappointment while respecting my choice
- be happy that I am happy

Question 11

Describe the study done on Immigrants to Montreal

Answer 11

autonomy-support was significantly associated with autonomous internalization of heritage culture (mother and father)

internalization of heritage culture values was associated with better well-being

internalization of host cultural values was significantly associated with better well-being

note: results confirmed by peer reports

Question 12

Describe the second study done on Chinese Malaysian Sojourners to US, Canada, UK, and Australia

Answer 12

Autonomy-support was significantly associated with autonomous internalization of heritage culture

internalization of heritage cultural values was significantly associated with better adjustment for all Ps

Question 13

What was the conclusion of Downie’s studies?

Answer 13

experiences of autonomy are critical to the successful adaptation of immigrants because they promote successful cultural internalization and integration

Question 14

Are all cultural guidelines equally easy or difficult to internalize?

(what is cultural relativism?)

Answer 14

Cultural relativism: the principle that an individual’s beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual’s own culture

bride kidnapping in Krygystan
adult circumcision among Kalenjin, Kenyan tribe

Question 15

Describe Chrikov and Ryan’s four dimensions of culture (2004)

Answer 15

Individualistic vs. Collectivistic
- priority given to individuals’ goals and preferences OR priority given to needs, norms, and goals of group or collective

Egalitarian vs. Hierarchical
- emphasis on equality and interchangeability among people OR emphasis on hierarchical and subordinate social relations?

US -> individualistic and horizontal
Korea -> collectivistic and hierarchical

Question 16

What does egalitarian mean?

Answer 16

means believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

Question 17

What is a hierarchical system?

Answer 17

a system in which people are arranged in order of their importance or rank

Question 18

What is a tradition that cannot be fully internalized?

Answer 18

bride abduction

Question 18

Describe what bride abduction is in Kyrgyzstan

Answer 18

Abduction, often violent, a Kyrgyztan Wedding Rite

More than half of Kyrgyzstan’s married women were snatched from the street by their husbands in a custom known as “ala kachuu,” which transaltes roughly as “grab and run”

The custom predates the arrival of Islam in the 12th century and appears to have its roots in the region’s once-marauding tribes, which periodically stoles horses and women from rivals when supplies ran low

Once a woman has been taken to a man’s home, her future in-laws try to calm her down and get a white wedding brawl onto her head. The shawl, called a jooluk, is a symbol of her submission. Many women fight fiercely, but about 80% of those kidnapped eventually relent, often at the urging of their own parents

Question 19

what are other key results from Downie’s studies?

Answer 19

the content of cultural values do differ across heritage countries

vertical practices were by far the most difficult to fully integrate

this is true for bi-cultural and mono-cultural individuals