Topic 5 - Cultural adaptation: The Psychology of Acculturation

Question 1

List the defining features of immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, sojourners, ethnocultural groups, & indigenous groups.

Answer 1

Cultures can differ in terms of beliefs, attitudes and values concerning:

• Political systems and social structures
• Social conformity
• Regulations, roles, laws, rules, requirements…
• Religion and religious beliefs
• Wealth
• Interpersonal norms

Question 2

What is acculturation?

Answer 2

when different cultures come into contact with each other.

Acculturation is “those phenomena which result when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact, with subsequent changes in the original culture patterns of either or both groups”

Question 3

Explain the circumstances & contexts under which people acculturate & describe types of plural societies

Answer 3

The circumstances under which cultural groups interact is important to consider because it will influence the nature of these interactions and their outcomes.

Let’s consider circumstances as defined by the following three dimensions :

Voluntariness voluntary vs involuntary
hose who have arrived at the new destination involuntarily, either because they have been forced from their place of origin, or abducted from their place of origin, are less likely to be in a position of strength. Asylum seekers, refugees, et cetera, have not necessarily had the advantage of preparing for their move to their new destination, and may not have had any say as to where this new destination is.

Mobility

sedentary:
- involuntary (idiginous people) 
-voluntary (ethnocultural groups 
permanent migrant:
involuntary- refugees 
voluntary- immigrants 
temporary  migrant: 
involuntary- asylum seekers 
voluntary- Sojourners

Permanence

People who remain in contact briefly are less likely to have a large and lasting impact on each other than those who are in contact briefly. Temporary interactions also mean that cultural conflict, should it occur, does not necessarily have the same implications because both parties know that they will be apart soon.

Let’s define three common contexts in which cultural groups interact.

Blind acculturation refers to incidental/accidental influences that occur when two groups live nearby.

Imposed acculturation refers to the imposition of one culture’s values and norms onto another.

Democratic acculturation refers to respectful cultural interactions between groups.

Question 4

Explain what is meant by ‘psychological’ acculturation, & distinguish between directionality & dimensionality
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Answer 4

Psychological acculturation involves affective, behavioural and cognitive changes, in the individual.

Directionality refers to the direction in which acculturation can occur.

Unidirectional influences typically occur in the context of majority-minority plural societies where a member of a minority group begins to adopt the cultural values of the majority. Bidirectional influences recognise that members from all ethnocultural groups can shift in their values and norms once they experience prolonged contact.

Dimensionality refers to the extent to which cultural change that occurs in one direction must come at the expense of the other direction.

Put in more concrete terms, to what extent does the adoption of new cultural values require the abandonment of old ones? Of course, it’s not necessarily an all or none situation – it might be that for some cultural values bidimensionality is possible, whereas for others it is not.

Question 5

Outline Berry’s acculturation framework & explain how acculturative strategies in individuals & groups correspond

Answer 5

According to Berry, an individual’s acculturation process describes the degree to which they simultaneously participate in and identify with the cultural life of the new society and maintain their original cultural identity.

The simultaneous participation and maintenance of the two cultures can lead to one of four different outcomes: integration, assimilation, separation and marginalisation.

integration is where one identifies both with one’s heritage and mainstream culture;
separation is where one identifies with one’s heritage culture but not the mainstream culture;
assimilation is where one identifies with the mainstream culture but not one’s heritage culture; and
marginalisation is where one identifies with neither one’s heritage or mainstream culture.
These four are collectively referred to as “acculturation strategies” or “acculturative outcomes”. Why? Because these outcomes are the result of acculturation strategies in the form attitudes and behaviours underpinning day-to-day intercultural encounters.

Question 6

Discuss ways in which acculturative strategies might have mental health implications & describe the factors

Answer 6

• Perhaps the most consistent finding is that marginalisation is not conducive to good mental health. Several factors might explain this. Most obviously, marginalised people have few social connections either with their heritage or mainstream culture. And this means that they have fewer social supports, less access to mentors and resources. This explanation makes sense and reinforces the idea that belonging to a culture has value.
• the second consistent finding is that integration seems to be important for mental health outcomes. Integrating cultural values, beliefs, and customs isn’t easy. The process is challenging, particularly when cultural values are inconsistent and in conflict. The person attempting to integrate two cultures might find themselves attempting to reconcile conflicting views. They might find themselves coming into conflict with people from both cultures. They might face criticisms from both groups and find that they are unable to fit in with either group. Imagine what sorts of conflicts can arise when such a person enters into a cross-cultural relationship or marriage.

-stress
that acculturating, regardless of the strategy or outcome, is a stressful process, particularly when cultures are incompatible or in conflict.

Age – the earlier the better
Gender – gender role narrowness and rigidity (particularly feminine gender role)
Education – the more the better, for practical (wealth and opportunities) and psychological reasons (education also allows individuals to acculturate from a distance, before they relocate)
Wealth
Motivations – pull motivations are more positive and less problematic than push motivations.
Cultural distance – how dissimilar or similar the cultures are to each (e.g., social structures, religion, etc.)
Personal/personality - varied results…unclear

Question 7

what is cultural adaptation?

psychological adaptation?

Answer 7

Cultural adaptation refers to the long-term ways in which people rearrange their lives and settle into their ‘new’ life following the acculturative process. This can be positive, negative, or somewhere in between. This stage is characterized by stability (at least compared to their acculturative stage)
Psychological adaptation relates to their psychological functioning post acculturation.