Psychology 307: Cultural Psychology Acculturation

Acculturation What is the distinction between group-level acculturation and individual-level acculturation? What types of acculturating groups exist within pluralistic societies? What are acculturation strategies and how are they measured? What are the psychological correlates of distinct acculturation strategies?

What is the distinction between group-level acculturation and individual-level acculturation? The earliest definition of group-level acculturation was generated by Melville Herskovits and his colleagues:

“Acculturation comprehends 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 …. Under this definition acculturation is to be distinguished from … assimilation, which is at times a phase of acculturation” (Redfield, Linton, & Herskovits, 1936, p 149).

As this definition suggests, group-level As this definition suggests, group-level acculturation refers to the changes that occur to groups or collectives as a result of culture contact. Culture contact between two groups may result in one or both groups undergoing acculturation. Thus, it is not necessarily the case that one group is “absorbed” by the second group. Group-level acculturation may produce biological changes, social changes, political changes, and economic changes within collectives.

Individual-level acculturation: Individual-level acculturation refers to the changes that occur to individuals as a result of culture contact. Individual-level acculturation may produce value changes, attitudinal changes, and behavioural changes among individuals. Individual-level acculturation is the primary form of acculturation of interest to psychologists.

What types of acculturating groups exist within pluralistic societies? In addition to the dominant cultural group within a pluralistic society, there are a multitude of other groups that undergo acculturation.

Voluntary Culture Contact Involuntary Culture Contact Types of Acculturating Groups Voluntary Culture Contact Involuntary Culture Contact Non-Migratory Members of long- established cultural groups Indigenous peoples Migratory Permanent Residence Temporary Residence Immigrants Sojourners Refugees Asylum seekers

What are acculturation strategies and how are they measured? Acculturation strategies are the strategies that people use to reconcile conflicts between the norms and values of: (a) their culture of origin and (b) the culture of the dominant society in which they live. Early theories of acculturation strategies adopted a one-dimension or “mutual exclusion” model of acculturation:

One-Dimensional Model of Acculturation Adopt norms Retain norms and values of and values of dominant culture culture of origin ASSIMILATION SEPARATION Reject norms Reject norms and values of and values of culture of origin dominant culture

This model defines two extreme acculturation This model defines two extreme acculturation strategies: Assimilation and separation. In contrast, contemporary theories of acculturation strategies adopt a two-dimension model of acculturation:

Two-Dimensional Model of Acculturation Adopt norms and values of dominant culture Retain norms Reject norms and values of and values of culture of origin culture of origin Reject norms and values of INTEGRATION ASSIMILATION SEPARATION MARGINALIZATION

This model defines two additional acculturation This model defines two additional acculturation strategies: Integration and marginalization. The most influential two-dimensional model (Berry, 1997) uses questions to describe the two dimensions: “Is it of value to maintain cultural identity and characteristics?” and “Is it of value to maintain relationships with the larger society?” Among the factors that determine which of these 4 acculturation strategies individuals will use are discrimination, physical distinctiveness, and SES.

Although substantial evidence supports the two- Although substantial evidence supports the two- dimensional model of acculturation, some theorists (Birman, 1992; Coleman, 1995) have suggested that this model fails to distinguish between two modes of integration: Alternation and fusion.

Recent research has provided support for the Recent research has provided support for the distinction between alternation and fusion, suggesting that there are at least five acculturation strategies that people may use—assimilation, separation, alternation, fusion, and marginalization. Acculturative strategies are typically measured using self-report questionnaires:

The Vancouver Index of Acculturation (Ryder et al., 2000) I often participate in my heritage cultural traditions. I often participate in mainstream North American cultural traditions. I would be willing to marry a person from my heritage culture. I would be willing to marry a North American person. I enjoy social activities with people from the same heritage culture as myself. I enjoy social activities with typical North American people. I am comfortable working with people of the same heritage culture as myself. I am comfortable working with typical North American people. I enjoy entertainment (e.g., movies, music) from my heritage culture. I enjoy North American entertainment (e.g., movies, music). I often behave in ways that are typical of my heritage culture. I often behave in ways that are ‘typically North American.’ It is important for me to maintain or develop the practices of my heritage culture. It is important for me to maintain or develop North American cultural practices. I believe in the values of my heritage culture. I believe in mainstream North American values.

The Acculturation Questionnaire (Campbell et al., 2003) I do things the Canadian way. My attitudes and behaviours are consistent with Canadian norms and values. I think and act like a Canadian when I am among Canadians and when I am among Indians. (Assimilation) I do things the Indian way. My attitudes and behaviours are consistent with Indian norms and values. I think and act like an Indian when I am among Indians and when I am among Canadians. (Separation) I do some things the Canadian way and some things the Indian way. Some of my attitudes and behaviours are consistent with Canadian norms and values, and some of my attitudes and behaviours are consistent with Indian norms and values. The way I think and act when I am among Canadians and when I among Indians does not change—it combines aspects of both Canadian culture and Indian culture. (Fusion)

I adapt to which ever cultural environment I am in I adapt to which ever cultural environment I am in. When I am among Canadians, I do things the Canadian way—my attitudes and behaviours are consistent with Canadian norms and values. When I am among Indians, I do things the Indian way—my attitudes and behaviours are consistent with Indian norms and values. The way I think and act is determined by the cultural environment that I am in at a given time. (Alternation) I do things neither the Canadian way nor the Indian way. My attitudes and behaviours are not consistent with either Canadian norms and values or Indian norms and values. The way I think and act when I am among Canadians and when I am among Indians does not reflect aspects of either Canadian culture or Indian culture. (Marginalization)

What are the psychological correlates of distinct acculturation strategies? To date, the bulk of research examining the psychological correlates of acculturation strategies has focused on the 4 strategies identified by the two- dimensional model. In general, this research suggests that integration is the most adaptive acculturation strategy.

However, one study has examined the psychological However, one study has examined the psychological correlates of the 5 acculturation strategies recently identified by theorists: Campbell et al. (2003). Recruited South Asian Canadian participants. Measured the following constructs: 1. Acculturation strategies. Psychological adjustment: (a) Depression, (b) anxiety, (c) somatization, (d) self-esteem, (e) life satisfaction.

3. Self-concept organization: (a) Self-concept clarity (SCC): The extent to which self- beliefs are clearly and confidently defined, internally consistent, and temporally stable. (b) Self-concept differentiation (SCD): The degree to which people see themselves as having different personality characteristics in different social roles. (c) Self-discrepancies (SDs): The degree to which people experience discrepancies between who they believe they are and who their significant others believe they are.

Found that: (a) Alternation and fusion are used more frequently than assimilation, separation, and marginalization. (b) Alternation is associated with relatively low levels of psychological adjustment; fusion is associated with relatively high levels of psychological adjustment.

(c). Alternation is associated with relatively low (c) Alternation is associated with relatively low levels of SCC and high levels of SCD and SDs; fusion is associated with relatively high levels of SCC and low levels of SCD and SDs. (d) Self-concept organization mediates the relationship between acculturation strategies and psychological adjustment.

Acculturation What is the distinction between group-level acculturation and individual-level acculturation? What types of acculturating groups exist within pluralistic societies? What are acculturation strategies and how are they measured? What are the psychological correlates of distinct acculturation strategies?