🧠 Acculturation
📌 Key terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Acculturation | The process of psychological and cultural change resulting from contact between different cultures. |
| Assimilation | Adopting the culture of the dominant group and losing one’s original identity. |
| Integration | Maintaining one’s original culture while adopting aspects of the new one. |
| Separation | Retaining one’s culture and avoiding interaction with the new one. |
| Marginalization | Losing connection to both the original and new culture. |
| Acculturative stress | Psychological impact (e.g., anxiety, depression) caused by adapting to a new culture. |
📌 Notes
Acculturation occurs when individuals are exposed to a new culture, typically through migration, globalization, or intercultural exchange.
It can influence mental health, identity, and behavior.
John Berry’s (2004) model identifies four acculturation strategies — assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization — depending on how individuals manage relationships with both their home and host cultures.
📌 Key Studies
1️⃣ Berry (2004) – Acculturation Framework
Aim:
To explain cultural adaptation through interaction between two or more cultural groups.
Model:
Four acculturation strategies:
- Assimilation
- Integration
- Separation
- Marginalization
Conclusion:
- Integration often leads to the best psychological outcomes.
- Marginalization is linked to the highest stress and poor adjustment.
Evaluation:
✅ Widely applicable theoretical model.
⚠️ Lacks consideration of individual variability.
2️⃣ Lueck & Wilson (2010) – Acculturative Stress in Asian Immigrants to the U.S.
Aim:
To investigate factors predicting acculturative stress in Asian immigrants.
Method:
- 2,095 Asian-Americans interviewed (half born overseas).
- Measured language proficiency, discrimination, social support, family cohesion.
Findings:
- 70% experienced acculturative stress.
- Lower stress linked to strong bilingualism and social support.
- Higher stress linked to discrimination and weak cultural ties.
Conclusion:
Acculturation stress depends on coping mechanisms and cultural integration.
Evaluation:
✅ Large, diverse sample.
✅ High ecological validity.
⚠️ Self-report bias.
🔍Tok link
- Knowledge Question: “Can psychological well-being be universally defined across cultures?”
- Explores cultural relativism — stress responses differ based on norms and expectations.
- Highlights intersection of psychology and sociology in understanding identity change.
🌐 Real-World Connection
- Supports multicultural counseling and immigration policy.
- Informs school programs for international students adapting to new environments.
- Guides companies with expat management and cross-cultural training.
❤️ CAS Link
- Organize intercultural awareness sessions for new students.
- Volunteer with local NGOs assisting immigrants or refugees.
- Reflect on personal adaptation experiences during travel or exchange programs.
🧠 IA Guidance
- Potential design: Study the relationship between acculturative stress and social support.
- Example IV: Level of cultural identification.
- Example DV: Reported stress levels.
- Use validated psychological scales ethically and confidentially.
🧠 Examiner Tips
- Always link acculturation to Berry’s model or Lueck & Wilson for full marks.
- Distinguish clearly between enculturation (learning one’s culture) and acculturation (adapting to a new one).
- For ERQs, discuss both psychological and sociocultural impacts.