Acculturation

• What is acculturation?

  process by which people adapt to a new and different culture to the one in which they have been born and raised
• when does acculturation occur

  occurs when an individual chooses or is forced to move to and live in another country
• What does acculturation involve?

  involves an individual acclimatising to the dominant culture into which they have moved from their original culture
• what can acculturation lead to

  acculturative stress
• what is a bi-directional process

  the dominant culture affects the migrant and they in turn affect the dominant culture e.g. by introducing new language, foods, religion, art, music etc.
• how does acculturation effect parenting


  Parents generally try to raise their children using the best practices and traditions that they themselves have experienced and these are largely dependent on the culture in which they have been raised - which can counter those of the dominant culture
• how does acculturation effect parents teaching their children of their ethnic identity

  Research tends to suggest that the children of first-generation parents (i.e. the first to move to the new country) are less traditional in their behaviours and attitudes than their parents which is probably due to the influence of the dominant culture into which they have been born
• what is the number of international migrants

  The total number of international migrants reached 244 million in 2015Represents a 50% increase from 2000, and includes 20 million refugees
• What is acculturative stress?

  the losses and changes that occur when adjusting to or integrating a new system of beliefs, routines, and social roles; the psychological, somatic, and social impact of adaptation to a new culture
• when does acculturative stress occur

  when non-natives settling into a new country find that the dominant culture is one which causes them difficulties and which may be misaligned with their own cultural values, norms, beliefs, customs and behaviours
• What is Berry's model of acculturation?

  suggested a theory of acculturation based on four strategies that individuals use when acculturating to the dominant culture
• what are the 4 strategies when acculturating to the dominant culture

  assimilation, integration, separation, marginalisation
• Assimilation


  when individuals do not wish to maintain their own, original culture and instead seek daily interactions with people from dominant culture
• Integration


  when individuals wish to interact with the dominant culture, while maintaining their own identity as well
• Separation


  when individuals wish to maintain their own culture and do not wish to integrate, therefore, they avoid contact with the dominant culture
• marginalisation


  when individuals have no interest in integration or assimilation into the dominant culture, even though they have lost their own
• what does berry thing the most productive strategy is

  'integration', as it allows the individual to explore and enjoy the dominant culture whilst still maintaining a sense of their cultural identity
• what does berry thing the least productive strategy is

  'marginalisation', as it involves a total negation of culture which the individual may not always be able to control
• strengths of Berrys model

  model has good application and could be used to help non-native residents, particularly those in need, settle into and adapt to a new, unfamiliar culture
• weaknesses of Berrys model

  The research does not account for people who have a mixed cultural heritage and is a little vague