Example Of Cross Cultural Acculturation

1323 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Marco polo's journey of discovery

Adapting to a new culture for living and working purposes is neither a new nor recent phenomenon. People’s interest in this concept even goes back to the accounts of Marco Polo, who wrote about his travelling and living experiences over the course of years spent in China. At that time, it was not possible for people to regard these narrations as cases of acculturation, yet all the stories of Marco Polo, Captain Cook or Columbus that we can have access today are successful examples of cross-cultural visits. As for systematic and empirical investigation of cross-cultural research, acculturation is one of the most complex areas of research that anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists have been studying and researching for more than …show more content…

These reactions may vary from completely adopting to to completely rejecting the social norms of the host culture. (Eisikovits & Shamai, 2001; Sigad & Eisikovits, 2009). According to Berry and Sam (1997), cross-cultural adaptation has two dimensions, including psychological adaptation and sociocultural adaptation. Psychological adaptation refers to “a set of internal psychological outcomes including a clear sense of personal and cultural identity, good mental health, and the achievement of personal satisfaction in a new cultural context” (Berry, 1997, p. 17). On the other hand, socio-cultural adaptation refers to “a set of external psychological outcomes that links individuals to their new context, including their ability to deal with daily problems, particularly in the areas of life, and work and school” (Berry, 1997, p. …show more content…

Oberg(1960), an anthropologist by whom the term culture shock was coined defined it as an “occupational disease...the anxiety that results from losing all of our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse” before an individual feels comfortable in a new culture (p. 177). Subsequent research found that not all sojourners experience the same level of anxiety, or experience anxiety for the same length of time (Church, 1982; Stening, 1979). This resulted in the study of cross-cultural adjustment as an individual difference criterion, which could potentially be predicted, rather than as a fixed period of anxiety that all sojourners will necessarily experience when they enter a new culture (Black,

Show More
Related

  • Assimilation: The Drawbacks of Cross-Cultural Misunderstandings

    1530 Words  | 4 Pages

    Adaptation is very important when trying to pursue a new living with new set of customs and beliefs. The Lee family formally arrived to America after being persecuted at their native country Laos. Living in America as refugees was not their personal decision, but was necessary in order to escape the war occurring at their native home and...

    Read More

  • Coculturation Acculturation

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    276). Curtin’s Coculturation (2010) combats this hegemonic discourse by stating, “everyone is continually engaged in social and political processes of identification” (p. 283). Thus, one’s identity can consist of multiple cultures and they can in fact coincide. The idea that one group “belongs” in a particular imagined community is a myth, there is no single response or adaption. The theory of Coculturation ultimately accommodates to a more realistic approach to cultural adjustment where a newcomer can adopt some behavior of the host culture while still maintaining the conciliatory and subconscious aspects of their native

    Read More

  • Brubaker's Theory Of Assimilation

    247 Words  | 1 Pages

    They highlight the diversity among immigrants and across social contexts as the reasons for this variability, another source of variability could be the outcome examined (Greenman and Xie, 2008). As pointed by Park and Burgess, assimilation is a process which takes time and effort. Assimilation may result either a quick or gradual change but it depends on the circumstances of the

    Read More

  • Korean-American Population and Acculturation

    1790 Words  | 4 Pages

    Songco, D. /Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, (2009, August 4). Acculturation. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.slideshare.net/dsongco/acculturation

    Read More

  • Identity and Belonging in Shanghai Girls and Silver like Dust

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Acculturation and assimilation are treated as complex, multifaceted phenomena. The acceptance of new cultural traits or social associations and retention of traditional cultural traits and social associations are viewe...

    Read More

  • Four Stages of Culture Shock Faced By Immigrants

    1688 Words  | 4 Pages

    A sudden change in one’s surroundings can result in culture shock. Culture shock refers to the anxiety and surprise a person feels when he or she is discontented with an unfamiliar setting. The majority of practices or customs are different from what a person is used to. One may experience withdrawal, homesickness, or a desire for old friends. For example, when a person goes to live in a different place with unfamiliar surroundings, they may experience culture shock. Sometimes it is the result of losing their identity. In the article “The Phases of Culture Shock”, Pamela J. Brink and Judith Saunders describe four phases of culture shock. They are: Honeymoon Phase, Disenchantment Phase, Beginning Resolution Phase, and Effective Function Phase. These phases denote some of the stages that exemplify culture shock. The four phases are illustrated in the articles “New Immigrants: Portraits in Passage” by Thomas Bentz, “Immigrant America: A Portrait” by Alejandro Portes and Ruben G. Rumbaut, “When I Was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago, “Today’s Immigrants, Their Stories” by Thomas Kessner and Betty Boyd Caroli, and lastly, “The New Americans: Immigrant Life in Southern California” by Ulli Steltzer, and are about the experiences of some immigrants. This essay will examine the four phases of culture shock and classify the experiences of these immigrants by the different phases of culture shock identified.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Social Determinants Of Health

    1712 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, the theory might not be applicable to other cultures. Generally, people from different cultural backgrounds have personal coping and social resources that can assist them to avoid negative experiences that affect health status, and to deal with such experiences when they happen. Therefore, most of the psychosocial variables that might impact on the health Westerners may not apply well to those from highly different cultural backgrounds (Fernando, 2010). Another disadvantage of the theory is that it generally focusses on individuals and proximal factors (Sundmacher, Scheller-Kreinsen, & Busse

    Read More

  • Ecological Contextual Model of Acculturation

    3038 Words  | 7 Pages

    As we may all have once experienced, acculturation is one of the most common part of our lives, either by music, language or habits. In many occasions is more noticeable, but they are still a part of our entire lives. Through my own experiences and some of my classmates we were able to identified this topic in our own lives. I being born in USA but raised in Mexico until I was 16 years old, made my acculturation really clear when I came to this country without any previous knowledge of this language or society. Everything was completely different, but I was able to adapt to a new culture in a small period of time, learning a new language and successfully ending High School. Now that I came to college, I feel that I am going to a new acculturation process, not as harsh or obvious. But leaving and having many Asian friends have been acculturated me to their Asian culture little by little. Everything starts when you put in practice small customs as taking your shoes at the door, eating rice with anything and eating specially with chopsticks. I have been presented to this, and in my opinion have become acculturated to this culture. However, not everyone stories are the same. Lizandro Laverman experienced acculturation more indirectly by his parents experiences. His parents, basically, came to the United States to have a better lifestyle. He himself personally considers himself as an American. Although he is actually 75% Guatemalan and 25% German he considers himself to be 100% American. He also speak fluent in both languages, so the English and the Spanish, but speaks English more than anything. He also feels embraced when as Guatemalan dishes. In general, his parents are only used to a lifestyle that comes from Guatemala as train...

    Read More

  • Acculturation In America

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the founding of our nation, the United States has been a melting pot for a growing mass of individuals. Along with the mass growth of the population comes an astonishing sense of diversity and cultural value. Immigrants who come to America are accompanied by their traditional customs, language, values, and beliefs, thus resulting in many individuals who live in a multicultural world. As a result, we see a variety of cultures everywhere, whether it be on the bus, in the super market, or in our schools. However, as more and more immigrants integrate into American society, original cultures and traditions are lost. This process is called acculturation and lends the question of why. Why is culture lost? Why is it difficult to incorporate

    Read More

  • International Students' Experience

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone reacts differently to new environments.While some are excited others are upset to have to leave important people behind. Culture shock comes in many different forms and sizes, some may find it harder to adjust than others. The difficulties to adjusting don’t always show up right away (TeensHealth). Culture shock is experienced in many different ways some common feelings are; sadness, loneliness, anxiety, trouble concentrating, feeling left out, negative feelings towards the new culture and frustration (TeensHealth). These feelings are temporary, eventually people get used to their surroundings. Although, many have been planning on the change for a long time, many still experience the impact of culture shock (International Students and Culture Shock). A huge majority of the cultures norms are based on language.

    Read More

  • Cultural Competence and Intercultural Communication

    1667 Words  | 4 Pages

    When one encounters a culture that has little in common with own, one may experience culture shock. This is a sense of confusion, anxiety, stress and loss one may experience. One of the barriers in effective intercultural communication is ethnocentrism. It stems from a conviction that one’s own cultural traditions and assumptions are superior to those of others. It leads to a tendency to look the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. It is one of the fastest ways to create a barrier that inhibits, rather than enhances communication (Jandt, 2012).

    Read More

  • Adapting to a New Cultural Environment

    1289 Words  | 3 Pages

    At some point in our lives we experience a culture as an outsider by moving from one culture to another.In the world today there are so many different cultures and not one of them is found to be the same.Instead they all have something that makes them unique, whether its language or even the clothes they wear and their behavior as well.The differences they have is what separates them from one another and who ever joins that particular culture must get accustomed to their way of life.In the society today we have many people immigrating to the United States to start a new and better life but what they soon begin to realize is that it’s a whole new world out there and in order to survive they have to get accustomed to the new way of life which is much different from their lives before.

    Read More

  • Cultural Sensitivity

    1969 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cultural sensitivity occurs when people recognize and are aware that each country or various ethnic groups of people have their own set of experiences, beliefs, values, and language that affect their perceptions toward life. Addressing Cultural sensitivity permits people to comprehend that there are differences between cultures. Furthermore, having awareness in the differences between cultures permits a culturally competent person to communicate effectively with others that are outside of one’s realm. Some of the differences of Cultural sensitivity can be discovered while traveling outside of the country, such as through Cross-cultural sensitivity experiences. Likewise, a culture has its own norms and beliefs to how one should dress; how one should greet others, such as by referring to a significant individual by his or her first name or surname (comprehending which name should be stated first in foreign names); and/or what foods are permitted to eat or forbidden to eat or understanding what may offend a person (e.g. not accepting a home cooked meal). There are norms, taboos, cultural cues, and cultural etiquette standards that are significant to learning about one’s culture before exploring another country or while working with people who are from your country but who are part of another racial group. It takes time and patience to build a high level of Cultural sensitivity. Educating oneself with a culture’s psychology and its norms is significant toward achieving an increasing awareness toward Cultural sensitivity.

    Read More

  • Essay On Parental Separation And Individuation

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    For newly arrived international students who are in their late adolescence developmental stage, the sources of acculturative stress often include academic pressures, language difficulties, feelings of inferiority, difficulties in adjusting to new food or cultural values, lack of support, perceived discrimination, and homesickness (Andrade, 2006). In addition, international students may experience little acceptance, tolerance, and understanding of their cultural practices by members of the host country, and in some cases, racial discrimination (Poyrazli & Lopez, 2007). It is also possible that international students themselves may be intolerant or discriminatory towards other international students or members of the host culture. These difficulties can contribute to international students’ loneliness, alienation, mistrust, powerlessness, and depression. Although members (e.g., new college students) of the host culture may be affected by such difficulties, the combination of acculturation stressors has been found to weigh more heavily on international students who have limited access to resources (Poyrazli & Lopez, 2007). Specifically, when experiencing acculturative stress, they may

    Read More

  • Reflection Of 'The Man Who Was Afraid Of Atms'

    967 Words  | 2 Pages

    Theoretical Models & Perspectives, the “ABCs of Acculturation” (L5) refers to individual changes during continuous first-hand cultural contact (acculturation). There are 3 main areas of this theory; Affective perspectives, Behavioural perspective and Cognitive perspective, which could all be seen in this story.

    Read More

More about Example Of Cross Cultural Acculturation

Open Document