American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Volume 89, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 1-15

Acculturation in the discourse of immigrants and receiving community members: Results from a cross-national qualitative study (Article)

Fedi A. , Mannarini T. , Brodsky A. , Rochira A. , Buckingham S. , Emery L. , Godsay S. , Scheibler J. , Miglietta A.* , Gattino S.
  • a Department of Psychology, University of Torino, via Verdi 10, Torino, 10124, Italy
  • b Department of History, Society, and Human Studies, University of Salento, Italy
  • c Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States
  • d Department of History, Society, and Human Studies, University of Salento, Italy
  • e Department of Psychology, University of Alaska, United States
  • f Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States
  • g Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States
  • h Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States
  • i Department of Psychology, University of Torino, via Verdi 10, Torino, 10124, Italy
  • j Department of Psychology, University of Torino, via Verdi 10, Torino, 10124, Italy

Abstract

This study explores the bidirectional and interactional process of acculturation from the perspectives of immigrants and receiving community members (RCMs). Our aim was to understand the experiences and interactions of different ethno-cultural groups and their impact on the functioning and dynamics of multicultural communities. We conducted a cross-national, cross-cultural study of acculturation processes, using interviews collected across two countries (Italy: urban regions of Torino and Lecce; U.S.: Baltimore/Washington corridor) and three distinct groups of immigrants - Moroccans and Albanians in Italy and Latin Americans in the United States - and RCMs in Italy and the United States. Findings show that acculturation is a complex, situated, and dynamic process, and is generally conceived as an unbalanced and individual process of accommodation, which expects the immigrant alone to adapt to the new context. The boundaries among traditionally explored acculturation strategies were blurred and while integration was the most frequently discussed strategy, it often referenced a "soft" assimilation, limited mostly to public domains. Some differences emerged between ethnic groups and generation of immigration as well as among RCMs who differed by level of contact with immigrants. The need for more flexible models and for a critical perspective on acculturation is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved). © 2019 American Psychological Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

discourse intergroup relationships multicultural communities Acculturation Immigration

Index Keywords

Social Values Cultural Diversity immigrant social psychology multicenter study clinical trial Social Identification human immigration middle aged ethnic group coping behavior Adaptation, Psychological Washington qualitative research interview United States Young Adult Humans migrant psychology American Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female cultural factor Albanian (citizen) Article adult Psychological Theory Italy Maryland Moroccan social behavior
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047297330&doi=10.1037%2fort0000325&partnerID=40&md5=1be3d8f3a369309b3e000476cdcbd264
DOI: 10.1037/ort0000325
ISSN: 00029432
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English