2.7: Acculturation and Identity

Identity negotiation

Acculturation refers to the process through which individuals adapt to a new cultural environment, balancing the norms, values, and behaviors of their heritage culture with those of the host culture. Leading theorist John W. Berry identified four primary acculturation strategies—integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization—based on whether individuals maintain their original cultural identity and whether they seek interaction with the new culture. This framework helps explain why people experience acculturation differently, ranging from bicultural competence to cultural conflict or identity loss. Acculturation is not a one‑time event but an ongoing negotiation shaped by social support, discrimination, language acquisition, and personal agency.

Identity Negotiation Theory, developed by Stella Ting‑Toomey, complements acculturation research by explaining how individuals present, protect, and negotiate their identities in intercultural interactions. According to the theory, people seek to establish shared meanings and mutual respect so that both parties can maintain a stable, valued sense of self. Identity negotiation involves managing multiple identity dimensions—such as cultural, ethnic, gender, and relational identities—while navigating expectations from both one’s heritage culture and the new cultural environment. When combined, acculturation and identity negotiation offer a powerful lens for understanding how individuals adapt, communicate, and build relationships across cultural boundaries, especially in multicultural societies.

Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology, 46(1), 5–34. Ting‑Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating across cultures. Guilford Press.

Healthcare sector

Story 24 – Mexican‑American families and U.S. pediatricians Second‑generation Mexican‑American parents often negotiated between elders’ advice (e.g., traditional remedies, feeding practices) and pediatricians’ biomedical recommendations. When doctors dismissed grandparents’ knowledge, parents felt torn and sometimes hid their actual practices. Culturally sensitive providers invited elders into conversations and framed biomedical advice as complementing, not replacing, traditional wisdom.

Suggested sources (APA): Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology, 46(1), 5–34. Flores, G. (2005). The impact of medical interpreter services on the quality of health care: A systematic review. Medical Care Research and Review, 62(3), 255–299.

Education sector

Story 25 – Refugee students in European schools: “good student” norms Refugee students from conflict zones entered European schools with different expectations about teacher authority, gender roles, and classroom behavior. Teachers interpreted quietness or reluctance to make eye contact as defiance or disinterest; students experienced teachers’ informality as disrespectful. Acculturation support programs and intercultural training for teachers helped reframe behaviors and reduce disciplinary conflicts.

Suggested sources (APA): Dryden‑Peterson, S. (2016). Refugee education: The crossroads of globalization. Educational Researcher, 45(9), 473–482. Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29(6), 697–712.

Community sector

Story 26 – Long‑term immigrant communities and policing In some Western cities, long‑settled immigrant communities reported over‑policing and under‑protection. Police interpreted tight‑knit community gatherings as suspicious; residents interpreted stop‑and‑search practices as racist harassment. Community policing initiatives that recruited officers from those communities and created joint advisory boards reduced some tensions and opened channels for dialogue.

Suggested sources (APA): Tyler, T. R. (2006). Why people obey the law (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press. Weitzer, R., & Tuch, S. A. (2006). Race and policing in America: Conflict and reform. Cambridge University Press.