Acculturation and Optimal Experience

Abstract

In today’s rapidly changing environment, multicultural societies are gradually replacing monocultural ones. This poses several issues as concerns the coexistence of different traditions and belief systems, and the opportunities for adjustment and integration of immigrants and minorities within a dominant culture. In order to investigate the impact of these phenomena on the quality of experience and on psychological selection, we administered flow questionnaire, life theme questionnaire, and ESM to different groups of participants. Some of them had migrated to Italy from India, Africa, South America, and eastern Europe. Others were members of an ancient population—the Navajos—who had been living in the North American territory long before the arrival of Europeans. The investigation of flow and daily experience fluctuation, together with the analysis of participants’ long-term projects, shed light on their level of socio-cultural adjustment and acculturation strategy. Findings confirmed that biculturalism is the best strategy to maintain flexibility and increase individual complexity in a host culture.