How are acculturation orientations associated among majority-group members? The moderating role of ideology and levels of identity

Abstract

Research in the emerging field of majority-group acculturation has investigated the predictors that explain why some majority-group members adopt whereas others reject the cultures of minority-group members. The present research investigated an issue that has received comparably little attention. Specifically, with a sample of 2205 majority-group members from Germany that was age, gender, and geographically representative, it tested some potential factors determining whether own culture maintenance and other culture adoption are positively associated, unrelated, or negatively associated. Multiculturalism, perceived interconnectedness, global identity, political orientation, and political support for migration significantly moderated the association between own culture maintenance and other culture adoption in separate regression models. Both acculturation orientations were positively associated at high levels of global identity and political support for migration, and the correlation increased the more participants endorsed multiculturalism. By contrast, the orientations were negatively associated at low and medium levels of perceived interconnectedness and global identity and among politically right-wing individuals. In regression analyses that tested the effects of all moderators simultaneously, own culture maintenance was positively related to higher levels of other culture adoption, especially when regional identity was low or political support for immigration was high. We discuss the findings, considering existing research and future directions.