Multicultural Personality and Cross-Cultural Adjustment among Sojourners in New Zealand

Abstract

Different parts of the world are offering sojourners with a variety of socio-cultural experiences. The inability to understand the variation triggers psychological, physical or behavioural difficulties, and maladjustment or misunderstanding. It is discovered that cross-cultural underestimation is the root of intercultural resistance, stereotyping, ethnocentrism and racism sentiments among sojourners. The online survey was conducted in the present study to comprehend the role of multicultural personality traits on sojourners’ cross-cultural adjustment. With snowball method and a purposive sampling, 55.5% of response rate was obtained among Malaysian sojourners in the New Zealand. Basically, the manifestation of self and other’s affection, behavioural and contextual variations amplify the rationalisation and contradictory nature of cultural variation. Highlighted, social initiative is a sole important multicultural personality trait which perceived as vital to the success of sojourners’ cross-cultural adjustment abroad. The implication of the study is discussed.