Polyfaceted Psychological Acculturation in Cook Islanders

Abstract

Data on acculturation were collected from five groups of Cook Islanders who have been differentially exposed to traditional and Western (New Zealand) influences: Residents of a small, outer island; residents of the much larger capital island; Cook Islanders who have migrated to New Zealand, and others who were born in New Zealand; and non-Cook Island New Zealanders. Comparison of the groups demonstrated differential general acculturation in association with differential exposure to Western ways, except that migrants to New Zealand reaffirmed some features of the traditional culture more than subjects living on the capital island. In addition to general acculturation, however, there were large individual differences in patterns of acculturation on different measures, demonstrating the importance of psychological acculturation and the polyfaceted nature of this acculturation.