Extent Of Acculturation Research Articles

Migration, acculturation, and the maintenance of between-group cultural variation.

How do migration and acculturation (i.e. psychological or behavioral change resulting from migration) affect within- and between-group cultural variation? Here I address this question by drawing analogies between genetic and cultural evolution. Population genetic models show that migration rapidly breaks down between-group genetic structure. In cultural evolution, however, migrants or their descendants can acculturate to local behaviors via social learning processes such as conformity, potentially preventing migration from eliminating between-group cultural variation. An analysis of the empirical literature on migration suggests that acculturation is common, with second and subsequent migrant generations shifting, sometimes substantially, towards the cultural values of the adopted society. Yet there is little understanding of the individual-level dynamics that underlie these population-level shifts. To explore this formally, I present models quantifying the effect of migration and acculturation on between-group cultural variation, for both neutral and costly cooperative traits. In the models, between-group cultural variation, measured using F statistics, is eliminated by migration and maintained by conformist acculturation. The extent of acculturation is determined by the strength of conformist bias and the number of demonstrators from whom individuals learn. Acculturation is countered by assortation, the tendency for individuals to preferentially interact with culturally-similar others. Unlike neutral traits, cooperative traits can additionally be maintained by payoff-biased social learning, but only in the presence of strong sanctioning mechanisms (e.g. institutions). Overall, the models show that surprisingly little conformist acculturation is required to maintain realistic amounts of between-group cultural diversity. While these models provide insight into the potential dynamics of acculturation and migration in cultural evolution, they also highlight the need for more empirical research into the individual-level learning biases that underlie migrant acculturation.

Predictors of professional placement outcome: cultural background, English speaking and international student status.

Placements provide opportunities for students to develop practice skills in professional settings. Learning in placements may be challenging for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students, international students, or those without sufficient English proficiency for professional practice. This study investigated whether these factors, which are hypothesized to influence acculturation, predict poor placement outcome. Placement outcome data were collected for 854 students who completed 2747 placements. Placement outcome was categorized into ‘Pass’ or ‘At risk’ categories. Multilevel binomial regression analysis was used to determine whether being CALD, an international student, speaking ‘English as an additional language’, or a ‘Language other than English at home’ predicted placement outcome. In multiple multilevel analysis speaking English as an additional language and being an international student were significant predictors of ‘at risk’ placements, but other variables tested were not. Effect sizes were small indicating untested factors also influenced placement outcome. These results suggest that students’ English as an additional language or international student status influences success in placements. The extent of acculturation may explain the differences in placement outcome for the groups tested. This suggests that learning needs for placement may differ for students undertaking more acculturative adjustments. Further research is needed to understand this and to identify placement support strategies.

The Effect of Acculturation on Ethnic Consumers’ Decision-Making Styles: An Empirical Analysis of Hispanic Consumers

ABSTRACTThis study examines the effect of acculturation on ethnic consumers’ decision-making styles (CDMS) and posits that the extent of acculturation is manifested in their approaches to shopping. Specifically, it explores how the two dimensions of acculturation, ethnic identification and host culture identification, are associated with eight CDMS measured by Sproles and Kendall's (1986) Consumer Style Inventory. It also investigates the differences among four acculturation modes: assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization with respect to CDMS. Results from a sample of 318 U.S. Hispanic consumers indicate that ethnic identification and host culture identification predict different shopping orientations. Of the four acculturation modes, the separation group scored significantly higher than the other three groups with respect to brand consciousness, confusion due to overchoice, and habitual orientations. Results are explained in the context of consumers’ extent of confidence or uncertainty when navigating the host marketplace. Implications are discussed for segmentation, marketing, brand communication, as well as consumer policy making to effectively address the needs of ethnic consumers.

Linguistic and Sociocultural Diversity Among South Asians

The aim of this paper is to provide information about the ethnocultural and linguistic characteristics of South Asians, because South Asians are one of the most rapidly growing groups in North America. This paper overviews demographic and immigration history and describes sociocultural characteristics and major languages used by speakers of South Asian origin, including dialectal differences in English. I emphasize that, although there are overarching sociocultural similarities among South Asians in terms of family structure and values, there is also considerable heterogeneity depending on specific subgroups, time since migration, and extent of acculturation. Finally, I present guidelines for clinicians who may make service delivery decisions about their South Asian clients.

Effects of Acculturation on Assistive Technology Service Delivery

This article offers a process for understanding the concept of acculturation within the context of assistive technology (AT) decision-making. Encouraging professionals to consider the influence from extent of acculturation on AT service delivery, the authors provide two types of information: academic discussions of topics such as the processes of assimilation, integration, separation, and/or marginalization, and personal stories from immigrant families and families within varying socioeconomic levels. Several different dimensions which may have a mediating influence on acculturation are integrated into the discussion of the necessity for more effective partnering with family members whose children have disabilities. Conclusions drawn should enable professionals to discover more appropriate solutions for and selection of AT devices from a broader culturally sensitive perspective.

Alcohol use disorders among the Yami aborigines in Taiwan. An inter-ethnic comparison.

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) among the Yami aborigines in Taiwan were investigated and compared with four other taiwanese aboriginal groups. A sample survey was conducted using a semi-structured clinical interview for AUDs among 252 subjects, aged 15 and above, from two Yami villages on Orchid Island. The prevalences of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV alcohol use disorders were 13.1% and 10.3% by one year, and 17.5% and 15.2% by lifetime, respectively, with a male excess. The risk for AUDs in Yami men was significantly associated with a lower educational level, a non-married status, and the length of stay in mainland Taiwan. A protective effect of Christian belief was evident for lifetime risk for AUDs. The lower prevalences of AUDs in Yami than in other aboriginal groups in Taiwan might be explained by social isolation of the former, and differences in drinking tradition, availability of alcohol, biological vulnerability, and the extent of acculturation between these groups.

When East Moves West: The Acculturation of Values of Chinese Adolescents in the U.S. and Australia

The acculturation of values was studied among high school youths of Chinese ancestry in the U.S. and Australia. Eight domains of values were derived from Chinese and Western value scales. Within the U.S. and Australian samples, the values of first- and second-generation youths of Chinese origin were compared to one another, to the samples of Euro-Anglo youths in each host culture, and to an anchor group of Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Results were similar in both acculturation contexts, with acculturation quite marked among the first-generation of Chinese adolescents and proceeding gradually in the second generation. The rate and extent of acculturation, however, depended on the value. The domain of tradition showed rapid and complete acculturation. Valuing the family as residential unit exhibited marked change across generations of Chinese youths, but second-generation Chinese youths were still distinguished from Anglo-Australian and Euro-American adolescents in this domain. In discriminant analyses...

Organization of abilities and the development of intelligence.

Performances which are accepted as indicators of intelligence are interrelated in ways which indicate 2 broad factors. Each factor represents a kind of intelligence. The 1st, called crystallized intelligence, indicates the extent of acculturation as it determines human abilities. The other, called fluid intelligence, indicates a pattern of neuralphysiological and incidental learning influences. The 2 become independent as development proceeds from infancy to adulthood. Measures of fluid intelligence are the more sensitive indicators of brain malfunction; fluid intelligence declines with brain damage and aging in adulthood. Performances on ability tests involve processes in addition to those of intelligence. These are associated with sensory modality functions (visual, auditory, tactile processes), perhaps indicate endocrine functions (in speediness), represent “strategies or styles of performance (carefulness, speediness), and relate to motivation (need for achievement). Results in support of the theory are presented and evaluated. Some needed research is indicated.

Primary Group Experience and the Processes of Acculturation1

T HE problem of this paper is to explain why some members of the MandanHidatsa village of Lone Hill2 become more acculturated than others. Our particular thesis is that the differences in degree of acculturation found among the Indian people are in large measure a product of early experience in the intimate family group, and the cultural orientation of their parents or their surrogates. There are striking differences in extent of acculturation in Lone Hill. They are manifest in type of home, education, subsistence, speech, and manner, and would be readily apparent even to the most casual observer. In a previous paper it has been shown that some families in Lone Hill follow the Crow lineage kinship system and Indian values while others have adopted the American kinship and value systems (Bruner 1955). A former superintendent of the Agency, who is also a trained social scientist, has written, ... there is at Fort Berthold every degree of acculturation, from the family living on the reservation in the hoe culture age of the original village life to a few wellto-do ranchers with nearly every modern convenience in their homes (Riefel 1952:125). Our purpose in this paper is not to describe these differences in acculturation in any detail, nor is it to correlate them with a check list of unweighted factors; it is rather to delineate the process by which they arise in the family situation and to analyze the larger social context in which they