Immigrants acculturation in occidental countries
extension 8 word format
document in English
sociology sociology
 
presentation
published 10/07/2006
 
review : Completed
level : Expert
requested 10 times
 
section Summary
 
 
John Berry, a Canadian social psychologist, has developed a theoretical framework about the psychological concept of acculturation. Two main acculturation processes exist in Cross Cultural Psychology: integration and assimilation. Berry argues that not only integration was the mode of acculturation chosen by migrants. But according to Berry, assimilation has not succeeded in the world and if one society tries to apply it, it will cause a strong resistance and a social conflict.
The current migrants, in contrary of those of the beginning of the XXth century, do not come with qualifications which improve the economy and the culture of the host country. The "cultural distance" makes them come with different values and behaviors, and sometimes they come with “not-compatible cultures". In order not to find these migrants in Lumpenproletariat (which can create important social risks), society has to assimilate those who are recognized as assimilable, and has to prevent the immigration of the others.

Is integration more favorable than the other acculturation processes ? Which is Berry’s point of view about this subject ? On which empirical data can we rely on ?

I will present a summary of the Berry’s theory, including what has been said in “Cross-cultural psychology : Research and applications” . I will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of acculturation processes, given the mental health of migrants and by presenting the case for the host countries
 
 

Table of Contents Immigrants acculturation in occidental countries Table of Contents

 
  1. Berry's theory on the processes of acculturation
  2. Current State of the theoretical framework
  3. Preference for integration
  4. Strategies of acculturation and acculturatif stress
  5. Costs and advantages for the host society
 
 
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