IMMIGRANT ACCULTURATION

Immigration Implies Adaptation
 
    Migrating Individuals and Groups
    Host Individuals and Community

Models of Acculturation Should Explain

    Interplay between Immigrant and Host Orientations
    Relational Outcomes between Immigrants and Host

Unidimensional Assimilation Model

    Immigrants Move Along a Continuum
    Immigrant Culture ==> Biculturalism ==> Host Culture
    Biculturalism Transitory
    Adaptation Involves Adoption of Host Culture

    Ethnocentric
        
        Immigrants Situated Lower than Host
       
            Adaptational Failure Attributed to Immigrants

        Overlooks How Host also Changes
        
            Immigrant Separation ==> Negative Host Attitudes

Bidimensional Model of Acculturation

    Immigrant and Host Identities Are Independent
    
    Immigrants Must Confront 2 Issues

        Is Immigrant Culture of Value and Worth Keeping?
        Is Host Culture of Value and Worth Seeking?

    Five immigrant acculturation strategies

        Integration – Bicultural Identity
        Assimilation – Identify with Host Culture
        Separation – Maintain Immigrant Identity
        Anomie – Reject Both Cultures
        Individualism – Personal Identity

        Most Immigrants Endorse Integration
        
        Acculturative Stress
        
            Highly Correlated with Marginalization
            Highly Correlated with Separation
            Moderately Correlated with Assimilation
            Slightly Correlated with Integration    

    Overlooks How Host Community Shapes Acculturation

Interactive Acculturation Model (Bourhis et al., 1997)

    Acculturation Orientations of Immigrants
    Acculturation Orientations of Host Community
    Relational Outcomes of Immigrant x Host Orientations

    Host Community Must Confront 2 Issues

        Is it Okay if Immigrants Retain their Culture?
        Is it okay if Immigrants Accept Host Culture?

    Five Host Acculturation Orientations

        Integration – Accept Bicultural Identity
        Assimilation – Expect Adoption of Host Culture
        Segregation – Distance from Immigrant Culture
        Exclusion – Reject all Immigrants, Identity Irrelevant
        Individualism – Accept or Reject Personal Qualities

    Outcomes of Immigrant x Host Orientations

        Consensual

            Effective Communication
            Positive Attitudes
            Low Discrimination and Acculturative Stress

        Problematic

            Common Problematic Outcome
                
                Integration – Assimilation
                Host Individualism - Immigrant Separation
    
        Conflictual

            Common Conflictual Outcome

                Immigrant Separation - Host Exclusion

            Miscommunication
            Negative Stereotypes
            Intergroup Tension and Violence
              
        Predicted Relations

            Differ by Immigrant Group and Experience

            Moderated by Immigrant Vitality

                Number
                Prestige
                Political Representation

            Differ for Host Subgroups            

                Gender
                SES
                Degree of Contact with Immigrants
        
            Differ as Host Conditions Change

                Demographic Imbalance
                Economic Downturn

DISCUSSION:

➢    Host orientation toward Arabs vs. Mexicans
➢    Predicted relations with Arabs vs. Mexicans given level of immigrant vitality and economic and political conditions