Acculturation

The process and implications of cultural change

Cultural change

Socialization (cultural learning without intent)

Vertical transmission

Horizontal transmission

Oblique transmission

parents

kids

sibling sibling

teacher

student

More definitions

Enculturation: Deliberate cultural learning

Acculturation: Individual or group-level change that occurs as a result of first-hand contact with another culture

Acculturation

Individual or group-level change that occurs as a result of first-hand contact with another culture

More “American”

More “Russian”

Early conceptualization and scales were unidimensional

Is it considered to be of value to maintain the traditional cultural identity and

characteristics?

“YES” “NO”

Is it considered to be ofvalue to develop andmaintain relationshipswith members of thenew culture?

“YES”

“NO”BICULTURALISM ASSIMILATION

SEPARATION MARGINALIZATION

Four modes of acculturation

Issue 1

Issue 2

Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans (ARSMA)

by Cuellar, Harris, and Jasso (1980). What language do you speak? (LFU) What language do you prefer? (LFU) How do you identify yourself? (EPI) Which ethnic identification does (did) your mother use? (EPI) Which ethnic identification does (did) your father use'? (EPI) What was the ethnic origin of the friends and peers you had, as a child up to age 6? (EI) What was the ethnic. origin of the friends and peers you had, as a child from 6 to 18? (EI) Whom do you now associate with in the outside community? (EI) What is your music preference? (language) (LFU) What is your TV viewing preference? (language) (LFU) What is your movie preference? (language) (LFU) What is the nearest generation of the family member born in Mexico? (GP) Where were you raised? (CH) What contact have you had with Mexico? (e.g., lived there, visited, occasional communications with

people there) (CH) What is your food preference? (EI) In what language do you think? (LFU) In which language do you read better (Spanish or English)? (LFU) In which language do you write better (Spanish or English)? (LFU) If you consider yourself a Mexican, Chicano, Mexican American member of La Raza, or however you

identify this group. how much pride do you have in this group? (EPI) How would you rate yourself? (very Mexican, mostly Mexican, bicultural, mostly anglicized, very

anglicized) (EPI)

Note. LFU = Language Familiarity and Usage: EPI = Ethnic Pride and Identity; EI = Ethnic Interaction; GP = Generational Proximity; and CH = Cultural Heritage.

The Acculturation Process

Individual Stress

low SES or drop in SES

family differences in acculturation

“forced” migration

age

prejudice and discrimination

language deficits

Acculturative Stress

Factors affecting acculturative stress

Behavioral change as function of phase

Generation Status and Life Outcomes

Acculturation outcomes

“Healthy immigrant” phenomenon Acculturation may lead to some negative consequences

Burnam et al. (1987) study of acculturation of 1245 Mexican Americans in L.A. Younger immigrants acculturated faster Males acculturated faster More educated acculturated faster (accounts for sex difference but not

age)

Less acculturated individuals report less prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse, phobia, antisocial personality (Epidemiological Catchment Area study of rates of psychopathology in US. Related to Latinos)

Depression rates lower in Mexican born people vs. US born Latino persons (Kessler et al, 1994)

Acculturation, Gender and Health Lopez-Gonzalez, Aravena, Hummer (2005)

Interpreting Odds Ratios:•1=equal chance;•1.24 = 24% increase in odds compared to comparison group•.25 = ¼ probability compared to comparison group

Acculturation, Gender and Health Lopez-Gonzalez, Aravena, Hummer (2005)

Acculturation and Latino Health

ACCULTURATION AND LATINO HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES: A Review of the Literature and its Sociopolitical ContextAnnual Review of Public HealthVol. 26: 367-397 (Volume publication date April 2005)