John Berry, eminent Cross-cultural Psychologist, visits CACR
Jovana Balanovic
John Berry, an eminent cross-cultural psychologist with extensive international experience, visited the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research (CACR), at Victoria University of Wellington in March and April 2013.
John's main research interests are in the areas of acculturation (changes arising from intercultural contact) and cross-cultural relations, with an emphasis on applying these areas across immigration, educational and health policy.
His work has made a significant impact in the field of psychology through the introduction of John's model of acculturation.
This model demonstrates the way people, particularly migrants, acquire cultural identity. This is known as acculturation.
John's work is considered significant because it suggests acculturation isn’t simply a one-way process with migrants slowly becoming nationals over time. His model descibes who in reality the acculturation process can vary, depending on an individual's attitudes and values.
The Berry model presents four types of acculturation:
1. Assimilation
The person completely adopts the new dominant culture, and puts little emphasis on maintaining ties with their heritage culture.
2. Integration
The person endeavours to embrace the dominant culture, while at the same time making an effort to maintain connection with their heritage culture eg. speaking the native language, connecting with peers of the same ethnicity.
3. Separation
The person is only interested in maintaining their heritage culture, and tends to remove themselves from the dominant culture.
4. Marginalization
The person doesn't maintain their heritage culture and don't try to participate in the dominant culture.
13-Nation Study on Migrant Youth
There has been a considerable amount of research done which has supported Berry's model, however the majority has used adults subjects.
So in his more recent work, John focussed on migrant youth and investigated the acculturation of nearly 8,000 migrant youth across 13 nations. CACR's Colleen Ward also collected research in New Zealand for this study. The study is called Immigrant Youth: Acculturation, Identity,and Adaptation.
The research looked at how youth acculturate, and John grouped the youth across four areas:
- If they choose to integrate
- If they choose to separate
- If they choose to assimilate
- If they feel they don't belong anywhere.
Research findings
John found the vast majority of migrant youth (36.4%) choose to integrate. The second largest group (22.5%) choose the direct opposite, which is to seperate.
The second part of the study looked at how well migrant youth adapt to their environment. This includes both personal wellbeing (psychological adaption) and sociocultural adjustment such as behaviour at school and academic achievement.
The research found that migrant youth appear to adapt to their environment as well as locally-born youth. However there does appear to be a number of individual differences so the survey could not determine if this is always the case.
Lastly the research looked at the relationship between how youth acculturate and how well they adapt.
It showed that integration was mostly associated with positive personal wellbeing and sociocultural adapation. Those who don't feel they belong anywhere obviously have the most negative adaptation.
Research conclusions
One of the most important conclusions from this research is that migrants who find a balance between adopting their local culture, while being given the ability to maintain their heritage cultures, are the most successful adaptors.
The research also showed the importance of the local culture respecting the heritage cultures of migrants, as perceived discrimination in this area reduces migrant youth adaptation.
Listen to John Berry being interviewed on Chris Laidlaw’s ‘Sunday’ programme on Radio New Zealand National.