Acculturation is an extremely important topic in this age of globalization and multiculturalism; however, it remains an especially difficult topic to study. People’s acculturation experiences vary dramatically, and many studies on acculturation reveal contradictory findings. Research has indicated that the migrant often experiences a predictable sequence of attitudes toward the host culture, moving from a “Honey on Stage,” when all is fun and exciting, to a sharp drop into the turbulent pool of “Crisis” or “Culture Shock” stage, followed by a gradual period of “Adjustment,” as s/he acculturates to the new environment. Not everyone fares well in the acculturation process, and those who tend to have the easiest time come from cultures that are not too dissimilar from their host culture and have personalities that fit in well with the host culture. Having positive attitudes toward the host culture also facilitates acculturation, with integrators (and perhaps assimilators) suffering less stress than those with negative attitudes. Migrants come to think in ways similar to those of their host culture. The initial changes in their thinking appear fairly quickly; however, it seems to take much time, perhaps generations, for migrants to think completely like natives of their host cultures. Biculturals appear to hold multiple cultural information systems in their minds. When they are primed with one particular culture, they think in ways that are consistent with that culture. Monoculturals show evidence for this priming too; however, biculturals are especially adept at frame-shifting between their different cultural selves. Last, the acculturation experiences of many migrants are fraught with discrimination, which can often result in the deleterious consequences of stereotype threat. This threat can serve to perpetuate negative stereotypes and stands as a great impediment to the acculturation process.

Conduct a culture shock interview with an individual. Share your observations.