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Intercultural Transitions and Adaptation Strategies
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Intercultural Transitions and Adaptation Strategies
Inter-cultural transitions have been a benchmark in building my identity and developing
communication skills. Recalling these experiences, the two theories by Berry, known as the
Acculturation Theory and the Integrative Theory of Cross-cultural Adaptation by Kim, helped
me recognize the model of adaptation strategies that include acculturation, assimilation,
separation and marginalization and their outcomes in personal growth.
Acculturation and Assimilation
Berry's Acculturation Theory outlines four strategies individuals use to adapt to a new
culture: integration, assimilation, separation, and separation. Acculturation also occurs when
individuals shed their culture and embrace the new culture they find themselves in. Commonly,
assimilation is needed, for instance, when changing from a small town or City with a specific
type of culture or people to a large City with a large and diverse population. It was socially
draining as I had to change my system of beliefs and vocabulary and even bear the cultural
values of the society to warrant acceptance among the youth and the general culture at
large(Martin & Nakayama, 2010). There was also the realization of working and aiming at
integration in a new society primarily fueled by the desire to be part of the new society. The
process of assimilation influenced my communication pattern in a very significant way. I had to
change by increasing the usage of politically correct terms, broadening my perspective, and
learning to be more flexible in social situations. However, this very process also made me lose
the initial ethnic culture that I initially embraced. During this time, I also had issues with my
identity crisis, and I sometimes felt out of place being who I originally was.
Integration
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Integration is another strategy outlined by Berry, which entails continuing to practice the
home culture while also assimilating the host country's practices. The integration journey has,
therefore, been a crucial element of our intercultural adaptation within my family. To maintain
our culture, language, and values, we have continued to assimilate some aspects of the culture of
our hosts. For example, we observe the holidays of our cultural origin and engage in festivals of
this region, thus harmonizing the past and the present (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). This strategy
has helped to enhance communication within the family and with the rest of the people within
the society. It has also helped retain the community's culture as they intermingle with others in
the new society to feel at home. As a result, blending two cultures in the students' lives has added
value because they have seen a more comprehensive view of the world and embrace the
differences. It has also strengthened our cultural values to become more defendable and varying
for the better.
Separation
Separation refers to abstaining from engaging with the host culture and retaining the prior
culture. I have seen this as a strategy which some of the members of my community practice by
creating a barrier within cultural engagements. As such, this approach can offer stability and
regularity; however, it does not encourage cultural interaction and adjustment. Some implications
of adopting a separation strategy include communication barriers, reduced social interactions,
and social isolation.
Marginalization
Marginalization, where individuals neither retain their original culture nor adopt the host
culture, is the most challenging adaptation strategy. I realized this with a relative who had a hard
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time fitting into the environment that he was in. This created an identity crisis and an inability to
fit in with the two cultures. Eventually, the new culture leaves the first culture and feels like you
do not belong to them or the new culture (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). This disturbed their sense
of self and social relations; it demonstrated the role of culturally viable support systems and
coping mechanisms in intercultural adjustment.
Conclusion
Intercultural transitions are rather diverse and challenging, depending on the specific type
of adaptation: assimilation, integration, separation, or marginalization. These experiences can be
better understood by frames of reference: Berry's Acculturation Theory and Kim's Integrative
Theory of Cross-cultural Adaptation. From my case and my family and community, I have come
to know that for cultural adaptation to be effective, one should find a way to preserve his/her
own culture and simultaneously adopt the new culture in equal measures. This balance assists in
increasing communication, creates a quot; belongingness," and brings a sense of a wholly
rounded existence to life.
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Reference
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2010).<Intercultural communication in contexts. McGraw-
Hill.
