Q) Berry’s Self-Acculturation Strategies are Assimilation, Integration,

Separation, and Marginalization.

Using John Berry’s Acculturation Strategies, First, describe your own
acculturation strategy that you usually adopt when you are in a new
environment. Second, compare it with your acculturation experience during
your first semester on the university campus (what was your strategy(s) and
what influenced your decisions)
According to Berry, the self-acculturation strategies that one uses are Assimilation--The
individual gives up his or her own cultural identity and becomes absorbed into the host culture.
Separation--The individual maintains his or her own identity and does not absorbed into host
culture. Integration--The individual that maintains his own culture and also adapts the host
culture. Marginalization--The individual does not identify with or participate in either his or her
own culture or host culture. Much cross-cultural researched has focused on acculturation. This is
the process by which people adjust to contact with culture other than their own. When entering a
new environment, I usually employ the strategy of assimilation which involves, accepting and
adopting the norms and culture of that environment. But I never let the norms of the host culture
of the place I am in supersede my own cultural ideas and beliefs. I maintain my own
individuality therefore; I'm well integrated with the environment. Similarly, when entering the
new campus my acculturation strategy includes assimilation if the university culture and
integration because as I adopt the new culture I also maintain my individuality. While entering
into new environment it is very important to absorb its norms and values for a better
understanding and adaptation of the host culture.