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)
As per Berry, the self-acculturation techniques that one uses are Assimilation-- The individual
give up their own social character and gets absorbed into the host culture. Separation-- The
individual keeps up their own identity and doesn't consume into host culture. Integration-- The
person that keeps up his own way of life and furthermore adjusts the host culture.
Marginalization-- The individual doesn't relate to or participate in either their own way of life or
host culture. Much cross-cultural researched has focused on acculturation. This is the process by
which individuals adjust to contact with culture other than their own.

At the point when people of a specific culture are exposed to another culture (host) that is
basically more present in the area that they live, a few parts of the host culture will probably be
taken and blended inside parts of the original culture of the people. In circumstances of
continuous contact, societies have traded and mixed food, music, dance, garments, instruments,
and innovations. This sort of social trade can be identified with specific assimilation that alludes
to the way toward keeping up social substance by investigating those people's language use,
religious belief, and family norms. Cultural exchange can either happen normally through
expanded contact, cultural appropriation and cultural imperialism.

“When entering another environment, I normally utilize the strategy of assimilation which
involves, accepting and adopting the norms and culture of that environment”. However, I never
let the standards of the host culture of the place I am in supersede my own social thoughts and
convictions. I keep up my own independence in this manner; I'm all around incorporated 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. In cross-
cultural psychology, one of the significant source of the development and show of human
conduct is the contact between cultural populations. Such intercultural contact brings about both
social and mental changes.

These four techniques describe the ways people react to the challenge of another culture and how
they change. Research on the passionate and mental health of individuals utilizing the various
techniques shows that individuals who utilize the assimilation methodology of underestimation
are more discouraged, restless and have more poorer mental health than any of different
gatherings. Individuals who utilize the integration are the most mentally sound (and are more
effective) than the other 3 strategies. The psychological health of the individuals who use
separation or assimilation lies somewhere in between.