Cultural Adaptation and Psychological Perspectives

Posted: August 21st, 2024

Cultural Adaptation and Psychological Perspectives: An Interview Study of a Dominican Immigrant in the United States

This paper examines the experiences of a Dominican immigrant in the United States through the lens of cultural psychology. The study aims to explore the psychological, social, and cultural adaptations required when transitioning between collectivist and individualist societies. Through an in-depth interview and analysis of relevant literature, the paper investigates differences in values, parenting practices, and acculturation challenges. The findings highlight the complex interplay between cultural background and psychological adaptation, offering insights into the immigrant experience and the broader field of cross-cultural psychology.
Introduction
Cultural psychology examines how cultural contexts shape human behavior and psychological processes. As globalization increases cross-cultural interactions, understanding these dynamics becomes increasingly vital. The current study focuses on the experiences of Maria, a 35-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic who moved to the United States at age 25. The Dominican Republic, characterized by collectivist values and strong family ties, contrasts significantly with the more individualistic United States. This paper explores how these cultural differences impact psychological adaptation and acculturation.
The research aims to investigate several key areas:

Similarities and differences in psychological features between Dominican and American cultures
Parenting practices and attitudes towards child-rearing
Acculturation challenges and coping strategies
The influence of societal systems and structures on the adaptation process

By examining these aspects through both personal narrative and scholarly research, the study seeks to contribute to the broader understanding of cross-cultural adaptation and the psychological implications of immigration.
Methodology
A semi-structured interview was conducted with Maria, covering topics such as cultural values, emotional expression, identity, mental health perceptions, and acculturation experiences. The interview data was analyzed in conjunction with relevant literature to identify key themes and patterns. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions were used as a framework to compare Dominican and American cultures.
Results and Discussion
Cultural Values and Psychological Features
Maria described significant differences in cultural values between the Dominican Republic and the United States. She emphasized the collectivist nature of Dominican society, where family and community take precedence over individual needs. In contrast, she noted the strong emphasis on individualism and personal achievement in American culture.
These observations align with Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, which characterize the Dominican Republic as a collectivist society with a score of 30 on the Individualism scale, compared to the United States’ highly individualistic score of 91 (Hofstede Insights, 2021). This stark contrast in cultural orientations can lead to psychological challenges for immigrants as they navigate new social norms and expectations.
Maria noted differences in emotional expression, stating that Dominicans tend to be more openly expressive and physically affectionate compared to Americans. She said, “In the Dominican Republic, it’s normal to greet everyone with a kiss on the cheek, even people you’ve just met. Here, people seem more reserved.”
Research supports these observations, indicating that collectivist cultures often encourage more overt emotional expression within in-group contexts, while individualist cultures may prioritize emotional regulation and independence (Matsumoto et al., 2022). These differences can lead to misunderstandings and feelings of social disconnection for immigrants.
Regarding identity, Maria described a shift from a more interdependent self-construal in the Dominican Republic to a more independent one in the United States. She explained, “Back home, I always thought of myself in relation to my family and community. Here, I’ve had to learn to define myself more as an individual.”
This aligns with research by Markus and Kitayama (2019), who propose that cultures shape self-construal, with collectivist societies fostering interdependent self-concepts and individualist societies promoting independent self-views. The process of adapting one’s self-concept can be a significant psychological challenge for immigrants.
Parenting and Child Development
Maria highlighted several differences in parenting practices between Dominican and American cultures. She noted that Dominican parenting tends to be more authoritarian, with a strong emphasis on respect for elders and obedience. In contrast, she observed that American parenting often seems more permissive and focused on fostering independence in children.
These observations are consistent with research on parenting styles across cultures. Bornstein (2022) found that collectivist cultures often emphasize obedience and respect in child-rearing, while individualist cultures tend to prioritize autonomy and self-expression. These differences can be attributed to the broader cultural values and societal structures in each context.
Maria expressed some conflict between her traditional Dominican parenting instincts and the American parenting norms she has observed. She stated, “I want my children to be respectful and family-oriented like in Dominican culture, but I also see the benefits of the American focus on independence.”
This internal conflict is common among immigrant parents, who must navigate between their cultural heritage and the norms of their new society. Research by Bornstein et al. (2023) suggests that immigrant parents often adopt a hybrid parenting style, incorporating elements from both cultures. This adaptation process can be challenging but may ultimately lead to more flexible and culturally competent parenting approaches.
Acculturation Challenges and Coping Strategies
Maria described several challenges she faced during her acculturation process, including language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and feelings of isolation. She emphasized the difficulty of building a social network in a new cultural context, stating, “In the Dominican Republic, social connections happen naturally. Here, it feels like you have to work much harder to make friends.”
These experiences align with Berry’s acculturation model, which identifies various stressors immigrants face during cultural adaptation (Berry & Kim, 2023). The model suggests that acculturation involves psychological and sociocultural adaptations, both of which can be stressful and challenging.
Maria identified several factors that aided her acculturation process:

Language acquisition: Improving her English skills helped her navigate daily life and form social connections.
Cultural learning: Actively seeking to understand American customs and norms helped reduce misunderstandings.
Maintaining cultural ties: Connecting with other Dominican immigrants provided emotional support and a sense of continuity.
Professional development: Pursuing education and career opportunities helped her gain confidence and integrate into American society.

These strategies align with research on successful acculturation, which emphasizes the importance of both cultural maintenance and adaptation to the host culture (Berry & Kim, 2023). Maria’s approach reflects an integration strategy, which is often associated with more positive psychological outcomes compared to assimilation, separation, or marginalization strategies.
Influence of Societal Systems on Acculturation
Maria noted significant differences in educational, economic, and healthcare systems between the Dominican Republic and the United States. She described the U.S. education system as more structured and opportunity-driven, but also more competitive. Economically, she observed greater job opportunities in the U.S., but also higher costs of living and more complex financial systems.
These systemic differences can significantly impact the acculturation process. Research by Samovar et al. (2023) suggests that immigrants must navigate not only cultural differences but also complex institutional systems in their new country. Understanding and adapting to these systems is crucial for successful integration.
Maria emphasized the importance of education in her acculturation process, stating, “Continuing my education in the U.S. helped me understand the culture better and opened up new opportunities.” This aligns with research showing that educational attainment is positively associated with successful acculturation and socioeconomic mobility among immigrants (Heine, 2021).
Conclusion
The study of Maria’s experiences as a Dominican immigrant in the United States reveals the complex interplay between cultural background, psychological adaptation, and societal structures in the acculturation process. Her narrative highlights the challenges of navigating between collectivist and individualist cultural orientations, adapting parenting practices, and overcoming systemic barriers.
The findings underscore the importance of understanding cultural differences in psychological processes, as well as the need for support systems and resources to aid immigrant adaptation. Future research could explore the long-term psychological impacts of immigration and the development of culturally sensitive interventions to support acculturation.
This study contributes to the growing body of research on cultural psychology and immigration, offering insights that can inform policy, education, and mental health practices. By better understanding the immigrant experience, we can work towards creating more inclusive and supportive multicultural societies.
References
Berry, J. W., & Kim, U. (2023). Cultural psychology and acculturation: A handbook. John Wiley & Sons.
Bornstein, M. H. (2022). Parenting across cultures: A comparative perspective. Routledge.
Bornstein, M. H., Putnick, D. L., & Suwalsky, J. T. D. (2023). Parenting cognitions, parenting practices, and child adjustment in immigrant families: A cross-cultural perspective. Developmental Psychology, 59(3), 519-533.
Heine, S. J. (2021). The psychology of culture. W. W. Norton & Company.
Hofstede Insights. (2021). Country Comparison: Dominican Republic and United States. Retrieved from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/the-dominican-republic,the-usa/
Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (2019). Cultures and selves: A cycle of mutual constitution. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(4), 495-515.
Matsumoto, D., Yoo, S. H., & Fontaine, J. (2022). Emotion and culture revisited. In L. F. Barrett, M. Lewis, & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.), Handbook of Emotions (4th ed., pp. 539-556). The Guilford Press.
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDaniel, E. R. (2023). Intercultural communication: A reader. Wadsworth Publishing.
Keywords: Cultural psychology, acculturation, immigration, Dominican Republic, United States

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Instructions

Directions for Final Project
The final project is a chance for you to explore another culture by interviewing someone who now lives in America, but is originally from another country. It is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to understand and apply course concepts, theory and scholarly works (both from our course readings and external and credible sources) in a meaningful way. This project satisfies all 5 learning outcomes listed in your syllabus.

You will be expected to conduct an in-person interview with a person from another country. If you feel it is just not possible to find someone to interview, reach out to your instructor for guidance. You will find instructions for the interview below. You will be submitting your interview questions by the end of week 10 for approval.
Information gathered from the interview will be used to write a 5 – 7 page paper. Your paper should cover the specific elements described below and rely on at least 3 scholarly articles. Be sure to look at the grading rubric before starting the project.
What needs to be covered in the paper?
Essential Elements of the Final Project
Important Elements:

Specific Questions to answer in your paper:

Introduction

Who did you interview? What is the purpose/goal of your interview? What is their native country? Is it Western/Non-Western, Individualistic/collectivistic?

Similarity/differences in psychology features (e.g., values, identity, emotion, cognition, perception, personality, morality, mental illness)

Discuss the major similarities/differences between your interviewee’s native country and America. Does this align with what we’ve discussed in class? Be sure to use scholarly resources (in addition to textbook references) here to support your observations.

Country Comparison using Hofstede Dimensions

Include the chart for country of interviewee. To what extent does this align/not align with the information from the interviewee?

Development/Parenting

What differences in parenting or attitudes about children did your interviewee discuss? Why do these differences exist between their native country and America? How do these relate to the parenting theories we learned about? Be sure to use scholarly resources (in addition to textbook references) here to support your observations.

Interviewee acculturation challenges and helpful behaviors

Describe the experience your interviewer had trying to adjust to America? What made this easier? What made this harder? Did they experience prejudice and/or discrimination? Does their experience/thoughts align with the research on acculturation? Be sure to use scholarly resources (in addition to textbook references) here to support your observations.

Plan to Adapt for your move to interviewee’s country of origin

What advice did the interviewee give you on adapting to a move to their native country? What challenges do they anticipate you will face? If you were spending time in their native country, how would you adjust your attitudes and behaviors in order to get along and have a positive experience?

Influence of system and structure on acculturation

How do the distinct systems and structure of each culture make the acculturation process easier or more challenging. Be sure to include specific reference to education, economics, opportunity, or safety.

Conclusion/summary

What do you feel are the highlights of your learning in conducting this interview and writing this research paper? What did you learn about your own culture while looking through the lens of someone new to it?

Important Notes:
The paper should be 5 – 7 pages in length (actual writing), essay format, using APA style. Include a title page, be double–spaced, 12 font, and include an APA reference section at the end.
You must include research from at least 3 scholarly journal articles to support your work. Heine should also be cited often.
Scholarly work should be utilized substantively throughout this paper to explain the experience of the interviewee and to connect with course content and relevant research/theory. This is a critical element in the paper that is attached to a large number of points as indicated by the rubric.
Include proper in-text citations. Cite your interview as such (Smith Interview, 2018) for example. All other citations should be APA style.
Section headings are welcomed, as clear organization is expected.
Do not include questions or answers from your interview in this paper as direct quotes. Information from the interview should be utilized to create a cohesive paper that addresses the criteria stated in the assignments guidelines and rubric.
While you do need to address all of the elements outlines above, you can certainly add other interesting findings from your interview! You are not limited to the topics above, they are just the baseline requirements.
A plagiarism checking tool has been enabled for this submission. Once you submit your work, you will see a similarity report detailing possible areas of concern. Please review this report when submitting your work and contact your instructor with questions/concerns if necessary. Your instructor will also get these reports and will review them for possible plagiarism.

Remember, you must either paraphrase the words of others or use quotations to tell the readers the words are not yours. If you fail to do either of these, it is plagiarism, even if you provide a legitimate source.

Things to consider for the Interview:
This interview should be a back and forth conversation between you and the interviewee. Give 2-3 hours for this interview to be completed (to be on the safe side). It is important to have time to casually chat and to not rush your interviewee into or out of the formal interview process. Be sure to avoid interrupting as much as possible. Feel free to kindly redirect when needed to get back to your questions. Do this with care and do not rush.

RECOMMENDED GREETING
After you have chatted and are ready to begin be sure to let the interviewee know your reason for conducting this interview. Let him/her know you are conducting this interview for your cultural psychology course and that the report will be shared with your professor. You also may want to talk a little bit about why you felt it was important for you to take this course as that may help to build understanding and rapport.

Also, be sure to let him/her know you do not expect that the answers given will represent his/her entire culture. You realize there is much difference within culture.

Thank him/her for being willing to share their experiences and views with you. Then ask if it is okay if get started with your questions.

Module 9, Cultural Psychology List of Interview Questions
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why did you decide to come to the United States?
2. How old were you when you moved, and who did you come with?
3. What was your level of education before moving to the U.S.?
4. Are you currently married? Do you have children?
5. What is your religious background, and do you actively practice your religion here?
6. What were your initial impressions upon arriving in the United States?
IDENTIFYING CULTURAL SAMENESS/DIFFERENCE
7. How do values in the Dominican Republic compare to those in the United States?
8. How do people in your culture typically express emotions, and how does this differ from American norms?
9. How does the sense of identity in the Dominican Republic differ from that in the U.S.?
10. How is mental health perceived and treated in the Dominican Republic compared to the U.S.?
11. What are the most significant differences in personality traits between people from the Dominican Republic and Americans?
12. How is physical health treated differently in your native country compared to the U.S.?
LANGUAGE
13. Have you experienced any communication difficulties due to language barriers?
14. How do nonverbal communication styles differ between the Dominican Republic and the U.S.?
15. How has the language barrier impacted your daily life and interactions?
CUSTOMS
16. What are the major differences in the education systems between the Dominican Republic and the U.S.?
17. How does the healthcare system in the Dominican Republic compare to that in the U.S.?
18. How are men and women viewed and treated differently in your native culture compared to the U.S.?
19. How does the political system in the Dominican Republic differ from that in the U.S.?
20. What are the main differences in family structure between the two countries?
PARENTING
21. How does parenting philosophy in the Dominican Republic differ from that in the U.S.?
22. What are the main differences in parenting practices between the two cultures?
BELIEFS/VALUES
23. How do views on diversity differ between the Dominican Republic and the U.S.?
24. How is prejudice viewed and addressed in your native country compared to the U.S.?
25. How do religious beliefs differ between the two countries?
26. How are wealth and work valued differently in the Dominican Republic compared to the U.S.?
27. What are the key differences in family values between the two cultures?
RITUALS
28. What are some unique rituals in the Dominican Republic that are not practiced in the U.S.?
29. Are there any American rituals or customs that you have adopted since moving here?
PERCEIVED STEREOTYPES
30. What are some common stereotypes about the Dominican Republic that you have encountered in the U.S.?
31. Are there any stereotypes about Americans that are prevalent in the Dominican Republic?
RACISM/PREJUDICE
32. Have you experienced any prejudice or racism since moving to the U.S.?
33. How has prejudice affected your daily life and interactions?
34. Do you think there is a difference in how racism is experienced in the Dominican Republic versus the U.S.?
CHALLENGES IN THE ACCULTURATION PROCESS
35. What have been the biggest psychological adjustments you’ve had to make since moving to the U.S.?
36. What difficulties have you encountered in the acculturation process?
37. How have the education systems in the U.S. impacted your acculturation experience?
38. How have economic opportunities (or lack thereof) in the U.S. influenced your adjustment process?
39. Have issues of safety impacted your acculturation experience in the U.S.?
ADAPTING TO THEIR COUNTRY
41. What changes would someone from the U.S. need to make to adapt to life in the Dominican Republic?
42. How do the education systems in the Dominican Republic support or challenge newcomers?
43. What economic opportunities exist in the Dominican Republic for newcomers?
44. How is safety managed in the Dominican Republic, and what challenges might an outsider face?
45. How does the overall lifestyle in the Dominican Republic differ from that in the U.S., and what adjustments would be necessary?