Dimensions in acculturation: One, two, or many? - Van de Vijver - 2015 - Article

Migration has been a longstanding part and parcel of the human condition. However, only rather recently, migration received scientific interest. The first definition of acculturation was developed in 1936 by Redfield, Linton, and Herskovits (1936,p.149) who defined acculturations as the phenomena that result when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact, with subsequent changes in the original cultural patterns of either of both groups. Nowadays, we define psychological acculturation (in short: acculturation) as referring to the changes and stabilities in psychological functioning after migration.

In this article, an overview is given of three types of models that have been proposed in the literature to structure acculturation: one-dimensional model; the two-dimensional model; and the multidimensional model of acculturation.

The one-dimensional model of acculturation is the first model that describes acculturation. According to this model, acculturation can be viewed as successive adjustment to a new context, thereby gradually losing the ethnic heritage.

Later, the two-dimensional model of acculturation was developed, based on the observation that some immigrant groups were able to maintain their language and culture for many generations (for example: Chinese migrants in Singapore). In the two-dimensional model, complete immersion is not the inevitable or even desired outcome for all immigrants. The most well-known two-dimensional model has been proposed by Berry (1997, 2001). The main advantage of this type of model is the conceptual independence of maintaining the heritage culture and adopting the culture of the new country. However, the author of this article, also describes several disadvantages of this type of model. Firstly, a result of the popularity of integration is that there is a large variety of acculturation processes; there are so many varieties that these are difficult to study and define. Secondly, this model seems to be based on a trait-like framework of acculturation; if an immigrant prefers separation, he or she has this preference in every domain of life. This trait-like framework does not do justice to the large variety of both individual and group differences. Thirdly, this type of model is only applicable to two (and only two cultures). It loses its applicability when there are more than two cultures.

The multidimensional model of acculturation is a proposed extension of the two-dimensional model, in which it is possible that an immigrant identifies with multiple cultures (polyculturalism). This idea of a multidimensional model is, according to the author of this article, very appealing as it corresponds more closely to the present reality. Yet, the multicultural view is nowhere near to a full-fledged model of acculturation yet.

From this overview, it can be seen that, historically, a shift had occurred from one- to two-, to multidimensional models. Similar to intelligence research, acculturation research has gone through an increase in the dimensionality of the dominant models in the field. One important difference, however, should be noted here: intelligence models have been developed to describe a structure that did not change (intelligence). In contrast, acculturation research describes a concept that did change (migration patterns are changing over time). Hence, whereas intelligence research is more focused on the question which structure captures intelligence best, acculturation research is more focused on the continually changing historical and cultural context in which it is studied.

To conclude, it is argued that the shift to two- and multidimensional models better reflect the complex reality of psychological acculturation than simpler one-dimensional models do. The old idea of migration, where participants settled in a new world and would never return to their place of birth again, is replaced by a new idea of migration which is of a more temporary nature (for example expatriates, international seasonal laborers, and exchange students). Hence, these multidimensional models are considered to be more appropriate to describe the current idea state of psychological acculturation.