The focus of the present research includes refinement and validation of a model that might be used to understand and predict the development of certain bicultural characteristics, including personality variables relating to bicultural functioning, roles and situational factors, bicultural identity and socialization. An inventory designed to assess degree of experience with Mexican-American and mainstream Anglo cultures was administered to 402 Mexican-American college students. Based on the results of the inventory, 41 of these subjects were identified as having a high degree of biculturalization and selected for administration of a battery of tests and a life history interview. Thirty-eight of the completed interviews provided sufficient information about their socialization, development, and functioning to warrant inclusion in a multidimensional content analysis. Results indicated support for the model of bicultural psychodynamics proposed by the authors.
This causal-comparative study explores the acculturation and its affects on the psychodynamics of first generation Arab-American Muslim women born and raised in the United States. Torn between the Old World customs of their parents and modern American traditions, first generation Arab-American Muslim women face a major identity challenge in trying to balance their two worlds. Developmental psychologist E.H. Erikson (1970) proposed a theory of psychosocial development based on six basic concepts: stages of development, developmental task, psychosocial crisis, the central process for resolving the psychosocial crisis, the radius of significant relationship and coping behaviors. Coupled with Erikson s theory is Young Yun Kim s theory of acculturation (1977), which posits that acculturation is a phenomenon when immigrants eventually come to understand the norms and values of their host society, and that media of the host society provided a catalyst for the acculturation process. Suinn, Rickard-Figueroa, Lew, & Vigil (1987) developed the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA), with 26 questions designed to measure acculturation level. The author adjusted the SL-ASIA to a more Arab focused version of the scale, called the ASL-ASIA. A pilot study was conducted to insure reliability and validity. The Arab Focused Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (ASLASIA) was used to measure the levels of acculturation of immigrant Arab Muslim mothers and the acculturation levels of their first generation Arab-American Muslim daughters. A second tool used was the Mother-Adult Daughter (MAD) Questionnaire. Developed by Rastogi (1995), the twenty-five question MAD measures the adult daughter s perception of connectedness, interdependence, and trust in hierarchy in her relationship with her mother. The last instrument used in this study was the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI). Created by Main et al. (1984) the AAI is used to assess the attachment related issues of the mother s parenting styles. The AAI is a structured, hour-long, semi-clinical interview focusing on early experiences and their effects. Several studies have shown that a mother s attachment level affects the attachment level of her daughter. Therefore, this study focuses on the question: Does the level of acculturation of an immigrant Arab Muslim mother compare with the level of acculturation of her first generation Arab-American Muslim daughter? The research design of this study was based on an extensive literature review on the topics of Erikson s psychosocial theory (1970), Kim s acculturation theory (1977), Arab Muslim cultural perspective, and Islamic texts. The premise of this study was that Arab Muslim mothers levels of acculturation will affect the levels of acculturation of their first generation Arab-American Muslim daughters. It was also expected that the level of maternal cultural identification would affect the acculturation level of the first generation Arab-American Muslim daughter. Finally, it is anticipated that the first generation Arab-American Muslim daughter s level of acculturation would affect her attachment level to her immigrant Arab Muslim mother. Findings appeared to support the hypothesis that the level of acculturation of the immigrant Arab Muslim mother is positively correlated with the level of acculturation of her first generation Arab-American Muslim daughter. A second hypothesis that the level of maternal cultural identification would affect the acculturation level of her first generation Arab-American Muslim daughter was not supported. Also, results did not support the third hypothesis that the acculturation level of first generation Arab-American Muslim daughters would affect her attachment level with her immigrant Arab Muslim mother. The aim of future research is to aide therapists in becoming more culturally sensitive to their patients as well as to gain deeper understanding of the affects of acculturation. I
Psychology of the Americas: Mestizo Perspectives on Personality and Mental Health presents the framework for a personality psychology and psychiatry of the Americas. This framework is based on the mestizo world view, a perspective that emerged from sociopolitical events which are unique to the development of many of the nations of the Americas. The word "mestizo" refers to the synthesis of native American and European people, cultures, and life styles. This book is divided into nine chapters and starts with a discussion of the concepts and principles of developmental, personality, community, and clinical psychology/psychiatry, which are reflected in the cultures of the indigenous peoples of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. Considerable chapters offer some models that are based on the paradigms of diversity and synthesis, specifically a values/belief systems-cognitive styles framework based on research that has explored the relationship between traditionalism-modernism and cognitive styles. The specific models focus on individual development of pluralistic identities, the mental health of families coping with acculturation stress, person-environment fit of migrating individuals who are mismatched with institutions and agencies of the community, and on intergroup and international relations in situations of conflict. The remaining chapters deal with the tenets and assumptions of a psychology and psychiatry, including theories and approaches which differ in many respects from the European world view-based personality psychology and psychiatry of the past. This book is of value to psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, and students.
Chicano Psychology, Second Edition consists of five parts, separating a total of 19 chapters, beginning with a brief overview of the history of psychology, first in Spain, and then in pre-Columbian Mexico. This overview is followed by a few summary statements of the transportation of psychology from Spain to Mexico, and the eventual development of psychology as an academic discipline in modern Mexico. This edition tackles the developments within Chicano psychology. Subsequent chapters focus on foundations for a Chicano psychology, sociocultural variability, psychological disorder among Chicanos, and social psychology. Last three chapters examine bilingualism from the standpoint of several issues involving Chicanos. This book will be of interest to both scientist and student working in the areas of cross-cultural psychology, race relations, psychological anthropology, Chicano studies, and bilingual education.
This study represents the third phase of continuing research on the psychodynamics of biculturalism/multiculturalism in Mexican American college students. A biculturalism inventory was administered to 284 Mexican-American college students in Texas and California. Based on scores obtained in the inventory, 55 subjects (28 from Texas, 27 from California) who could be easily classified as traditional, atraditional, or bicultural were selected. A test battery was administered to these students along with a life history interview. Results showed that biculturals scored significantly more internal on the Rotter I-E Scale than either traditionals or atraditionals. Biculturals also achieved higher scores on leadership, interethnic facilitation, and multicultural participation dimensions of the life history. Of three bicultural identity types (Synthesized, Functional Bicultural/Chicano Orientation, and Functional Bicultural/Anglo Orientation), Synthesized Biculturals obtained the highest scores on interethnic facilitation, multicultural participation, and positive interpersonal experiences with peers and authorities who were both Mexican American and Anglo in the domains of school, home and community. It was concluded that the above findings support the major assumptions of the Flexibility, Synthesis and Expansion Model of biculturalism/multiculturalism.
This book presents a cognitive styles framework that explores the relationship between traditionalism/modernism and cognitive styles and offers a method for multiculturalism assessment and psychotherapy that promotes the development of pluralistic perspectives and lifestyles.
The work reported herein is part of an ongoing investigation into the psychodynamics and development of biculturalism among Mexican Americans. The research is based on recent theoretical developments which suggest that a cultural identity need not be exclusive. Instead, a person may develop in such a way as to make possible identification with more than one culture and in the process acquire a wide range of competencies and sensitivites. If so, biculturalism could prove a highly significant asset with regard to development to the levels of intra- and interpersonal sophistication required of persons who staff settings characterized by ethnic diversity, complex team work, and recurrent problems of a human relations nature. The bicultural person may be a superior candidate for a variety of organizational and social roles. Confirmation of this possibility awaits development and validation of a comprehensive instrument for measuring biculturalism and, more specifically, particular personality, life history, and behavioral correlates of biculturalism that predict career and leadership potential in different settings, personal and social adjustment in those settings, and satisfaction in living. Initial efforts at developing an instrument suited to this purpose are summarized in this report. A selection instrument for identifying bicultural persons was developed from intensive interviews of a small sample of bicultural adults. Revisions and refinements, combined with field testing, yielded a three part instrument suited to identifying individual's exposure to, or involvement in, primary institutions (family, religion, politics, education) of Chicano and Anglo cultures.
