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THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL OF ACCULTURATION: JOHN BERRY’S

THEORY AND CONTEMPORARY STUDIES

Shelale Rasim Gizi Babayeva1

Abstract. This paper examines the psychological model of acculturation developed by John Berry and

its relevance in contemporary research on migration, cultural adaptation, and intercultural relations.

Berry’s theory identifi es four acculturation strategies—integration, assimilation, separation, and

marginalization—based on individuals’ orientations toward maintaining their heritage culture and

psychological and social outcomes, its effectiveness depends on inclusive institutional and societal

conditions. The paper highlights both the enduring signifi cance and the limitations of Berry’s model in

explaining the diverse experiences of migrants in increasingly globalized and multicultural societies.

It concludes that Berry’s theory remains a foundational framework for understanding acculturation

while benefi ting from recent theoretical and methodological developments.

Keywords: Berry model, acculturation, multiculturalism, self-awareness, social identity

jan, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6468-6246

corporations clearly demonstrate the relevance of the acculturation process in the modern context.

When individuals encounter new cultural environments, they face complex choices about how to

emotional intelligence (Jabbarov, et al, 2023).

sociology, anthropology, and political science, its psychological dimension has attracted signifi cant

scientifi c interest, especially in the last half century. One of the most prolifi c researchers in this fi eld,

Canadian psychologist John W. Berry, has developed a systematic theory of the various adaptation

strategies of individuals exposed to cultural infl uence since the 1970s (Berry, 1997). This theory has

fundamentally changed the approach of psychology to the concept of multiculturalism, and has given

Literature review

The term “acculturation” fi rst appeared in American anthropology in the 1880s. Redfi eld,

Linton, and Herskovits (1936) formally defi ned acculturation as “the change in the original cultural

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patterns of one or both groups resulting from direct, sustained contact between groups of individuals

with different cultures” (Redfi eld et al., 1936). This classic defi nition characterized acculturation as

a group-level phenomenon. Over the following decades, the concept of acculturation was gradually

reshaped in terms of individual psychological processes. Berry led the way in examining acculturation

not as a macrocultural change but rather in terms of the individual’s subjective experience, psychological

adjustment, and strategies of cultural contact. This approach paved the way for the birth of the concept

to arise. Researchers have shown, based on empirical evidence, that migrants can maintain their

cultural identity while successfully integrating into a new culture. These fi ndings have paved the way

for Berry’s multidimensional model of acculturation.

Berry explains acculturation strategies through a two-dimensional framework that arises

from two main questions. The fi rst question is: “Does the individual consider it important to maintain

his or her cultural identity, values, and customs?” The second question is: “Does the individual

desire to establish contact with members of the host country and to join their culture?” Depending

on the combination of “yes” and “no” answers to these two questions, he has identifi ed four different

strategies: integration, assimilation, separation (or segregation), and marginalization. By placing these

four strategies in a single framework, Berry has created an analytical tool that serves to understand

associated with the highest levels of psychological well-being (Berry et al, 2006). Integration enriches

personal identity, develops bilingual skills, and strengthens the ability to empathize.

Assimilation strategy. In this case, the individual chooses to completely adapt to the culture

of the host country, abandoning his/her own cultural identity. Although assimilation offers certain

behind in terms of psychological consequences. In particular, problems such as nostalgia, alienation,

residence, and diffi culties in economic integration (Bourhis et al.1997).

neither maintains his/her cultural identity nor assimilates the new culture. Marginalization manifests

itself as a frequent identity crisis, a sense of social isolation, depression, anxiety disorders and low

self-esteem (Berry and Ssaba, 2011). This condition often arises in situations where psychological

trauma, social pressure and discrimination are constant.

The infl uential study by Berry et al. (2006) called ICSEY comparatively tested the

psychological outcomes of four strategies among immigrant youth. The results of this study constitute

one of the strongest empirical supports of the model. Thus, young people who chose the integration

anxiety and depressive symptoms. Those who chose the assimilation strategy showed a moderate

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degree of adaptation, but their concerns about identity loss were higher. Young people in the separation

Young people with marginalization strategies exhibited the highest levels of psychological distress

(Berry et al.,2006).

In their study, Nguyen and Benet-Martinez (2013) systematically examined the relationship

between biculturalism and psychological adjustment using meta-analysis. They concluded that

only on the strategy chosen by the individual, but also on the interactions in the country of residence,

the nature of intergroup relations, whether migration is voluntary or involuntary, socio-economic

acculturation strategies as dynamic processes that are contextually shaped.

The most serious criticism of Berry’s model is that its two-dimensional framework cannot

fully refl ect the complexity of reality. Rudmin (2003) emphasized that the categories in the model’s

division are not always clearly distinguished from each other, and that in real life individuals often

switch from one strategy to another, and even experience several strategies in parallel at the same

time (Rudmin, 2003).

The fi rst area of criticism covers measurement problems. The questionnaires used to measure

The second area of criticism concerns power dynamics. This model does not suffi ciently

take into account the power differential between migrant groups and the host country. Acculturation

is largely determined by factors such as structural conditions, discrimination, social exclusion, and

legal restrictions, rather than the free choice of the individual.

Many studies model acculturation as a dynamic process and have used longitudinal studies.

They have shown in their studies that most migrants tend to adopt a separation strategy in the fi rst

programs aimed at migrants, refugees and ethnic minorities experiencing acculturation stress.

Studies have shown that interventions that support the direction of integration signifi cantly increase

psychological well-being (Sam & Berry, 2010; Jabbarov,2018).

Effective psychological intervention programs should include the following components:

psychoeducation that normalizes the transition of cultural identity, services that support bilingualism,

exchange programs, development of skills to manage acculturation stress, and development of

strategies to combat discrimination.

John Berry’s acculturation model is one of the most widely accepted theoretical approaches

to explaining intercultural adaptation. The model is based on the answers to two main questions that

individuals give when adapting to a new cultural environment: the desire to preserve their cultural

identity and the tendency to establish contact with the receiving society. As a result of this approach,

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shows that the most successful psychological and social outcomes among these strategies are usually

associated with the integration strategy. Integration allows for both the preservation of ethnic identity

strategy have higher levels of life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and social adaptation.

However, recent studies have also highlighted some of the limitations of Berry’s model.

the social support system, the state’s migration policy and economic opportunities have a signifi cant

one of the main theoretical frameworks in the fi elds of cross-cultural psychology, migration psychology

the model to new social realities.

The analysis conducted shows that the acculturation model has an important theoretical

signifi cance in explaining the process of psychological and social adaptation of individuals living

in different cultural environments. The model demonstrates that acculturation is a complex process

support mechanisms of the receiving society. (Jabbarov, 2012). At the same time, it has been determined

that in the conditions of globalization and increasing migration, the acculturation process is more

fl exible and dynamic.

Empirical evidence suggests that the integration strategy coincides with the highest

psychological well-being outcomes for the individual, both preserving his or her own cultural identity

and adopting the culture of the country in which he or she lives. At the same time, migration policy,

consideration of power dynamics, static refl ection of categories, and lack of context. However, these

criticisms have opened the way for the development of the theory in a more subtle, contextual, and

dynamic way. Azerbaijan, as a country with a historical tradition of multiculturalism and an active

multicultural policy, empirically examining the Berry model in the local context provides both

theoretical richness and practical policy recommendations. promises important prospects in terms of.

As a result, John Berry’s theory continues to maintain its relevance and, enriched by modern research,

serves as a reliable theoretical basis for the study of intercultural relations, migration processes and

psychological adaptation. This model can be effectively used in education, psychological counseling,

social integration programs and the development of migration policy.

Reference

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