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Cultural adaptation and societal context: The role of historical heterogeneity in cultural adaptation of newcomers
- Source :
- International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 85:141-155
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2021.
-
Abstract
- In today’s global world, it has become increasingly important for individuals moving to a different country for work, study, or permanent relocation to successfully adapt to this new culture. Responding to recent calls in the literature for more ecological approaches to the study of cultural adaptation, we examine the effect of host country historical heterogeneity—or, the extent to which a country’s current inhabitants descended from a diverse pool of ancestors—on newcomers’ cultural adaptation to that country. Across two studies, we find that higher levels of host country historical heterogeneity predict higher rates of cultural adaptation among newcomers. This relationship persists even when accounting for individual characteristics of the newcomers and sociocultural/economic characteristics of the home and host countries. These results suggest that a country’s historical levels of diversity may contribute to the successful adaptation of newcomers above and beyond their personal characteristics, their home country environment, or current conditions in the host country, including current levels of diversity. These results have practical implications for facilitating newcomers’ successful cultural adaptation.
- Subjects :
- Sociology and Political Science
Social Psychology
Societal context
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Host country
Political science
Economic geography
Business and International Management
Relocation
Adaptation (computer science)
Sociocultural evolution
Practical implications
Diversity (politics)
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Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 01471767
- Volume :
- 85
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Intercultural Relations
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........56c5250bafae8df7099ede6ee877f059