SOCIOCULTURAL APPROACH – GLOBALIZATION & ACCULTURATION

Sociocultural Approach & Globalization

• Core Idea: Human behaviour is shaped by social and cultural forces; in the 21st-century these forces are increasingly global.
• Globalization (definition)
  • Movement toward a unifying global culture and value-system grounded in individualism, free-market economics and democracy.
  • Often facilitated by travel, international marketing, 24-hour news cycles and the Internet.
• Local culture
  • The unique set of traditions, norms, values and practices tied to a specific geographic area or community (e.g., regional dialects, food customs, family structures).
• Global culture
  • Shared norms, values and practices that spread worldwide (e.g., pop music, consumer brands, fast fashion).
• Delocalization
  • When an individual develops a strong global identity yet feels detached from—or does not identify with—their national/local culture.
  • Example: Students at an international school choosing English slang and global media over their hometown language or customs.
• Identity Shifts
  • Cultural integration and identity change occur through repeated exposure to global symbols (logos, celebrities, democratic ideals) and direct interaction (study abroad, migration, remote teamwork).

Media & Attitudes: Empirical Findings

• Study: Novotny & Polonsky (2011)

  • Aim: Investigate how globalized media affects attitudes toward foreigners among Czech high-school students.
  • Sample: n = ? (exact number not provided) Czech adolescents.
  • Procedure:
  • Experimental group watched a short video portraying foreigners as doctors, teachers, athletes.
  • Control group received no such video.
  • Post-video survey assessed xenophobia and general attitudes to out-groups.
  • Results: Experimental group showed significantly more positive attitudes toward foreigners than the control group.
  • Conclusion: Positive, diversity-rich media content can reduce xenophobia and foster acceptance of cultural diversity.

• Study: Becker et al. (2002)

  • Aim: Examine the impact of television’s introduction on disordered eating among Fijian adolescent girls.
  • Sample: n \approx ? (mean age 17) from rural Fiji.
  • Method:
  • Phase 1 (pre-TV, 1995): Baseline EAT-26 scores and qualitative interviews.
  • Phase 2 (post-TV, 1998): Re-administered EAT-26 and follow-up interviews after local satellite TV arrived.
  • Quantitative Result: 29\% exceeded the clinical threshold on the EAT-26 (vs. negligible rates pre-TV).
  • Qualitative Result: Marked rise in dieting behaviours and body dissatisfaction, with interviewees citing American soap-operas and advertisements as body ideals.
  • Conclusion: Global media can negatively influence body image and increase risk of eating disorders.

• Synthesis

  • Media globalization has a dual effect: it may simultaneously promote openness to diversity while introducing potentially harmful beauty standards.

Acculturation: Core Concepts

• Acculturation (definition)
  • The process of cultural and psychological change that results when individuals come into continuous contact with a new culture.
• Acculturative Stress
  • Psychological impact of adaptation, often experienced as anxiety, depression, or confusion (popularly called “culture shock”).
• Acculturation Gap
  • Generational difference in adaptation levels, especially between immigrant parents and their children; can cause family conflict.
• Third Culture Kids (TCKs)
  • Individuals who spend a significant portion of developmental years in cultures different from their parents’ passport culture; often develop a blended “third” identity.
• Berry’s Four Acculturation Strategies
  • Assimilation: Abandon original culture, fully adopt host culture.
  • Integration (biculturalism): Maintain original culture and participate in host culture (found to be psychologically healthiest in many studies).
  • Separation: Maintain original culture, avoid host culture.
  • Marginalization: Connection with both cultures is weak or lost; typically linked to poorest mental-health outcomes.
  • Visual mnemonic: Imagine a 2 \times 2 matrix with axes “Maintain Heritage Culture” (yes/no) and “Engage with Host Culture” (yes/no).

Protective & Risk Factors in Acculturation: Research Evidence

• Study: Cervantes & Matheny (1997) (Latino Immigrants, USA)

  • Aim: Identify factors that reduce acculturative stress.
  • Sample: n = 197 Latino immigrants.
  • Instruments: Questionnaires measuring family cohesion, English proficiency, coping styles, and acculturative stress scale.
  • Key Findings:
  • High English proficiency → lower stress.
  • Strong family cohesion → lower stress.
  • Active coping strategies (problem-solving, social support) → lower stress.
  • Practical Significance: Interventions that strengthen language skills and family bonds can buffer stress.

• Study: Lueck & Wilson (2010) (Asian Americans)

  • Aim: Determine predictors of acculturative stress in a diverse Asian-American sample.
  • Sample: n = 2095; 1271 first-generation, remainder U.S.-born.
  • Method: Semi-structured interviews in participants’ preferred language; variables measured = discrimination, language proficiency, family dynamics, social support.
  • Results:
  • Bilingual preference rather than forced monolingualism was protective.
  • Strong social networks (friends/community) ↓ stress.
  • Perceived discrimination ↑ stress.
  • Conclusion: Maintaining heritage language & values within supportive communities mitigates stress; combating discrimination is crucial.

Ethical, Philosophical & Practical Implications

• Media Responsibility: Broadcasting companies should balance culturally inclusive messages (to reduce xenophobia) with critical awareness of body-image effects.
• Educational Policy: Incorporate media-literacy programs helping youths decode unrealistic body ideals.
• Mental-Health Services: Offer culturally sensitive counselling, especially for high-risk groups (immigrants, TCKs, adolescent girls under Western beauty pressure).
• Family-Based Interventions: Promote bilingualism, shared cultural activities and open dialogues to close acculturation gaps.

Quick-Reference Figures & Formulae

• EAT-26 Questionnaire: 26 items, threshold commonly \ge 20 for potential eating disorder diagnosis.
• Becker et al. increase: 29\% above threshold vs. < 5\% (typical pre-TV; exact baseline not specified).
• Novotny & Polonsky effect size: Not provided, but described as “significant positive attitude shift.”
• Latent variable in both acculturation studies: Perceived discrimination (d) often correlates r > 0.30 with stress indices.

Real-World Connections & Applications

• Multinational corporations use standardized global ads; understanding their psychological impact is vital for ethical marketing.
• Study-abroad programs create TCK-like experiences; universities should integrate re-entry workshops to manage reverse culture shock.
• Public-health campaigns can leverage integration strategy models, encouraging immigrants to both celebrate heritage festivals and engage in civic life.