Między marginalizacją a integracją. Wybór jednostkowych strategii akulturacyjnych i ich uwarunkowania

Abstract

The adaptation process of a person living in a different culture can take various forms depending on a meaning given to it by an individual. It can be a challenge, which stimulates personal development and building new identity. On the other hand, it can be a source of destructive stress leading to psychic (mental?) problems such as depression, anxiety, the feeling of alienation, addictions. The illustration of these extreme attitudes are two case studies of people from different culture living in Poland. Their interpretation was based on J. Berry’s theory of acculturation as well as detailed indicators of adapting to a cultural change for certain acculturation strategies devised by Colleen Ward. Here the process of cultural adaptation is measured in two fields: psychological, describing the mental and physical well-being as well as socio-cultural, referring to the efficiency in functioning and reaching goals in a new environment.