Programme
Tharsni Kankesan
Graduate Student
Department of Psychology
University of Toronto
E/ tharsni.kankesan@utoronto.ca
The Psychological Meaning of Biculturalism
Many immigrants identify themselves as biculturals, belonging to and participating in both their home and host cultures. This study looks at how biculturals in general, and Tamil-Canadians in particular, feel about both heritage and mainstream aspects of their cultural identity, and the attitudinal and behavioral factors associated with negotiating one’s cultural identity in a bicultural way.
Researchers have put forth models of biculturalism to explain both ethnic identity achievement, and behavioral and psychological functioning with respect to two distinct cultures. The alternation and integration models of biculturalism are similar in that both posit the identification with home and host culture. However, in the alternation model an individual comes to have two separate frames or scripts for understanding their two cultures. When given the appropriate cultural cue, the individual activates the appropriate cultural frame and reacts accordingly. The integration model proposes that the individual has created a single identity structure that is a cohesive mix of aspects taken from both cultures (LaFromboise, Coleman, & Gerton, 1993 ).
In this largely exploratory initial study, the goals were to differentiate between alternating and blended bicultural strategies, get a sense of what these concepts really are, demonstrate that there are biculturals who utilize one strategy over the other, and determine which is the modal bicultural approach. Variables related to the adoption of particular acculturation strategies were also identified.
Participants were asked, both in questionnaires and an interview, about their
feelings concerning both their ancestral and host cultures, the compatibility
between the two cultures, inter-ethnic friendships and relationships, diversity
in the participant’s everyday environment, and experiences of racial/ethnic
discrimination. The results and implications of this study will be discussed.
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Ms. Kankesan is currently pursuing her doctoral studies; her research interests
include the effects of narrative and group interaction on identity and
well-being. She is currently interested in culture and identity, with a specific
emphasis on how experiences of discrimination influence the formation of one's
own cultural identity and acculturation process. Her papers presented at
conferences include: "Victory and defeat memories in a personal versus group
context: Implications for personal well-being and group cohesion," Kankesan, T.,
Fournier, M. A., & McLean, K. C. (2006), "Mapping the Coalitional Domain,"
Kankesan, T., Fournier, M. A., & Zuroff, D. C. (2005), and "Conformity and
exclusivity as dimensions of small group interaction", Kankesan, T., & Fournier,
M. A. (2004).