20. Cross-cultural adaptation: An identity approach

This chapter addresses the questions of how immigrants and sojourners search and negotiate identities in the host culture context and how different identity negotiation strategies are related to their cross-cultural adaptation experiences. It critically reviews theories of identity and identity negotiation from the perspectives of social psychology, sociology, and communication. Emphasis is given to context, which influences cross-cultural adaptation outcomes. Identity negotiation takes place within the context of both intra- and intergroup relations; and context can exert strong influence on the choice of strategies that immigrants choose to simultaneously navigate through different cultural frameworks. The chapter highlights the point that identity and belonging might not be synonymous and that immigrants′ identity negotiation is a journey, rather than a destination.