Psychological Effects of Interculturalism: A Literature Review

This literature review examines the field of intercultural psychology, focusing on the interplay between culture, identity, and communication. It explores the psychological effects of interculturalism, particularly within the context of multiculturalism and acculturation. The review delves into concepts like Hofstede's dimensions of culture and the impact of intercultural interactions on individual behavior, mental health, and workplace dynamics. It highlights the challenges associated with intercultural communication, such as language barriers and prejudice, while emphasizing the importance of ethical approaches and cultural sensitivity. The review also discusses the role of acculturation, cultural identity, and cross-cultural communication in shaping individual perspectives and fostering understanding across different cultural groups. The author emphasizes the need for motivation, counseling, and therapies to address psychological disturbances that may arise from intercultural interactions, underscoring the significance of maintaining cultural diversity and respecting individual sentiments. The review concludes by highlighting the importance of intercultural competence and the benefits of embracing cultural diversity.

Running head: INTERCULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
Literature review on Intercultural Psychology
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1.0 Introduction
Culture is an important parameter in the society. Preservation of the cultural values is
crucial for respecting the individual sentiments of the people. This includes the behaviour of
the persons in terms of enhancing the cultural diversity or spoiling the culture in which they
have received their upbringing. Herein lays the appropriateness of psychology, which
determines the mentality of the people towards maintaining the customs and traditions
(Matsumoto & Juang, 2016). This paper attempts to produce a literature review regarding the
intercultural psychology. As a matter of specification, the focus is on multiculturalism,
acculturation, cultural identity and cross-cultural communication. Within this, the aim would
be to focus on psychological effects of interculturalism.
1.1 Concept of psychology
Psychology deals with the study of behaviour and mind. As a matter of specification,
the feelings, thoughts and emotions of the people are studied. The basic functions of
psychologists are exploring the effects of the circumstances on the people and discovering
cures. Counselling is the major form of interaction, where ethical approach is crucial in terms
of respecting the culture (Leung, Ang & Tan, 2014). Unconscious mind is an important
parameter in psychology. Most of the behaviours exposed by the people are under the
influence of the unconscious mind. If adequate motivation is provided, the people get the
confidence to move on in their life, overcoming the negative psychological challenges. This
reflects their physical and mental growth and development.
In some cases, it is seen that people find it difficult to accept the harsh realities of life.
In such a case, their psyche is adversely affected. This affectation is an obstacle in the basic

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performances for survival. Under such circumstances, the humans are in need of therapies
and counselling for getting the needed support (Schwarzenthal et al., 2017).
1.2 Concept of intercultural psychology
Intercultural or cross-cultural psychology deals with excavation of the behaviours
under different and diversified cultural conditions. This excavation is mainly related with the
psyche of the individuals. The focus of this psychology is on the extent to which the mental
behaviours of the people vary according to the intensity of the situations. In this case, the etic
approach is appropriate in terms of studying the behaviour of the people when they are placed
amidst the people of other cultures (Triandis, 1999). One of the major applications of
intercultural psychology is Hofstede’s dimension of culture. According to Hofstede, cultures
can be differentiated according to power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity-
femininity and individualism-collectivism. One of the other factors was indulgence and
restraint, which is directly related with the psychology of the people to mingle with the
people with other cultures or restrain from such act. This essay would deal with the impact of
intercultural psychology on multiculturalism.
1.3 Impact of intercultural psychology on multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the co-existence of people from different ethnic groups in a
society. Here, interactions are not an everyday aspect. However, individuals need companion
in order to execute the basic activities. Here, interactions are a necessity in terms of adding
meaning to the existence of the people. These interactions consist of preservatory measures
towards respecting the cultures of the fellow beings in terms of maintaining the cultural
diversity (Koester & Lustig, 2015). Maturity and understanding towards respecting the
cultures reflects the ability to maintain the psychological balance.

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Multiculturalism tends to give rise to conflicts, which destroys the cultural diversity.
Delving deep into aspect, multi-culturalism cannot be placed besides conflicts. For example,
in a workplace, the employees belong to different socio-cultural background. When they face
taunts and mocking from the colleagues of different cultures, they are psychologically
affected. This heavily influences the workplace performance. When they are asked to adopt
change, the resistance power is strong. This is because they fear the adjustment, which they
have to make for adopting foreign culture (Sandage et al., 2015). Here, the psychological
effect is high, as mocking contradicts the true essence of multiculturalism.
One of the main components of multiculturalism is acculturation, which reflects the
psychological effect of the individuals. Acculturation is defined as the transitions in the
psychology, which comes with the cultural changes. The intensity of these transitions brings
noticeable changes within the expression of the individuals. These behavioural changes
results in the reciprocation of the cultural transitions, which reflects the advancement in
civilization. Sociologist Simons consider acculturation as a two way process, as it occurs
between people from two different cultures (Liu & Gallois, 2014). From the perspective of
group discussion, “two way communication process” mostly generates conflicts. However,
this is not the story always. Some people are eager to mingle with the people of other
cultures. This eagerness reflects their mentality to mix with many people.
There are two levels of acculturation theory- individual and group level. In the group
level, the changes come in the societal structure whereas in the individual level, the beliefs,
attitudes and behaviours of the people undergo transformations. One of the dimensions of this
theory is the consciousness towards preserving the cultural heritage and identity. Preference
towards indulging in contact with people of other cultures is one of the other dimensions of
this theory (Hui et al., 2015). This preference is a psychological aspect reflecting the socio-
cultural background of the people.

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Multiculturalism enhances the identity of the individuals, as their perspectives is
enhanced. The individuals form a perception towards their identity according to the culture,
customs and traditions in which they have received their upbringing. Herein lays the
appropriateness of the relationship between the self and society. The way in which the society
perceives the individuals also forms the identity of the individuals. The presence of taunts
and mocking in these conceptions fills the individuals with the feelings of negligence,
isolation and marginalization. These feelings adversely affect the psyche of the individuals.
This affectation makes the existence of the individuals meaningless. This feeling generates
negative feeling in the minds of the individuals regarding the existence (Earnest et al., 2016).
Herein lays the appropriateness of motivation, which helps the individuals to cope up with
the psychological disturbances. Sometimes therapies and counselling proves beneficial in
excavating the real self of the individuals, which have been subdued under the influence of
psychological disturbances.
Multiculturalism involves the communication between the people of different
cultures. Here, psychological affectation is an inevitable issue. Group discussions are the
major examples of cross-cultural communication. This is because the group discussions
results in the conglomeration of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds. Here,
psychology plays an important aspect in terms of mixing with the people from other cultures
(Gustafsson, Blanchin & Li, 2016). Eagerness and willingness towards intercultural
communication enhances the personality of the individuals. Here, cognitive theory can be
brought into the discussion. Mixing with the people from other cultures broadens the horizons
of knowledge. Observation is a psychological aspect here, as people tend to learn by
observing others. Here, the humans can be grouped into a class. This is in terms of the same
fate, search for meaningful existence with consciousness towards preservation of the culture,
customs and traditions.

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1.4 Challenges to intercultural psychology
Challenges are part of one’s life. These challenges adversely affect the psychology of
the individuals. One of the main challenges is language barrier, which hampers intercultural
communication. Communication gaps broaden the distance between the people from different
cultures, nullifying the aspect of learning (Bunăiașu & Strungă, 2016). These gaps fill the
minds of the individuals with the feeling of seclusion, which affects the psyche. This
affectation entraps the minds of the people, compelling them to face difficulties in executing
the basic activities in an efficient and effective manner.
One of the other challenges is the taunts and mocking, which compels the individuals
to undergo inferiority complex. This is a psychological disturbance, which aggravates the
complexities of the individuals in terms of identity formation. Lack of motivation and
encouragement generates the feeling of uselessness within the individuals, which can
generate the feeling of self-harm or harm to others (Ellemers, Spears and Doosje, 2002).
Lack of adequate knowledge about the other cultures is also a challenge in terms of
cross-culturalism. In terms of this lack, the intensity of individualism is high as compared to
collectivism. The immediate outcome of this is seclusion, which generates depression within
the individuals. This is a psychological disorder. Restraining from mixing with the people of
other culture is also a challenge. This obstructs the mental growth regarding enhancing the
cognitive learning process (Hui et al., 2015).
Rationality in the multiculturalism is effective in terms of dealing with the issues in
multiculturalism. Typical example of this is the Data Protection Act (1998), which assists in
protecting the individual sentiments of the people from the other cultures. Herein lays the
appropriateness of the Conduct Code of Conduct, which regulates the behaviour of the
individuals towards catering to the individual sentiments of the people.

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1.8 Conclusion
Maintenance of culture is vital in terms of adopting an ethical approach. Ethical
approach tends to enhance the personality of the individuals. Indulgence in communications
with the people from other cultures, enhance the skills, knowledge and expertise of the
people. Eagerness and willingness has to be there in these communications for gaining an
insight into the culture, customs and traditions of the neighbours. Lack of consciousness in
this direction compels the individuals to encounter psychological challenges, which obstructs
their mental growth. This lack adds a negative shade to the culture, customers and traditions.
Moreover, this lack is also a negation towards cultural diversity, nullifying the aspects of
multiculturalism. This nullification, in turn, is a negation towards the relation between the
self and the society.

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1.9 References
Bunăiașu, C. M., & Strungă, A. C. (2016). Perspectives and modalities in order to develop
the didactic staff’s intercultural competences. PERSPECTIVES, 3(2), 24-35.
Earnest, D. R., Rosenbusch, K., Wallace-Williams, D., & Keim, A. C. (2016). Study abroad
in psychology: Increasing cultural competencies through experiential
learning. Teaching of Psychology, 43(1), 75-79.
Ellemers, N., Spears, R. and Doosje, B. (2002). Self and social identity. Annual Review of
Psychology;, 53, p.161.
Gustafsson Jertfelt, I. H., Blanchin, A., & Li, S. (2016). Cultural perspective in open-ended
interviews–The importance of being adaptable. Culture & Psychology, 22(4), 483-
501.
Hui, B. P. H., Chen, S. X., Leung, C. M., & Berry, J. W. (2015). Facilitating adaptation and
intercultural contact: The role of integration and multicultural ideology in dominant
and non-dominant groups. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 45, 70-84.
Koester, J., & Lustig, M. W. (2015). Intercultural communication competence: Theory,
measurement, and application. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 48,
20-21.
Leung, K., Ang, S., & Tan, M. L. (2014). Intercultural competence. Annu. Rev. Organ.
Psychol. Organ. Behav., 1(1), 489-519.
Liu, S., & Gallois, C. (2014). Integrating intercultural communication and cross-cultural
psychology: Theoretical and pedagogical implications. Online Readings in
Psychology and Culture, 2(1), 12.

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Matsumoto, D., & Juang, L. (2016). Culture and psychology. Nelson Education.
Sandage, S. J., Li, J., Jankowski, P. J., Beilby, M., & Frank, C. (2015). Spiritual predictors of
change in intercultural competence in a multicultural counseling course. Journal of
Psychology and Christianity, 34(2), 168.
Schwarzenthal, M., Juang, L. P., Schachner, M. K., Vijver, F. J., & Handrick, A. (2017).
From tolerance to understanding: Exploring the development of intercultural
competence in multiethnic contexts from early to late adolescence. Journal of
Community & Applied Social Psychology, 27(5), 388-399.
Triandis, H. (1999). Cross-cultural psychology. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2,
pp.127-143.