Attaching cultures. The role of attachment styles in explaining majority members' acculturation attitudes

PhD ceremony: mw. J. Hofstra, 14.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Attaching cultures. The role of attachment styles in explaining majority members' acculturation attitudes

Promotor(s): prof. J.P.G.M. van Oudenhoven, prof. K. van Oudenhoven-van der Zee

Faculty: Behavioural and Social Sciences

In the Netherlands, the number of first and second generation immigrants is higher than ever before. Consequently, Dutch society faces the task to incorporate different cultural groups in society. This is not easy, and nowadays the adaptation of immigrants to Dutch society is subject of heated debates in Dutch media and politics.

The present dissertation focuses on the perspective of Dutch majority members on immigrants’ acculturation. More precisely, their attitude towards acculturation strategies (integration, assimilation, separation and marginalization) of immigrants is studied. Additionally, the influence of attachment styles on majority members’ attitudes towards these acculturation strategies is examined.

The data showed that, irrespective of the method of measurement, the phase of life of the respondent, or the cultural background of the immigrant, Dutch majority members prefer immigrants who use the integration strategy (characterized by cultural maintenance and positive relations with the host society), followed by the assimilation, separation and marginalization strategy. Furthermore, people scoring high on secure attachment (characterized by a constructive attitude towards the self and towards others) are more positive about the integrating immigrant. In contrast, the insecure styles (fearful, dismissing, and preoccupied) were either negatively or not related to the attitude towards integration. These styles correlated more strongly with the three other -less beneficial- acculturation strategies.

So, improving people’s level of secure attachment, might lead to a ‘truly’ culturally diverse society which guarantees a safe environment at schools, at work and in neighbourhoods for people with different cultural backgrounds.