Project description
Psychological acculturation in ethnic minority and majority groups
Psychological acculturation, the changes in behaviour and psychology resulting from contact with another culture, is currently relevant in Europe, where 29 % of citizens belong to ethnic minorities. However, our understanding of this process remains limited. In this context, the ERC-funded PsychAcc project investigates acculturation in self-construal, cognition, and motivation. Its goal is to identify individuals with unique acculturative profiles to predict educational outcomes and well-being. The project aims to unveil the ‘black box’ of acculturation by scrutinising specific micro-processes driving these changes. It conducts four studies on ethnic minority and majority youth (aged 14-18) in Belgium and provides a new theory, an advanced methodological toolbox, and crucial evidence to reshape acculturation research paradigms.
Objective
The topic of psychological acculturation i.e. changes in psychological and behavioural patterns due to sustained contact with another culture is both timely and relevant: 29 pct. of European citizens are ethnic minorities and integration is omnipresent in debates on inequality and societal tension. Yet, our scientific understanding of this process is still poor. The current approach to acculturation narrowly focuses on ethnic minorities explicit willingness to (not) be part of a culture, as reflected in their cultural attitudes and identities. PsychAcc pushes boundaries by proving the existence of acculturation in self-construal, cognition, and motivation, building on the notion that peoples ways of being, thinking and drivers for action signal cultural affiliations implicitly. From there, PsychAcc elucidates the complex interplay between acculturative changes in explicit and implicit cultural affiliations and identifies people with distinct acculturative profiles, which are then used to predict well-being and educational outcomes. Finally, PsychAcc opens the black box of acculturation by showing that these changes are driven by specific micro-processes in majority-minority interactions, like establishing common ground. It builds its evidence through four studies a cross-cultural, a 2 year representative longitudinal, an experimental and an observational one all focusing on ethnic minority and majority youth (14-18y) in Belgium. Together, the envisioned results re-think psychological acculturation: no longer as minorities willingness vis--vis cultures, but as a multi-faceted process of change that emerges from meaningful intercultural interactions. In sum, PsychAcc offers a novel theory, a beyond-state-of-the-art methodological toolbox and pivotal evidence to trigger a paradigm shift in acculturation research. It also inspires entirely new research lines in other social sciences and policy makers to look beyond outer signs of integration.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.