Identity Development in the Era of Globalization: Globalization-based Acculturation and Personal Identity development among Danish Emerging Adults

TY - JOUR

T1 - Identity Development in the Era of Globalization:

T2 - Globalization-based Acculturation and Personal Identity development among Danish Emerging Adults

AU - Ozer, Simon

AU - Schwartz, Seth

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Cultural globalization, which has led to increased intercultural contact, has emerged as a defining influence on contemporary societies worldwide. In the present study, we examined individual differences in endorsement of multicultural acquisition and ethnic protection, as well as their links with well-being indirectly through dimensions of personal identity development, in a sample of Danish emerging adults (N= 377;M age = 22.68;SD = 2.25). Results indicate that a defensive reaction to cultural globalization, characterized by endorsement of ethnic protection, was directly and negatively associated with psychological well-being, whereas a proactive reaction characterized by multicultural acquisition was positively and indirectly linked to well-being through identification with identity commitments and through reflective identity exploration in depth. In terms of direct links between identity dimensions and well-being outcomes, identification with commitments was linked with satisfaction with life and with the hedonic dimension of psychological well-being, and reflexive exploration in depth was associated with the eudaimonic dimension of psychological well-being. These findings emphasize, within a Western cultural context, the ways in which an ethnic-protectionist approach to viewing diversity can be detrimental to well-being–and that embracing diversity may help to facilitate well-being.

AB - Cultural globalization, which has led to increased intercultural contact, has emerged as a defining influence on contemporary societies worldwide. In the present study, we examined individual differences in endorsement of multicultural acquisition and ethnic protection, as well as their links with well-being indirectly through dimensions of personal identity development, in a sample of Danish emerging adults (N= 377;M age = 22.68;SD = 2.25). Results indicate that a defensive reaction to cultural globalization, characterized by endorsement of ethnic protection, was directly and negatively associated with psychological well-being, whereas a proactive reaction characterized by multicultural acquisition was positively and indirectly linked to well-being through identification with identity commitments and through reflective identity exploration in depth. In terms of direct links between identity dimensions and well-being outcomes, identification with commitments was linked with satisfaction with life and with the hedonic dimension of psychological well-being, and reflexive exploration in depth was associated with the eudaimonic dimension of psychological well-being. These findings emphasize, within a Western cultural context, the ways in which an ethnic-protectionist approach to viewing diversity can be detrimental to well-being–and that embracing diversity may help to facilitate well-being.

KW - Denmark

KW - Globalization

KW - acculturation

KW - emerging adults

KW - identity

U2 - 10.1080/17405629.2020.1858405

DO - 10.1080/17405629.2020.1858405

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1740-5629

VL - 19

SP - 22

EP - 42

JO - European Journal of Developmental Psychology

JF - European Journal of Developmental Psychology

IS - 1

ER -