Self-actualizing and acculturation amongst black personnel practitioners

Abstract

Acculturation refers to a culture change as a result of continuous and firsthand contact between the minority culture and the majority culture. Through urbanization, the black person is exposed to the Western culture by means of integrated workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. During the acculturation process, distinct changes occur within the individual on interpersonal and intrapersonal levels. Self-actualization is a familiar concept in the Humanistic paradigm and refers to the notion of living to one's full potential in order to become the kind of individual one wants to be. This research aims to investigate the impact of acculturation on the level of self-actualization of black personnel practitioners. A sample of 218 black personnel practitioners was used, consisting of an equal number living in urban and rural areas. The results of this introductory study indicated that urbanized black personnel practitioners show a higher level of self-actualization than respondents residing in rural areas.

Akkulturasie verwys na 'n kultuurverandering as 'n uitvloeisel van deurlopende en eerstehandse kontak tussen die minderheidskultuur en die dominante kultuur. Deur verstedeliking word die swart persoon blootgestel aan die Westerse kultuur, asook deur integrasie in die werkplek, skole en woongebiede. Gedurende hierdie akkulturasieproses vind daar definitiewe veranderinge plaas in individue op inter- en intrapersoonlike vlak. Selfaktualisering is 'n bekende konsep in die Humanistiese paradigma en verwys no die strewe van 'n individu om sy volle potensiaal te bereik en daardeur die persoon te word wat hy graag wil wees. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel om die invloed van akkulturasie op die vlak van self-aktualisering van swart personeelpraktisyns te ondersoek. 'n Steekproef van 218 swart personeelpraktisyns is gebruik waarvan gelyke getalle woonagtig is in stedelike en landelike gebiede. Die resultaat van hierdie voorlopige ondersoek toon dat verstedelikte swart personeelpraktisyns 'n hoer vlak van self-aktualisering toon as respondente wat in landelike gebiede woon.