The implications of humiliation on acculturation and adaptation processes

Abstract

Humiliation as an emotion may result from everyday interactions between migrants and members of the host country by which the former feels unjustly rejected by the latter. The present study aimed to extend our understanding of whether humiliation influences the acculturation and adaptation processes of migrants. The following issues were addressed: (1) the behaviour and emotional responses to humiliation, (2) the behavioural implications of humiliation for the acculturation strategies, (3) the influence of acculturation strategies on sociocultural and psychological adaptation and (4) the moderating role of a humiliating climate in society on the relationship between acculturation strategies and sociocultural/ psychological adaptation. These issues were addressed in a cross-sectional study which was conducted with migrants (N = 132) residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. The results showed that the behavioural responses to humiliation are indeed dependent on the accompanying emotions of anger and shame. In addition, the present study showed that the behavioural implications of humiliation indeed influenced the acculturation strategies. For instance, relationship-challenging responses to humiliation were likely to lead participants to separate and integrate less, while relationship-maintaining responses were likely to lead participants to integrate. In line with previous findings, the results also showed that integration is the most preferred, while assimilation is the least preferred acculturation strategy. Lastly, only the relationship between integration and sociocultural adaptation revealed to be conditional on a humiliating climate in society.