Since the end of the Second World War, migratory movements have increased within Europe, while trans-oceanic mobility has decreased. Almost forty years have passed since then and the question arises of how Portuguese immigrants and the host community co-exist in Germany. This is going to be the subject investigated in this paper.
To answer this question, social-psychological theories, dealing with in- and outgroups, self-regard, social identity, stereotypes and prejudice, will be mobilised alongside certain governmental trends on immigration issues. An ideological typology will be suggested and later discussed in relation to Germany and its Portuguese immigrants.
The relationship between these two ethnic groups will also be subjected to empirical research by means of a questionnaire consisting of two different scales. The first was developed on the basis of work carried out first by Berry and later by Bourhis during the eighties and nineties in Canada and comprises four different acculturation orientations, specified into several items. In cross-cultural psychology, the focus on the phenomena resulting from the contact between groups of individuals from different cultural backgrounds and the subsequent adaptations of their original culture patterns is a relative recent trend. Nevertheless, it has been used intensely in the last two decades and several models have been suggested for the study of the acculturation strategies of both immigrants and host communities in multicultural societies. The most frequent is the bi-dimensional model extended by Bourhis and his co-workers from Berry’s original research, which will here be applied to Portuguese immigrants and their relation to the German host community.
The second part of the questionnaire contains an experimental scale designed to highlight some of the pragmatic manifestations of the acculturation process between these two groups. What exactly happens, where and how often, are questions that we will try to answer through examination of the answers given by the participants.
A statistical analysis will lead us to the discussion of results and will hopefully help to define the acculturation tendencies of these two groups towards each other and provide some sort of framework to enable us to understand the choices made by Portuguese immigrants and their host community in their co-existence in Germany.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Immigration - Political Aspects and Social-psychological Theories
- 2.1 Pluralism Ideology
- 2.2 Civic Ideology
- 2.3 Assimilation Ideology
- 2.4 Ethnist Ideology
- 2.5 Ingroups and Outgroups
- 2.6 Social Identity Theory
- 2.7 Attitudes, Stereotypes, Prejudices & Discrimination
- 3. Acculturation Models
- 3.1 Ecology, Enculturation & Socialization
- 3.2 Acculturation
- 3.3 Models of Acculturation
- 3.4 Berry's Acculturation Model
- 3.4.1 Assimilation
- 3.4.2 Integration
- 3.4.3 Segregation or Separation
- 3.4.4 Marginalisation
- 3.5 Studies and Scales
- 3.6 Bourhis' Interactive Acculturation Model
- 4. The Portuguese in Germany
- 4.1 General Features of Portuguese Emigration
- 4.2 Brief History of the Portuguese Presence in Germany
- 4.3 Present Situation of the Portuguese Migrants in Germany
- 4.3.1 Geographical Distribution
- 4.3.2 Age and Gender of the Migrants
- 4.3.3 Duration of the Stay in Germany
- 4.3.4 Employment
- 4.3.5 Unemployment
- 4.3.6 School, Professional Education and University
- 4.3.7 Marriages, Naturalizations and Births
- 4.4 Final Observations
- 5. Methodology
- 5.1 Design of the Study
- 5.2 Instruments
- 5.2.1 Acculturation Attitudes
- 5.2.2 Acculturation Experiences
- 5.3 Sample and Collection of the Data
- 6. Presentation of the Results
- 6.1 Age and Gender of the Groups
- 6.2 Analysis of Items and Scales
- 6.3 Inter-correlation of the Scales
- 6.4 Groups and Acculturation Strategies
- 6.5 Single-items
- 6.6 Acculturation Strategies and Contact between the groups
- 6.7 Acculturation Strategies and Experiences between the groups
- 6.8 Other factors - Language and Education
- 7. Discussion of the Results
- 7.1 The Original Scales
- 7.2 Interscale Relationships
- 7.3 Predictors of Acculturation Attitudes
- 7.4 Portuguese and Germans - Conflict or Consensus?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to investigate the integration process of Portuguese immigrants in Germany, focusing on acculturation strategies and the interplay between individual experiences and broader societal factors. The research explores the various theoretical frameworks related to immigration and integration, analyzing how these models apply to the specific case of the Portuguese community in Germany.
- Acculturation strategies of Portuguese immigrants in Germany.
- The influence of social-psychological theories on immigrant integration.
- Comparative analysis of different acculturation models.
- The role of language and education in the integration process.
- The impact of socio-cultural factors on immigrant experiences.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This chapter likely provides an overview of the study's background, context, and significance. It sets the stage for the research by introducing the topic of immigrant integration, highlighting the importance of understanding the Portuguese experience in Germany, and outlining the study's objectives and methodology. The introduction likely establishes the theoretical framework underpinning the research and provides a roadmap for the subsequent chapters.
2. Immigration - Political Aspects and Social-psychological Theories: This chapter delves into the theoretical underpinnings of immigration and integration, examining various political ideologies (pluralism, civic, assimilation, ethnist) that shape the discourse and policies surrounding immigrant integration. It explores key social-psychological concepts like ingroups and outgroups, social identity theory, and the relationship between attitudes, stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination, providing a framework for understanding the social dynamics impacting immigrant experiences. The chapter lays the groundwork for analyzing the acculturation processes discussed in subsequent chapters.
3. Acculturation Models: This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of acculturation models, exploring the concepts of ecology, enculturation, and socialization. It meticulously examines various acculturation models, notably Berry's model (assimilation, integration, segregation, marginalization) and Bourhis' interactive model. The chapter likely provides a critical analysis of these models' strengths and limitations, setting the stage for applying these frameworks to the empirical data collected on the Portuguese community in Germany. The inclusion of studies and scales in this chapter further underscores the empirical basis of the research.
4. The Portuguese in Germany: This chapter provides a detailed overview of the Portuguese immigrant community in Germany. It traces the historical context of Portuguese emigration to Germany, offering a narrative of their arrival, settlement patterns, and their current socio-economic situation. The chapter likely utilizes statistical data to illustrate the geographical distribution, demographics (age, gender), employment rates, educational attainment, family structures, and naturalization processes within this community. The chapter paints a comprehensive picture of the Portuguese community as a backdrop for understanding their integration experiences.
5. Methodology: This chapter thoroughly details the research design, including the study's approach (likely quantitative or mixed-methods), the instruments used for data collection (questionnaires, potentially interviews), and the specific scales utilized to measure acculturation attitudes and experiences. It describes the sampling strategy employed to ensure a representative sample of the Portuguese immigrant community and outlines the data collection procedures. The chapter emphasizes the rigor and validity of the research methodology to build confidence in the findings presented in later chapters.
6. Presentation of the Results: This chapter presents the empirical findings of the study, offering a detailed analysis of the data collected through the chosen instruments. It likely presents the results systematically, analyzing demographic characteristics (age, gender), examining the responses to specific items and scales measuring acculturation attitudes and experiences, and exploring the correlations between different variables. This chapter is the core of the empirical section, providing the basis for the interpretations and discussions in the following chapters. The detailed breakdown of results using statistical analysis and comparison across different groups within the Portuguese community would be the focus of this chapter.
7. Discussion of the Results: This chapter interprets and discusses the findings presented in Chapter 6. It delves into the meaning and implications of the empirical results, examining the relationships between different variables and exploring the factors influencing acculturation strategies among the Portuguese immigrants in Germany. The chapter likely relates the findings back to the theoretical frameworks presented in earlier chapters, offering a critical analysis of the study's results within the existing literature on immigration and integration. Specific focus might be given to comparing the original scales used to the results obtained and the predictors of acculturation attitudes.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Immigrant integration, acculturation, Portugal, Germany, social identity theory, Berry's acculturation model, Bourhis' interactive acculturation model, attitudes, stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, language, education, employment, social networks, cultural adaptation.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview on Portuguese Immigrants in Germany
What is the main focus of this study?
This study investigates the integration process of Portuguese immigrants in Germany, focusing on their acculturation strategies and how individual experiences interact with broader societal factors. It examines various theoretical frameworks related to immigration and integration, applying these models to the specific case of the Portuguese community in Germany.
What are the key themes explored in this study?
Key themes include the acculturation strategies of Portuguese immigrants, the influence of social-psychological theories on immigrant integration, a comparative analysis of different acculturation models, the role of language and education in integration, and the impact of socio-cultural factors on immigrant experiences.
What theoretical frameworks are used in this study?
The study draws upon various political ideologies (pluralism, civic, assimilation, ethnist) and social-psychological concepts such as ingroups and outgroups, social identity theory, attitudes, stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. It also utilizes and compares Berry's acculturation model (assimilation, integration, segregation, marginalization) and Bourhis' interactive acculturation model.
What information is provided about the Portuguese community in Germany?
The study provides a detailed overview of the Portuguese immigrant community in Germany, including its history, current socio-economic situation, geographical distribution, demographics (age, gender), employment rates, educational attainment, family structures, and naturalization processes. Statistical data is used to illustrate these aspects.
What methodology was used in this research?
The study's methodology is thoroughly detailed, including the research design (likely quantitative or mixed-methods), the instruments used for data collection (questionnaires, potentially interviews), and the scales employed to measure acculturation attitudes and experiences. The sampling strategy and data collection procedures are also described.
What kind of results are presented?
The results section presents a detailed analysis of data, including demographic characteristics (age, gender), analysis of items and scales measuring acculturation, inter-correlations between scales, analysis of acculturation strategies, and exploration of the relationships between acculturation, contact between groups, and experiences between groups. The impact of language and education is also explored.
How are the results discussed and interpreted?
The discussion section interprets the findings, relating them back to the theoretical frameworks presented earlier. It examines the relationships between different variables, explores factors influencing acculturation strategies, and compares the results to existing literature on immigration and integration. The discussion focuses on the original scales used, interscale relationships, predictors of acculturation attitudes, and the question of conflict or consensus between Portuguese and German communities.
What are the key chapters and their contents?
The study includes chapters on introduction, immigration (political and social-psychological aspects), acculturation models, the Portuguese in Germany, methodology, presentation of results, and discussion of results. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of the research, building upon the previous one to provide a comprehensive analysis.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Keywords include immigrant integration, acculturation, Portugal, Germany, social identity theory, Berry's acculturation model, Bourhis' interactive acculturation model, attitudes, stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, language, education, employment, social networks, and cultural adaptation.
- Quote paper
- Joana Duarte (Author), 2006, Integrating Immigrants in Today's Globalised Society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/139166
