Statistical positivism, psychoanalysis, and the theory of sociocultural models: a review of three approaches to acculturation
Open accessAbstract
This review examines some of the contentious issues of acculturation psychology: Its acultural status, lack of advances in understanding the mechanisms of acculturation, and limited ability to help immigrants adapt. After introducing the problem of acculturation, the author analyzes quantitative acculturation studies rooted in statistical positivism along with migration and the intercultural psychoanalytic approach. The paper considers the philosophical bases of these studies and reflects on their strengths and weaknesses. Subsequently, the author introduces the theory of sociocultural models (TSCM) and highlights why it is a viable option for acculturation studies. The paradigm of critical realism is emphasized, and its role in understanding acculturation mechanisms is discussed. The advantages and points of improvement of the TSCM are highlighted.
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Organisational Psychology plays an important role in reconsidering how workplace inclusion and support are understood and enacted across research and practice, particularly through greater reflexivity about the dominant assumptions that shape participation and best practice.
“From this perspective, Organisational Psychology plays an important role in reconsidering how workplace inclusion and support are understood and enacted across research and practice, particularly through greater reflexivity about the dominant assumptions that shape participation and best practice (Islam and Sanderson, 2021; Chirkov, 2024).”
From The system-level organisational design framework: a neuro-cognitive trait interaction approach to workplace inclusion for autistic people (2026) · cites this paper as Chirkov, 2024
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Dark, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1826284
- Authors
- Chirkov, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Chirkov, Valery
- ORCID
- Chirkov, Valery
- Venue
- International Journal of Intercultural Relations
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-07
- Volume
- 101
- Pages
- 102009
- ISSN
- 0147-1767 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4399992231
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 105
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 7.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Intercultural Relations (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Keywords
- acculturation, psychoanalysis, sociocultural model, critical realism, immigrants
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