Question

Acculturative stress is a serious problem for all immigrants, especially when you cannot live within the country you left and the country lives within you.

Please explain how prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination, and ethnocentrism exacerbates acculturative stress, which may result in psychopathology and maladaptive behavior.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) There have been unfortunate times when an immigrant is forced to leave their home country in order to avoid hostility from their homeland. They may not like the situation that they face but, these immigrants might still love their home. Under such circumstances, they might flee to safety in a new nation that is able to protect them from the forces that hinder their safety.

Although it is a fairly safer option to immigrate, it does not always ameliorate their stress levels. When these individuals enter into a different nation, there is the anxiety of adjusting to a new environment and people along with the stress of overcoming the sadness of leaving one’s home and loved ones behind.

Such a situation can be stressing as it is. If there are additional difficulties like racism, bullying and a lack of inclusion that is exhibited towards them, it might lead to a difficult situation that might cause them to be depressed or even have an anxiety attack. At such times, compassion from the locals towards these individuals can go a long way in easing their transition period. Not only does it help them adjust to a new and safer life but, also gives them a much-needed feeling of belonging.

If there is a lack of inclusion, these immigrants might have issues with adjusting and undertake maladaptive behaviours. Each individual has their own way of overcoming extreme stress. There are unfortunate actions that these immigrants might undertake that harm themselves or the people around them. The cause of this behaviour is not particularly any animosity between ethnic groups but rather because of the lack of compassion towards another human being in distress.