Key Words Acculturation Cultural identity Immigrant Personal identity Social identity

The present paper advances theoretical propositions regarding the relationship between acculturation and identity. The most central thesis argued is that accultura-tion represents changes in cultural identity and that personal identity has the potential to ‘anchor ’ immigrant people during their transition to a new society. The article em-phasizes the experiences of nonwhite, non-Western immigrant people moving to Western nations. The article also calls for research on heretofore unexplored aspects of the relationship of acculturation to personal and social identity. Ideas are proposed for interventions to promote cultural identity change and personal identity coher-ence. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel In recent decades, labor mobility and population migration have become prom-inent (and presumably permanent) in many parts of the world [van de Vijver & Pha-let, 2004]. This means that many people in the world, whether by choice, necessity, or coercion, are born in one country and move to another during their lifetime. Even when voluntary, immigration is often a diffi cult process for individuals and families. The decision to leave one’s country of origin and move to another often brings dis