The antecedents and psychological outcomes of perceived rejection from one’s heritage culture

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University LondonWhat factors predict whether we perceive rejection from our heritage culture? Few studies have examined the antecedents and outcomes of intragroup marginalisation – perceived rejection due to not conforming to the expectations of one’s heritage culture – in spite of its implications for the psychological functioning of bicultural individuals. The broad aims of this thesis are twofold: to provide a holistic insight into the predictors of intragroup marginalisation and, in turn, to investigate its impact on psychological adjustment and functioning. The General Introduction reviews existing acculturation and marginalisation research and situates intragroup marginalisation within the Social Identity Theory framework. It is noted that previous research on the marginalised experiences of bicultural individuals has centred on either their choice of dis-identifying with their heritage culture, or being prevented from identifying with the heritage culture by the mainstream culture. The role of the heritage culture in-group in rejecting non-conforming members has largely been neglected. The predictors of this perceived rejection from one’s heritage culture were chosen because of their importance in shaping interpersonal interactions and goals: attachment orientations, selfconstrual, and conservation values. In addition, perceived cultural distance between the heritage and mainstream cultures was included as a factor which may heighten the tension between one’s cultural identities. To provide broad insight into the detrimental impact of intragroup marginalisation, outcome variables were chosen that represent general psychological functioning: psychological adjustment (conceptualised as acculturative stress, subjective well-being, and flourishing), an integrated bicultural identity, and extreme progroup behaviour. Study 1 found that anxious and avoidant attachment orientations were associated with greater intragroup marginalisation and, in turn, with lower psychological adjustment. Study 2 experimentally primed attachment representations; results further supported the link between chronic attachment orientations and decreased intragroup marginalisation. Study 3 further supported the link between attachment avoidance and anxiety and increased intragroup marginalisation. Furthermore, support was found for the indirect effects of avoidant attachment through intragroup marginalisation on greater endorsement of extreme pro-group behaviours. Study 4 increased the cognitive accessibility of independent and interdependent self-construals through a priming manipulation. Primed interdependent self-construal exerted a protective effect against the link between intragroup marginalisation and poor psychological adjustment and a conflicted bicultural identity, whilst primed independent self-construal was linked with increased intragroup marginalisation, and, in turn, decreased psychological adjustment. Study 5 indicated that valuing security and perceiving cultural distance decreased intragroup marginalisation, whilst valuing tradition marginally increased perceptions of intragroup marginalisation. Study 6 examined intragroup marginalisation experiences longitudinally. Results indicated that an increase in intragroup marginalisation from Time 1 to Time 2 was associated with an increase in acculturative stress. The General Discussion reviews the general findings, discusses implications for bicultural individuals, and sets further directions for research