developmental
Definition
Developmental refers to a perspective in acculturation research that attends to temporal dynamics, differential trajectories, and the sequencing of change across the lifespan, rather than simply measuring individuals at multiple time points. A core argument is that longitudinal measurement alone does not constitute a developmental approach, and the two must not be conflated. Concepts such as acculturation tempo, drawn from developmental work on puberty, are proposed to capture interindividual differences in the duration of stages like culture shock. This perspective requires distinguishing between a narrow view of universal, progressive stages and an expanded view that accounts for how context and life stage shape acculturative change.
Sources: Sam & Kunst (2026)
Related Terms
- acculturation (1 shared article)
- integration (1 shared article)
- Indigenous (1 shared article)
- discrimination (1 shared article)
Applications
Developmental and Acculturation Tempo
Acculturation tempo is proposed as a concrete application of a developmental lens to acculturation science, inspired by developmental approaches to puberty. It is intended to capture interindividual differences in how long immigrants spend in typical acculturative stages, addressing what has been called one of the gravest misconceptions in the field, namely that longitudinal measurement is equivalent to a genuinely developmental perspective.
Sources: Sam & Kunst (2026)
Developmental and Emotional Acculturation
Longitudinal research on emotional acculturation illustrates what a developmental approach can reveal about acculturation processes over time. Findings show that minority youth who achieve emotional fit with majority norms experience increased peer contact, yet also show lower school engagement and higher non-compliance when discrimination is perceived, a pattern that only becomes visible through temporally sensitive designs.
Sources: Sam & Kunst (2026)
