Description
In 2015, Germany was at the center of one of the largest displacements in history as upwards of a million refugees, many from Syria, fled to Germany. In my study, I was fortunate enough to spend three months living in Germany and interacting with Germans and refugees to hear their stories of positive intercultural interaction. Through the integration of Acculturation Theory (Berry, 1980), Cross-Cultural Adaptation Theory (Y.Y. Kim, 1980), and Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory (Pearce & Cronen, 1980) I conducted a qualitative research project where I interviewed 44 individuals representing both German citizens (25) and refugees (19) and collected their stories of positive intercultural interactions with one another. These stories affirmed the importance of intercultural competency, social support, and empathy as core elements of positive interaction providing a platform to create future initiatives grounded in these elements as others engage in intercultural transitions and develop migrant-host relationship. Furthermore, this research underscored the need to address both host and migrant experiences during intercultural transitions being sure not to privilege either group when seeking positive paths to facilitate interaction.
Details
Title
- Understanding intercultural transitions and migrant-host relationships: how empathy, social support, and intercultural competency facilitate positive intercultural interactions between German citizens and refugees
Contributors
- Anderson, Versha J (Author)
- Alberts, Jess K. (Thesis advisor)
- Broome, Benjamin J. (Thesis advisor)
- Martin, Judith N. (Committee member)
- Matoba, Kazuma (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2017
Subjects
- Communication
- Peace Studies
- International relations
- Empathy
- Intercultural Competency
- Intercultural Transitions
- Migrant-Host Relationships
- Positive Intercultural Interactions
- Social Support
- acculturation
- Syrians--Germany--Emigration and immigration.
- Syrians
- Arabs--Cultural assimilation--Germany.
- Arabs
Resource Type
Collections this item is in
Note
- thesisPartial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2017
- bibliographyIncludes bibliographical references (pages 109-131)
- Field of study: Communication
Citation and reuse
Statement of Responsibility
by Versha J. Anderson