The effect of cross-cultural living on personality: Assimilation and accommodation among Taiwanese young adults in the United States.

Cross-cultural living represents a transition that entails significant psychological disequilibration, to which individuals may respond with assimilation (retention of existing schemas) or accommodation (creation of new schemas; J. Block, 1982). Using the 3 California Psychological Inventory vector scales, the author assessed the personality of 97 Taiwanese young adults studying in the United States prearrival and at 1 and 2 years postarrival. The study found support for both assimilation (stability) and accommodation (change) in personality secondary to cross-cultural living.