Becoming Intercultural - An Integrative Theory of Communication and Cross-Cultural Adaptation

Oct 16, 2026

Intercultural develops an integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation by connecting common experiences of crossing cultures to organizing principles, assumptions, and empirically grounded mechanisms. The work frames adaptation as both a problem-solving trajectory and a learning/growth process, then models a stress-adaptation-growth dynamic with three facets of intercultural transformation. It further elaborates personal, social, and environmental components, linking factors of communication, predisposition, preparedness for change, psychological health, and intercultural identity. Finally, it aligns theory with research and offers practical insights for managing stress and fostering communicative engagement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages337

Reading Time8 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

List of Figures and Tables

Preface

Part I. The Background

1. Introduction

Common Experiences of Crossing Cultures

Theorizing About Cross-Cultural Adaptation

2. Existing Approaches to Cross-Cultural Adaptation

Part II. The Theory

3. Organizing Principles

4. The Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation

5. The Structure of Cross-Cultural Adaptation

Part III. Elaboration of the Theory

Part IV. The Theory and the Reality

11. Research Considerations

12. Practical Insights

Notes

References

Index

Intercultural:An Integrative Theory ofCommunication and Becoming Intercultural To my family,the source of my strengthto look far and beyond Becoming Intercultural An IntegrativeTheory of Communicationand Cross-Cultural Adaptation Young Yun Kim Copyright ◎2001 by Sage Publications,Inc. For information: Sage Publications,Inc.2455 Teller Road Sage Publications Ltd.6 Bonhill StreetLondon EC2A 4PUUnited Kingdom Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kim,Young Yun. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8039-4487-X(cloth:alk.paper) ISBN 0-8039-4488-8(pbk:alk.paper) HM12111K552000 303.48'2—dc21 Acquiring Editor; Editorial Assistant: Production Editor: Editorial Assistant: Typesetter/Designer Indexer: Cover Designer: All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in anyform or by any means,electronic or mechanical,including photocopying,recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system,without per-mission in writing from the publisher. Thousand Oaks,California 91320E-mail:order@sagepub.com Sage Publications India Pvt.LtdM-32 MarketGreater Kailash INew Delhi 110048 India Becoming intercultural:An integrative theory of communication andcross-cultural adaptation/by Young Yun Kim. 1.Intercultural communication.2.Assimilation (Sociology). 3.Emigration and immigration—Psychological aspects.I.Title. 00-010052 010203040510987654321 Margaret H.Seawell Heidi Van Middlesworth Denise Santoyo Victoria Cheng Susan Selmer Teri Greenberg Michelle Lee Contents List of Figures and TablesixPrefacexi Part I.The Background 1.Introduction 34 Common Experiences of Crossing CulturesTheorizing About Cross-Cultural Adaptation102.Existing Approaches to Cross-Cultural Adaptation11Macro-Level and Micro-Level Perspectives12Long-Term and Short-Term Adaptation15Adaptation as Problem and Adaptationas Learning/Growth17Varying Theoretical Accounts and EmpiricalAssessments21Divergent Value Premises:Assimilationismand Pluralism23Toward Integration26 Part II.The Theory 3.Organizing Principles29The Domain and Boundary Conditions30Assumptions:Strangers as Open Systems35Mechanics of Theorizing38Empirical Grounding42 # 4.The Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation 45Cultural Adaptation46Cross-Cultural Adaptation49The Stress-Adaptation-Growth Dynamic:A Process Model54Three Facets of Intercultural Transformation61Axioms6871Personal Communication:Host CommunicationCompetence72Social Communication74Environment78Predisposition82Linking Dimensions and Factors:A Structural Model85Assumptions,Axioms,and Theorems88 # 5.The Structure of Cross-Cultural Adaptation Part II.Elaboration of the Theory 97Host Communication Competence98Cognitive Components100Affective Components108Operational Components114Linking Cognitive,Affective,and OperationalComponents117121Host Social Communication122Ethnic Social Communication134Linking Factors of Host and Ethnic SocialCommunication142147Host Receptivity148Host Conformity Pressure152Ethnic Group Strength155Linking Factors of Communication and Environment160165Preparedness for Change166Ethnic Proximity168Adaptive Personality172Linking Factors of Communication and Predisposition180 6.Personal Communication 7.Social Communication 8.Environment 9.Predisposition 10.Intercultural Transformation183Functional Fitness185Psychological Health187Intercultural Identity190Emergence of Intercultural Personhood194 # Part IV.The Theory and the Reality 203The Theory:Principal Features204Theory-Research Correspondence208Toward Methodological Integration213221Understanding Adaptation Potential222Host Environment as Partner223Willingness to Be Changed225Managing Stress227Focusing on Communicative Engagement229Cultivating Adaptive Personality231Forging a Path of Intercultural Personhood232Notes237References243Index295About the Author321 11.Research Con

FAQs

What main framework does Intercultural propose for cross-cultural adaptation?

It proposes an integrative theory grounded in organizing principles and an empirically supported process model centered on a stress-adaptation-growth dynamic.

How does the book describe the process and transformation involved in becoming intercultural?

It presents cross-cultural adaptation as involving cultural adaptation and intercultural transformation through three facets, driven by how stress changes over time.

Which components and factors are used to explain adaptation outcomes?

The theory connects host and ethnic communication (personal and social communication) with environmental conditions and predisposition, then links these to psychological health, intercultural identity, and functional fitness.

Oct 16, 2026

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