A Qualitative Study Of The Peace Corps' Acculturation In China

When people from different cultures come into contact,various changes occur.That how and how well each group manages the changes is a topic in the field of intercultural communication.As one of the world's most influential volunteer organizations,Peace Corps has been working in China for more than two decades.Research on the acculturation of Peace Corps Volunteers(PCVs)in the Chinese context is of great significance and necessity.Based on Colleen Ward's ABC Model,the study explores PCVs' experience of cultural differences in China on three levels: affective,behavioral and cognitive.These three levels correspond to three perspectives in the study of acculturation: stress and coping,culture learning and social identification.The present research investigates the factors that influence the PCVs' acculturation process and its consequences-psychological and sociocultural adaptation-from these three aspects.To explore the factors influencing PCVs' acculturation process and the relationships among these factors,the author conducted in-depth interviews with 18 PCVs in Gansu province,northwest China.Accordingly,the results are presented from aforementioned three perspectives.On the affective level: Volunteers have experienced varying degrees of culture shock,which has generated various challenges.Social support from different groups of people,either co-nationals or host nationals,serves as a major resource to reduce stress and leads to better psychological adaptation.On the behavioral level: Volunteers are expected to learn culture specific skills,such as Chinese language and conventions,to negotiate the new cultural milieu.This helps Volunteers better adjust to the service sites socioculturally.On the cognitive level: interviewees positively appraise their experiences as PCVs.During their acculturation process,integration is the most preferred strategy and leads to better adaptation.The three dimensions interact with each other and contribute to the acculturation process of PCVs in China.Positive psychological adaptation promotes skill-learning in the new cultural setting;such culture-specific skills enhance their adaptation psychologically and socioculturally,which contributes to a rewarding and meaningful PCVs' experience.Findings of this study are useful for future PCVs and those who work with them in China.