John W. Berry
Professor Emeritus
Department of Psychology
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John W. Berry
Professor Emeritus
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B.A., Sir George Williams University
Ph.D., University of Edinburgh
(613) 533-2482
(613) 533-2499
e-mail: berryj@king.igs.net
My main research is in the general area of cross-cultural psychology. I am currently working on projects dealing with acculturation, intercultural relations, and ecological factors in human behaviour, especially in the areas of immigration, family and cognition.
In the area of acculturation, my research involves the comparative study (with colleagues in 13 countries) of how first and second generation immigrant youth are adapting socially, psychologically and academically in their "new" societies. Making sense of their parental (heritage) culture and their peer culture involves acculturation and identity strategies that are considered to affect these three kinds of adaptation. A description of this project can be found on the project website http://www.ceifo.su.se/icsey/intro.html. A book (co-authored with Jean Phinney, David Sam and Paul Vedder), Immigrant Youth in Cultural Transition was published by Lawrence Erlbaum in 2006. A summary article was published in Applied Psychology: An International Review, also in 2006.
With David Sam, I recently published another volume on acculturation: The Cambridge Handbook of Acculturation Psychology, Cambridge University Press in 2006. This volume brings together critical overviews of various aspects of acculturation by 36 leading researchers from many regions of the world.
At the intersection of acculturation and intercultural research, I am coordinating a study of “Mutual Intercultural Relations in Plural Societies” (MIRIPS). This is an examination of the mutual attitudes and intercultural strategies, and the personal and social consequences of these relationships, for members of ethnocultural groups and the larger society. It is currently underway in nine countries in Europe, and in China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.
We have also just completed a study of family structure and function in 30 countries. This book was edited by Jim Georgas, John Berry, Fons van de Vijver, Cigdem Kagitcibasi and Ype Poortinga and published by Cambridge University Press in 2006.
In the area of cognition, I am working in Canada, China, Ghana, and India (with Peter Denny, JoAnne Bennett and Ramesh Mishra) on how cultural adaptation to ecological contexts can influence the cognitive styles of individuals developing in these different cultural communities. An overview of my ideas on this topic was published as "An ecological perspective on cognitive competence", in Bob Sternberg and Elena Grigorenko (2004), Culture and Competence (APA Books).
In the cross-cultural, intercultural and social psychological research domains, my concerns are for the application of knowledge to social policy areas (health, education, immigration and multiculturalism). For example, a recent project involves a conceptual analysis and empirical study of prejudice and authoritarianism in the Canadian Armed Forces. The central issue being addressed is whether it is possible to meet the operational goals of the military, and still meet the obligations to represent and accept diversity within the organization. Similar projects have been previously undertaken for educational, health and work institutions
In addition to books, articles, and chapters, (listed in my CV), there are
three sets of teaching materials that may be of interest:
Handbook of Cross-Cultural
Psychology (2nd Edition)
The Handbook has 32 chapters, in 3 volumes, written and edited by prominent scholars in the field from over 20 countries. The first volume identifies the theories and methods that are characteristic of the field, and analyses the changes that are underway. The volume begins with an overview of the field, and assessment of the current status and concludes with a chapter that integrates the various strands and trends. Volume 2 draws together basic processes and their development emphasizing both cultural variation and underlying similarities in these processes. Volume 3 is concerned with human relations in cultural context, and a variety of applications of the field, showing how ideas and findings can actually be used to deal with social problems in the broad international setting.[Table of Contents and List of Authors]
Two textbooks in cross-cultural psychology have been produced as well:
Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., Segall, M. H. & Dasen, P. R. (1992/2002). Cross-cultural psychology: Research and applications. New York: Cambridge University Press. The much-expanded second edition was published in 2002. It is also available in Italian, and Indonesian editions; a Russian translation was published in 2007.
A third edition is now being developed.
Segall, M. H., Dasen, P. R., Berry, J. W. & Poortinga, Y. H. (1991/1999). Human behavior in global perspective. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. The second edition was published in 1999. It is available in Japanese and Greek editions.
Since taking early retirement, 1999, I have been giving short-courses in cross-cultural and intercultural psychology. These range from 2 to 3 week overviews of the field, to 1 or 2 day presentations of specific topics (such as culture and cognition, acculturation and adaptation, cultural diversity and organizational change, and applications to health and disability and to educational institutions). I would be pleased to hear from professors, university departments and public agencies who might be interested in seeking my services in offering these courses.
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