Development of Biculturalism In Childhood: A Brief Literature Review

In recent years, cities have become increasingly multicultural due to the interplay of different factors and motivations. Cross-cultural contacts have reached unprecedented levels, mutually shaping both host and heritage cultures. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how children integrate multiple cultural inputs into a coherent sense of self, with a particular attention to the integration of two systems, a phenomenon known as biculturalism. Biculturalism is not just a commitment to the ethnic and the mainstream culture, but is rather a negotiation between the person and the socio-cultural context, requiring a thorough exploration and re-evaluation of personal and cultural aspects to fit in the environment. In the current thesis, I take a developmental approach while also acknowledging the contribution of acculturation theory rooted in social psychology, which will not be discussed here due to space constraints. The first chapter examines the grand transformation occurring in societies to provide a comprehensive overview of the complexity of landscapes in which children develop and that shape their self-concept. The second chapter opens with an analysis of the most recent theoretical approaches on biculturalism, and then delves into an in depth examination of the developmental stages of bicultural identity formation. In the third and last chapter, a semi-structured interview with the mother of two bicultural children will be presented. The discussion that follows will offer novel insights into the multifaceted and dynamic process of children’s bicultural identity development.