Where are you from?

“Where are you from?”

“[Insert country name here]”

*Moment of silence* “No, where are you REALLY from?”

Our cultural identity, whether it be mono, bi or multicultural, is an integral part of who we are. For some people their cultural identity is what defines them, for others it is the lens through which they see well, and for countless others it means many other things. Ironically, something that is so integral to who a person is can is hard to define.

A bicultural individual is someone who has internalized two cultures to such an extent that both cultures are readily available to guide them as they navigate their environment (Hong, Morris, Chiu & Benet-Martinez, 2000). Many studies have investigated this psychological phenomenon. Cultural psychology is the study of how psychological and behavioural tendencies are rooted and embodied in culture. In this field, mind and culture are inseparable: individuals are shaped by their culture and their culture is also shaped by them. If we accept this view of our cultural identity, then to truly answer the question “where are you from?” we would have to say that we are from the culture that has shaped us the most. Sounds simple enough right? Sort of, except if multiple cultures have had an equally strong influence on you.

Because of increased communication between cultures over the last few decades, the world is an increasingly multicultural place where we can be influenced by cultures without ever leaving our home countries. Cultures are generally described as individualistic or collectivistic. Even though these two categories are extremely broad and do not encompass all cultures, psychologists have been able to develop tests to assess the extent to which individuals are influenced by one type of culture versus the other. One such test consists of a video of a school of fish swimming with one fish swimming ahead of the group. Depending on whether you are from an individualistic or collectivistic culture, you will interpret the behaviour of the lone fish differently. Although this test has been useful in distinguishing between types of cultures, as I said before, the system of categorizing cultures is not perfect.

Even more importantly, this test does not make it any easier to answer people when they ask where you are from. Is it even possible to have a test which can better measure the construct of biculturalism? I don’t know, and I personally don’t think that such a test would better help me answer the “where are you from?” question without confusing people.

260499511

Originally published at medium.com on February 5, 2015.