Acculturation and the Criminal Justice System

Although in theory any acculturative status can be associated with dysfunctional behavior, research studies have indicated that marginal individuals are more prone to dysfunctional behaviors due to cultural adaptation problems. The personality of the individual who suffers from acculturation stress can either hinder or assist with the ability to manage such stress. In an attempt to obtain a better understanding of acculturation and the stress related to this construct, psychometric instruments have been designed to provide a concrete analysis of acculturation. The main problem with compartmentalization of such a concept is the fact that now a complicated process is reduced to variables that can be somewhat limited when attempting to develop an understanding of acculturation on an individual basis.