Part Ⅰ．The Background 3
1．Introduction 3
Common Experiences of Crossing Cultures 4
Theorizing About Cross-Cultural Adaptation 10
2．Existing Approaches to Cross-Cultural Adaptation 11
Macro-Level and Micro-Level Perspectives 12
Long-Term and Short-Term Adaptation 15
Adaptation as Problem and Adaptation as Learning/Growth 17
Varying Theoretical Accounts and Empirical Assessments 21
Divergent Value Premises:Assimilationism and Pluralism 23
Toward Integration 26
Part Ⅱ．The Theory 26
3．Organizing Principles 29
The Domain and Boundary Conditions 30
Assumptions:Strangers as Open Systems 35
Mechanics of Theorizing 38
Empirical Grounding 42
4．The Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation 45
Cultural Adaptation 46
Cross-Cultural Adaptation 49
The Stress-Adaptation-Growth Dynamic:A Process Model 54
Three Facets of Intercultural Transformation 61
Axioms 68
5．The Structure of Cross-Cultural Adaptation 71
Personal Communication:Host Communication Competence 72
Social Communication 74
Environment 78
Predisposition 82
Linking Dimensions and Factors:A Structural Model 85
Assumptions,Axioms,and Theorems 88
Part Ⅲ．Elaboration of the Theory 88
6．Personal Communication 97
Host Communication Competence 98
Cognitive Components 100
Affective Components 108
Operational Components 114
Linking Cognitive,Affective,and Operational Components 117
7．Social Communication 121
Host Social Communication 122
Ethnic Social Communication 134
Linking Factors of Host and Ethnic Social Communication 142
8．Environment 147
Host Receptivity 148
Host Conformity Pressure 152
Ethnic Group Strength 155
Linking Factors of Communication and Environment 160
9．Predisposition 165
Preparedness for Change 166
Ethnic Proximity 168
Adaptive Personality 172
Linking Factors of Communication and Predisposition 180
10．Intercultural Transformation 183
Functional Fitness 185
Psychological Health 187
Intercultural Identity 190
Emergence of Intercultural Personhood 194
Part Ⅳ．The Theory and the Reality 194
11．Research Considerations 203
The Theory:PrincipalFeatures 204
Theory-Research Correspondence 208
Toward Methodological Integration 213
12．Practical Insights 221
Understanding Adaptation Potential 222
Host Environment as Partner 223
Willingness to Be Changed 225
Managing Stress 227
Focusing on Communicative Engagement 229
Cultivating Adaptive Personality 231
Forging a Path of Intercultural Personhood 232
Notes 237
References 243
Index 295
About the Author 321