跨文化视角下的华裔移民身份认同与适应研究-以美剧《初来乍到》为例

IChapterTwoLiteratureReviewIntoday’sworldofincreasingculturalexchange,understandingidentityandadaptationacrossculturesiscrucial.Immigrants,asatypicalcross-culturalgroup,havedrawnextensiveresearchattentionfortheiridentityandadaptationissues.TheAmericanTVseriesFreshOfftheBoatoffersavividandrealisticexampleofChineseimmigrants’lives,challenges,andgrowthinacross-culturalsetting,makingitavaluablecaseforstudy.Todeeplyexplorethiscomplexphenomenon,ourresearchreliesonHofstede’sculturaldimensionstheory.BeforedelvingintotheHuangfamily’scross-culturaladaptationinFreshOfftheBoat,thischapterreviewsrelevantliteratureoncross-culturalcommunication,providingatheoreticalframeworkandbackgroundforunderstandingidentityandadaptationinsuchcontexts.Theliteraturereviewcoverscross-culturalcommunicationtheories,researchonChineseimmigrants’identityandadaptation,andrelatedstudiesbothdomesticallyandinternationally,offeringacomprehensivefoundationfortheanalysistofollow.2.1IntroductiontoCross-culturalCommunicationCross-culturalcommunication,asaninterdisciplinaryfield,hasgarneredsignificantattentionintheeraofglobalization.Itencompassesthestudyofhowpeoplefromdifferentculturalbackgroundsinteractandthechallengesandopportunitiesthatariseduringsuchinteractions.Theconceptofculturehereismultifaceted,encompassingvalues,beliefs,norms,customs,languages,andsocialpracticesthatshapethebehaviorandperceptionofindividualswithinaparticulargroup.Theimportanceofcross-culturalcommunicationliesinitsabilitytobridgethegapsbetweendiverseculturalcontexts.Intoday'sinterconnectedworld,cross-culturalencountersarenolongerrarebuthavebecomeacommonaspectofdailylife,whetherininternationalbusiness,migration,education,ormedia.Understandingthenuancesofcross-culturalcommunicationhelpsinreducingmisunderstandings,stereotypes,andconflictsthatmayariseduetoculturaldifferences.Italsofacilitatesthedevelopmentofeffectivecommunicationstrategiesthatrespectandleverageculturaldiversity.Thefieldofcross-culturalcommunicationhasevolvedwithcontributionsfromvariousdisciplinessuchasanthropology,sociology,psychology,andlinguistics.Anthropologistshavelongstudiedculturalpatternsanddifferencesacrosssocieties,providingvaluableinsightsintohowculturalvaluesandsocialstructuresinfluencehumanbehavior.Sociologistshaveexaminedthewaysinwhichculturalidentitiesarenegotiatedandmaintainedwithinsocialgroupsandthebroadersociety.Psychologistshavedelvedintothecognitiveandemotionalaspectsofinterculturalinteractions,exploringhowindividualsperceive,interpret,andrespondtoculturaldifferences.Linguistshaveanalyzedtheroleoflanguageasacarrierofculturalmeaningandthechallengesofinterculturalcommunicationintermsoflanguagebarriersandnonverbalcues.Amongthemanytheoreticalframeworksdevelopedtounderstandcross-culturalcommunication,GeertHofstede’sculturaldimensionstheorystandsoutasawidelyrecognizedandappliedmodel.Hofstede’sresearch,initiallybasedondatacollectedfromIBMemployeesacrossdifferentcountries,identifiedseveralkeydimensionsalongwhichnationalculturescanbecompared.Thesedimensionsincludepowerdistance,individualismvs.collectivism,uncertaintyavoidance,masculinityvs.femininity,andlong-termvs.short-termorientation.Eachdimensionrepresentsaspectrumofvaluesandbehaviorsthatarecharacteristicofdifferentculturalgroups.Forinstance,incultureswithhighpowerdistance,thereisasignificantgapbetweenthoseinauthorityandtheirsubordinates,andhierarchicalstructuresarereadilyaccepted.Incontrast,cultureswithlowpowerdistanceemphasizeequalityandparticipativedecision-making.TheapplicationofHofstede’sculturaldimensionstheoryextendsbeyondacademicresearch.Ithasbeenutilizedinvariouspracticalsettingssuchasinternationalbusinesstraining,whereprofessionalsarepreparedtoworkinmulticulturalteamsorenterforeignmarkets.Byunderstandingtheculturaldimensionsofdifferentcountries,businessescanadapttheirmanagementstyles,marketingstrategies,andcommunicationapproachestobetterfitthelocalculturalcontext.This,inturn,enhancestheirchancesofsuccessinglobaloperations.InadditiontoHofstede’stheory,otherscholarshavealsocontributedtothedevelopmentofcross-culturalcommunicationstudies.Forexample,EdwardT.Hall’sconceptsofhigh-contextandlow-contextcultureshaveprovidedfurtherinsightsintohowcommunicationstylesvaryacrosscultures.Inhigh-contextcultures,communicationreliesheavilyonimplicitmessages,nonverbalcues,andsharedculturalknowledge,whereaslow-contextculturestendtousemoreexplicitanddirectverbalcommunication.Suchdistinctionsarecrucialforunderstandingthedynamicsofcross-culturalinteractionsandfordevelopingappropriatecommunicationstrategies.Despitetheprogressmadeinthefieldofcross-culturalcommunication,itisimportanttorecognizethatculturalgeneralizationsshouldbeapproachedwithcaution.Whiletheoriesandmodelsofferusefulframeworksforunderstandingbroadculturaltendencies,theymaynotcapturethecomplexityanddiversityofindividualexperiences.Culturalidentitiesarenotstatic;theyareinfluencedbyamultitudeoffactorssuchasage,gender,socialclass,education,andpersonalexperiences.Moreover,globalizationitselfisadynamicprocessthatcontinuallyreshapesculturalboundariesandcreatesnewhybridculturalforms.Therefore,cross-culturalcommunicationresearchmustremainsensitivetothesecomplexitiesandavoidoversimplification.Insummary,cross-culturalcommunicationisavitalareaofstudythatequipsindividualsandorganizationswiththeknowledgeandskillsneededtonavigatethecomplexitiesofamulticulturalworld.Throughtheexplorationoftheoreticalframeworksandpracticalapplications,thisfieldcontributestobuildingbridgesbetweenculturesandfosteringmutualunderstandingandcooperation.Asglobalizationcontinuestoadvance,theimportanceofcross-culturalcommunicationwillonlygrow,makingitanindispensabletoolforaddressingthechallengesandopportunitiesofthe21stcentury.2.2IntroductiontoImmigrants’IdentityandAdaptationImmigrantidentityreferstohowimmigrantsperceiveanddefinethemselvesinanewculturalcontext,involvingtheirsenseofbelongingtotheiroriginalcultureandthehostculture.Itencompassesmultipleaspects,suchasethnicidentity,culturalidentity,andsocialidentity,andisshapedbyfactorslikeculturalbackground,experiencesinthehostcountry,andinteractionswithpeoplefromdifferentcultures.Immigrantadaptationreferstotheprocessbywhichimmigrantsadjusttothehostcultureinvariousaspects,suchaspsychology,behavior,andsocialinteractions,tobetterintegrateintothenewculturalenvironment.Therearedifferenttypesofadaptation,suchaspsychologicaladaptation,socioculturaladaptation,andprofessionaladaptation,whichtogetherreflecttheoveralladaptationofimmigrants.Theoriesofimmigrantidentityandadaptationarediverse.TheAcculturationTheoryproposefouracculturationstrategies:assimilation,integration,separation,andmarginalization.Thesestrategiesreflectthedifferentwaysimmigrantsbalancetheiroriginalcultureandthehostcultureandhaveasignificantimpactontheiridentityandadaptationoutcomes.TheIdentityNegotiationTheoryemphasizesthatimmigrantsnegotiatetheiridentityininteractionswiththehostculture.Immigrantsmayadjustandredefinetheiridentitythroughstrategiessuchasidentitymaintenance,identitytransformation,andidentitycreationtoachieveabalancebetweentheiroriginalidentityandthenewculturalidentity.TheCulturallyCongruentTheorysuggeststhatwhentheculturalpracticesandvaluesofimmigrantsalignwiththoseofthehostculture,theyaremorelikelytoachievepositiveadaptationoutcomes.Conversely,significantculturaldiscrepanciescanleadtoadaptationchallengesandidentityconflicts.Manyfactorsinfluenceimmigrantidentityandadaptation.Culturaldifferencesbetweenthehomeandhostcountriesareakeyfactor.Immigrantsfromculturallydistinctbackgroundsmayfacegreateradaptationchallenges.Additionally,thesocialsupportsystem,languageproficiency,andpersonalexperiencesofimmigrantsalsoprofoundlyaffecttheiridentityandadaptation.Astrongsocialsupportnetworkcanprovideemotionalandpracticalassistance,helpingimmigrantsbettercopewithadaptationdifficultiesandenhancingtheirsenseofidentityandbelonging.Insummary,immigrantidentityandadaptationarecomplexanddynamicprocessesinfluencedbymultiplefactors.TheoriesandresearchinthisfieldprovideatheoreticalfoundationandresearchframeworkforunderstandingtheexperiencesofChineseimmigrantsincross-culturalcontexts.TheyalsooffervaluablereferencesforexploringtheidentityandadaptationofChineseimmigrantsintheAmericanTVseriesFreshOfftheBoat.2.3PreviousStudiesaboutChineseImmigrantsatHomeandAbroadScholarsbothdomesticallyandinternationallyhaveextensivelystudiedChineseimmigrants.Here’sasummaryofsomekeyresearch:DomesticResearch:ChineseacademicshavedeeplyexploredoverseasChineseimmigrants,coveringtheirlife,culture,andidentity.Forexample,Zou(2002)analyzedtheirmultipleidentitiesandadaptation.Cao(2024)focusedonChineseimmigrantyouth'scross-culturalsensitivityandcompetence.ThesestudiesofferinsightsintohowChineseimmigrantsbalanceintegrationandtradition-preservation.InternationalResearch:Internationally,researchonChineseimmigrantsisalsorich.HooperandBatalova(2015)providedstatisticalandsocialanalysesofChineseimmigrantsintheUS,revealingtheirdemographicandsocialintegration.Chen(2023)usedHofstede’stheorytoexaminetheirculturalconflictsandadaptationinFreshOfftheBoat.Zhang(2019)studiedtheirportrayalinmainstreamAmericanmedia,offeringnewperspectivesontheirmediaimage.CulturalIdentityandAdaptation:ManyscholarshavefocusedonChineseimmigrants’culturalidentityandadaptation.Samovaretal.(2010)andSarbaugh(1988)analyzedtheseaspectsfromacross-culturalcommunicationperspective,showinghowChineseimmigrantsbalanceoldandnewculturalidentitiesandadaptthroughvariousstrategies.Liu(2010)andLinetal.(2015)exploredthistopicfrompsychologicalandsocialangles.CulturalValuesandBeliefs:TheculturalvaluesandbeliefsofChineseimmigrantsareanotherresearchpoint.Daniel(2014)andBennett(1998)studiedtheirculturalvalues,beliefs,andadaptationtothehostculture.Thesestudiesrevealhowculturalvaluesandbeliefsinfluencebehaviorincross-culturalsettingsandhowimmigrantsadjustthemtofitin.Insummary,existingstudieshaveoffereddeepinsightsintoChineseimmigrants’experiences.However,moreresearchisneededontheiridentityandadaptationincross-culturalcontexts,whichthisstudyaimstoaddressbyanalyzingFreshOfftheBoat.ChapterThreeTheAnalysisofIdentityandAdaptationofChineseImmigrantsin

FreshOfftheBoatTheidentityandadaptationofChineseimmigrantsarecomplex,dynamicprocessesinfluencedbymultiplefactors.Inglobalization,cross-culturalcommunicationiscommon,withculturalexchangesandcollisionsdefiningtheera.TheAmericanTVseriesFreshOfftheBoatcentersonaChineseimmigrantfamilyintheUS,exploringidentity,adaptation,andcross-culturalphenomena.Hofstede’sculturaldimensiontheory,includingindividualismvs.collectivism,helpsunderstandculturaldifferences.AnalyzingFreshOfftheBoatwiththistheoryrevealsculturalconflictsandintegrations,thedilemmasandgrowthofChineseimmigrantsincross-culturalcommunication,andhowtheyseekidentityandadaptbetweenthetwocultures.Let’suseHofstede’stheorytoenterFreshOfftheBoatanduncoveritsculturalsecrets.3.1PowerDistanceDimensionPowerdistancereferstotheextentofacceptanceandexpectationofthegroupswithlowerpowertowardstheunequaldistributionofpowerwithinasocietyororganization.Inaculturewithhighpowerdistance,peoplegenerallyaccepttheunequaldistributionofpower.Employeesshowahighlevelofrespectandobediencetotheirsuperiors,thehierarchicalsystemisstrict,anddecisionsareusuallymadebyseniormanagement,withsubordinateshavinglessparticipation.Forinstance,insomeAsiancountriessuchasChina,Japan,andSouthKorea,employeesinenterprisestypicallyfollowtheinstructionsoftheirsuperiorsstrictlyandrarelyquestiontheauthorityoftheirsuperiors.Inaculturewithlowpowerdistance,societytendstoreducepowerdisparitiesandpursueanequaldistributionofpower.Thehierarchicalrelationshipwithintheorganizationisrelativelyrelaxed,andemployeesaremorewillingtoparticipateinthedecision-makingprocess.Thecommunicationbetweensuperiorsandsubordinatesismoredirectandopen.InEuropeanandAmericancountries,takingtheUnitedStatesasanexample,thedistancebetweenemployeesandmanagersinenterprisesisrelativelyclose,andemployeesareboldenoughtoexpresstheiropinionsandhaveahighdegreeofparticipationincorporatedecision-making.Intheaspectofpowerdistance,itismainlyreflectedintwoaspects,affinityandemployeemanagementintheemploymentrelationship,aswellasintimacyandchildcontrolintheparent-childrelationship.Intermsoftheemploymentrelationship,theauthormakesacomparativeanalysisbetweenthefather,Louis,andthemother,Jessica.Intheparent-childrelationship,theauthorcomparestheeducationalmethodofthemother,Jessica,withthatoftheAmericanneighbor,Dave’sfamily.Theaspectofpowerdistanceisalsoreflectedintheparent-childrelationship.Thetwopartiesthatdominateandreceivepowerareparentsandchildrenrespectively.Inthissubsection,theauthorcomparesJessica’seducationalmethodwiththatoftheneighborDave’sfamily.Thestudyfindsthathereducationalmethodistocontrolherchildren’spersonallives,andthenconcludestheimageofJessicaasatypicalChinesemom.3.1.1AffinityandStaffManagementIntheTVseriesFreshOfftheBoat,asaChineseAmericanwhorunsarestaurantintheUnitedStates,thefather,Louis,showsuniqueidentityrecognitionandadaptationintheemploymentrelationship.InordertobetterintegrateintoAmericanculture,Louisdoesn'thavethestrictnessandsenseofdistanceofatraditionalChinesemanager.Instead,hegetsalongwellwiththelocalemployees.ThisbehaviorreflectshisidentityasaChineseAmerican.AlthoughhehasChineseancestry,inthewayofinteractingwithothers,heflexiblyidentifieswiththemainstreamvaluesoftheUnitedStates.Forexample,duetoLouis’mistake,thewholefamilycanonlycelebratetheChineseLunarNewYearintheUnitedStates.Tomakeupforhisfamily,heaskshisemployeestoperformaliondanceintherestaurant.Fortheemployees,theSpringFestivalisnottheirfestival,andrehearsingtheprogramalsotakesuptheirresttime.However,theystillactivelycooperate,whichindicatesthattherelationshipbetweenthemandthebosshasgonebeyondasimpleemploymentrelationshipanddevelopedintofriendship.Louis’actofaskinghisemployeesforhelpandcelebratingtheSpringFestivalwiththemaimstodrawclosertheemploymentrelationship.Andtheemployeesarewillingtogetalongwiththebossasfriends.Thecharacteristicofblurredboundariesbetweensuperiorsandsubordinatesisexactlyamanifestationoftheculturewithlowpowerdistance.Thisalsoshowsthatintheemploymentrelationship,Louis,byadjustinghisbehavior,makeseffortstoadapttotheAmericanculturewithlowpowerdistance,thusbetterachievingidentityrecognition.3.1.2IntimacyandChildControlAsthepartnerofLouis,afirst-generationimmigrant,JessicaisatypicalmotherfromaChinesesocietywithahighpowerdistance,especiallywhenitcomestomanagingthefamilyandeducatingthechildren.ChineseimmigrantscanadapttothelowpowerdistancecultureofAmericansocietyinexternalsocialcommunication.Butinfamilyeducation,especiallyasparents,theystilladheretothehighpowerdistanceculture.InFreshOfftheBoat,Jessica’sbestfriend,seeksadvicefromherbecauseshecan’tbefriendswithherstepdaughter.Jessicabelievesthatherparentingphilosophyisnottobefriendswithherchildrenandnottoreasonwiththem,buttomakethemobeyherinstructions.Fromthis,itcanbeseenthatasafirst-generationChineseimmigrant,Jessica’sidentitypreventsherfromfullyidentifyingwiththeWesterncultureoflowpowerdistanceinfamilyeducation.Specifically,inthestory,Evan,Jessica’syoungestsonwhostudiesthebest,receivedaffectionfromagirlatschool.Jessicawasafraidthatfallinginlovewoulddistracthersonfromhisstudies,soshewenttotheschoolandchangedhisEnglishgradefromanAtoanA-.Thiswastowarnhersontostudyhard.WhenEvanwasheartbroken,Jessicawaspuzzledandatalossabouthisseriesofbehaviors.Shethoughtthatherstrictmanagementhadturnedhersonintoaperfectmachine,withoutrealizingthatshehadignoredherson’semotionalneeds.Intheparent-childrelationship,Jessicaalwaysholdsadominantpositionanddoesn’tgiveherchildrentheopportunitytoexpressthemselves.Jessica’scontroloverherchildren’spersonallivesshowsthatshehasabsoluteauthorityintheparent-childrelationship,whichisinlinewiththecharacteristicsofahighpowerdistanceculture.Insuchaculture,parentsholdthecorepower,andit’sdifficultforchildrentoexpresstheiropinionsfreely.Theparent-childrelationshipinthefamilyofEddie’sAmericanclassmate,Dave,iscompletelydifferentfromthatinJessica’sfamily.InthisAmericanfamily,thereisnoboundarybetweenparentsandchildren,whichisinlinewiththecharacteristicsofalowpowerdistanceculture.WhenEddiewenttohisAmericanclassmateDave'shometoplay,Jessicatookapairofbinocularsandpeekedatthemfromherbestfriend’shousetokeepaneyeonEddie.ThesceneshowsthathersonhadagreattimeplayingwithDaveandhismother.JustthecontrastbetweenJessicastandingbythewindowwithbinocularsandhersonhavingagreattimeisenoughtoshowtwodifferenttypesofparent-childrelationships:suppressionandfreedom.EddieandDavekeptplayinggames,andsuchasituationwouldneverhappeninhisownhome.Duringdinnertime,Dave’sfamilyusedsnacksastheirdinner,andDaveexpressedhisthankstohismotherbyfarting,andhismotherdidn’tgetangry.SuchascenewasbeyondEddie’simagination.Combiningtheabovetwoscenes,thefreeandequalrelationshipbetweenDaveandhismotherreflectsthattheyareinacultureoflowpowerdistance.Incontrast,thewayJessicagetsalongwithherchildrenissimilartoasuperior-subordinaterelationship.Hereducationalmethodisbasedonmanagementandcontrol,showingthecharacteristicsofahighpowerdistanceculture.BylookingatthescenesofJessicadealingwithherchildren,thestudyalsofoundthatsecond-generationimmigrantslikeEddieandEvandidn’tstronglyopposetheirmother’scontrolbutacceptedit,whichreflectstheConfucianculture’sconceptthat“filialpietycomesfirstamongallvirtues”.Fromanotherperspective,thisalsoreflectsthedifferencesandcontradictionsinidentityrecognitionandculturaladaptationbetweengenerationsinChineseimmigrantfamilies.Intheprocessofgrowingup,theyoungergenerationis,ontheonehand,influencedbythelowpowerdistancecultureintheUnitedStatesandyearnsforfreedomandequality;ontheotherhand,theyareconstrainedbytraditionalChinesecultureandshowrespectandobediencetotheirparents’authority.3.2Individualismvs.CollectivismDimensionTherearesignificantdifferencesinvaluesandbehavioralpatternsbetweenindividualisticcultureandcollectivisticculture.Individualisticcultureemphasizespersonalindependenceandfreedom,andtheUnitedStatesisatypicalrepresentativeofindividualisticculture.Americansusuallyemphasizeindividualrights,freedom,andself-actualization.Collectivisticcultureemphasizestheharmonyofthegroupandthecommoninterests.Chinaisatypicalrepresentativeofcollectivisticculture.InChineseculture,theinterestsofthefamilyandthecollectiveareusuallyregardedasthemostimportant.Forexample,intermsofcareerchoices,individualsmaychooseamorestablecareerpathtoensuretheeconomicsecurityoftheirfamilies.Individualbehaviorsanddecisionsusuallytakeintoaccounttheimpactonthefamilyandsociety.UnderstandingthesedifferenceshelpstobettercomprehendtheidentityrecognitionandadaptivebehaviorsandattitudesofChineseimmigrantsincross-culturalcommunicationasdepictedinFreshOfftheBoat.ThesedifferencesarereflectedintheAmericanTVseriesFreshOfftheBoatandareprimarilyseeninthe“EmphasisonTeamSpirit’’and“EmphasisonIndividualAbility’’.3.2.1EmphasisonTeamSpiritInFreshOfftheBoat,theHuangfamilyexemplifiesthecollectivistvaluestypicalofChineseculture,withastrongemphasisonteamspirit.Thissectionexplorestheseculturaldimensionsthroughtwoscenarios:Louisvolunteeringathisson’sbasketballclass,whereEddiehopeshisfatherwillteachflashymoves,butHuangDademphasizesteamworkanddivisionoflabor,stressingthatwithoutateam,hecouldn’trunhis“Rancher”restaurantsuccessfully.Earlier,Eddiehadheadlice,andhisparentsdiscussedwhoshouldbuyshampoo,whileJessicaneededtophotographaninvestmentproperty.HuangGrandmasuggestedhiswifemakethedecisiondirectly,butLouisbelievedtheywereateamandshouldfocusoninternalcooperationandcommunication.BothscenarioshighlighttheHuangfamilyparents’adherencetocollectivistvalues,emphasizingfamilyinterestsaboveall,withfamilymembersinterdependentandsupportive.Infamilydecisions,theyprioritizetheoverallfamilybenefitoverindividualdesires.Meanwhile,Eddie,theirsecond-generationimmigrantchild,showsapreferenceforhip-hopcultureandpursuesamusiccareer,reflectingindividualistictendencies,whichclashwithhisparents’collectivistviews.ThestrugglebetweenindividualismandcollectivismamongChineseimmigrantsreflectsthecomplexityoftheiridentity,influencedbyfamilytraditionsyetyearningtointegrateintoAmericanindividualisticculture.Collectivistculturesvaluethecollectiveandteamwork,prioritizingcollectivebenefitsandsacrificethe“self”forthe“greatergood”duringcrises.Individualsinsuchculturesaretightlyknit,unlikethelooserassociationsinindividualisticcultures.EarlyChineseimmigrantstoAmericasucceededquicklybystickingtogether.China,asarepresentativeofcollectivistculture,originatesfromancientagrariancivilization,wheremutualhelpwasnecessaryforagriculturalwork,andsharingknowledgeensuredcontinuedliving,unitingpeopleclosely.3.2.2EmphasisonIndividualAbilityFromtheperspectiveofidentity,Jessicaplacesmoreemphasisonthedemonstrationofpersonalability.Inthefirstplot,whenthecommunityispreparingaChristmassingingprogram,Jessicasuggeststhatthepersoninchargechooseherselfastheleadsingerbecauseofherexcellentsingingskillsanddismissthosewhocan'tsingwell.However,Holly,thepersonincharge,believesthatChristmasisatimeforeveryonetogatherandhavefun,andthesignificanceoftheprogramliesinthecooperationamongteammembersratherthanhighlightingindividualabilities.Inthesecondplot,whenJessicareadstherequirementsinajobadvertisement,whenshefindsthatteamworkspiritisrequired,shescoffs,showingthatshedoesn'tcareaboutthisaspect.Jessica’sdisregardforteamworkspiritreflectsherself-centeredpersonality.Thischaracteristicofadvocatingpersonalabilitywhileignoringteamworkconformstoindividualisticculture.Undersuchaculture,moreimportanceisplacedonpersonalstrengthwhilecollectiveinterestsareignored,resultinginasituationwherepersonalcharacteristicsarepromotedwithoutcooperationwithteammembers.Thesecond-generationChineseimmigrants,suchasEddie,aredeeplyinfluencedbytheAmericanculturalenvironmentthatemphasizespersonalability.Americansocietyencouragesindividualstofullyexploretheirownpotentialandpursuepersonalachievements.ThisvaluemakesEddieeagertobreakfreefromthecollectivistconceptsoftraditionalChineseimmigrantfamiliesandpursuehisownmusicaldreams.Hisloveanddedicationtohip-hopcultureessentiallyrepresenthisinsistenceonpersonaluniquetalentsandinterests,anditisamanifestationofhisattempttogetridoftheculturallabelsofhisfamilyandshapeanindependentselfintheprocessofidentityformation.However,thisemphasisonpersonalabilityisinsharpcontrasttothetraditionalcollectivistvaluesofChineseimmigrantfamilies.InthetraditionalconceptofChineseimmigrantfamilies,personaldevelopmentshouldbesubordinatedtotheoverallinterestsofthefamily,andindividualsshouldserveasthelinktomaintainthehonorandstabilityofthefamily.Eddie’spursuitisregardedasrebelliousbyhisparents,puttinghiminadilemmaintermsofidentity.Ontheonehand,hedesirestointegrateintoAmericancultureandgainrecognitionthroughthedisplayofpersonalability;ontheotherhand,hecan’tcompletelyletgoofthefamilyandculturaltraditionscarriedbyhisChineseidentity.Thiscontradictionprofoundlyaffectshisself-identityanditsconstruction.Intermsofculturaladaptation,theAmericanculturethatemphasizespersonalabilitypromptsChineseimmigrantstoadjusttheirbehaviorpatternsandvalueconcepts.TakingEddieasanexample,inordertogainrecognitioninAmericansocietythatemphasizespersonalability,heactivelyparticipatesincampusmusicactivities,formsaband,andstrivestoshowca