Deculturation and Its Impact on the Lower-Class Mexican Family.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine which of two theoretical models, cultural conflict or deculturation, better explained drug use by Mexican youth living in the United States. By analyzing the Mexican family and identifying its roles, values, ideals, norms, traditions, and problems of acclimation, it was anticipated that areas of conflict might be highlighted. Four Mexican families from the Latino area in Detroit were selected for the study. In order to provide a basis for comparison in determining which of the two theoretical models better explained drug use among youths, the study focused on two families whose children were drug users but did not exhibit other dysfunctional behavior, and two families of similar backgrounds whose children neither used drugs nor exhibited other dysfunctional behavior. An adolescent male was selected from each family as the "target youth" of that family. The study used in combination of techniques drawn from anthropology and psychology, including intensive clinical interviews, selected TAT cards, and the Uniform Intake Feedback Form. In order to avoid subjectivity, two blind analyses of the TAT protocols were carried out. The data from this study more strongly supported the deculturation model than the cultural conflict model. The data indicated that the drug-using youths had minimal or no affiliation with their culture and few or no idealized norms. As a result, they would turn to drugs for immediate gratification when experiencing pain. Both drug-using target youths were social isolates, alienated from their family, peers and society at large. Both had low self-esteem. They did not, however, appear to be torn between two conflicting cultures. The two non-drug-using adolescents in the study had strong ties with their culture and were integrated into the social structure. Their strong ties with their culture sustained them through difficult times by giving them sources of self-esteem. It was the conclusion of this study that the experience of deculturation, rather than cultural conflict, provided a better explanation of drug use by the adolescents in the study.