Research on psychological and socio-political factors of acculturation remain separated, there is lack of unified theoretical framework and allow empirical analysis. This paper is based on research project DIMA (determinants of inclusive migrant acculturation), proposing and testing Relational Acculturation Model - based on field-theoretical understanding of social and psychological phenomena. Model testing is conducted in March 2015 within MIRIPS study in Estonia and Norway, financed by Norwegian Research Council.
Psychological and socio-political factors have been considered in context of ideological preferences in terms of psychological needs, ie. in mental, existential and relational structures of motivation (Jost et al., 2009). DIMA project argues that structures of psychological motivation of actors can also be seen in context of their field position (Vetik and Ivanov 2013). Such approach assumes that acculturation strategies should be understood in terms of positioning in the field, not solely underlying psychological processes, as in mainstream acculturation models.
