Acculturation strategies as predictors of fandom identification in the fanfiction, Star Wars fan, and furry communities

ABSTRACTResearch suggests that people at the interface of two different cultures may face a dilemma regarding how or whether to adopt aspects of the new culture in light of their existing cultural identity. A growing body of research in fan communities suggests that similar group processes may operate in recreational, volitional identities. We tested this by examining the associations between acculturation attitudes and identification with fan communities across three studies. Fanfiction fans, Star Wars fans, and furries completed measures of four different acculturation strategies with respect to managing their fan and non-fan communities as well as a measure of their identification with the fan community. Results across the three studies consistently found that integration and assimilation strategies positively predicted fan community identification, while separation and marginalization strategies negatively predicted fan community identification. Together, the results conceptually replicate and find evidence for the acculturation model.KEYWORDS: Acculturationfandomfanfictionfansfurriesingroup identificationStar Wars Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementThe data described in this article are openly available in the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/3yr4gOpen scholarshipThis article has earned the Center for Open Science badges for Open Data and Open Materials through Open Practices Disclosure. The data and materials are openly accessible at https://osf.io/3yr4gNotes1. The acculturation measure in the present research was adapted from Ben-Shalom and Horenczyk (Citation2003). The original measure assessed acculturation strategies with a focus on nationality with Israeli immigrants from the Soviet Union. The published measure contained an additional item for the constructs of integration, separation, and assimilation that focused on language (e.g., “I want to master both the Hebrew and Russian languages”). As these items would not be relevant to fan communities they were omitted in the present study.Additional informationFundingThis research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.Notes on contributorsStephen ReysenStephen Reysen is a Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University-Commerce. His research interests include topics related to personal (e.g., fanship) and social identity (e.g., fandom).Courtney N. PlanteCourtney N. Plante is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Bishop’s University. His research interests include media effects, the functions of fantasy, fan cultures, and fantasy-themed identities.Grace PackardGrace Packard is a graduate student at Georgia State University.Diana SiotosDiana Siotos was an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University-Commerce and is currently working in the private sector.Sharon E. RobertsSharon E. Roberts is an Associate Professor of Social Development Studies at Renison University College, University of Waterloo in Canada. She is one of the co-founders of IARP/Furscience and an Executive Producer on Furscience media content.Kathleen C. GerbasiKathleen C. Gerbasi is Professor Emerita at Niagara County Community College, where she has received the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for both teaching and research. She is a social psychologist and anthrozoologist.