AKULTURASI PSIKOLOGIS PARA SELF-INITIATED EXPATRIATE DI YOGYAKARTA

Ginda Rahmita Sari, M. A. Subandi, Ph.D

2014 | Tesis | S2 Psikologi

Ekspatriasi menjadi fenomena yang semakin banyak ditemui di berbagai wilayah dunia terkait dengan era globalisasi. Ekspatriasi tidak hanya dilakukan oleh pekerja yang ditugaskan perusahaan namun juga dilakukan oleh individuindividu yang memilih untuk mengembangkan kapasitas diri mereka dengan menambahkan pengalaman lintas budaya dan menjadi self-intiated expatriate. Pengalaman lintas budaya di mana dua budaya yang berbeda saling bertemu dan mengakibatkan perubahan dalam diri disebut dengan akulturasi psikologis. Para self-initiated expatriate ini telah banyak diteliti di berbagai belahan dunia lainnya namun penulis belum menemukan penelitian akulturasi psikologis para self-initiated expatriate yang ada di Yogyakarta. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui makna dan proses akulturasi psikologis para self-initiated expatriate di Yogyakarta. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif fenomenologi untuk memahami makna dari pengalaman akulturasi psikologis para self-initiated expatriate di Yogyakarta. Data diperoleh penulis melalui wawancara mendalam pada enam orang self-initiated expatriate yang telah membangun kehidupan mereka di Yogyakarta bersama pasangan lokal mereka. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa para responden memilih menjadi selfinitiated expatriate di Yogyakarta adalah untuk meraih kesempatan hidup yang lebih baik di Yogyakarta. Seiring proses akulturasi, mereka mengembangkan dua jenis coping yaitu mengadopsi budaya baru dan mempertahankan budaya asal. Mereka menggabungkan kedua nilai budaya dalam diri sehingga terjadi perubahan kognitif, perilaku dan sikap dan menjadi integrated self atau diri baru. Hasil penelitian lebih lanjut menemukan bahwa pemilihan variasi coping terhadap tekanan budaya yang ada dilakukan dengan menimbang kondisi, situasi, kebutuhan dan keinginan mereka.

Expatriation has become a phenomenon that can be found in many parts of the world as entering globalization era. Expatriation has been done not only by employees that were assigned by their company but also by individuals who choose to develop their capabilities by having cross cultures experiences and become a self-initiated expatriate. Cross cultures experienced as two different cultures had direct contact and lead to changes in one self is called psychological acculturation. There are many studies about self-initiated expatriates that were found in any other countries around the world but researcher haven’t found any study about psychological acculturation in Yogyakarta. The aim of this study was to find meaning and process of self-initiated expatriate psychological acculturation in Yogyakarta. This study used phenomenological qualitative approach to comprehend meaning of self-initiated expatriate psychological acculturation in Yogyakarta. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews with six self-initiated expatriates that has built a new life in Yogyakarta with their spouse. The research findings showed that respondents chose to be self-initiated expatriates in Yogyakarta to seize an opportunity of a better living in Yogyakarta. In acculturation process, they develop two kinds of coping, adopting new culture and maintaining original culture. They combined both cultures values in their selves that caused changes in their cognitive, behavior and attitude and became an integrated self as a result. Further findings showed that coping variation was selected by considering their condition, situation, needs and interests.

Kata Kunci : Self-initiated expatriate, budaya, akulturasi psikologis