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Acculturation patterns of immigrants into American society have been examined through various disciplinary perspectives--anthropology, sociology, psychology, psychiatry, and, more recently, communications. Although acculturation is defined somewhat differently by different disciplines, it can be generally interpreted as the overall process of change that occurs as an immigrant engages in continuous first-hand contact with a new socio-cultural system. Review of literature on acculturation from the 1930s to the 1970s indicates that the multi-disciplinary approach has contributed richness and flexibility to the research. It has also, however, resulted in confusion based on noncomplementary viewpoints of the various disciplines. These conflicting views are the result of numerous factors including different definitions and conceptualizations of acculturation, ideologically-based conflicts, and disciplinary limitations. Acculturation scholars will improve their research if they make a concerted effort to synthesize the diverse perspectives and develop a unified comprehensive theory of acculturation. (Author/DB)

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert