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Draft:David Lackland Sam

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David Lackland Sam
A portrait of D.L. Sam
OccupationPsychology Professor
Education
Subject Cultural Psychology, Immigration, Acculturation, Health

David Lackland SAM is a Ghanaian-born Norwegian psychologist, and professor of cross-cultural psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway. David Lackland Sam is known for his work in acculturation psychology[1][2][3].

Early life and education[4]

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Born in Takoradi, Ghana, David Lackland Sam had a high school education at Mfantsipim, Cape Coast. Then he graduated with a B.Sc. (honors) in psychology at the University of Ghana. He migrated to Norway and completed a clinical psychology degree in 1989 at the University of Bergen. He worked briefly as a clinical psychologist and as a Research Assistant before returning to the University of Bergen for his PhD. He completed his PhD in 1995, and in 1996, as a post-doctoral researcher, he spent six months as a visiting scholar at the California State University in Los Angeles (CALSTATELA)  and another six months in 1997 as a Fulbright Scholar. During his period at CALSTATELA he proposed to the University of Bergen the need to teach Cross-cultural psychology as a field of study in the professional degree in psychology. This resulted in the university creating a shared professorship in cross-cultural psychology between the Department of Psychosocial Science, and the Centre for International Health.  

Professional Career

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David Lackland Sam was appointed associate professor in developmental psychology at the University of Bergen in 1998, and in 2000 as a professor of cross-cultural psychology[5], a position that is shared between the Department of Psychosocial Science (Faculty of Psychology) and Department of Global Public health and Primary Care (Medical Faculty). Sam was elected in 2024 as the president-elect of the International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology (IACCP)[6].  Sam has previously served as the European representative for the IACCP and the Deputy Secretary General of the IACCP.  He is a Fellow of the International Academy for Intercultural Relations (IAIR), where he is a past president of IAIR.

Sam teaches several courses including cross-cultural psychology, medical anthropology, cultural psychiatry, culture and social behaviour, and psychology of acculturation. His latest course is Global Psychology, which includes a 12-week practicum in Ghana for Norwegian students and is hosted by the University of Ghana. The rationale for the course is to sensitize the students to psychology in low-income countries, and what it entails working with people of different cultural backgrounds.  

Research and publications

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Sam’s research interests include the psychology of acculturation and the role of culture in health. Sam has published extensively on young immigrants’ psychological adaptation in general, and from a cross-cultural comparative perspective. Sam was co-editor of two books on acculturation (in 2006), and a co-author of the 3rd edition of Cross-cultural Psychology: Research and Applications, published by Cambridge University Press[7], in 2011. His 2016 book, the 2nd Edition of the Cambridge Handbook of Acculturation Psychology[8], received the 2017 Outstanding Book Award from the International Academy for Intercultural Research (IAIR)[9]. He co-edited with John W. Berry the 4-volume anthology on Cross-cultural psychology, published in 2018 by Routledge.  Sam is among the most cited scholars in the field of acculturation[10].  

David Lackland Sam has made significant contributions to cross-cultural psychology and the psychology of acculturation. Some of his notable research findings include:

  1. Acculturation Strategies[11][12] – Sam’s work has explored different acculturation strategies adopted by individuals when navigating cultural transitions. He has investigated how people balance maintaining their heritage culture while adapting to the host culture. His research highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between cultural identity, adaptation, and psychological well-being.
  2. Health Disparities[13] – Sam has examined health disparities among ethnic and cultural groups. His research sheds light on how cultural factors influence health behaviors, access to healthcare, and overall health outcomes. By identifying these disparities, he contributes to the development of culturally sensitive interventions and policies.
  3. Ethnic Identity Development[14] – Sams studies delve into ethnic identity development across different cultural contexts. He explores how individuals construct their sense of self based on cultural affiliations, and how this process impacts their psychological well-being and social interactions.
  4. Parenting Practices[15] – Sam has investigated parenting practices in multicultural families. His research examines how parents from diverse backgrounds adapt their parenting styles, discipline methods, and communication patterns. Understanding these dynamics helps inform parenting programs and support services.
  5. Psychological Adaptation of Immigrants and Refugees[16][17]  -- Sam’s  work emphasizes the psychological challenges faced by immigrants and refugees during acculturation. He examines factors such as discrimination, social support, and coping strategies. His findings contribute to a better understanding of resilience and mental health outcomes in these populations.

Academic Projects

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Ongoing

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PANPREP (Pandemic Preparedness in Higher Education)[18]

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PANPREP is a research initiative supported by the University of Bergen's medical faculty, focusing on the readiness of universities in Ghana, Norway, South Africa, and Uganda to manage future pandemics. The project draws on experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic to assess how socio-economic disparities, particularly the digital divide, have influenced academic continuity and the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. By conducting surveys, interviews, and focus groups across these four countries, the study aims to understand how digitalization and preventive measures impacted these groups and to evaluate their preparedness to ensure minimal disruption to academic activities during future health crises.

Past Projects

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DIMA (Determinants of Inclusive Migrant Integration)[19]

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Funded by EEA, DIMA is a project that focuses on the integration process of the Russian speaking immigrants in Norway and Estonia. The project explores what can affect this process on both societal and psychological levels through a comprehensive data collection.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT[20]

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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT is a comparative project that seeks to understand political engagement and behavior of the university youth in Kenya and Ghana. It aroused from the political atmosphere difference between Kenya which had a violent atmosphere and Ghana which had a peaceful one, in the context of post-elections.

C-BULLY[21]

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C-BULLY has the aim of understanding the underlying dynamics of cyberbullying within the youth in Ghana. Its main focuses are the psychological health of the victims, and the possible individual and cultural reasons of cyberbullying that results in its emergence and continuation.

References

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  1. ^ Handbook of cross-cultural psychology. 3: Social behavior and applications (2. ed., [Nachdr.] ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1998. ISBN 978-0-205-16076-1.
  2. ^ Sam, David L.; Berry, John W. (July 2010). "Acculturation: When Individuals and Groups of Different Cultural Backgrounds Meet". Perspectives on Psychological Science. 5 (4): 472–481. doi:10.1177/1745691610373075. ISSN 1745-6916. PMID 26162193.
  3. ^ Berry, John W.; Phinney, Jean S.; Sam, David L.; Vedder, Paul (July 2006). "Immigrant Youth: Acculturation, Identity, and Adaptation". Applied Psychology. 55 (3): 303–332. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2006.00256.x. ISSN 0269-994X.
  4. ^ "David Lackland Sam | University of Bergen". www4.uib.no. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  5. ^ "David Lackland Sam | University of Bergen". www4.uib.no. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  6. ^ "About Us". International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  7. ^ Berry, John W., ed. (2011). Cross-cultural psychology: research and applications (3rd ed.). Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-76212-0. OCLC 663441288.
  8. ^ Sam, David L.; Berry, John W., eds. (2016). The Cambridge Handbook of Acculturation Psychology. Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology (2 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/cbo9781316219218. ISBN 978-1-107-10399-3.
  9. ^ "Outstanding Book". www.intercultural-academy.net. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  10. ^ "Profiler". scholar.google.no. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  11. ^ Berry, John W.; Phinney, Jean S.; Sam, David L.; Vedder, Paul (July 2006). "Immigrant Youth: Acculturation, Identity, and Adaptation". Applied Psychology. 55 (3): 303–332. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2006.00256.x. ISSN 0269-994X.
  12. ^ Sam, David L.; Berry, John W. (July 2010). "Acculturation: When Individuals and Groups of Different Cultural Backgrounds Meet". Perspectives on Psychological Science. 5 (4): 472–481. doi:10.1177/1745691610373075. ISSN 1745-6916. PMID 26162193.
  13. ^ Sam, David L.; Berry, John W., eds. (2016). The Cambridge handbook of acculturation psychology. Cambridge handbooks in psychology (Second ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-10399-3.
  14. ^ Kunst, Jonas R.; Tajamal, Hajra; Sam, David L.; Ulleberg, Pål (2012-07-01). "Coping with Islamophobia: The effects of religious stigma on Muslim minorities' identity formation". International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 36 (4): 518–532. doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.12.014. ISSN 0147-1767.
  15. ^ Sam, David Lackland (May 1995). "Acculturation Attitudes among Young Immigrants as a Function of Perceived Parental Attitudes toward Cultural Change". The Journal of Early Adolescence. 15 (2): 238–258. doi:10.1177/0272431695015002004. ISSN 0272-4316.
  16. ^ Sam, David Lackland (2000-02-01). "Psychological Adaptation of Adolescents With Immigrant Backgrounds". The Journal of Social Psychology. 140 (1): 5–25. doi:10.1080/00224540009600442. ISSN 0022-4545.
  17. ^ Sam, David L.; Vedder, Paul; Liebkind, Karmela; Neto, Felix; Virta, Erkki (March 2008). "Immigration, acculturation and the paradox of adaptation in Europe". European Journal of Developmental Psychology. 5 (2): 138–158. doi:10.1080/17405620701563348. ISSN 1740-5629.
  18. ^ "PANPREP – Pandemic Preparedness and Academic Continuity". University of Bergen. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  19. ^ "DIMA – Determinants of inclusive Migrant integration". University of Bergen. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  20. ^ "David Lackland Sam | University of Bergen". www4.uib.no. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  21. ^ "David Lackland Sam | University of Bergen". www4.uib.no. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
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