Psychological Aspects of Cultural Pluralism: Unity and Identity Reconsidered.

This paper is a plea for the recognition of the psychological and cultural value of pluralism in a nation. Government policies often discourage cultural pluralism in an attempt to promote national unity, but these policies suppress the individual's need for identity. Group interaction in complex societies may be divided into eight categories: (1) integration or democratic pluralism; (2) paternal integration or inclusive segregation; (3) rejection or self-segregation; (4) exclusive segregation; (5) voluntary assimilation; (6) involuntary assimilation; (7) marginality or segregation of a small group; and (8) deculturation, where apathy or withdrawal negate any cultural characteristics. Canadian government policy promotes the first of these patterns, integration or democratic pluralism. Biculturalism and bilingualism are recognized; cultural pluralism is supported and assimilation discouraged. Thus identity and unity both are maintained. (CK)