The role of psychologists in international migration research: Complementing other expertise and an interdisciplinary way forward

Seth Schwartz, Sophie Walsh, Colleen Ward, Eugene Tartakovsky, Robert Weisskirch, Paul Vedder, Elena Makarova, Anat Bardi, Dina Birman, Brit Oppedal, Maya Benish-Weisman, Elma Lorenzo-Blanco, Derya Gu¨ ngo¨ r, Gonneke Stevens, Veronica Benet-Martı´nez, Peter Titzmann, Rainer Silbereisen, Nicolas Geeraert

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Abstract

This research note addresses the current and potential future role of psychologists in the study of international migration. We review ways in which psychologists have contributed to the study of migration, as well as ways in which psychological scholarship could be integrated with work from other social science fields. Broadly, we discuss four major contributions that psychology brings to the study of international migration—studying migrants’ internal psychological experiences, incorporating a developmental perspective, conducting experimental studies, and integrating across levels of analysis. Given the position of psychology as a ‘hub science’ connecting more traditional social sciences with health and medical sciences, we argue for a more prominent role for psychologists within the study of international migration. Such a role is intended to complement the roles of other social scientists and to create a more interdisciplinary way forward for the field of migration studies. The research note concludes with an agenda for further scholarship on migration.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbermnz054
Pages (from-to)356–373
Number of pages18
JournalMigration Studies
Volume10
Issue number2
Early online date24 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Acculturation
  • well-being
  • Values

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