La psychologie interculturelle a montr� qu'il existait des rapports �troits entre le contexte culturel et le d�veloppement comportemental de l'individu. Cette relation �tablie, l'effort des recherches interculturelles a de plus en plus port� sur ce qu'il advenait des individus quand ils tentaient de refaire leur vie dans une culture diff�rente de leur culture d'origine. Les cons�quences psychologiques � long terme de ce processus d'acculturation sont tr�s variables, d�pendant de variables sociales et personnelles qui renvoient � la soci�t� de d�part, � la soci�t� d'accueil et � des ph�nom�nes qui existent avant, mais qui �mergent pendant la p�riode d'acculturation. Cet article esquisse un sch�ma conceptuel � partir duquel acculturation et adaptation peuvent ětre �tudi�es, puis pr�sente quelques conclusions et r�sultats g�n�raux tir�s d'un �chantillon de travaux empiriques. On envisage des applications possibles � la politique et aux programmes d'insertion en prenant en consid�ration les couts et les b�n�fices sociaux et psychologiques �manant de l'adoprion d'une orientation pluraliste et int�grationniste.

Cross‐cultural psychology has demonstrated important links between cultural context and individual behavioural development. Given this relationship, cross‐cultural research has increasingly investigated what happens to individuals who have developed in one cultural context when they attempt to re‐establish their lives in another one. The long‐term psychological consequences of this process of acculturation are highly variable, depending on social and personal variables that reside in the society of origin, the society of settlement. and phenomena that both exist prior to, and arise during, the course of acculturation. This article outlines a conceptual framework within which acculturation and adaptation can be investigated, and then presents some general findings and conclusions based on a sample of empirical studies. Applications to public policy and programmes are proposed. along with a consideration of the social and psychological costs and benefits of adopting a pluralist and integrationist orientation to these issues.