ABSTRACT
In undertaking a research project to describe and define complex acculturation as a possible construct within acculturation theory, the author had to determine the scope of the research to be conducted. Following A. Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method, the author's phenomenological reduction of the data and subsequent analysis of the meaning units, groups, and subgroups of meaning units, revealed four distinct stages to a complex acculturation experience. The initial stage of the complex acculturation experience starts when the United Nations Police (UNPOL) officer arrives in the mission, and is assigned to a unit. The decision to engage in cultural socialization is indicative of the UNPOL officer's decision to engage with his or her new colleagues, and to learn about their cultures. Working with people from their own nation, UNPOL officers who enter national compartmentalization establish a work environment that is heavily skewed culturally toward the UNPOL officer's own heritage culture.
