Between Worlds : An Exploration of Cultural Identity Development of Third Culture Kids

Abstract: This thesis aims to understand and explore how the experience of adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs) – individuals who live abroad outside of their parents' passport country in their developmental years – impacted the development of their cultural identity. Child migrants on a global level are increasing in the modern context, and not enough literature has focused on exploring the impact a highly mobile and transient upbringing has on children. Therefore, this study presents a social science insight into how the impact of growing as a TCK impacts one's cultural identity construction, sense of belonging, and relation to place. Six interviews were conducted with adult TCKs and analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Results showed that the cultural identity of the adult TCKs was more complex to explore and understand primarily due to their unique base where they had the opportunity to get a wide range of exposure to opinions, perspectives, people, and cultures. Additionally, third culture communities are the environment that mould the TCKs' relation to culture and concepts of belonging and home. Most interviewees showed signs of early maturity regarding their value system, and perspective on life, both of which comprise their cultural identity. This is argued to be principally due to their exposure at a young age to an intricate web of actors, social cues, and different contextual environments. Lastly, given the sample groups' transient upbringing, they perceive that their relation to physical places is weak, resulting in continual revising of their identity and a strong connection to relational bonds. Potentially, TCKs have a paradigm that is distinctive as their conceptualisation of home, belonging, culture, and identity are developed in transient, diverse, and dynamic environments. The study provides valuable understanding on the TCK experience and its impact on cultural identity construction and relation to place. It contributes empirically and theoretically to the field of migration studies, child migrants and to underlining implications of being young and internationally mobile.