Dr. Sussman studies the psychological changes that take place during temporary or permanent transitions to a new culture. This might include sojourners such as students studying in another country, expatriate business people, government officials, military personnel, or humanitarian workers. Or it might include immigrants, political exiles, or multinational individuals who move frequently between countries. Topics of particular interest include identity change, adaptation to the new culture, techniques and methods to facilitate cultural adaptation, motivation towards adaptation, cultural differences in social behavior, thought and nonverbal communication, and repatriation (or return to one’s home country).

Primary Interests:

Communication, Language
Culture and Ethnicity
Health Psychology
Nonverbal Behavior
Organizational Behavior
Self and Identity

Communication, Language
Culture and Ethnicity
Health Psychology

Nonverbal Behavior
Organizational Behavior
Self and Identity

Books:

Sussman, N.M. (2010). Return migration and identity: A global phenomenon, a Hong Kong case. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Journal Articles:

Altshuler, L., Sussman, N.M., & Kachur, E. (2003). Assessing changes in intercultural sensitivity among physician trainees using the intercultural development inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations.
Smith, S. H., Whitehead, G. I., & Sussman, N. M. (1990). The positivity bias in attributions: Two cross-cultural investigations. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 21, 283-301.
Smith, S. H., Whitehead, G. I., & Sussman, N. M. (1984). Perception of female and male success in the United States and Third World nations. Sex Roles, 10, 903-911.
Sussman, N.M. (2011). Working abroad and expatriate adjustment: Three disciplinary lenses for exploring the psychological transition cycle of international employees. Social and Personality Psychology Compass (online journal).
Sussman, N.M. (2002). Testing the cultural identity model of the cultural transition cycle: Sojourners return home. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 26(4), 391-408.
Sussman, N. M. (2001). Repatriation transitions: Pyschological preparedness, cultural identity, attributions among American managers. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25(2), 109-123.
Sussman, N. M. (2000). The dynamic nature of cultural identity throughout cultural transitions: Why home is not so sweet. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4, 355-373.
Sussman, N. M. (1986). Re-entry research and training: Methods and Implications. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 10, 235-254.
Sussman, N. M., & Rosenfeld, H. M. (1982). Influence of culture, language and sex on conversational distance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106, 215-225.
Sussman, N.M. & Truong, N. (2011). Please extinguish all cigarettes: Effects of acculturation and gender on smoking attitudes among Russian and Chinese immigrants. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35 (2), 163-178.
Sussman, N.M., Truong, N., & Lim, J. (2007) Who experiences ‘America the beautiful’? Ethnicity moderating the effect of acculturation on body image and risks for eating disorders among immigrant women. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 31 (1), 29-49.
Sussman, N. M., & Tyson, D. (2000). Sex and power: Gender differences in computer mediated interactions. Computers in Human Behavior, 16, 381-394.

Other Publications:

Sussman, N.M. (2007)Identity shifts as a consequence of crossing cultures: Hong Kong Chinese migrants return home. In K.B. Chan, J. Walls, & D. Hayward (eds.). East-West Identities: Globalization, localization, & hybridization. Pp. 121-147. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers.
Sussman, N. M. (1999). Taking your product into the Japanaese Market. In S. M. Fowler (Ed.), Inter-cultural Sourcebook: Cross-cultural training methods (Vol. 2). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.
Sussman, N. M. (1980). American social behavior: Sources of cross-cultural misunderstanding -- Videotape and training manual. Washington, DC: Meridian International.
Sussman, N.M. & Truong, N. (2010). Body image and eating disorders among immigrants. In V.R. Preedy, R.R. Watson, & C.R. Martin (Eds.) The International Handbook of Behavior, Food and Nutrition. London: Springer.

Courses Taught:

Cross-cultural Psychology
Introduction to Psychology
Psychological Research Methods
Psychology and Chinese Culture
Social Psychology

Cross-cultural Psychology
Introduction to Psychology
Psychological Research Methods

Psychology and Chinese Culture
Social Psychology

Nan M. Sussman
Department of Psychology
College of Staten Island, CUNY
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
United States

Phone: (718) 982-3763
Fax: (718) 982-4114