@tckglobal
for people who give up living between cultures. the ones who belong everywhere & nowhere.
you've probably heard of 'third culture kids' aka: TCK
“TCK” became the most popular term because it was the first widely defined, clearly structured framework for children growing up between cultures, and it spread quickly through international schools, missionary, and expat communities as a simple, shared identity label.
A cross-cultural person is someone who has meaningfully lived in, moved between, or been shaped by two or more cultures, and who develops an identity that is formed between those cultures rather than belonging fully to just one.
You grew up between worlds. There are 7 cross culture types. This quiz helps you figure out exactly which type - and you might be more than one. Based on the research of Ruth Van Reken. Takes 90 seconds.
Wait, but what if I moved abroad when I was 18+ and stayed outside of my passport country for longer than I've lived there?
In the original framework: A TCK is someone who spent a meaningful part of childhood/adolescence (roughly before 18) living across cultures and had identity shaped during development.
Meaning: If you moved as an adult, you'd academically be considered cross-cultural or expatriate, not a TCK.
The grey area: If you moved at, say, 16–18+ and spent formative years abroad, you're loosely included in TCK discussions.
But if the move happened after identity was largely formed (late teens/adulthood), the experience is cross-cultural adaptation rather than TCK identity formation.
In short: Adulthood movers can be cross-cultural, but TCK specifically refers to formative childhood cultural movement.
Also: If you grew up a third culture kid and you're an adult now. You're what's called an ATCK (adult third culture kid). aka: A tck all grown up!
Contribute to TCK/CCK Research
There is not enough research on the cross culture & third culture upbringing. There are more researchers studying the field. Help them out by participating in their studies. Most forms only take 120 seconds. Help a researcher out.
wanna leverage your cross culture experience?
download the mental toolkit👇🏽
wanna leverage your cross culture experience?
download the mental toolkit👇🏽