Acculturation

Definition
 Acculturation is a process in which members of
one cultural group adopt the beliefs and
behaviors of another group.
 acculturation is usually in the direction of a minority
group adopting habits and language patterns of the
dominant group.
 It can be reciprocal--that is, the dominant group also
adopts patterns typical of the minority group.
 It indicates cultural modification of an individual,
group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits
from another culture; also a merging of cultures as
a result of prolonged contact
 It is the process by which a human being acquires
the culture of a particular society from infancy
 Cont’d
 This term is used to describe both the process of
contacts between different cultures
 It involves either direct social interaction or
exposure to other cultures by means of the mass
media of communication.
 Acculturation refers to the assimilation by one
group of the culture of another which modifies the
existing culture and so changes group identity.
 Scholars Definitions
 The American Heritage ‘New Dictionary of Cultural
Literacy’, Third Edition,
Acculturation is the learning of the ideas, values, conventions,
and behavior that characterize a social group.
 Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008
Acculturation is the processes of change in artifacts,
customs, and beliefs that result from the contact of two or
more cultures.
 (Kottak 2007)
Acculturation is the exchange of cultural features that results
when groups of individuals having different cultures come
into continuous first hand contact; the original cultural
patterns of either or both groups may be altered, but the
groups remain distinct.
 Essential Conditions for Acculturation
Acculturation takes places between two groups of
people, even various groups in society, two
groups or sub-groups in a place or
geographical location. Two groups of people
must need in case of acculturation
 Both groups must have close and continuous
contact
 Both groups should have some similarity in their
cultural pattern
 Both groups should have similarity in their
objectives
 Causes of Acculturation
 Causes of Acculturation
 Pressure of ruler
 Adoption of modernity
 Rise in status
 Advantage for the group
 Self interests
 Under pressure

Moreover, acculturation occurs due to

 Social cognition
 Cultural competence
 Social identity
 Social dominance
 Social stigma