Acculturation

Acculturation refers to the process through which individuals or groups adopt and adapt to the cultural practices, norms, and values of another society, often as a result of prolonged contact. This process is common in contexts such as immigration, colonization, or globalization, where people are exposed to dominant or different cultures. Acculturation can involve changes in language, social behaviors, traditions, or identity. Sociologists differentiate acculturation from assimilation, as the former allows for retaining aspects of one’s original culture while adopting elements of the new one. Acculturation is studied to understand how cultural exchange influences social cohesion, identity formation, and power dynamics, particularly in multicultural societies. While it can foster cultural diversity, it also highlights challenges like cultural loss, marginalization, and the impact of unequal power relations.