Acculturation vs Assimilations

1. Acculturation
vs Assimilation

2. Acculturation
 Acculturation, in present days, is defined as
the process in which a person or group from
one culture comes in contact with another
culture, adopting the values and practices of
the other while still retaining their own distinct
identity.

3.  Acculturation is a process of social,
psychological, and cultural change that stems
from the balancing of two cultures while
adapting to the prevailing culture of the
society. Acculturation is a process in which an
individual adopts, acquires and adjusts to a
new cultural environment as a result of being
placed into a new culture, or when another
culture is brought to someone

4.  At this group level, acculturation often results
in changes to culture, religious practices,
health care, and other social institutions.
There are also significant ramifications on the
food, clothing, and language of those
becoming introduced to the overarching
culture.

5. Fourfold models
 The fourfold model is a bilinear model that
categorizes acculturation strategies along two
dimensions.

6.  Assimilation occurs when individuals adopt the cultural norms
of a dominant or host culture, over their original culture.
Sometimes it is forced by governments.
 Separation occurs when individuals reject the dominant or host
culture in favor of preserving their culture of origin. Separation is
often facilitated by immigration to ethnic enclaves.
 Integration occurs when individuals can adopt the cultural
norms of the dominant or host culture while maintaining their
culture of origin. Integration leads to, and is often synonymous
with biculturalism.
 Marginalization occurs when individuals reject both their culture
of origin and the dominant host culture.

8. Differences
Acculturation
 Acculturation refers to the
adaptation process that
occurs when two or more
cultures come into contact.
It most commonly happens
when migrants move to a
new culture, and involves
adopting new beliefs,
behaviors, and forms of
culture of the dominant
group in the new culture
Assimilation
 Assimilation is a more
extreme form of cultural
change and involves the
complete adoption of the
dominant culture as well
as the rejection of the
previous culture.
 Acculturation is voluntary
and can be reversible,
whereas assimilation is
more permanent and

9. Differences
Acculturation
 Acculturation is taking on
the customs of a larger
group, while retaining the
customs of the smaller
group. Blending two
cuisines together,
borrowing pieces of
clothing from another
culture, and living in a
bilingual home are all
examples of acculturation.
Assimilation
 An example of
assimilation is early
Americans imposing their
customs, religious
beliefs, and language on
Native Americans. As a
result, Native Americans
have largely lost their
original customs and
have taken on American
customs.

10. Differences
Acculturation
 Acculturation is
voluntary and can be
reversible
Assimilation
 Assimilation is more
permanent and
irreversible. It involves
adopting a complete
set of values, beliefs,
behaviors, and
customs from the
dominant culture.

11. Resistance to Cultural Change
 When people believe that their culture is
superior to other cultures, they tend to resist
any influence other cultures may bring. For
example, some people in the older generation
resist using technology because they believe
that life was better before cell phones and
computers.

12. Resistance to cultural change
 Individuals of a differing culture try to
incorporate themselves into the new more
prevalent culture by participating in aspects of
the more prevalent culture, such as their
traditions, but still hold onto their original
cultural values and traditions. The effects of
acculturation can be seen at multiple levels in
both the devotee of the prevailing culture and
those who are assimilating into the culture

13. Resistance to Cultural Change
 Cultural Lag. One aspect (especially technological) of culture
goes ahead of the others (especially social) due to fast
innovations in the former and thus the latter remains unadjusted.
See detail in the next chapter.
 Economic Factor. Economic factors may hinder in culture change
in the respect that one wants to live in modern building or buy an
automobile but cannot, due to insufficiency of economic
resources.
 Isolation. Geographical, religious or social factors may prevent
the people of a culture from being aware of “new” things.
 Punishment. Some of the changes are not encouraged by the
society and those who adopt are punished. Such changes are
usually against the cultural values.
 Difficulty in Learning. Some of the new changes may be difficult
for the people to understand, hence may not be adopted