Cultural changes that occur when one culture comes into contact with another are referred to as

Enculturation refers to that learning process in which an individual comes to know about the rules, customs, skills and values of the society. The word enculturation is commonly juxtaposed with ‘acculturation‘ which refers to the modification of culture of an individual or group, due to the interaction with other culture.

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Content: Enculturation Vs Acculturation
Comparison Chart
Definition of Enculturation
Definition of Acculturation

We all know that it is because of the culture we speak, behave, celebrate and express in a specific way. Culture implies a varied set of intangible aspects i.e. features, norms and knowledge, of a specific group of people in a society, including language, beliefs, religious orientation, social heritage, dressing style, hygiene habits, music, cuisine, etc.

An individual adopts culture by way of enculturation or socialization. Socialization indicates the process incorporating the norms and beliefs of the society in one’s life. In this article excerpt, we are going to talk about the differences between enculturation and acculturation.

Content: Enculturation Vs Acculturation

Comparison Chart
Definition
Key Differences
Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Enculturation	Acculturation
Meaning	Enculturation means the process of acquiring the rules, norms, values, customs and guidelines of a culture in order to be a part of society.	Acculturation implies the process of transforming the cultural beliefs and customs of one's own culture, by adopting traits of a different culture.
What is it?	First and foremost familiarization process to the culture.	Subsequent familiarization with different cultures.
Process	Process of acquiring culture.	Process in which one's culture is subsumed in other's culture.
Culture	One culture	Two or more cultures
Essential for survival	Yes	No
Modification	It does not modify the existing cultural practices.	It modifies the existing cultural practice.
Results in assimilation	No	Yes

Definition of Enculturation

Enculturation can be defined as the process of learning with the help of which an individual grasps the rules, norms, and values of a particular culture or society of which he/she is a part of. It is what we pick from our external surrounding, to develop ourselves as a part of that surrounding, i.e. to mix perfectly.

In other words, it means the learning and acceptance of characteristics, behaviours, language, rituals, morals and patterns of the culture surrounding us from one generation to another. Here, learning means understanding and acquiring the traditional content of the culture observing the other members of the society, such as parents, family, teachers, friends, acquaintances, relatives, etc., getting instructions from elders, and experiencing things as they take place.

In enculturation the established or prevailing culture influences and teaches the individual or group about the culture to such a level that the target inculcates the cultural norms, values and behaviours. Further, he/she is accepted as a functional member of the society who performs his/her functions and roles in the group.

To be specific, the target will have complete knowledge of what is considered acceptable or not acceptable by society and he would turn as a responsible adult member of the society.

Definition of Acculturation

Acculturation simply means an adjustment to a different culture, usually the dominant or powerful one. It refers to the cultural transformation of an individual or a group to adapt according to another culture. In finer terms, acculturation means the cultural contact and interchange process wherein a human being adopts, learns and adjust to some or great extent as per the values, rules, patterns and practices of a new or prevailing culture in the society, which is not their native culture.

Acculturation is primarily found amongst the people who migrate from different countries, who try to incorporate the new culture in their lives. It takes place when people belong to different culture comes into contact with one another, wherein the people adopt traits of a new culture or take part in another culture.

Nevertheless, it is a process of extensive cultural borrowing, between the superordinate and subordinate cultures. The borrowing can be two-way, but usually the less powerful culture borrows traits from the more powerful one.

Further, when acculturation continues for a very long period it turns out as assimilation, wherein the original or native culture of the person or group is forsaken and the new culture comes into being. However, acculturation may also result in separation, integration, marginalization or transmutation apart from assimilation.

The difference between enculturation and acculturation can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:

Enculturation is the culture learning process in which an individual comes to know about ṭhe rules, values and behavioural patterns of his/her own native culture. Conversely, acculturation refers to a process of cultural learning wherein the members of a particular cultural group get influenced by another culture, by coming in contact with it and adopts it to some or great extent.
Enculturation is the first and foremost introduction of a person to the culture, which takes place just after birth. In contrast, acculturation is the subsequent familiarization with different cultures.
In enculturation, a person learns or acquires one’s own culture, to which he/she belongs. On the contrary, in acculturation, one’s culture is subsumed by another culture.
Enculturation contains only one culture, whereas two or more culture is there in acculturation.
Enculturation is an essential requirement for an individual to survive in a society, which occurs without any influence. As against, acculturation is not a must, for the survival, but one can learn other’s culture when required.
Enculturation does not lead to a modification in the existing culture. On the other hand, in the case of acculturation transformation in one’s culture or amalgamation of two or more cultures is seen.
In the case of enculturation, there is no risk of assimilation, whereas if acculturation continues for a prolonged period, then it results in assimilation.

Conclusion

To sum up the discussion, we can say that enculturation is a first culture learning process, wherein a person understands and internalizes the native culture. On the other hand, acculturation is the second culture learning process wherein an individual learns other’s cultures and modifies the culture he/she practices.

Enculturation makes an individual aware of his roles, position and functions in society. Conversely, Acculturation is important for easily adapting oneself to the foreign environment. Due to this reason, acculturation can be seen among the people who are far from their native places.

One of the characteristics of culture is that it is dynamic. It is always changing. New objects are added to material culture every day, and they affect nonmaterial culture as well. Cultures change when something new (say, railroads or smartphones) opens up new ways of living and when new ideas enter a culture (say, as a result of travel or globalization). We are living in a world where globalization has increased the speed that our cultures are changing. In addition to globalization, there are three main mechanisms of cultural change: diffusion, independent invention, and acculturation.

Americans travel overseas and return with a new appreciation of Thai noodles or Italian gelato. Television and the Internet introduce individuals to the lifestyles and values of different cultures around the world. Twitter feeds from public demonstrations in one nation have encouraged political protesters in another. This kind of transfer of material objects and ideas from one culture to another is called diffusion. Diffusion is the borrowing of cultural traits between cultures, either directly or through intermediaries (Kottak 2012). Direct diffusion occurs when two cultural groups interact with each other directly, such as in trade, tourism, and even during times of war. Indirect diffusion is when cultural objects and traits move to one culture to another through a "third-party", with no first-hand contact between the two cultural groups. Finally, forced diffusion is what it sounds like. A dominant cultural group imposes its beliefs and values on another subjugated group, such as colonialism. With all the advances in technology, mass media, and the Internet, must cultural borrowing is the result of indirect diffusion.

Definition: diffusion

The borrowing of cultural traits between cultures, either directly or through intermediaries.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Diffusion
Image 1: Black Lives Matter, Downtown Baltimore, 2016, John Lucia by John Lucia under CC BY 2.0.
Image 2: Black Lives Matter - Melbourne (Australia) Rally, 2020, by Matt Hrkac under CC BY 2.0.
Image 3: Black Lives Matter Paris, 2020, by Bastian Greshake Tzovaras under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Image 4: Political Banner "Black Lives Matter", Berlin, Germany, 2020, by Levin Holtkamp under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Independent invention is "the process by which humans innovate, creatively finding solutions to problems" (Kottak 2012, p. 34). One famous example is the development of agriculture in both the Middle-East and Mesoamerica. Likewise, we see pyramid-like structures in both the Middle East as well as North, Central, and South America. Remember, culture is an integrated whole, when there is a change in one area it affects other areas within that culture. The development of agriculture caused other changes such as social and political organizations, religions, and economic systems. As discussed earlier in this chapter, independent invention is one reason for cultural generalities when different cultural groups find similar solutions to similar problems.

Definition: independent invention

The process by which humans innovate, creatively finding solutions to problems

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Independent Invention
Image 1: The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, 2006, by Ricardo Liberato under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Image 2: Teotihuacan, Pyramid of the Moon, 2015, by Arian Zwegers under CC BY 2.0.
Image 3: Aerial view of Cahokia Mounds State Park under Public Domain.

Finally, change as a result of an ongoing exchange of cultural traits between groups that have continuous first-hand contact is referred to as acculturation (Kottak 2012). Although both groups may experience change as a part of their contact with each other, they remain two distinct cultural groups. Pidgin, which is a mixed language that results when two cultures have regular interaction is one example. Other examples would be Tex-Mex food, music, dance, clothing, and technology. Acculturation will be discussed more in the chapter on Race and Ethnicity.

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): A Mix of Culture
Image: Tex-Mex Nachos, 2018, by Kurt Kaiser under CC0 1.0.

Definition: acculturation

An ongoing exchange of cultural traits between groups that have continuous first-hand contact; both groups experience change while remaining two distinct groups.

The integration of world markets and technological advances of the last decades have allowed for greater exchange between cultures through the processes of globalization. Beginning in the 1980s, Western governments began to deregulate social services while granting greater liberties to private businesses. As a result, world markets became dominated by multinational companies, a new state of affairs at that time. We have since come to refer to this integration of international trade and finance markets as globalization. Increased communications and air travel have further opened doors for international business relations, facilitating the flow not only of goods but also of information and people as well (Scheuerman 2014). Globalization will be covered in more detail in a later chapter of this book.

Definition: globalization

A series of processes that work trans-nationally to promote change in a world in which nations and people are increasingly interlinked and mutually dependent (Kottak 2012 p. 34).

Though technology continues to impact changes in society, culture does not always change at the same pace. Often there is a delay when integrating a new feature into the rest of the culture. Why? Because often other elements of the culture have to change to meet or maintain the needs of the new cultural trait or feature. The automobile is a good example of an invention that took some time to become a part of the mainstream culture. People had to be persuaded that the automobile was a better form of transportation, roads had to be constructed, a way to procure fuel needed to be developed, mechanics were needed to fix cars, efficient production of cars had to be developed, safety concerns needed to be addressed as well as rules of the road, and numerous other elements had to catch up with the invention of the automobile.

Material culture tends to be adopted more quickly than nonmaterial culture; technology can spread through society in a matter of months, but it can take generations for the ideas and beliefs of society to change. Sociologist William F. Ogburn coined the term culture lag to refer to this time that elapses between the introduction of a new item of material culture and its acceptance as part of the nonmaterial culture (Ogburn 1957). People are usually open to adapt or try new objects and inventions before modifying their values, beliefs, norms, expressive symbols, or practices. In other words, influencing fashion trends is easier than altering people’s religious beliefs.

Definition: culture lag

The time that elapses between the introduction of a new item of material culture and its acceptance as part of the nonmaterial culture.

Kottak, Conrad P. Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. New York, N.Y: McGraw-Hill, 2012.

Ogburn, William F. “Cultural Lag as Theory.” Sociology & Social Research 41(3):167–174, 1957.

Scheuerman, William. 2010. “Globalization.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by E. N. Revised 2014. Zalta, Summer. Retrieved February 10, 2012 (http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2010/entries/globalization/).