Acculturation is a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group. Although acculturation is usually in the direction of a minority group adopting habits and language patterns of the dominant group, acculturation can be reciprocal--that is, the dominant group also adopts patterns typical of the minority group. Assimilation of one cultural group into another may be evidenced by changes in language preference, adoption of common attitudes and values, members hip in common social groups and institutions, and loss of separate political or ethnic identification.
Definition
Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.
Acculturation: the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture; all the knowledge and values shared by a society; the process of... more?
Characteristics
- It is a process.
- Adopting the cultural traits
- Knowledge and values shared by a society
Measurement
The
most comprehensive measure of acculturation for use in health services
and epidemiological research in Mexican-American populations was
developed by Hazuda et al. (1988). Hazuda's scales are based on a
theoretical model that views acculturation as a multi-dimensional
process involving language, cultural beliefs and values and "structural
assimilation,"--the integration of members of the minority group into
the social structure of the majority group. The following are the items
included in Hazuda's a cculturation scales.
- Items in the Final Acculturation
- Structural Assimilation Scales: