Definitions
- Referring to the process of adapting to a new culture while still retaining aspects of one's own culture. - Talking about the gradual process of learning and adopting the customs, values, and beliefs of a new culture. - Describing the experience of becoming familiar with and comfortable in a new cultural environment.
- Referring to the process of fully integrating into a new culture and adopting its customs, values, and beliefs. - Talking about the experience of becoming indistinguishable from the dominant culture and losing aspects of one's own culture. - Describing the pressure to conform to the norms and expectations of a new cultural environment.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to the process of adapting to a new culture.
- 2Both involve learning and adopting new customs, values, and beliefs.
- 3Both can be challenging experiences.
- 4Both can lead to changes in one's identity and sense of self.
What is the difference?
- 1Degree of change: Acculturation involves adapting to a new culture while still retaining aspects of one's own culture, while assimilation involves fully integrating into a new culture and adopting its customs, values, and beliefs.
- 2Attitude towards original culture: Acculturation allows for the retention of one's own culture, while assimilation may involve losing aspects of one's original culture.
- 3Pressure to conform: Assimilation may involve more pressure to conform to the norms and expectations of the dominant culture, while acculturation allows for more flexibility and adaptation.
- 4Cultural exchange: Acculturation emphasizes a two-way exchange of cultural knowledge and practices, while assimilation may involve a one-way adoption of the dominant culture.
- 5Connotation: Acculturation has a more positive connotation of cultural exchange and adaptation, while assimilation can have a negative connotation of loss of cultural identity and forced conformity.
Remember this!
Acculturate and assimilate both refer to the process of adapting to a new culture. However, the difference between the two is the degree of change involved. Acculturation involves adapting to a new culture while still retaining aspects of one's own culture, while assimilation involves fully integrating into a new culture and adopting its customs, values, and beliefs. Additionally, acculturation emphasizes a two-way exchange of cultural knowledge and practices, while assimilation may involve a one-way adoption of the dominant culture.
