Acculturation

What does Acculturation mean in American Law?

The definition of Acculturation in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:

The process by which an individual, especially an infant, is brought to learn and internalize the characteristic beliefs and behavior patterns of his society.

The term is also used of groups which come into contact with other cultural groups, to describe their process of accommodation or assimilation.

Definition of Acculturation

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Acculturation: A process of cultural transformation initiated by contacts between different cultures. At a global level, acculturation takes place as societies experience the transforming impact of international cultural contact. The global trend towards modern economic organization and developed market economies has been accompanied by a process of cultural transformation. A key change is towards a transformation of economic organization, the great majority of individuals come to generate their income through employment or running businesses, rather than from economic bonds with family and community. In the modern world, there is great ease of international communication and interaction between cultures, but sociologists have generally focused attention on the global impact of the capitalist western world on other societies. While each society experiences a unique process of cultural and economic transformation, there are some common trends that appear to be linked to the development of complex market economies, a wage employment system and urbanization. Individuals experience acculturation when their social roles and socialization are shaped by norms and values that are largely foreign to their native culture. Educational and occupational experiences are the primary agents of the individual’s acculturation process. Some sociologists use the term to refer simply to the process of learning and absorbing a culture, making it synonymous with socialization, but ‘enculturation’ is a more appropriate word for that meaning. See: SOCIALIZATION in this legal dictionary and in the world encyclopedia of law.

Acculturation: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Acculturation. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada

Hierarchical Display of Acculturation

Social Questions > Culture and religion > Culture
Social Questions > Migration > Migration > Migration policy > Integration of migrants

Meaning of Acculturation

Overview and more information about Acculturation

For a more comprehensive understanding of Acculturation, see in the general part of the online platform.[rtbs name=”xxx-xxx”]

Resources

Translation of Acculturation

• Spanish: Aculturación
• French: Acculturation
• German: Akkulturation
• Italian: Acculturazione
• Portuguese: Aculturação
• Polish: Akulturacja

Thesaurus of Acculturation

Social Questions > Culture and religion > Culture > Acculturation
Social Questions > Migration > Migration > Migration policy > Integration of migrants > Acculturation

See also

• Integration of migrants