akkulturation

Akkulturation is the process by which individuals or groups undergo changes in culture as a result of prolonged contact with another culture. It encompasses shifts in language, values, norms, behaviors, and social identities that occur as people adapt to new cultural environments.

The process can be bidirectional; aspects of both the originating and host cultures may be retained, modified, or abandoned. It often involves language shift or bilingualism, changes in family and social practices, and redefined group memberships.

The theoretical framework commonly cited is Berry's acculturation model, which identifies four potential outcomes: integration (maintaining original culture while participating in the host society), assimilation (adopting the host culture and reducing ties to the original), separation (retaining original culture and avoiding contact with the host culture), and marginalization (loss of both cultural references).

Factors shaping akkulturation include length and voluntary nature of contact, age at arrival, economic opportunities, discrimination, language distance, and the presence of supportive networks. Host-society policies, such as multiculturalism or assimilationist approaches, also influence trajectories.

Outcomes of akkulturation vary; individuals may experience acculturative stress or enhanced well-being, depending on circumstances. Benefits can include broader social capital, access to resources, and bilingual competence, while risks include identity conflict and mental health challenges if adaptation is stressful or unsupported.

Research methods combine qualitative interviews and quantitative measures to assess acculturation attitudes, language use, and social integration. The concept is used across anthropology, sociology, psychology, and migration studies and applies to immigrants, refugees, and other groups in intercultural contact.