akultuuratsioon

Akultuuratsioon, commonly known in English as acculturation, is the process by which individuals or groups from different cultures exchange cultural traits through sustained contact. It can involve language shift, changes in dietary practices, religious observance, values, social norms, and shifts in identity.

It occurs at both individual and group levels and is shaped by power dynamics, the duration of contact, voluntariness, and access to resources. Researchers often use Berry’s fourfold model—integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization—to describe different patterns of adapting to a host culture while retaining or relinquishing one’s original culture.

Outcomes vary. Positive effects include social integration and psychological well-being; negative effects can include acculturative stress, discrimination, and loss of heritage. Generational differences are common, with later generations often more integrated into the host society while maintaining varying degrees of cultural retention.

Contexts include migration, globalization, diaspora, colonization, and intercultural marriage. Contemporary research emphasizes bidirectional influence, recognizing that both host societies and immigrant communities adapt in response to contact. Measurements typically examine language proficiency, social participation, and self-identified cultural orientation, while ethical considerations address power dynamics and cultural preservation.

See also: acculturation, assimilation, integration, multiculturalism, bilingualism.