ACCULTURATION AND
ENCULTURATION
SUBMITTED BY
LEKSHMI SANAL
SOCIAL SCIENCE
ROLL NO: 46

INTRODUCTION
Culture implies a varied set of intangible aspects i.e, features, norms
and knowledge, of a specific group of people in a society, including language,
beliefs, religious orientation, social heritage, dressing style, hygiene habits,
music cuisine etc. It is because of the culture we speak, behave, celebrate and
express in a specific way.
Enculturation refers to that learning process in which an individual
comes to know about the rules, customs, skills and values of the society. The
word Enculturation is commonly juxtaposed with “acculturation” which refers
to the modification of culture of an individual or group, due to the interaction
with other culture.

ENCULTURATION
Enculturation is the process by which a person adopts the behaviour
patterns of the culture he lives in. It is an essential requirement for survival. As
soon as an individual is born, he/she begins to acquire the culture around him,
with or without any influence.
It is a very first familiarisation process to a particular culture.
Enculturation is the acquisition of one’s own culture.
MEANING OF ENCULTURATION
The “en” prefix meaning enclose, encircle
It means reinforcing the basic values, norms of a culture.
ENCULTURATIONAND EDUC ATION
Education plays important role in Enculturation, as the process by which
individuals acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that enable them
to become functioning members of their societies.

NATURE AND IMPORTANCE
 Enculturation is the productof learning.
 Enculturation is not a static it is dynamic process.
 Enculturation takes place through conscious or unconscious mode.
 Enculturation begins before birth and continues until death.
EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATION
 Helps in adopting good values.
 It helps in understanding individuals and society.
 It helps in the adjustment of new environments
 It helps in developing international understanding, national integration.
 It helps in developing desirable culture in the persons belief and in
society.
ACCULTURATION
Acculturation means one cultural group adopting the practice of another
cultural group.
It is the exchange of cultural features that results when groups of
individuals having different cultures comes into continuous first hand contact
the original cultural patterns of either or both groups may be altered, but the
groups remain distinct.
It is not an essential phenomenon in life but occurs when two cultures meet
together. It is not an essential requirement for survival. It is not the first but

second or third familiarisation to various cultures. Acculturation is the
amalgamation of two cultures.
DEFINITION OF ACCULTURATION
 Acculturation means “A culture unit (an idea or value or pattern of
behaviour) that is passed from one person to another by non greater means
(as by imitation).
 Acculturation means the adoption of the behaviour patterns of the
surrounding culture.
NATURE OF ACCULTURATION
 Acculturation can be conceived to be the process of cultural learning
imposed upon minorities by the fact of being minorities.
 In enculturation is first culture learning then acculturation is second
culture learning.
 This has often been conceived to be a unidirectional, zero seen cultural
conflict in which the minorities culture is displaced by the dominant
group’s culture in a process.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCULTURATION
 Acculturation is a entails two way process of change research and theory
have contained with a focus on the adjustment and changes experienced
by minorities responseto their contact with dominant majorities.
 Acculturation is a unidirectional process.
 Acculturation is a second culture learning.
 Acculturation is the learning of appropriate behaviour of one’s host
culture.
MEANING OF ACCULTURATION
 The “ac”prefix meaning accept, access, a climate.
When the values and norms outside culture acquired.
EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
 Helps in selecting of culture and values.
 Helps in leading cooperation attitude and relationship with society.
 Development acquiring knowledge and skills.
 Helps in social adjustment and assimilation.
 Helps in self-awareness and personal growth also growth of society.
 Helps in acquiring new knowledge of new knowledge’s and language.

CONCLUSION
To sum up the discussion we can say that Enculturation is a
first culture learning process, wherein a person understands and internalise the
native culture. On the other hand, Acculturation is the second culture learning
process wherein an individual learns others cultures and modifies the culture
he/she practices.
Enculturation makes an individual aware of his roles, positions and
functions in society, conversely, Acculturation is important for easily adapting
oneself to the foreign environment. Due to this reason, Acculturation can be
seen among the people who are far from their native places.