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What is the major difference between enculturation and acculturation?

a) Both terms refer to the same process.
b) Enculturation involves learning one's own culture, while acculturation involves learning a new culture.
c) Acculturation is irrelevant in cultural studies.
d) Enculturation is a modern concept, while acculturation is traditional.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The major difference between enculturation and acculturation is that enculturation is the process of learning one's own culture, while acculturation is the adaptation to a new culture. Enculturation is often natural and reinforced by institutions, whereas acculturation requires adapting and adopting aspects of another culture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major difference between enculturation and acculturation is: b) Enculturation involves learning one's own culture, while acculturation involves learning a new culture. Enculturation is a process where individuals learn the norms, values, language, and behaviors that are necessary for them to operate within their own culture. It often occurs naturally as people grow up within their cultural context and is reinforced by family, education, and local institutions.

On the other hand, acculturation refers to the process of adapting to and adopting aspects of another culture, which can occur when individuals come into contact with a different culture through travel, migration, or globalization. This process often requires more conscious effort and occurs when a person integrates elements from a new culture into their way of living, potentially while retaining some aspects of their original culture. Acculturation can sometimes lead to assimilation, where individuals fully adopt the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture, diminishing the influence of their original culture.

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