Final answer:
Assimilation refers to the process where a minority group or individual adopts the cultural traits of a dominant culture, such as language and customs, which often occurs in communities, schools, and in immigrant populations in new countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assimilation is the process by which a minority individual or group takes on the cultural characteristics of the dominant culture. This often involves adopting common practices, language, and behaviors to blend into a larger societal framework. It's a multifaceted social phenomenon that can occur in various contexts, such as within a community, sorority, fraternal organization, school, or among immigrants integrating into a new country.
Assimilation can lead to individuals sharing cultural elements like speech patterns, clothing trends, tastes in music, and hobbies with their peer group, thus molding their social identity. In educational settings, such as colleges or boarding schools, assimilation is part of the socialization process where students learn and adapt to new cultural behaviors and expectations.
In the United States, which has a rich history of immigration, assimilation has been a way for newcomers to become part of the broader American society, often by learning English, adopting American customs, and contributing to the 'melting pot' of diverse cultural influences that characterize the nation.