Enculturation

The Enculturation Process

Enculturation is a lifelong process that begins at birth and is learned through the established culture. Parents, significant figures, support systems, and the media, among others, influence the enculturation process by encouraging children to [Page 509]engage in repetitive activities that reflect social and cultural norms. Additionally, observation, interpretation, and engaging in such experiences reinforce particular behaviors and add significantly to the development of an individual’s culturally acceptable worldview. Successful enculturation results in competent, culturally integrated and productive members of society.

Enculturation is sometimes used interchangeably with acculturation. While both represent cultural socialization processes, there are unique differences between the two terms. To begin with, enculturation is first culture learning or how one acquires culture; acculturation is second culture learning, where one who already has a native culture adopts the patterns of a second culture. Additionally, enculturation is one directional, as it focuses on the culture a person is born into; acculturation is bidirectional, as it involves the blending of two or more cultures, with both influencing each other. Next, enculturation takes shape beginning with birth; acculturation is a process that begins at different points in an individual’s life and may be necessary for better cultural adaptation. Furthermore, in enculturation, the individual is exposed to only his/her native culture and uses it as the standard for all things cultural. With acculturation, the first culture is subsumed under a second; the second culture becomes more salient, and the first culture may become almost nonexistent. Further, enculturation focuses on cultural continuity and transmission to new generations. With acculturation, cultural change is the desired goal. The individual often rejects his/her original culture in favor of the second one or blends both for survival. In sum, enculturation is the process by which an individual learns his/her culture; acculturation is the process of change by which an individual adopts the patterns of another culture, thereby modifying his/her original culture and merging two cultures together.

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