Topic 3 DQ 2
There is always a confusion between culture, ethnicity, and acculturation. Culture can be defined as the characteristics, traits, norms, and beliefs of social, religious, or racial groups that are in common and they can be used collectively to describe the specific population group. It also includes material objects that are common to the group and its’s important in creating boundaries and the generally accepted behaviors in the group (Bell, 2015).
Ethnicity on the other hand refers to a shared way of life and culture. It consists of a common language, religion, and history. It can also include physical traits, religious affiliation, claimed kinship, past linguistic heritage passed from one generation to another.
Lastly, acculturation refers to cultural contact and exchange process; it causes social changes and psychological transformation, which results in adapting to the belief, values norms, and practices of another culture which is the majority. Other culture’s beliefs, ideas, and norms may be adapted at the group level. The three terms are interrelated in understanding the identity of a person.
Ethnicity and culture are related in that ethnicity shares a similar cultural background and cultural values can be predicted by the ethnic identity of a person. People can have different cultures but similar ethnicity. (Desmet, Ortuño-Ortín, & Wacziarg, 2017) Culture is inherited from other people such as character traits, social forms, and beliefs while ethnicity is more inclined to common ancestry, nationality, and heritage. When culture and the ethnic identity of a person are influenced and transformed, then the process of identity evolution happens. An individual has to adapt to a new culture This is triggered by the realization that some norms, beliefs, and values of the society are conflicting with his own hence adapting to new cultural beliefs and behaviors.
In summary, within a culturally diverse nation, there are different ethnic groups of different sizes when these ethnic groups are influenced by elements of another culture but maintain their original meaning hence the acculturation process. Ethnic identity helps in predicting cultural values and has three dimensions namely, ethnic origin, intensity, and ethnic identity.
Compare and contrast culture, ethnicity, and acculturation.
Using 200-300 words APA format with at least two references. Sources must be published within the last 5 years
