TSL1044 LANGUAGE, CULTURE

AND SOCIETY

Topic 2: Cultural Change

Diffusion, assimilation, acculturation
Culture loss and maintenance
what is cultural change?
Horton & Hunt: changes in the culture of society
Kingsley Davis: cultural changes embarrasses occurring
in any branch of culture including art, science, technology,
philosophy etc. as well as changes in the forms and rules
of social organization
David Dressler and Donald Caens: It is the modification
or discontinuance of existing tried and tested
procedures transmitted to us from the culture of the past,
as well as the introduction for new procedures
How Culture Traits Are Spread
Migration movement of people
War the winners may force their traits on the losers
Trade the exchange of goods and ideas
Technology Internet, cellphone fax, email, telephone, TV
causes of cultural changes
environment ~acculturation / assimilation
the taking on (replacement) of the traits of one culture
with those of another
Inventions ~diffusion
the process of creating new cultural elements the
telephone, the airplane and the computer
contact with other cultures ~diffusion
the spread of cultural traits from one society to
another
Assimilation vs. Acculturation
Acculturation
or Assimilation
Assimilation vs. Acculturation

Assimilation, in anthropology and sociology, the process

whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are
absorbed into the dominant culture of a society. The process
of assimilating involves taking on the traits of the dominant
culture to such a degree that the assimilating group becomes
socially indistinguishable from other members of the society.
As such, assimilation is the most extreme form
of acculturation.
contd.

Acculturation: to move towards a culture

First defined as culture change resulting from contact
between two autonomous cultural groups
Immigrants, refugees, colonized

Where is the heart of the change?

Dominant group or non-dominant group?
 Acculturation outcomes
Healthy immigrant phenomenon
Acculturation may lead to some negative consequences

Burnam et al. (1987) study of acculturation of 1245 Mexican Americans in

L.A.
Younger immigrants acculturated faster

Males acculturated faster

More educated acculturated faster (accounts for sex difference but not age)

Less acculturated individuals report less prevalence of alcohol and drug

abuse, phobia, antisocial personality (Epidemiological Catchment Area
study of rates of psychopathology in US. Related to Latinos)
Depression rates lower in Mexican born people vs. US born Latino
persons (Kessler et al, 1994)
Acculturation strategy
Integration: positive views towards host and origin

Assimilation: attempt to fit in and fully participate. Little

or no effort to maintain traditions
Acculturation strategy
Separation: maintain traditions but little attempt to
participate in host

Marginalization: little effort to participate but loose

traditions.
What changes with acculturation?
Male gender norms
Education
Adolescence
Ideas of autonomy
Patterns of risk taking behaviors
cultural diffusion real life example
The blues originated in the field hollars of
southern slaves.
The ancient African call-and-response
pattern is the core of the blues.
Recordings of early artists from the 1920s

and 30s reached Europe before World

War II.
Cultural Diffusion!
other examples of cultural diffusion
Chinatown is an area with people from China, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, and Macao and these exist all over the world.
Paper was first made in China as well as gun powder.
The Spread of music
Popularity of sushi, a traditional Japanese dish, shows
diffusion of Japanese cuisine.
The Silk Road
Forced Cultural diffusion would be Afghans forcing some
to convert to Islam.
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Cultural Diffusion: the spreading of a cultural trait
from one society to another
 Diffusion can also be viewed as a cultural
exchange of ideas, practices, and goods.
Elements of one culture diffused into
other cultures:

Baseball was developed in the US in the late 18th

century.
It was introduced to Japan in 1872 by the
American educator Horace Wilson.
Culture loss and maintenance
Psychologically, two issues need to be better understood to
know how people will respond.

1. how much are ones own cultural identity and customs are of
value and are to be retained
2. inter-group conflict: are relations with other groups of benefit?
Tutorial Task 1:

How does culture influence peoples lives?

Identify one thing that represents your
culture.
Example: American culture baseball
Pick five artifacts in your home, describe the
item, and describe why it is important to your
culture?
Tutorial Task 2:
Watch the movie Flower Drum Songs. With reference to the
movie answer the following questions:
Identify and discuss cultural diffusion/assimilation/

acculturation that happen intentionally and unintentionally?

What are some positive and negative consequences of the

cultural change identified above?

Think of some specifics!
Who, in the movie, welcome cultural change? And who did
not? Discuss with specific examples.