Assimilation: meaning, definitions and examples

Assimilation is used when a person or group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of another culture, often losing their original identity. This term can sometimes have a negative connotation as it may imply the erasure of one's original cultural identity.

• Over generations, the community experienced assimilation into the dominant culture, losing many of their traditional practices.
• The language policy promoted the assimilation of various linguistic groups into the national language.

Integration refers to the process of combining different groups into a unified whole while respecting the diversity of the groups involved. It often has positive connotations of inclusiveness and multiculturalism.

• The city's integration policies helped create a more inclusive and diverse community.
• Successful integration into the school system requires support for both new students and the existing community.

Acculturation refers to the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group while still maintaining aspects of the original culture. It is a mutual cultural exchange.

• Through acculturation, immigrants often retain their unique cultural traditions while adopting some practices from the new culture.
• Acculturation can be seen in the fusion cuisine that blends elements of different food traditions.

Adaptation is used to describe the process of adjusting or modifying one’s behavior or ways of doing things to better suit a new environment or situation. It doesn’t necessarily involve cultural change.

• Moving to a different climate required quick adaptation to the new weather conditions.
• Her adaptation to the new job role was impressive, considering the short time she had.