Key Concepts in Cultural Identity and Diversity

Acculturation

a process by which a member of a minority group shifts her or his identity from the minority group to the dominant group and adopts the values, attitudes, and behaviors of the dominant culture. the minority group integrates it's own ideas into larger culture.

cultural assimilation

a process by which a member of a minority group shifts her or his identity from the minority group to the dominant group and adopts the values, attitudes, and behaviors of the dominant culture. minority group completely lets go of original culture

cultural diversity

a group of people whose members are characterized by a wide range of distinctions, including race, national origin, religion, language, physical size, gender

Culture

A shared system of beliefs, values, and behavioral expectations that provide social structure for daily living

Ethnicity

A sense of identification with a group based on a common heritage

Ethnocentrism

belief or assumption that a particular social or cultural group is Superior in some way

folk medicine

a form of prevention and treatment that uses old-fashioned remedies and household medicines

Hereditary

handed down from generation to generation within a particular culture inherited genetically; there is a greater likelihood that offspring may develop hereditary diseases or disorders if one or both parents have the disease or disorder

Immigrate

To settle into a new country

minority group

a group of people with some physical or cultural characteristics that identify the people within it as different from the dominant group, such as race, religion, beliefs, or customs and practices

Race

a group of people unified by specific physical characteristics, such as Skin pigmentation, Body stature, facial features, and hair texture

Subculture

a group of people who are members of a larger cultural group, but whose attitudes and behaviors reflect different beliefs and values from those of the larger culture