Unit 4: Sociocultural Approach

Enculturation

The process of learning the cultural norms and values of one's heritage (home) culture.

Acculturation

The change in attitudes or behaviour that happens as a result of interacting with a new culture.

Child training practice

A general, umbrella term that refers to how parents (and societies) raise their children.

High food accumulation culture

A culture that produces and stores food for long periods of time (e.g. farmers).

Low food accumulation culture

A culture that produces small amounts of food that aren't stored.

Cultural norm

A common behaviour or way of thinking that is accepted (and expected) across a cultural group.

Cultural value

A belief about the importance of something that is shared by a cultural group.

Compliance

To obey or follow a request or demand.

Conformity

To behave in a way that is consistent with social norms.

Assimilation

An acculturation strategy that involves dropping one's home culture and adopting fully the new culture.

Separation

An acculturation strategy that involves rejecting the new culture and maintaining one's home culture.

Acculturation strategy

The way someone adapts to a new culture. Berry identified four strategies that people use when adopting to a new culture.

Integration

An acculturation strategy that involves keeping one's home culture and participating in the new culture.

Marginalization

An acculturation strategy that involves rejecting one's home culture and rejecting the new culture.

Acculturative Stress

Any negative psychological stress that results because of acculturation.

Psychological distress

A broad term that refers to any negative psychological stress, e.g. anxiety, depression.

Discrimination

When someone is treated differently because they belong to a particular group.