Term Definition

Diffusion

the process by which a cultural trait spreads from one place to another over time (page 179)

Cultural Hearth

an area where cultural traits develop and from which cultural traits diffuse (page 179)

Expansion Diffusion

the spread of a cultural trait outward from where it originated (page 181)

Contagious Diffusion

the process by which an idea or cultural trait spreads rapidly among people of all social classes and levels of power (page 181)

Hierarchical diffusion

the spread of an idea or trait from a person or place of power or authority to other people or places (page 181)

Stimulus diffusion

the process by which a cultural trait or idea spreads to another culture or region but is modified to adapt to the new culture (page 182)

Lingua Franca

common language used among speakers of different languages (page 186)

creolization

the blending of two or more languages that may not include the features of either original language (page 186)

Cultural convergence

the process by which cultures become more similar through interaction (page 189)

Cultural divergence

the process by which cultures become less similar due to conflicting beliefs or other barriers (page 190)

Acculturation

the process by which people within one culture adopt some of the traits of another while still retaining their own distinct culture (page 194)

Assimilation

a category of acculturation in which the interaction of two cultures results in one culture adopting almost all of the customs, traditions, language, and other cultural traits of the other (page 195)

Syncretism

process of innovation combining different cultural features into something new (page 195)

multiculturism

a situation in which different cultures live together without assimilating (page 196)

collectivist cultures

. a culture in which people are expected to conform to collective responsibility within the family and to be obedient to and respectful of elder family members (page 197)

relocation diffusion

the spread of culture traits through the movement of people
(page 135)