Enculturation

Enculturation is the process by which people learn the dynamics of their surrounding culture and acquire values and norms appropriate or necessary to that culture and its worldviews.Grusec, Joan E.; Hastings, Paul D. ''Handbook of Socialization: Theory and Research'', Guilford Press, 2007; , ; p 547. As part of this process, the influences that limit, direct, or shape the individual (whether deliberately or not) include parents, other adults, and peers. If successful, enculturation results in competence in the language, values, and rituals of the culture. Growing up, everyone goes through their version of enculturation. Enculturation helps form an individual into an acceptable citizen. Culture impacts all that an individual does, regardless of whether they know about it. Enculturation is a deep-rooted process that binds together individuals. Indeed, even as a culture changes, center convictions, values, perspectives, and youngster raising practices are very similar.

The process of enculturation, most commonly discussed in the field of anthropology, is closely related to socialization, a concept central to the field of sociology. Both roughly describe the adaptation of an individual into social groups by absorbing the ideas, beliefs and practices surrounding them. In some disciplines, socialization refers to the deliberate shaping of the individual. In others, the word may cover both deliberate and informal enculturation.

The process of learning and absorbing culture need not be social, direct or conscious. Cultural transmission can occur in various forms, though the most common social methods include observing other individuals, being taught or being instructed. Less obvious mechanisms include learning one's culture from the media, the information environment and various social technologies, which can lead to cultural transmission and adaptation across societies. A good example of this is the diffusion of hip-hop culture into states and communities beyond its American origins.

Enculturation has often be studied in the context of non-immigrant African Americans.

Conrad Phillip Kottak (in ''Window on Humanity'') writes:

''Enculturation'' is sometimes referred to as ''acculturation'