Acculturation = culture contact
When there is contact between two people with different types of culture, there is diffusion of culture both ways
There are various ways by which culture contact takes place
1. Trade and commerce
2. Industrialization
3. Propagation of religion
4. Education and
5. Conquest
Trade and commerce
• Ayurveda and Yoga have become very popular in Europe and North America.
• This change is related to migration of people for jobs and trade who take along their traditional medical knowledge from their home country
Industrialization
Industrial workforce becomes a melting pot of cultures from different States and villages from where the workers migrate.
Propagation of religion
Intermingling of culture can occur when groups travel to different areas for the purpose of propagation of religion
Education
Students are expected to acculturate or absorb some of the values, cultural traits, or characteristics of the school
Students may need to migrate for higher education to urban areas or even foreign lands
Conquest
• The British brought their culture into India through conquest
• An Indian is said to be the next best Englishman
Culture contact has both good and bad aspects
The introduction of scientific medicine is through culture contact
The changes in food habits of people is brought about through culture contact
Adopting a Western diet is a significant indicator of resettled refugees making a cultural transition. Some weight gain may be beneficial in refugees who were previously underweight or undernourished.
However, acculturation may result in rapid and unhealthy weight gain, with some resettled refugees quickly becoming overweight and suffering the associated comorbidities
The widespread use of tobacco all over the world is because of culture contact
Role of New Communication Technologies in the Acculturation Processes
1. The radio
2. The television
3. The cinema and now
4. The internet
• Have been important factors in shaping the cultural behavior patterns of people
References:
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine; 23rd ed.
• Ivan Souček, The Acculturation of Traditional Indian Medicine in Slovakia. Available at: http://www.academia.edu/5220377/The_Acculturation_of_Traditional_Indian_.... accessed on 28th March 2017
• Bigart RJ, 1972. Indian Culture and Industrialization; American Anthropologist; Volume 74, Issue 5: 1180-88
• Enedina García-Vázquez, 1995. ACCULTURATION AND ACADEMICS: EFFECTS OF ACCULTURATION ON READING ACHIEVEMENT AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS, THE BILINGUAL RESEARCH JOURNAL Spring 1995, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 305-315
• Felipe González Castro, 2007. Is Acculturation Really Detrimental to Health? Am J Public Health. 2007 July; 97(7): 1162
• WangY, Quan X (2013).Does ethnic Internet use deter or promote crosscultural adaptation?, Journal of Media and Communication Studies; Vol. 5(7), pp. 78-87, August, 2013
• Jia Qi Li Xun Liu, Tianlan Wei (2013). Acculturation, Internet Use, and Psychological Well -being Among Chinese International Students, Journal of International Students; Volume 3, Issue 2 (2013), 155-166
• Marc A, Kevin Scott, Beth Careyva. Acculturation and Health, Refugee Health. Available at: http://refugeehealthta.org/prevention-and-wellness/acculturation-and-hea..., accessed on 28th March 2017
acculturation: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/acculturation
Social security: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/social-security
Operational research: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/operational-research
Gross National Income (GNI) and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/gross-national-income-gni-and-purchasing-po...
Global Hunger Index (GHI: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/global-hunger-index-ghi
Hidden Hunger: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/hidden-hunger
International Health Regulations 2005: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/international-health-regulations-ihr