Enculturation

• Enculturation


  The process by which individuals, from early childhood, adopt the cultural values, ideas, beliefs, and behavioral patterns of their society.
• Development of Personal Identity

  • Enculturation is crucial for the development and reinforcement of personal identity as a member of a particular culture.
  • It is a continuous process that extends throughout an individual's life.
• Agents of Enculturation (Gatekeepers)


  • Parents: Provide direct tuition by telling children what they should do.
  • Media: Influence through cultural content and messaging.
  • School: Educates and socializes children into cultural norms and values.
  • Peers: Share and reinforce cultural practices and values.
• Behavioral Effects of Enculturation

  • Musical Preferences: Influenced by cultural exposure to various music genres.
  • Community Rituals: Participation in culturally significant events and traditions.
  • Language Use: Adoption of language and dialects specific to the culture.
  • Food Choices: Preferences for foods typical of the culture.
  • Leisure Activities: Choices about how to spend free time, influenced by cultural norms.
• Cognitive Effects of Enculturation

  • Social Relationships: Attitudes about family and community roles.
  • Gender Roles: Beliefs about the appropriate roles and behaviors of different genders.
  • Time Orientation: Cultural attitudes toward time management and scheduling.
  • Health Beliefs: Understandings of health, illness, and medical practices.
  • Moral Beliefs: Conceptions of right and wrong, justice, and ethics.
• Mechanisms of Enculturation


  • Direct Tuition: Explicit instructions from parents and authority figures about cultural norms and expectations.
  • Social Cognitive Theory: Learning behaviors and norms through observational learning and vicarious reinforcement (observing others).
  • Participatory Learning: Engaging in activities that embody cultural practices and transferring this knowledge to new situations.
• Vertical transmission: 


  Passing of cultural norms between generations