ENDOCULTURATION: WHAT IT CONSISTS OF, CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The enculturation or enculturation is the process by which people adopt certain behavior patterns of society or culture in which they live. It indicates or establishes the way in which a previous generation transmitted to another, consciously or unconsciously, their cultural heritage.

This is a basic aspect that differentiates endoculturation from acculturation, because endoculturation transmits its own behaviors, values ​​and practices to the next generation; Instead, acculturation supposes the assimilation of these same aspects but belonging to another culture. For example, Spanish culture through colonization.

The term enculturation was used for the first time in 1948 by the American anthropologist Melville Herskovits. Then, in 1963, the anthropologist Margaret Mead defined enculturation as a process other than socialization.

According to Mead, enculturation is the real learning process of a specific culture, while other elements of a universal nature intervene in the learning process that takes place with socialization; that is, it is a process common to all human societies.

On the other hand, the enculturation or endoculturation process establishes limits and corrections around what is allowed by society and what is not.

What does it consist of?

To better understand what endoculturation means, it is necessary to define the word culture. In general terms, culture is all the characteristics and knowledge belonging to a certain group of people. It covers different elements such as language, religion, customs, cuisine, music and the arts.

Culture is not an element with which we are born; on the contrary, it is the product of a long process that develops during life through exposure to the social environment. This process of acquiring one's own culture from birth is what is called enculturation.

Culture consists of three main characteristics:

- It is perpetuated and transmitted from generation to generation.

- Informs and trains the individual about the values ​​of the society where he lives.

- It is hereditary and learned.

Enculturation process

Contrary to what was stated by the anthropologist Margaret Mead, other authors consider that enculturation is essentially a process of socialization. They indicate that this particular cultural acquisition process is accomplished in two ways: home and society.

At home, it is transmitted fundamentally through permanent exposure to the behaviors and actions of our parents and family; outside the home or in society it is transmitted through continuous exposure to socially accepted norms, uses, practices, customs and behaviors.

In this process, the group or environment to which the individual belongs, as well as the traditional and modern mass media and institutions such as the school and the Church, act decisively.

The individual is also exposed to socially accepted values, norms and behaviors through the social group, the media and institutions such as the Church and the school. Endoculturation refers exclusively to the acquisition of one's own culture.

Enculturation should not be confused with cultural adjustment or adaptation either. By cultural adjustment is known the process of social and psychological coupling of an individual or cultural group to the new cultural environment in which they live. An example of this are immigrants who undergo a process of acculturation.

characteristics

- Endoculturation basically occurs during the first years of life.

- Mostly it is adults who pass on the fundamental aspects of their culture to the next generation.

- The individual appropriates the acquired cultural elements and makes them his own.

- Cultural elements are shared by a social conglomerate.

- Much of the acquired cultural aspects is done unconsciously. The symbolism of language, forms of expression, attitudes, etc.

- This process is not entirely passive or unconscious, because cultural transmission also involves teaching and learning processes that require reflection, deliberation and functionality.

- It differs from acculturation because it modifies the indigenous culture of a group or individual; Instead, endoculturation leads to the transmission and consolidation of one's own culture.

- The enculturation process includes learning material aspects of one's own culture; that is, identify ceremonial symbols and artifacts as well as cultural icons.

- It involves the acquisition of non-material aspects of culture. This includes cultural values, beliefs, customs, attitudes and patterns of social behavior.

Examples of endoculturation

Various examples of endoculturation can be found in society. Through this process organizations distinguish themselves from each other.

In organizations

An example of endoculturation can be seen within large organizations in general; that is, the Church, the Armed Forces of a country, companies or public and private corporations.

By their nature, these organizations need to develop enculturation processes to align and guide their members within their own values.

Catholic Church

This process is also known as inculturation (integrating an individual from one culture to the other). For example, through baptism and first communion, the Catholic Church initiates new members of its membership.

Then, starting from the gospels and their rituals, he trains the parishioners around his history, most revered figures, symbols, values, doctrines, ceremonies, mottos, etc.

Armed forces

Another institution that requires endoculturation for its own survival and maintenance is the Armed Forces of a country.

When entering these as a troop or part of the officiality, its members are indoctrinated under a certain discipline and specific values. Its mission and vision of society is different from that of any other institution.

In society

American children raised in an individualistic culture like that of their country, value personal decisions more than collective ones.

In contrast, Japanese children who are raised in a collectivist culture like his, appreciate more consensus in decision-making. In other words, the decision based on the group's orientation is very important to them.

Another example in society is observed in indigenous rural communities, where children learn to live with nature. From the first years of life they are initiated through rituals, they are taught to fish, hunt and survive in the jungle.

They receive all the accumulated knowledge and culture of their ancestors to follow the social and economic tradition.

References

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