The process by which individuals acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values of their own culture, typically beginning in childhood and continuing throughout life. It involves learning to be a competent member of one's cultural group.
From 'en-' (into) plus 'culture' (Latin 'cultura', cultivation) plus '-ation' (process). Coined by anthropologist Melville Herskovits in the 1940s to distinguish learning one's own culture from learning foreign cultures (acculturation), emphasizing that cultural knowledge is acquired, not innate.
Try Another Word