How does acculturation describe contact and exchange between cultures?

In anthropology, acculturation refers to the processes of change in artifacts, customs, and beliefs that occur when two or more cultures come into contact. It encompasses the resulting modifications in both cultural systems.12

Anthropologists generally distinguish between two primary conditions of contact:

• Incorporation: This occurs when groups maintain social and political self-determination, allowing for the free borrowing and modification of cultural elements. It may involve syncretism—creating a new synthesis of cultural phenomena—as well as the adoption of new technologies or the adaptation of existing practices. Because these changes are chosen, they are often retained over the long term.1
• Directed Change: This occurs when one group establishes dominance over another, often through imperialism or military conquest. This process involves interference in the recipient culture, which can lead to forced assimilation or active resistance. Because these changes are imposed, they are less likely to be maintained over the long term.1

While related to terms like assimilation and amalgamation, acculturation specifically describes the broader spectrum of change resulting from cross-cultural interaction.32