Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

Acculturation refers to which of the following processes?

1. Integration of multiple identities

2. Adaptation of cultural practices

3. Understanding a host culture's values

4. Complete rejection of one's original culture

The correct answer is: Understanding a host culture's values

Acculturation is a process where individuals or groups adapt to a new culture while still retaining elements of their original culture. The focus of this process is on the adaptation to the host culture's values including understanding, accepting, and sometimes adopting those values in order to coexist within the new cultural environment. This typically involves a degree of exchange between the original and host cultures, leading to a blending of practices and beliefs. While aspects of adaptation may be involved in this process, the core of acculturation lies in understanding and sometimes adopting the values of the host culture. This understanding enables individuals to navigate their new social contexts effectively, leading to a more successful integration into the society they find themselves in. The other choices emphasize different concepts that, while related, do not accurately define acculturation. For example, integration of multiple identities involves a broader scope of identity formation beyond cultural exchange, and complete rejection of one's original culture reflects more of a separation or assimilation rather than the nuanced adaptation that characterizes acculturation.