ACCOMMODATION AND

ASSIMILATION

RAMYA.G
I MSW
 ACCOMMODATION
Adjustment is the way of life. It can take place in
two ways such as adaptation and accommodation.
Adaptation refers to the process of biological
adjustment. Accommodation, on the other hand, implies
the process of social adjustment.
“Accommodation is the achievement of adjustment
between people that permits harmonious acting together
in social situation. It is achieved by an individual
through the acquisition of behavior patterns, habits and
attitudes which are transmitted to him socially. It is a
process through which individuals or groups make
adjustment to the changed situation to overcome
difficulties faced by them.
 DEFINITIONS
As MacIver and Page say, “the term accommodation refers particularly to the
process in which man attains sense of harmony with his environment”.
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff, “Accommodation is a term used by
sociologist to describe the adjustment of hostile individuals or groups.”
As Horton and Hunt defines “Accommodation Is a process of developing
temporary working agreements between conflicting individuals or groups”.
 CHARACTERISTICS
 It is the End-result of Conflict
 It is both Conscious and Unconscious Process
 It is a Universal Activity
 It is a Continuous Process
 It is a Mixture of both Love and Hatred.
 METHODS OF ACCOMMODATION

ADMISSION OF ONE’S DEFEAT: This method of accommodation is applicable

between the conflicting parties of unequal strength. The stronger group can pressurize
the weaker group by its strength. The weaker party submits to the stronger one out of
fear or because of fear of being over-powered.
COMPROMISE: This method is applicable when the combatants are of equal strength.
In compromise, each party to the dispute makes some concessions and yields to some
demand of the other. The “all or nothing” attitude gives way to a willingness to yield
certain points in order to gain others.
ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION: Accommodation is also achieved by means
of arbitration and conciliation which involves attempts of the third party to resolve the
conflict between the contending parties.
TOLERATION: Toleration is the method of accommodation in which there is no
settlement of dispute but there is only the avoidance of overt conflict or open
conflict. Toleration is found in the field of religion where different religious groups
exist side by side, having different policies and ideologies.
CONVERSION: Conversion is a method of accommodation in which one of the
contending parties tries to convent his opponents to his view of point by proving
that he is right and they are wrong. As a result, the party which has been convinced
is likely to accept the view point of other party.
RATIONALIZATION: Accommodation can be achieved by rationalization. It is a
method which involves the withdrawal of contending party from the conflict on
the basis of some imaginary explanations to justify his action. In other words it
means an individual or a group rationalizes has behavior by plausible exercises
and explanations.
 IMPORTANCE OF ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is the way which enable people to work together whether they like it or not.
Society can hardly go on without accommodation. Since conflict disturbs social integration,
disrupts social order and damages social stability, accommodation is essentially essential to
check conflict and to maintain cooperation which is the sine qua non of social life.
It not only reduces or controls conflict but also enables the individuals and groups to adjust
themselves to changed conditions. It is the basis of social organization. As Burgess remarks:
“Social organization is the sum total of accommodation to past and present situations. All the
social heritages, traditions, sentiments, culture, techniques are accommodations………….. ”
Accommodation makes for group life. It is indispensable in modem complex society. In
accommodation the barriers between the parties have been partially broken down, social distance
weakened and formal relations established whereby groups can work together.
 ASSIMILATION

Assimilation is a fundamental social process; it is that process

by which individuals belonging to different cultures are united
into one. Successful accommodation sets the stage for an
additional consequences of human interactions, namely
assimilation. This implies the complete merging and fusion of
two or more bodies into a single common body, a process
analogous to digestion, in which we say that food is assimilated.
For instance, American Indians adopted cultural elements of
whites abandoning their own culture. But assimilation is not
limited to this single field only. For example, husbands and
wives with dissimilar background often develop a surprising
unity of interest and purpose.
 Assimilation is a slow and gradual process. It takes quite some time
before individuals or groups once dissimilar becomes similar.
Acculturation is the first step to assimilation. Acculturation is the name
given to the stage when the cultural group which is in contact with another
borrows from it certain cultural elements and incorporates them into its own
culture.
The contact between the two groups inevitably affects both; though it
is natural that culturally weaker group would do more of the borrowing from
and would give very little to the culturally stronger group. When two
cultures meet, the dominant culture becomes the common culture of the two
interacting cultures.
 DEFINITIONS
According to Biesanz and Biesanz, “Assimilation is the social process
whereby individuals or groups come to share the same sentiments and
goals”.
“Assimilation”, says E.S. Bogardus, “is a process whereby attitudes of
many persons are united, and thus, develop into a united group”.
As Ogburn and Nimkoff define, “Assimilation is the process whereby
individuals or groups once dissimilar become similar, that it become
identified in the interests and outlook”.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF ASSIMILATION

 Assimilation is an associative process.

 Assimilation is a universal process. It is found in every place and at all times.
 Assimilation is a slow and gradual process. It is gradual as the individual
comes to share the expectations of another group and slowly acquires a new
set of values.
 Assimilation is a unconscious process. Individuals are not conscious that the
discard their own values and acquire new set of values.
 Assimilation is a two-way process. It is based on the principle of give and
take. Assimilation takes place when groups of individuals borrow cultural
elements from each other and incorporates them to their own culture.
 FACTORS CONDUCIVE FOR ASSIMILATION
TOLERATION: Tolerance helps people to come together, to develop contacts and to
participate in common cultural and social activities. When the dominant group is
hospitable and tolerant towards differences, the minority groups have a greater
opportunity to participate in the total community life.
CLOSE SOCIAL CONTACT: When the people or group of different cultures come into
close proximity with each other, the assimilation process takes place very easily. The
close social contact creates a good understanding among the people and the group and
this creates a healthy atmosphere in which people exchange their views in a better way.
For instance, in India the assimilation between Hinduism and Buddhism is possible due
to the close social contact among the members of these two religious groups. Thus, the
close physical proximity plays a vital role in promoting the assimilation process.
AMALGAMATION: Amalgamation is another promoting factor of assimilation. By
amalgamation we mean, individuals or groups come into close contact to one another. It
occurs when two different cultural groups establish matrimonial relationship among
themselves.
EQUAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: The inequality of economic status among
the people of different cultural groups hinder the process of assimilation. But the
equal economic opportunities facilitate assimilation process. The people or groups
having equal economic position become more easily intimate. Thus, intimate
relationship promotes assimilation.
COMMON PHYSICAL TRAITS: Common physical traits or qualities of the people
of different cultures also promote the process of assimilation. The foreign
immigrants of the same race can more easily assimilate than those with different
races. For instance, the Indians who live in America permanently can easily
assimilate with the Indian culture.
CULTURAL SIMILARITY: Cultural similarities between two groups of individuals
promote assimilation. If there are similarities between culture groups, assimilation is
quick to take place. Similarly, assimilation occurs most readily when two culture
groups have common language. Without knowledge of language, the individual
remains outside the adopted society. The first step in assimilation into a new society
is, therefore, to a lean language.
 FACTORS HINDERING ASSIMILATION
Merely bringing persons of different backgrounds together does not assure that a fusion of
cultures and personalities take place. Sometimes it results in conflict rather than fusion between the
contiguous groups. There are various factors that retard assimilation. These factors are discussed
below.
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: Differences in features, complexion of skin and other physical trait
may also help or hinder in assimilation. Generally the adjustment problems are the easiest for those
immigrants who in appearance are supposedly most like the people of the new land.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: Language and religion are usually considered to be main
constituents of culture, Immigrants having the same religion and language can easily adjust
themselves in other area or country.
PREJUDICE: Prejudice is a barrier to assimilation. Prejudice is the attitude on which segregation
depends for its success. As long as the dominant group prejudices those who have been set apart,
neither they as a group nor their individual members can easily become assimilated to the general
culture. Prejudice also impedes assimilation between constituent elements within a given society.
 SENSE OF SUPERIORITY AND INFERIORITY: Assimilation is hindered by the feelings of
superiority and inferiority. The people who have strong feelings of superiority, generally hate the people
who suffer from a sense of inferiority. Due to this reason intimate relationship between two groups of
people become difficult. Hence, assimilation is retarded.
DOMINATION AND SUBORDINATION: Assimilation between two groups of people is almost
impossible where one group dominate the other. In this case social relation which is essential for
assimilation does not develop among the people of dominant and subordinate groups. The dominant
group always considers the people of subordinate group as inferior and exercises its power over them. As
a result jealousy, hatred, suspicion and conflict etc. develop among them. All these hinder the process of
assimilation.
ISOLATION: Isolation also hinders assimilation. People who live in isolation fail to establish social
contacts with others. The isolated people cut off entire social relationship with other people in society.
Therefore, the process of assimilation becomes very difficult. In short, it can be summed up that
assimilation is a slow process of adoption and adjustment on the part of individuals. There is no abrupt
change in the way of life. In short, assimilation is a process of cultural adoption and adjustment.
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