What is cultural diffusion?

Cultural diffusion refers specifically to the process through which cultural traits, such as beliefs, practices, technologies, or ideas, spread from one group to another. This can occur through various means, including trade, migration, conquest, or even communication and interaction between different societies. As cultures come into contact, they share and adopt elements from each other, contributing to the diversity of cultural expressions across different regions.

The other concepts, although related to culture, do not accurately capture the definition of cultural diffusion. The integration of different cultural practices within a single society relates more to multiculturalism or syncretism, rather than diffusion itself. The total replacement of one culture by another describes cultural assimilation or replacement, which is a distinct process where one culture overtakes another rather than just sharing traits. The impact of globalization on local customs involves broader economic and political processes that can affect culture, but it does not necessarily focus on the interpersonal or intergroup exchange of cultural aspects that defines diffusion.