http://majorsmatter.net/raceblog/?p=529 A Course Blog For Vanderbilt University's Sociology 255 Course Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:40:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://majorsmatter.net/raceblog/?p=529&cpage=1#comment-257 elizahorn Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:10:45 +0000 http://majorsmatter.net/raceblog/?p=529#comment-257 I definitely think that people can assimilate without trying to, in fact, most assimilation is probably done that way. People’s natural reactions are to fit in with their environments so they can easily function. So, almost as a survival technique, it seems that people (good or bad) naturally assimilate. I definitely think that people can assimilate without trying to, in fact, most assimilation is probably done that way. People’s natural reactions are to fit in with their environments so they can easily function. So, almost as a survival technique, it seems that people (good or bad) naturally assimilate.

]]> http://majorsmatter.net/raceblog/?p=529&cpage=1#comment-241 pointerr Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:17:27 +0000 http://majorsmatter.net/raceblog/?p=529#comment-241 I think it may be possible to assimilate unconsciously as a survival reflex. It is virtually impossible to survive at Vanderbilt, to use your example, without learning to develop interaction skills with the dominant group. You would have to live in a hole and never go to class in order to never interact with white people at this school. So, I think from this example it appears that assimilation can occur without one necessarily consciously trying to become more like the majority group. It may be a form of adaptation to a new environment, in which adopting new behaviors may be mandatory to stay afloat. I think it may be possible to assimilate unconsciously as a survival reflex. It is virtually impossible to survive at Vanderbilt, to use your example, without learning to develop interaction skills with the dominant group. You would have to live in a hole and never go to class in order to never interact with white people at this school. So, I think from this example it appears that assimilation can occur without one necessarily consciously trying to become more like the majority group. It may be a form of adaptation to a new environment, in which adopting new behaviors may be mandatory to stay afloat.

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