Ethnic group


An ethnic group is defined by a shared perception of attributes – such as language, culture, ancestry, traditions, or religion – that distinguish them from other groups, and this identity is often maintained through practices like endogamy, though genetic ancestry can vary widely within a group.

⭐ In the context of social science, an ethnic group is primarily characterized by…


⭐ Core Definition: Ethnic group

An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people who identify with each other on the basis of perceived shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Attributes that ethnicities believe to share include language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, religion, history, or social treatment. Ethnicities are maintained through long-term endogamy and may have a narrow or broad spectrum of genetic ancestry, with some groups having mixed genetic ancestry. Ethnicity is sometimes used interchangeably with nation, particularly in cases of ethnic nationalism. It is also used interchangeably with race although not all ethnicities identify as racial groups.

By way of assimilation, acculturation, amalgamation, language shift, intermarriage, adoption and religious conversion, individuals or groups may over time shift from one ethnic group to another. Ethnic groups may be divided into subgroups or tribes, which over time may become separate ethnic groups themselves due to endogamy or physical isolation from the parent group. Conversely, formerly separate ethnicities can merge to form a panethnicity and may eventually merge into one single ethnicity. Whether through division or amalgamation, the formation of a separate ethnic identity is referred to as ethnogenesis.

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HINT: Ethnic groups are fundamentally defined not by objective traits, but by the shared subjective belief in common characteristics that set them apart, encompassing elements like language, culture, and ancestry.

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