What is the process called when a majority group and a minority group combine through intermarriage to form a new group?

The process being described is known as amalgamation. Amalgamation occurs when different racial or ethnic groups come together to form a new group, often through intermarriage. This process involves blending distinct cultural traits, practices, and identities into a new singular group that embodies characteristics of both the majority and the minority populations involved.

Amalgamation is significant in understanding multicultural societies as it reflects how communities evolve and how relationships between various groups change over time. It can lead to the creation of a more heterogeneous society where new cultural norms and identities emerge from the combination of different backgrounds.

In contrast, assimilation refers to the process where a minority group adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture, often losing their original cultural identity in the process. Acculturation involves the cultural change that occurs when one group adopts aspects of another culture while still retaining distinct elements of their own. Integration means the inclusion of different groups within a society while maintaining their distinct identities, which does not necessarily involve the blending that occurs in amalgamation.