Intergroup Cultural Adoption: When Is It Appropriation?

In some circumstances, attempting to celebrate diversity and difference can inadvertently cause harm. Cultural appropriation is one such form of harmful cultural adoption that involves taking a cultural product from an outgroup culture. However, there are a range of competing definitions and perspectives on cultural appropriation. In the present review, we give an overview of psychological and interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives and highlight empirical work that supports or conflicts with these perspectives. To better clarify the components that influence perceptions of an act as appropriative versus benign adoption, we discuss how the form of cultural approaching (i.e., how someone engages) and the identities involved (i.e., who engages) impact whether a behavior is appropriative or not. Finally, we discuss the underlying psychological mechanisms that have the potential to explain the harms of cultural appropriation for minoritized groups.