According to John Salvia and James Ysseldyke, which of the following is a matter of experiential background rather than a matter of gender, skin color, race, or ethnic background?

• A. Acculturation: the process of adopting another culture's behaviors and beliefs.
• B. Gender identity.
• C. Racial background.
• D. Ethnic background.

Answer: (A)

Experiential background refers to what a person has learned and experienced through living in and interacting with different cultures and social environments. Acculturation is exactly that process: the gradual adoption of another culture’s behaviors and beliefs as someone engages with a new cultural context. It is shaped by exposure, time, and social experience, not by fixed characteristics.

Gender identity and racial or ethnic background are aspects of a person’s identity or heritage, not learned cultural adaptations. While acculturation can influence how someone behaves or relates to others, the basis of acculturation is experience, which is why it fits the description of an experiential background rather than a matter of gender, skin color, race, or ethnicity.