I. Characteristics of Acculturation:

1. A conscious or unconscious process: Acculturation could be either a conscious or an unconscious process. People borrowing the culture traits of other groups might be aware of the fact that they are borrowing or they might do it without realizing that these are being borrowed by them.

2. Mutual exchange of cultural traits: Acculturation takes place when two or more communities belonging to different cultures come together and start adopting each other's traits. So it is a two way process of culture change. Both the groups involved undergo some change.

3. It is a long process: Acculturation does not take place overnight. It takes a long time before the members borrow the culture traits from other communities. But the time taken for acculturation is definitely shorter than the time taken for assimilation. So in comparison to assimilation, acculturation consumes relatively less time.

4. Through direct and indirect contacts: Acculturation can take either through direct first hand contact through indirect contact from a distance such as through radio, television, newspaper, literature etc.

5. A pie-condition of integration or assimilation: Acculturation is a pre-condition of assimilation or integration. Once the situation of cultural contact is obtained, it can lead to either assimilation or integration.

II. Characteristics of Integration:

1. A complex process: Integration is a complex social process in comparison to acculturation and assimilation.

2. Requires Adjustment: It is complex because it requires a lot of structural adjustments on the part of the groups involved.

3. Changes and status in institutions: The communities of groups undergo changes in terms of some of the institutions whereas they retain the traditional features and practices in case of other institutions.

4. Process of linking cultures: Integration refers to the process of uniting or linking cultural parts with the whole or mainstream culture.

III. Characteristics of Assimilation: 

1. An unconscious process: Assimilation takes place without any deliberate and conscious efforts on the part of the groups involved in the process. Hence assimilation is an unconscious process.

2. A slow process: Usually assimilation takes a long time to materialize. When two cultures come in contact with one another it is only after a considerable amount of time that one gets merged with the other. Hence, assimilation is a slow process.

3. The role of dominant culture is more powerful: Assimilation occurs when the cultures involved in the process are unequal. Some sort of ranking exists between them. One is the dominant culture and the other one is the subordinate culture. Usually the dominant culture absorbs the smaller cultures into its own fold leading to assimilation.

4. Lasting effects: Assimilation is not a temporary phenomenon. It has lasting effects. The changes taking place in the culture due to assimilation continue for a long time.

Conclusion: The constituent cultures retain their cultural identity and at the same time they share some aspects of the common with which they are integrated.