What term describes the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another?

The correct term that describes the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another is cultural diffusion. This process involves the transfer of cultural elements such as practices, ideas, technologies, and customs from one culture to another, often through interactions like trade, migration, or communication.

Cultural diffusion can lead to the blending of cultures, where new practices emerge from the exchange, allowing societies to grow and evolve through shared experiences. It is a fundamental concept in understanding how cultural exchanges shape societies over time.

In contrast, cultural assimilation involves a minority group adopting the customs of the dominant culture, often leading to the loss of the minority group's original cultural identity. Cultural homogenization refers to the process by which different cultures become more similar, often as a result of globalization, while cultural appropriation involves taking or using elements from one culture, typically without understanding or respecting the original context, which can lead to controversy.