The idea of a melting pot is a metaphor used to describe the process by which ethnic and cultural differences can be combined and blended together in a society to create new, hybrid patterns of behaviour, beliefs, and cultural expressions, drawing on diverse cultural sources. This concept suggests that immigrants and minority groups will eventually assimilate into the dominant culture, contributing their unique aspects which then become integrated into a new, common culture. The melting pot ideal is often contrasted with the concept of a "salad bowl" or cultural pluralism, where different cultures coexist while retaining their distinct identities and characteristics. The extent to which societies actually function as melting pots and the desirability of such a process are subjects of ongoing discussion in sociology and cultural studies, with considerations of power dynamics and the potential loss of cultural heritage often being raised.