The question asks for the term used when a subculture actively and intentionally goes against certain elements of the main culture it exists within. Let's break down the options to understand the concept better.

Defining Counterculture

A counterculture is a group whose values, norms, and behaviors are different from, and often in opposition to, those of the mainstream culture. This opposition is usually deliberate and a core part of the group's identity. Examples include the hippie movement of the 1960s, which rejected mainstream materialism and conventional social norms.

Analyzing Other Options

• Assimilation: This refers to the process where a minority group or individual adopts the patterns and norms of the dominant culture. It's about fitting in, not opposing.
• Cultural Conflict: This is a broader term that can describe friction between different cultures or groups within a society, but it doesn't specifically define a subculture's direct opposition to the larger culture as its primary characteristic.
• Cultural Shock: This describes the feeling of disorientation experienced when encountering a new or different culture. It's a personal, psychological reaction, not a group's collective stance against its own larger culture.

Counterculture Characteristics

Countercultures often emerge as a response to perceived flaws or negative aspects of the dominant culture. They might promote alternative lifestyles, political views, or artistic expressions. Key aspects include:

• Intentional opposition to mainstream values.
• Development of distinct norms and practices.
• Often associated with social or political movements.
• Seeking alternative ways of living.

Based on this analysis, the term that specifically describes a subculture deliberately opposing aspects of the larger culture is counterculture.