Culture shock

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Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. This is often combined with strong disgust (moral or aesthetical) about certain aspects of the new or different culture.

The term was introduced for the first time in 1954 by Kalvero Oberg. Other researchers who have subsequently worked on culture shock include Michael Winkelman.

Culture shock is a research area in intercultural communication. Recently, some researchers claim that culture shock does have many positive effects on intercultural sojourners, like increasing self-efficacy and helping improve self-motivation .

Phases of Culture Shock

Severe culture shock (moving to a foreign country) often consists of distinct phases, though not everyone passes through these phases and not everyone is in the new culture long enough to pass through all three:

• The "Honeymoon Phase" - During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. For example, in moving to a new country, an individual might love the new foods, the pace of the life, the people's habits, the buildings and so on.
• The negotiation phase - After a few days, weeks, or months, minor differences between the old and new culture are resolved. One may long for food the way it is prepared in one's native country, may find the pace of life too fast or slow, may find the people's habits annoying, etc.
• The "Everything is OK" phase - Again, after a few days, weeks, or months, one grows accustomed to the new culture's differences and develops routines. By this point, one no longer reacts to the new culture positively or negatively, because it no longer feels like a new culture. One becomes concerned with basic living again, as one was in their original culture.
• Reverse Culture Shock - Returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above.

In some cases, it may be impossible to deal with culture shock. Some people will give up on assimilating into the newer culture and return to their own culture, and some become so magnetized to the foreign culture that they feel they must permanently move there to relieve the stress.

Coping with culture shock

Experienced travelers tend to cope much better with the difficulties of travel. To ensure that they may have a more enjoyable trip, they can:

• Read about the country and its culture before departing. This way, the country and its people are more familiar upon arrival. They then become aware of differences in the new country and are thus better prepared to deal with them when possible (e.g., differences in hygiene).
• Avoid being offended, offending locals, or being engaged in any more general cultural misunderstanding; they familiarise themselves with local customs and language.
• Be open-minded about the culture they visit.
• Take 'time out' or rest apart from cultural exchange in order to reduce the 'shock' of adjustment.

See also

• Culture change
• Ethnology
• Student exchange program
• Intercultural competence

External links

• Stories about Cultural Acclamation and Culture shock compiled by The Glimpse Foundation
• Culture Shock - Adjusting to Life Overseas
• Culture shock In Taiwan
• Culture shock definition on San Diego University
• Culture shock term credited to Oberg
• Culture Shock discussion forum
• Expat Relocation and Culture Shock