Even after 50+ countries visited, I found travel in China challenging at times. Just when I thought I was getting used to it all, out of nowhere, something new and foreign to me caused a huge culture shock in China.
An anthropologist, Kalervo Oberg, first coined the term culture shock in 1954 to describe the anxiety felt by individuals living in a new culture (Oberg, 1954; Oberg, 1960). He saw culture shock as a disease, as at the time it was common to characterize any discomfort a human felt as being a malady that needed to be cured. For example, social scientists once considered nostalgia to likewise be a disease of loneliness or homesickness (Lowenthal, 1985). Researchers today tend to divide the study of culture shock along four approaches: cognitive, behavioral, phenomenological, and psychological and sociocultural (Chapdelaine & Alexitch, 2004; Searle & Ward, 1990).
5 stages of culture shock pdf 14
The Honeymoon Stage. This stage is an exciting time when individuals explore new cultures, but involvement in the new culture is superficial and tourist-like. Students in this stage are excited to be in a new country and may neglect their studies as they explore their new environment. They will seem happy and adjusted and may not anticipate difficulties ahead. At this stage, advisors can prepare students for what they might experience and create opportunities for them to begin learning the new social rules as quickly as possible. It may help to assure students that everyone experiences culture shock and that an advisor will be available to assist them when problems arise.
The Culture Shock Stage. Stage two is characterized by irritation and frustration with the differences between the home culture and new culture. Cultural differences in communication styles and emotional expression can expound the problem and make it harder to recognize students having issues. Advisors may find it difficult to engage students in this stage. Guo (2016) provides excellent strategies for building trust and engaging international students. In some cases, advisors may need to direct students to international student services or counseling resources on campus. Advisors should also continue to provide opportunities for international students to interact with native students to increase their social experiences, allowing them to move to the next stage.
The Adaptation Stage. Eventually, most individuals who spend a considerable length of time in a new culture will reach the fourth stage, that of acceptance and adaptation. They are no longer negatively affected by differences in culture and can participate in social interactions without difficulty. Students who have reached this stage can assist advisors who are working with students who are still experiencing culture shock by acting as ambassadors or peer counselors.
Culture shock refers to the feelings of discomfort that occur when immersed in a new culture. The five stages of culture shock are: the honeymoon phase, distress, reintegration, autonomy, and independence. The honeymoon phase brings feelings of elation but also a lack of awareness of deeper aspects of the culture or country. Distress comes from experiencing problems in the host country or culture. The reintegration stage involves adapting to the new culture due to greater understanding and awareness. Life becomes more normalized and regular routines have been established in the autonomy stage. Finally, independence is marked by functioning in society as a bicultural individual.
Many people experience reverse culture shock which refers to the feeling of disorientation upon re-entering their home culture as a result of experiences in a new culture. Culture shock can be experienced by a variety of people, examples of such include study abroad students, immigrants, and refugees. Keeping an open mind and putting forth an effort to learn as much as possible are important components of dealing with culture shock.
Some examples of culture shock include feeling surprised by differences in language, culture, climate, food, as well as the differences in systems that are in place in different countries and cultures.
Once you step off the plane, reality sets in. You realize that although it was summer when you left home, it is winter in Australia. You have trouble following the language and find it hard to fit in. You feel alone and lonely, especially on the 4th of July when you would normally have a huge party with family and light fireworks. You cannot connect with any of the locals and feel like no one understands what you are going through. You cry at night and wish you were at home. What you are feeling is culture shock.
Culture shock is the term we use to describe the feelings of confusion and uncertainty that are experienced when you come into contact with a culture that is vastly different from your own. Culture shock can be commonly seen in foreign students, immigrants and refugees. Even students who stay in their home countries suffer from culture shock as they make the transition into the foreign environment known as college.
Culture shock is defined as feelings of discomfort occurring when immersed in a new culture. This trauma materializes during the transition between one's home environment and a new, foreign culture. Instead of being a linear process, culture shock is experienced in stages. These stages take the individual through a series of highs and lows before reaching acceptance of the foreign culture.
Familiarizing oneself with a new culture is not the only cause of culture shock. It includes any feelings or effects sustained throughout periods of transition or adjustment. Lacking proper knowledge and experience about the stages of culture shock can affect one's ability to cope with immersive cultural differences. Additionally, language barriers and the rate of exposure to new information can compound the challenges associated with culture shock.
There are multiple causes of culture shock, including differences in the way various cultures communicate, perform tasks, and solve problems. Differences in cultural values, as well as the amount of information an individual confronts in a new culture, can be overwhelming. Language barriers can lead to breakdowns in communication while generational gaps and homesickness may exacerbate feelings of distress. Individuals may experience culture shock to varying degrees based on personality, mental health, language ability, prior exposure to foreign cultures, and openness to new things.
Although the cycle of culture shock differs in length for every individual, it's experienced by many. Students, refugees, immigrants, and anyone residing in a new cultural atmosphere encounter culture shock.
The honeymoon phase of culture shock covers a period of enamored admiration for the new culture. For example, consider an English college student taking a gap year in Japan. After reading Japanese books and studying the language, the student arrives in Japan full of enthusiasm and excitement. Trying new food, meeting foreign people, and interacting with an interesting culture sparks eagerness and delight. After only a week in the country, the student is convinced they could happily live forever in Japan. This individual is in the honeymoon phase. While marked by feelings of elation, this stage displays a lack of awareness towards deeper aspects of culture and country.
The final stage of culture shock is independence. In this stage, a sense of familiarity has finally taken hold. There is increased social function and adept participation, exemplified in solving problems and communicating with members of the new culture. Although highs and lows may still be experienced, the individual has a deeper understanding of the host culture and has become bicultural.
Many are surprised to learn that culture shock does not only occur when experiencing a new culture. Feelings of reverse culture shock occur when returning to one's home culture. Individuals return, only to realize the internal changes they experienced have changed their perspective of home. Compounding this challenge, their own home culture may have evolved in their absence. Returnees find themselves criticizing their home culture, feeling uncomfortable about certain aspects of their former life, and missing the cultural characteristics of the foreign country. A period of adjustment upon coming home is just as common as experiencing transitional shock during exposure to a foreign culture. With time, affected individuals can overcome the disorientation and confusion felt while re-entering the home culture.
Culture shock can be felt in a variety of situations. A foreign-exchange student could develop culture shock in Italy when language barriers and a feeling of unease create isolation from desired friendships and experiences. Refugees and displaced persons are also high-risk for culture shock as they start their new lives in cultures far different from their own. Other immigrants, such as international workers, experience heightened culture shock when separated from support systems in their home countries.
Though one may not be able to avoid experiencing culture shock, there are many ways to diminish its effects and accelerate its stages. Most importantly, keep an open mind. Don't enter a new culture with preconceived notions of what will be found. Making comparisons to the home country and new country should be avoided. Being open to new experiences and making an effort to learn the local language and culture can bring accelerated acceptance. Making connections and developing a support system provides individuals with help when necessary. Foreign experiences are not only opportunities to learn more about new cultures, but to share of and become better acquainted with oneself. 2ff7e9595c
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