Culture Shock

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Lecture 12

• Culture Shock
• Adaptation Re-entry

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Culture Shock

• The stress or disorientation associated with
  adapting to a new culture or unusual context
• Causes
• Loss of usual cues, signs and signals
• Collapse of normal interpersonal interaction
• Sense of danger to our personal unity
• Stages Honeymoon, Homesick, Hate, Home

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Cycle of Culture Shock
Phase 1 Tourist phase (Euphoria)
Phase 4 Back to Normal Phase
Phase 2 Crisis phase (Depression)
Phase 3 Readjustment phase (Rebuilding)
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Symptoms of Culture Shock

• Physiological
• Overly concerned with health cleanliness
• Not feeling well
• Headaches, Tension, Upset stomach, Sleeplessness
• Low energy level / Tired
• Psychological
• Feelings of powerlessness helplessness
• Fear of being cheated or robbed
• Fear of injury
• Homesickness
• Stress, anxiety, loneliness, irritability,
  frustration, paranoia, disorientation,
  defensiveness
• Social
• Withdrawal from relationships and conversations
• Excessive frustration and complaining
• Local native bashing
• Defensive communication style

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U-curve
adaptation
anticipation
shock, disorientation, identity crisis
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Re-entering ones home culture repeat U-curve
resulting in a W-curve
Entry into New Culture Re-entry into Own Culture
Preliminary State
Adaptation State
Preliminary State
Adaptation State
Spectator State
Shock State
Spectator State
Shock State
Participant State
Participant State
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Stages of W-curve

• Preliminary Stage
• Planning Packing Airplane tickets, passport,
  visa
• Spectator Stage
• Many strange sights, new experiences people
• Things happen so fast, everything is a blur
• Participant Stage
• Sightseeing has ended Normal life begins
• Housing, food, shopping, commuting, banking

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Stages of W-curve (cont)

• Shock Stage
• Problems surface which cant handle alone
• Tired of strange food Work quality declines
• Depressed, lethargic, irritable, critical of host
  country
• Feeling local people are indifferent to ones
  struggles
• Adaptation Stage
• Reaching this stage satisfactory progress
• In-group relationships develop with locals
• Sense of belonging and acceptance develops
• Re-entry Stage
• Intercultural re-entry begins with preparations
  to return to home country

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Re-entry Shock

• Occurs after you have returned home
• More shocking because unexpected
• You are a different person than when you left
• New experiences, understanding, skills, words or
  language, style, fashion, interests, opinions
• Meanwhile, life at home has not stopped
• People are older, important things happened
• People may not care about your experience
• They may feel you are different negatively
• They wait for you to get back to normal

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Common Expectations Upon returning

• Everything will be the same
• Everything will be great
• I will fit back into life with no problem
• I can continue relationships where left off
• I have the same needs and goals as before
• People will be open minded
• People will be interested in my stories
• People will recognize and applaud my personal
  growth

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Countering Re-entry Shock

• Understand returning involves an adjustment
  process similar to going abroad
• Ask questions to get tuned back in
• Research groups that may interest you
• Explore places where you might find others with
  international experience, or seek foreign
  nationals with whom you can speak the language
  youve learned and continue to
• share common experiences youve enjoyed

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Discussion Questions

• Cues and Symbols
• What are some cues/signs/symbols
• that you missed in an intercultural setting?
• that you have seen foreigners miss in your
  culture?
• that foreigners need to be aware of in your
  culture?
• Phases of Culture Shock
• When experiencing CS, what are some coping
  strategies that you can use?
• Describe your experience of going through CS.
• Personal Needs
• When living abroad, what were (or what would be)
  some of your personal needs?
• What do you think you just couldnt live without?
• Personality Traits for Success
• What personality traits are needed to have a
  successful stay
• abroad? Or, to have a successful return home?