Culture and Culture Shock

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Culture and Culture Shock

• International Agriculture
• AGED 4713
• Fall 2002

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Culture

• The Norms Beliefs and Customs Learned From
  Society That Lead to Common Patterns of Behavior
• It includes
• Values
• Paradigms

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Culture

• Is a groups way of life, including the shared
  system of social meanings, values and
  relationships that is transmitted between
  generations

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Value

• An enduring belief that a specific mode of
  conduct or end state of existence is personally
  or socially preferable to an opposite mode of
  conduct or end state of existence.

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Paradigm

• An example, pattern especially an outstanding
  clear or typical example
• Ideas
• Practices
• Customs
• Points of view

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Attributes of Culture

• Language
• Religion
• Music
• Courtesy
• Legal systems
• Sports
• Learned behavior

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Culture Shock

• The process of emotional responses that a person
  experiences upon arrival or placement in a new
  cultural settings
• Cultural shock has several stages

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Time
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Elation

• Initial reaction to a voluntary move into a new
  culture or situation
• Reactions
• excitement
• hope
• anticipation
• expectations are developed
• opportunities are assessed with unrealistic
  optimism

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Anxiety
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Time
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Anxiety

• New comer becomes apprehensive and disoriented
  about the change
• Reactions
• test stereotype
• cling to past culture
• opportunities are assessed with unrealistic
  pessimism

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Anxiety
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Rejection
Time
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Rejection

• New comer explores ways to nullify the change and
  return to former culture
• Persons forced into new situation involuntary
  might go directly to this stage

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Rejection

• Reactions
• alienation of self
• negative attitude
• antisocial behavior
• this can be happening

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Anxiety
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Rejection
Regression
Time
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Regression

• Lowest emotional point during transition.New-come
  r realized the permanence of the situation
• Reactions
• submissive
• by-pass opportunities for interaction
• hopelessness

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Anxiety
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Rejection
Reentry
Regression
Time
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Reentry

• New-comer rediscovers positive aspects of the new
  situation
• Reactions
• able to look back and laugh
• becomes involved with others in the culture and
  their activities
• one or more opportunities are realized
• hope returns

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Anxiety
Acceptance
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Rejection
Reentry
Regression
Time
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Acceptance

• The person becomes part of the social system and
  accept his/her role in it
• Reactions
• development of friendships
• emotionally settled
• social participation

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Acceptance
Anxiety
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Rejection
Reentry
Regression
Time
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Acceptance

• The person becomes part of the social system and
  accept his/her role in it
• Reactions
• development of friendships
• emotionally settled
• social participation

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Stages of Culture Shock
Elation
Affection
Acceptance
Anxiety
Arrival in new culture
Normal behavior
Rejection
Reentry
Regression
Time
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Affection

• Person develops emotional ties to the culture
• Reactions
• support and promotion
• pride
• work to bring improvement

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Overcoming culture shock

• Do homework Be prepared !
• Research area, people and customs
• Talk to someone who has been there
• Be aware that culture shock happens
• Make arrangements ahead of time
• Enter with an open mind !
• Get involved
• Dont be critical of locals
• Realize that you can and will survive

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Overcoming culture shock

• Understand that was is apparent and what is
  reality may be very different.
• Get to know the locals- dont remain in isolation
• Examine your own social and cultural biases
• Dont make a clean break from your past culture
• Continue some activities from your previous
  culture
• Find someone from your previous culture

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Reverse culture Shock

• Occurs upon reentry into culture of origin.
• The person experiences feelings of homelessness
• Person became a citizen of two cultures

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Culture and Culture Shock

• International Agriculture
• AGED 4713
• Fall 2002