Meeting Difference

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Meeting Difference
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Difference

• When and why is it a problem?
• And when and why is it not?

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Culture

• socially transmitted beliefs, values, and
  practices shared ideas and habits (Latane,
  1996)
• shared distinctive behavioral norms that are
  omnipresent and may appear natural, and are
  transmitted to new members of the culture These
  norms provide interpretive perspectives that
  assist in the perception and cognition of events
  (Lehman et al. 2004)

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• Affordance and prescriptions what persons within
  the group can or should do
• Contraints or proscriptions what they should not
  do
• ? a shared system beliefs (what is true)
• values (what is important)
• expectations and behavior meanings developed by
  the group over time
• ? may not be overtly apparent or easily
  verbalized, since culture is lived (Bond, 2004)

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Cultural groups

• People who share history, current problems,
  common experiences, language, values, similar
  adaptations or behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes
  as well as the passingon of these similarities ti
  future generations.
• - large Western civilization
• - small college, etc

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• Cultures of place (Newcomb, 1967 growing
  similarity of attitudes and beliefs among people
  living in close proximity)
• Disability cultures
• Political cultures (conservatism, liberalism,
  pacifism, socialism, feminism, etc)
• Culture of Singleness

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How do I describe myself?

• Not all of our cultural ties are equally
  important
• It may be affected in response to a personal
  crisis or to a crisis for the cultural community.
  
• A racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, or heterosexist
  event, or series of events, in ones neighborhood
  or workplace or city may turn a relatively
  dormant or low-strength identity into one with
  far greater salience (Lott)

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Culture Shock

• when all the cues and underlying assumptions
  that we have about how the world works suddenly
  dont work anymore
• returns us to the mental state of an
  infant (Geert Hofstede)

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Why is it shock?

• Our culture defines who were are, what we
  believe in. In a way, being able to maneuver in
  it helps to validate us as a person. It
  contributes towards our self-esteem.
• Now you go to a place where you cant talk, you
  may not eat right and you have to learn the
  correct way to do things all over again. You
  are an adult in a place where nothing that you
  know really counts.

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Symptoms

• It can lead to depression, feelings of
  loneliness, anxiety, fear, withdrawal,
  helplessness, and hatred towards the new culture.

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Stages of culture shock

• I. Honeymoon II. Initial Culture ShockIII.
  Initial AdjustmentIV. Further Culture Shock V.
  Further Adjustment

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I. Honeymoon

• Time frame First week or two in host country 
• Characteristics  Exposure to country and culture
  is limited.Excitement and enthusiasm
  abound.Attitude toward host country is generally
  positive. Little is expected of you.
• Oh, these people eat so much healthier than we
  do. Their city is more beautiful. Im going to
  like it here. These feelings are similar to what
  you experience when you visit a foreign country
  on holiday or for a business trip.

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II. Initial Culture Shock

• Time frame First few weeks
• Characteristics   Wider exposure to country and
  culture means more realistic and more mixed
  reactions.Enthusiasm is tempered with
  frustration. Feelings of vulnerability and
  dependence are common.Homesickness is
  frequent.Nothing is routine.Limited language
  ability undermines confidence.
• You are no longer treated as an honored guest.
  You are now expected to do things on your own.
  These frustrations can quickly lead to feelings
  of dread and withdrawal. You dont even want to
  go out to do things because you are already
  imagining all of the problems you will have. Its
  just easier to stay home.

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III. Initial Adjustment

• Characteristics   
• Routines are reestablished. Some aspects of the
  country culture are now seen as
  normal.Adjustment to the physical aspects of the
  host country is better.
• You still may face frustrations, but at least
  youre learning to function within the context of
  your new culture. It may mean not being so upset
  if someone arrives late or even being late
  yourself at times. It may mean standing in line
  the same way your fellow countrymen do and not
  feeling guilty about it or not being upset when
  someone breaks the line and is served when
  youve already been standing there for 10
  minutes.

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IV. Further Culture Shock

• Time frame settling-in period. 
• Characteristics    You're adjusting to being on
  your own in country.It's your first experience
  taking care of yourself in country.You're having
  your first encounters with the work-related
  aspects of culture, with initial surprises and
  frustrations.You're surprised at still having
  culture shock to go through.

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V. Further Adjustment

• Time frame Post settling-in. 
• Characteristics   
• You're getting used to being on your own.You're
  better able to take care of yourself.You're
  making friends in the community.You speak the
  language better.You're more effective at work
  because you understand the culture better.

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• This stage is when you have reached a stable
  state of mind meaning that you have permanently
  adjusted to your new culture. That doesnt mean
  you like it. You can dislike it (youll never
  feel like youre a part of it), you can be
  neutral (you may not agree with the way things
  are done and you arent going to give up your
  beliefs and values, but you understand why they
  do what they do and you can operate within that
  context), or you may think that everything is so
  great about your new culture that you abandon
  your own and go native. It seems to be the
  general consensus that being neutral towards your
  new culture is the healthiest form of adjustment.

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I. Honeymoon II. Initial Culture Shock III.
Initial Adjustment IV. Further Culture Shock V.
Further Adjustment

• 1. I'm sick of these bugs.
• 2. I thought I knew this stuff!
• 3. You call that a toilet?
• 4. I'd give anything for a meal without rice.
• 5. These people are all so nice
• 6. Homesick? For what?
• 7. I'm getting used to these toilets, believe it
  or not.
• 8. This language actually makes sense once in a
  while.

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I. Honeymoon II. Initial Culture Shock III.
Initial Adjustment IV. Further Culture Shock V.
Further Adjustment

• 9. I don't believe it! They said I shouldn't jog
  here.
• 10. Bugs? What bugs?
• 11. You know, I actually prefer Turkish toilets.
• 12. I'll never learn this language.
• 13. Are you kidding? I can't eat curry (or beans)
  without rice.
• 14. I never thought my problem would be too much
  free time.
• 15. I actually prefer soccer to jogging you meet
  more people.
• 16. What a great place

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Methods of dealing with culture shock

1. Know that it is a normal part of adjusting to a
   new culture and that others are or have
   experienced it too.
2. Learn the language. Being fluent will take time
   and practice, but youll never get there if you
   dont start. Dont be ashamed to cary a
   dictionary around with you. If people know you
   are trying its amazing how helpful they can be.

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• 3) Join the gym, an organization, or take
  classes. All of these things will force you to
  get out of the house and interact with others.
  Plus if you are used to being in shape then
  getting sluggish will just add to your
  depression.
• 4) Be realistic. You arent going to conquer a
  new culture in a day. And even once you think
  youve overcome your culture shock, youll still
  have your bad days. But didnt that even happen
  at home?

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• 5) Become a regular and learn key people who can
  help. If your grocer or a certain clerk at the
  post office knows you, its likely that he/she
  will give you helpful hints and help you with the
  language as well. They will be proud when you
  start speaking to them in their native tongue.
• 6) Learn as much about the culture before you go
  as you can. Do you know people from the place you
  are going or people who have spent time there in
  the past? Listen to their stories. Ask questions.
  And don't doubt their experiences. Don't think
  "Well that may have happened to you, but it won't
  happen to me" because chances are, it will.

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The experience of somebody who came from another
country

• What kind of cultural differences did she/he
  face, how did he/she react?
• Did she/he have a cultural shock?