Culture Shock

What is Culture Shock?

• It is the psychological disorientation experienced by people who suddenly find themselves living & working in radically different cultural environments.
• A person who moves to another country experienced cultural shock.
• The Frustration that result when experiencing new culture and having to learn and cope with a vast array of new cultural cues and expectations also describes cultural shock.

Why does Cultural Shock occur?

While interacting with a person in another culture they have different communication patterns, behavior patterns, norms and beliefs and also the language difference may result for a cultural shock.

Culture shock occurs when our "...cultural clues, the signs and symbols which guide social interaction, are stripped away. ...A difficult part of this process for adults is the experience of feeling like children again, of not knowing instinctively the ‘right’ thing to do." (Piet-Pelon & Hornby, 1992, p.2).

Dimensions of Culture Shock

• A sense of confusion over expected role behavior
• A sense of surprise, even disgust, after realizing some of the features of culture
• A sense of loss of old cultural surroundings
• A sense of being rejected by new culture
• Lack of self esteem due to inability to function appropriately
• Feeling of lack of control
• A sense of doubt when old values are questioned.

4 stages of Culture Shock

The Honeymoon stage

• All that is new is exciting
• Begin with positive attitude
• Focus on similarities

Irritation & Hostility

• Problems emerge at work, home & market place
• Differences loom large
• Resort to ethnocentric behavior

Gradual Adjustment

• Very gradual & subconsciously
• Understanding emerges of how to operate

Biculturalism

• Final stage, Moving for a new culture equal to home culture.

How can you minimize Culture Shock?

• Avoid IB if not suited for the assignment
• General understanding of the concept of culture (learnt, Integrated etc..)
• Become familiar with local patterns of VC & NVC
• Cultural self awareness
• Get culture specific information.