Culture Shock

Culture Shock
the physical and emotional discomfort produced when a person moves to a culture different from the place of origin.

e.g. moving to a new country, entering a new corporation

the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate. culture shock is experienced at three levels:
Emotions Thoughts Social skills and identity

Culture shock pyramid

Source: Marx (1999): 12

Causes?
Conflict and uncertainty between onesvaluesandthose of the new culture Not knowing the language

Isolation
Not knowing the rules and how to behave Lack of supporting network and other relations Lack of information (rights, standards, services (e.g. Child care)) Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture Inability to solve simple problems, Systems of work differ personality characteristics considered positive for business success at home (e.g. competitiveness, aggressiveness, short term orientation) may be liabilities abroad contributing to culture shock

Symptoms
Emotional symptoms
Sadness, loneliness, melancholy Changes in temperament depression Feelings of denial and rejection Anger, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others
Longing for family, identifying with/ idealizing the old culture
Loss of identity and self-esteem Feelings of incompetence

Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity, vulnerability

Fear and anxiety about committing a social faux pas Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited, abused

Physical symptoms
headaches, Aches, pains

Fatigue
loss of appetite diarrhoea

Allergies
Insomnia desire to sleep too much

Intellectual symptoms
New culture is wrong
Developing stereotypes about the new culture Aggression/Racismtowardslocals"rude","dirty","lazy

Stages of Culture Shock

1. Introduction: Initial enthusiasm, excitement and euphoria(Honeymoon,Vacation)

individual experiences a holiday or 'honeymoon' period with their new surroundings

positive feelings about the culture

overwhelmed with impressions

Find the new culture exotic and fascinating Unconscious Incompetence.

2. Transition:Irritabilityandnegativism(Hostility Withdrawal) Individual now has more face to face experiences of the culture and starts to find things different, strange and frustrating. behaviour of people seen as unusual and unpredictable Begin to dislike the culture and react negatively to the behaviour Feel anxious Start to withdraw Begin to criticize, mock or show animosity to the people. Conscious Incompetence

3. Adjustment : Gradual adjustment and adaptation (Humour ) individual now has a routine, feels more settled and is more confident in dealing with the new culture.

Understand and accept the behaviour of the people,

Feel less isolated Regain their sense of humour. Adopt certain behaviours from the new culture. Conscious Competence.

4. Acceptance: Integration and bi-culturalism (Home) individual now feels 'at home'. Enjoy being in the culture, Function well in the culture, begin to feel comfortable and take steps to become more familiar . with the culture, Prefer certain cultural traits of the new culture rather than their own Unconscious Competence

Developing Intercultural Sensitivity

The Experience of Difference
Denial Defence Minimization Acceptance Adaptation Integration

Ethnocentric Stages

Ethnorelative Stages

culture shock is a continual process of increasingly subtle immersion into a culture

Ethnocentric Stages
Denial
Denying the existence of differences or even the existence of other cultures or practices.

Defensiveness
Recognizing a cultural practice as different by labeling it wrong or inferior.
Or,bylabelingonesownpracticesuperior.

Minimization
Recognizing differences, but labeling them relatively superficial, implying that, deep down, we are all the same.
Usually that they are just like us not that we are just like them

Ethno-relative Stages
Acceptance
Accepting that another cultural practice is valid (for that culture) whether one agrees with it, or is skilled at practicing it.

Adaptation
Developing skill at a different cultural practice in order to function effectively in that culture.

Integration
Developing the skills and abilities to change cultural practices and points of view, as the situation calls for it.

Sometimes being so adaptable as to not be able to identify strongly with any one culture.

Normal Distribution of Any Cultural Trait

A typical business person Frequency

Amount of Trait

Example: Individualism vs. Group Orientation

Comparing Two Cultures (on any given trait)

In this example, there is some overlap, but the two cultures are mostly different

Comparing Two Cultures

Pre-Trip

After Adaptation

Culture Shock

After Adaptation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFbPCj_cajY&feature=fvst

How to cope with Culture Shock

Probably the best overall strategy for coping, with the various manifestations of culture shock is to be prepared and make a conscious effort to adjust to the new culture. 1. Get involved in some aspect of the new culture. Study the art or music, or learn a new sport 2. Take time to learn the language. Locals will appreciate the effort to communicate with them in their own language, even if it is just a few simple phrases Carry a small notebook and jot down a couple of new phrases each day. 3. Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise and take the time to sleep. Be careful with alcohol.

How to cope with Culture Shock

4. Travel. Takethetimetobeatouristandexplorethecountryssights. 5. Make friends and develop relationships. Make an effort to meet people. This will help overcome cultural differences and understand the country and its people. Interacting with locals will also show how to be more sensitive to cultural norms and expectations. 6. Maintain contact with friends and family back home. communicating about experiences and problems can help sort through them keep a journal of feelings and thoughts

How to cope with Culture Shock

7. Do something that reminds you of home. This can boost spirits when feeling homesick Watch a hockey game Connect with the expatriate community Bring favourite music, hobbies, films 8. Avoid idealizing life back home. Try to make the most of the stay and consciously adopt an open mind. 9. Maintain your sense of humour

Reverse or Re-entry Culture Shock

The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and readjustmentexperiencedafterreturningtoonesowncultureafter an extended period of living abroad. Most people anticipate some degree of culture shock. Very few people believe they will experience reverse culture shock. The Stages of Reverse Culture Shock are almost the same as those of Culture Shock 1. Initial Euphoria (may be very brief or not happen at all) 2. Irritability and Negativism ( may be very lengthy) 3. Gradual Adaptation 4. True Bi-Culturalism Coping with Reverse Culture Shock Prepare for reverse culture shock by anticipating it and normalizing behaviours Allow feelings of sadness about the things left behind Share the experience

Returning To Home Culture

Reverse Culture Shock

Returning To Home Culture

Stages of Culture shock

Stage Signs Coping Strategies

Honeymoon (2-8 weeks)

new experiences are exciting feel fortunate for chance to move abroad. people are friendly, you smile a lot, in control your own sense of culture is not threatened

be a tourist make contacts in clubs and associations, sign up for some activities join a language course

Disintegration (2-3 months)

daily frustrations can build into disillusionment the good things of home loom large

look after yourself, exercise, avoid alcohol get out, be with people continue language practice keep busy set daily goals and try to

Stages of Culture shock

Stage Signs Coping Strategies

Integration
(3-6 months)

a sense of standing up to the things and people that are frustrating you determination to work things out and get things done

build your network of friends continue language study spend time with people who enjoy being there keep in touch with people back home
try new things, and explore the culture practice the language do things you intended to do while in this country before it's time to leave

Becoming Functional
(6 months)

feel in control and positive again about where you are self-understanding and more tolerance of others a sense of comfort operating in the host culture You help others adjust

Stages of Culture shock

Stage Signs
youremoresuccessfulin communications with locals enjoying being where you are adept at finding things no longer stereotyping understanding local customs

Coping Strategies
maintain key relationships

Acceptance
(9 months)