CULTURE SHOCK

June 20, 2017

CULTURE SHOCK

Culture is that set of distinctive, spiritual material, intellectual and emotional features of a society or a social group, encompassing all the ways of being in that society including art and literature, lifestyles, ways of leaving together, traditions, value systems and beliefs this is according to Bokova in intercultural competences 2011. Culture shock is a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation.

In easier words we could say culture shock is a feeling of confusion or doubt caused by being in a place that is different from what you are used to, this occurs when people relocate to a new environment, most preferably another country with different culture and ways of life from what is known to the person.

Stages of culture shock

They’re four stages of culture shock. The first stage is the honeymoon stage we’re an individual who has relocated responds to the new environment at first with fascination and enjoys the differences in food, fashion and the social customs.

At first what is new is attractive and enjoyable to the individual for example when an individual goes to Paris with a purpose of either studying or working she will enjoy the fashion and food at first which is basically the honeymoon stage. Which takes us to the next stage which is rejection.

Rejection is marked by criticism, resentment and anger. Now the individual faces difficulties with language, housing and making friends. The rejection period can be triggered by the realization that as an outsider in a new culture, language or misunderstandings of cultural cues can often make the simplest task look like a big challenge. The high expectations set at the honeymoon period make one begin to feel that they are out of reach at this point.

The letdown experienced during the rejection period propels and individual into the stage of regression and isolation. The culture from which an individual is from is idealized. The individual tends to think of his culture and friends with a superior attitude as compared to the friends he will be making while in his or her stay in the new environment. Symptoms exhibited during this period include anxiety, homesick and anger. These feelings are manifested in change of one’s behavior, inappropriate anger over slight delays, crying, irritation and change in sleep patterns. The stage of rejection and regression is variable in length but can last up to 6-8 weeks.

The crisis of regression and isolation is resolved allowing the individual to begin recovery in the adjustment and adaptation stage. Gradually the crisis of regression and isolation is resolved allowing the individual to begin recovery in the Adjustment & Adaptation stages. To resolve these feelings, the individual has to employ particular skills and resources essential for adjustment, as described in Coping with Culture Shock.