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Culture Shock

Culture shock is the emotional and psychological impact of transitioning from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one, often characterized by feelings of anxiety and confusion. It typically progresses through four stages: the Honeymoon Stage, where everything feels exciting; the Distress Stage, marked by frustration and idealization of home; the Orientation Stage, where understanding and acceptance begin; and the Adaptation Stage, where individuals feel comfortable and capable in their new environment.

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24 views2 pages

Culture Shock

Culture shock is the emotional and psychological impact of transitioning from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one, often characterized by feelings of anxiety and confusion. It typically progresses through four stages: the Honeymoon Stage, where everything feels exciting; the Distress Stage, marked by frustration and idealization of home; the Orientation Stage, where understanding and acceptance begin; and the Adaptation Stage, where individuals feel comfortable and capable in their new environment.

Uploaded by

mariafrancisca
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What Is Culture Shock?

Culture shock refers to the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one
that is unfamiliar. This impact includes the anxiety and feelings (such as
surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, and confusion) felt when a person must
adapt to a different and unknown cultural or social environment. It might
include the shock of a new environment, meeting new people, eating new
food, or adapting to a foreign language, as well as the shock of being
separated from the important people in your life: such as family, friends,
colleagues, and teachers.

Step 1: The Honeymoon Stage


During this stage, everything is new and interesting. You may experience a
feeling of euphoria and be in awe of all the differences you see and
experience. You feel excited and stimulated, and you still feel close to
everything familiar back home. During this stage, you generally focus on the
similarities between you home country and your host country, but you
appreciate the differences as well.

Step 2: The Distress Stage


Once the honeymoon stage wears off, you may suddenly start getting
frustrated or annoyed by your new country, specifically the customs and
values. The things you're experiencing no longer feel new; in fact, it's
starting to feel like the strangeness of a new culture is preventing you from
experiencing things. You may feel hostility towards the way things are done
here, and you may think that they should be done in a different way. You
start to idealize life “back home,” and may feel that your current culture,
language, and food are inferior to what you're used to. You feel confused and
alone and may realize that the familiar support systems of home are no
longer easily accessible to you. Don't worry; this is perfectly normal.

Step 3: The Orientation Stage


The Orientation Stage is the first stage in acceptance. During this stage, you
begin to understand why things are done in a certain way. You start to
respect the culture and traditions, whether you consider them to be good or
bad. You begin to feel more comfortable in your new environment, and you
begin to have a more positive outlook. You feel more confident and better
prepared to cope with any problems that might arise. Remember that culture
shock is not a perfectly linear experience; you may return to the Distress
Stage multiple times until you hit...

Step 4: The Adaptation Stage


During this stage, your attitude changes and you are able to function in both
cultures. You have embraced the new culture and are able to see it in a new,
yet realistic, light. In this stage you are typically well-oriented to your new
life and have developed your own habits and routines. You feel comfortable,
confident, and capable of making decisions. You no longer feel alone and
isolated; instead, you start to feel at home.

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