Culture shock

The encounter with the conquerors with steel and horses shocked the Aztecs, so they confused the Europeans with prophets from the east.
Traveler from Australia visiting a small farm in Sierra Leone

Culture shock is an experience a person may have when one moves to a cultural environment which is different from one's own; it is also the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, a move between social environments, or simply transition to another type of life.[1] One of the most common causes of culture shock involves individuals in a foreign environment. Culture shock can be described as consisting of at least one of four distinct phases: honeymoon, negotiation, adjustment, and adaptation.

Common problems include: information overload, language barrier, generation gap, technology gap, skill interdependence, formulation dependency, homesickness (cultural), boredom (job dependency), ethnicity, race, skin color, response ability (cultural skill set).[2] There is no true way to entirely prevent culture shock, as individuals in any society are personally affected by cultural contrasts differently.[3]

Culture shock is experienced by students who participate in study abroad programs. Research considering the study abroad experiences states that in-country support for students may assist them in overcoming the challenges and phases of culture shock. As stated in a study by Young et al., the distress experienced by culture shock has long-lasting effects therefore, universities with well-rounded programs that support students throughout the study abroad program, including preparation and post-program assistance, can alleviate challenges posed by culture shock, allow for global development and assist with the transition back into the home culture.[4]

  1. ^ Macionis, John, and Linda Gerber. "Chapter 3 - Culture." Sociology. 7th edition ed. Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada Inc., 2010. 54. Print.
  2. ^ Pedersen, P. (1995). The Five Stages of Culture Shock: Critical Incidents Around the World. Contributions in Psychology, no. 25. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-03073-4. ISSN 0736-2714. LCCN 93-49711.
  3. ^ Barna, LaRay M. (1976), How Culture Shock Affects Communication, ERIC ED184909 NLA 5380387
  4. ^ Young, Jennifer T.; Natrajan-Tyagi, Rajeswari; Platt, Jason J. (2014). "Identity in Flux: Negotiating Identity While Studying Abroad". Journal of Experiential Education. 38 (2): 175–188. doi:10.1177/1053825914531920. ISSN 1053-8259. S2CID 145667333.

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