| What is Culture Shock? | | | | This clearly shows how important it is to adapt. |
| Culture Shock is a term used to describe the | | | | Over the course of history of mankind, |
| anxiety and feeling (of surprise, disorientation, | | | | evolutionary psychologists have studied the |
| confusion, fear, etc.) felt when people have to | | | | human adaptation and have pointed out that |
| operate within an entirely different cultural or | | | | human beings adapt for two primary reasons: |
| social environment, such as a foreign country. It is | | | | Survival Advantage or Reproductive advantage. |
| a very unpleasant, yet very common experience | | | | But in modern society, neither of these two |
| one goes through when in a foreign country. | | | | threats is relevant anymore. So we have |
| Getting used to the new culture, the new | | | | developed a very strong resistance to change. |
| surroundings, weather, people, systems can be | | | | Instead, human beings value comfort and security |
| very challenging. The feelings of lack of direction, | | | | of routine life so much that change is perceived |
| lack of deep emotional connection to your | | | | as the biggest threat. Our irrational fears limit us |
| surroundings, lack of friendships, relationships, | | | | from exploring and reaching our full potential. |
| financial worries, means of transportation, etc are | | | | When a shuttle takes off, it uses up 90 % of its |
| just few of the many things a person going | | | | fuel just to get out of earths gravity. It's the |
| through culture shock has to experience. This | | | | basic law of nature that most of the energy is |
| experience can cause severe emotional and | | | | consumed in the initial phase of new process. |
| physical discomfort. | | | | Once the momentum is gained, it is easy to make |
| Deeper Reasons On Why We Experience Culture | | | | the progress. The strongest form of Culture |
| Shock | | | | shock is experienced in the initial phase because |
| Culture shock is a normal reaction to change. | | | | that phase requires the fundamental level of shift |
| When you move from one country to another | | | | in all areas of life. |
| country, change is experienced at many levels: | | | | Symptoms of Culture Shock |
| Social, Financial, Health, Cultural, Weather, Lifestyle, | | | | Here are some of the typical symptoms of |
| Relationships etc... | | | | culture shock: |
| We are overwhelmed by changes at so many | | | | · Sadness, loneliness, depression |
| levels, and hence we experience a shock. Some | | | | · Anger, increased irritability |
| people deal with this shock directly, some deny it, | | | | · Loss of Identity, sense of self |
| and some are not even aware of it. | | | | · Lack of confidence |
| If nothing is done to resolve the culture shock, | | | | · Feelings of insecurity, Excessive fear of |
| we may develop attitude and behaviors that | | | | being robbed, or injured. |
| would control our success and happiness for rest | | | | · Great concern over minor pains and skin |
| of our lives. | | | | irruptions |
| Regardless of whether or not we accept it, | | | | · Allergies, Aches |
| humans are resistive to change. Change takes | | | | · Terrible longing to be back home |
| conscious effort. | | | | · Confusion, unable to solve simple |
| This resistance adds up to the shock. The | | | | problems |
| stronger is our resistance to change, the heavier | | | | Stages of Culture Shock |
| is the culture shock we experience. | | | | As Dr. Carmen Guanipa (San Diego State |
| Charles Darwin, the father of theory of evolution, | | | | University) points out, there are several stages of |
| is very well known for his remarkable research: | | | | this experience: |
| "It is not the strongest of the species that | | | | Honeymoon Stage: Everything is new and exciting. |
| survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It | | | | One enjoys the excitement of being in a new |
| is the one that is the most adaptable to change." | | | | place and new culture. |