Chapter Nine Lecture Idea 2: Culture Shock
Chapter Nine Lecture Idea 2: Culture Shock
Culture shock is precipitated by the anxiety that results from a person’s losing all of her familiar signs and symbols of social interaction. When a person enters a strange culture, familiar cues are removed. Without these unwritten rules regarding appropriate behavior, people may experience frustration and anxiety.
Studies show that predictable stages occur when people enter a new culture, country, or environment. The length and intensity of each stage varies from person to person. The following steps are involved:
Honeymoon phase—The person is fascinated by and eager to explore the new environment. Sometimes the honeymoon lasts for such a long time that an outsider might assume that the person has already passed through the other stages and considers the new culture home. When the person finally moves into the next phase, her behavior can come as a surprise to those who have made this assumption. Thoughts such as “I don’t know who I am anymore” or “ I think I made a mistake by making this choice” are indications that someone is leaving the honeymoon stage of cultural adjustment. …show more content…
The person new to the environment realizes the differences between the two cultures and longs for something familiar. She finds fault with many things in this culture. This is often the stage during which stereotypes, such as “the dollar-grabbing American,” “lazy Mexicans,” or “that college doesn’t care about students,” are formed the person in this stage may try to escape from the uncomfortable environment. These efforts could include dropping out of school, taking drugs, drinking, attempting suicide, and so
Culture shock is precipitated by the anxiety that results from a person’s losing all of her familiar signs and symbols of social interaction. When a person enters a strange culture, familiar cues are removed. Without these unwritten rules regarding appropriate behavior, people may experience frustration and anxiety.
Studies show that predictable stages occur when people enter a new culture, country, or environment. The length and intensity of each stage varies from person to person. The following steps are involved:
Honeymoon phase—The person is fascinated by and eager to explore the new environment. Sometimes the honeymoon lasts for such a long time that an outsider might assume that the person has already passed through the other stages and considers the new culture home. When the person finally moves into the next phase, her behavior can come as a surprise to those who have made this assumption. Thoughts such as “I don’t know who I am anymore” or “ I think I made a mistake by making this choice” are indications that someone is leaving the honeymoon stage of cultural adjustment. …show more content…
The person new to the environment realizes the differences between the two cultures and longs for something familiar. She finds fault with many things in this culture. This is often the stage during which stereotypes, such as “the dollar-grabbing American,” “lazy Mexicans,” or “that college doesn’t care about students,” are formed the person in this stage may try to escape from the uncomfortable environment. These efforts could include dropping out of school, taking drugs, drinking, attempting suicide, and so