Culture Shock

Intercultural Communication

Culture Shock Defined

• Stressful transition when individuals move from a familiar environment into an unfamiliar one

• You feel as though your identity and sense of self is stripped away

• Previously familiar cues and scripts are suddenly inoperable

• You don’t fit in

Oberg 1960 coined term

Culture Shock• Oberg argues CS produces an

identity disorientation • Destroying your sense of

wellbeing

Oberg’s Identity disorientation state

1. A sense of identity loss2. Identity strain due to making the

psychological adaptation3. Identity rejection by members of

the new culture

4. Identity confusion5. Identity powerlessness of not

coping with the new environment

Furnham 2001

ABC’S of Culture Shock

Affectively: feelings of anxiety, bewilderment, confusion, sadness, disorientation

• Intense desire to be elsewhere

ABC’S of Culture Shock

Behaviorally: confusion regarding the norms and rules that guide Cx appropriateness and effectiveness

ABC’s of Culture Shock

Cognitively: lack competence to interpret or explain these “bizarre” behaviors

W-shaped Model**Modified**

Honeymoon Stage: individuals are excited about new environment

Culture Shock Model

Hostility Stage: Sojourners experience major emotional upheaval

Culture Shock Models

Humorous Stage: learning to laugh at their cultural faux pas

W- model of CSIn-sync Adjustment stage:

Sojourners feel “at-home” and experience security and inclusion

Culture Shock Model

Ambivalence stage: Experience wide range of feelings about going home

Culture Shock Model

Reentry Culture Shock stage: Often feel more depressed and stressed than during the initial entry shock

Culture Shock Model

Resocialization stage:ResocializersAlienatorsTransformers

Pro’s (when managed

effectively) • A sense of wellbeing and

heightened positive self-esteem• Emotional richness and enhanced

tolerance for ambiguity, competence, cognitive openness and flexibility

• Enhanced optimism self, other, and surroundings

Con’s• Psychosomatic problems due to

prolonged stress• Emotional upheavals:feelings of

loneliness, isolation, depression, and drastic mood swings

Con’s• Interaction awkwardness due to

the inability to make sense of the verbal and nonverbal cues

Recap CheckpointCulture Shock is inevitableDevelop support networkEstablish contactsSeek positive mentorsRecognize CS is a transitional

World’s Apart• Chapel Hill NC meets Malaysia• Detroit Meets Peru• St Louis Meets Mongolia• Katonah NY Meets India