Cross-Cultural Conflict & Adjustment

A fish out of water This expression has been used to describe someone who is living in a new culture. Such a person will experience a variety of emotional “ up and down” lasting from weeks to years.

Meaning: You are like a fish out of water if you're surrounded by people who are different from you, which makes you feel a little unpleasant .

Length of stay: How long will the person be in a new country? Language and cultural background: How similar are the language and culture of the new country to the person’s native language and culture? Language and cultural knowledge: How well does the newcomer speak the language and understand the culture of the new country?

Personality: How flexible and tolerant is the newcomer? Relationships with others: How much support from either family or friends does the newcomer have? Financial situation: What financial resources does the person have?

Job: Does the newcomer have a job Job: Does the newcomer have a job? Is it a simpler job than the one the person had in his/her native country? Age: How old is the person? Degree of ethnocentrism: How ethnocentric is the newcomer? Does this person think that the new culture is inferior to his or hers ? To what degree does the newcomer consider everything in his/her homeland to be normal and everything in the new environment to be “strange” ?

A Ride on a Roller Coaster What happens to someone living in a different culture? The experience can be like riding a roller coaster. He/She can experience both elation and depression in a very short period. He/She can vacillate between loving and hating the new country.

A ride on a roller coaster means that an experience is a roller coaster, or a roller-coaster ride, if it involves many emotional highs and lows.

Initial adjustment: Everyday activities such as hosing and shopping are no longer major problems. Mental isolation: Individuals have been away from their family and good friends for a long time and may feel lonely.

Return anxiety: There may be confusion and emotional pain about leaving a place because friendships will have to be disrupted. Return honeymoon: Immediately upon arrival in the person’s home country, there is generally a great deal of excitement.

The W-Curve Adjustment

How do you feel when you first come to a new place?

Interested in new things Eager to visit every place

Honeymoon Period The new-comer is excited about everything in the new culture. He/She is elated to be experiencing a new culture.

And when do differences/ difficulties happen???

Culture Shock New problems occur. The new-comer feels tired of struggling with new environment/ cultures/ languages.

Time passes by…

No -> YES

Initial Adjustment The new-comer gets acquainted with daily life He/She adapts to new environment and tries to overcome trouble in his/her life.

Depression

Depression: a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical symptoms such as sleeplessness. The state of feeling very sad without hope

Mental Isolation The new-comer may have a sense of not completely belonging to another place.

Mental Isolation Feeling alone Depression Fearing other people Negative self-image

The new-comer can not express himself/herself as well as he/she could in his/her native language. He/She tends to be lack of self-confidence and finds it hard to get a job or study well.

Reasons Lack of close family ties Living alone Difficulties in meeting new people due to access issues, introverted personalities Feelings of loss or grief A mental health condition such as depression or anxiety Fear of rejection from others or feelings of being “different” from society

Effects on Mental Health Physical symptoms – aches and pains, headaches, illnesses or the worsening of medical conditions Mental health conditions – increased risk of depression, anxiety, paranoia or panic attacks Low energy – tiredness or lack of motivation

Acceptance and Integration

Acceptance: the process of allowing somebody to join something or be a member of a group, willingness to accept an unpleasant or difficult situation Integration: feeling a sense of ease about living in the new culture, bringing about a feeling of self-assurance and a more complete understanding of one’s culture and the new culture.

Individual Adjustment Individuals experience the stage of adjustment in different ways because of different personalities, age groups, languages, and support from families and friends..

Re-entry Adjustment

Re-entry adjustment is simply the transition back into one’s home culture after living a time in another. This process is usually shorter and less intensive than any adjustment in a new culture.

The re-entry adjustment process

Acceptance and Integration A routine has been established in the new culture. The foreigner has accepted and is plesant with cultural differences

Return Anxiety There may be confusion and emotional pain about leaving the place because friendship will have to be disrupted. He/She may be nervous about going home.

Return Honeymoon

What these terms refer to involves the difficulties you may face upon re-entering your own culture Typically the more successful you are in immersing yourself in the country and culture where you have just been, the more difficult you will be while re-adjusting to your own culture, and getting back into the routine of your old life. You are likely to go through an adjustment process, similar to what you might have experienced overseas. Initially, you will probably be a little excited about backing to your own country, seeing your friends and family once again. Yet, you may quickly move out of this stage, as you realize that your friends and family seem only mildly interested in hearing about your experience overseas. Also, things have changed , and you might feel a little out of place in your own culture. You might get irritated and impatient. Others may expect you to act the same as you always did, but you have changed, and find it difficult to do so.

What makes re-entry shock more difficult than culture shock? There are several reasons why re-entry shock can sometimes be so much more intense than culture shock. The main reason is probably because it is not expected. Another factor that can make it difficult is the lack of understanding and support of those around you.

Re-integration in the Native Country In this stage, the involved person realizes the positive and negative aspects of both countries and has a balanced perspective about his/her experiences.

CROSS-CULTURAL CONFLICTS Different backgrounds and standards of thinking, being and acting.

Every culture has its distinct features to make it different from another culture: Language, Physical Appearance, Dress  “The Tip of Iceberg” Communication styles, beliefs, attitudes, values and perception  “The Underneath of Iceberg”  Invisible Rules  Culture Shock

The involved person thinks it is simple to do a certain thing , it may cause serious misunderstanding among people from different culture.

He/She can not accommodate himself/herself to fulfil gaps between cultures.  Depression

Resolution Better understanding the social, political and economic environments of other cultures and their impact on personal behaviour; Gaining better awareness and appreciation of the similarities and differences among different cultures; Being flexible and realistic to an extent that could contribute to resolving conflicts