Culture Shock & Identity Crisis Challenges The Evangelist Might Face

Challenges The Evangelist Might Face When you are transferred to another culture …and so on… The foreigner feels like “a fish out of water“.

What makes us “us” and them “them” What is “Culture?” The way of life of people passed down from one generation to the next through learning Culture is what makes you a stranger when you are away from home - Philip Bock What makes us “us” and them “them” Bob Sjogren

Culture is like an Iceberg. What is “Culture?” Culture is like an Iceberg. Most of it is UNDER the water of awareness

What is “Culture?” BEHAVIOR BELIEFS VALUES AND THOUGHT PATTERNS

WHEN ICEBERGS COLLIDE

WHEN ICEBERGS COLLIDE

WHEN ICEBERGS COLLIDE

Causes of Culture Shock Collision of “Icebergs” or Internal Cultures Breakdown of Communication Identity Crisis Cues = Signals

Breakdown Of Communication Human beings are social. When communications break down, we experience pain and frustration In a cross-cultural encounter, communications will break down

Identity crisis It occurs when we go outside our home culture into a foreign culture and alien environment. Identity Crisis is our psychological reaction to a totally unfamiliar or alien environment.

Culture Shock Culture shock is a normal but unpleasant and negative experience • Positive Effects of Culture Shock are: – Learning experience – Increase intercultural understanding adaptation integration

The “symptoms” and “prognosis” vary with each individual. Culture Shock The "software of the mind" does not work in a different cultural environment. (Hofstede) Is a psychological phenomenon resulting from the stress produced when we leave our home cultural environment. The “symptoms” and “prognosis” vary with each individual.

Symptoms Depression, feeling of helplessness Hostility towards the host culture and its members Home sickness Lethargy Fear of physical contact Foreigners often join to complain about the host culture Stereotyping

Six stages of Culture Shock 1- The preliminary stage (preparation) 2- The spectator stage (honeymoon)

Six stages of Culture Shock 3- The participation stage 4- Problems begin to arise, the shock stage

Six stages of Culture Shock 5- Adjustment stage 6- Reentry stage. Culture shock in reverse may set in with individuals but this time in their native land.

Stages of Culture Shock + 1. Euphoria Feelings 2. Culture shock 3. Acculturation 4. Stable state Time - 1. 2. 3. 4.

Integration / Multiculturalism Possible Outcomes Identification with host culture Identification with original culture High Low Assimilation Separation Integration / Multiculturalism Marginalisation One rejects his culture of origin and adapts to the host culture, completely converting to its values & behaviours. Both cultures are perceived as being “equal“ AND mutually compatible. The person feels “at home“ in both Cultures Both cultures are perceived as being “equal“, but mutually incompatible The host culture is rejected and the norms of the original culture are strengthened.

“Culture Shock” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFbPCj_cajY

Integration / Multiculturalism Possible Outcomes Identification with host culture Identification with original culture High Low Assimilation Separation Integration / Multiculturalism Marginalisation Joseph Lot’s Wife Ester Daniel St. Paul  Now when Peter[a] had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.  14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you[b] compel Gentiles to live as Jews?[c] 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, ولكن لما اتى بطرس الى انطاكية قاومته مواجهة لانه كان ملوما. 12 لانه قبلما اتى قوم من عند يعقوب كان ياكل مع الامم ولكن لما اتوا كان يؤخر ويفرز نفسه خائفا من الذين هم من الختان. 13 وراءى معه باقي اليهود ايضا حتى ان برنابا ايضا انقاد الى ريائهم. 14 لكن لما رايت انهم لا يسلكون باستقامة حسب حق الانجيل قلت لبطرس قدام الجميع ان كنت وانت يهودي تعيش امميا لا يهوديا فلماذا تلزم الامم ان يتهودوا. 15 نحن بالطبيعة يهود ولسنا من الامم خطاة Moses Oprah Lot Peter when he refused to eat Gal 2: 11

Is it possible to minimise the impact? First: Be Aware Next: Remember Third: Accept

Curing culture shock Pray Don’t think that you’re strange or abnormal Prepare yourself for Cultural Adaptation: - Knowledge: Forewarned is forearmed. - Skills: Learn Local Communication Complexities. - Abilities - Attitudes

Curing culture shock 4) Force yourself to look for the best 5) Train yourself to enjoy the diversity of people, not fear it. 6) Find a host national who is sympathetic whom you trust. 7) Be Realistic in Expectations 8) Be Patient, Understanding, and Accepting of Self and Hosts.

Cope or Cop Out?!! The positive result can be: Increased self-development. The negative result: Losing a possible growth opportunity.

What Is The Real Value Of The International Experience? Self-control and self-confidence Awareness of another international culture through experience Awareness of our own internal culture Self-awareness of our own values and identity Each situation represents a life turning point that can cause the person to advance. But who will view it as an opportunity and who will view it as a tragedy.

THANK YOU!