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 loss 2.Identity strain due to making the psychological adaptation 3.Identity rejection by members of the new culture

4.Identity confusion 5.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 CS In-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: Resocializers Alienators Transformers

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 Checkpoint Culture Shock is inevitable Develop support network Establish contacts Seek positive mentors Recognize CS is a transitional

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