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Culture Shock

Objetives

What is a cultural shock??


How can I identify it?
What can I do about it?

What is Culture shock?


Is the personal disorientation a person may feel when
experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or
a visit to a new country, a move between social
environments, or simply travel to another type of life.

Symptoms
Abandonmen

Anxiety

Homesicknes

Depression

Boredom

Self-doubt

Fatigue
Insufficiency
Physical Ailments

Paranoia

Human Response to Change


1 Sudden Awareness
2 Denial
3 Blame Others

7 Problem
Solving

4 Blame Self

Confusion
5 Immobilization

Time

6 Acceptance

Adaptation Curve
Honeymoon
Period

Culture
Shock

Adjustment
Stage

Recovery

Reverse
Culture Shock

Honeymoon Period|Tourist Stage


Honeymoon
Period

Everything is exciting and


new
The new culture is ideal [Is
much better than you own]
You quickly recover after
have problems.
Everything is quite positive

Culture Shock Period

Culture
Shock

All the little problems and frustrations appear


much bigger.
You feel confused and lonely
If you find someone from your own culture you
may become dependent on them.
You will make stereotypes of the people.
You miss your own culture and country.

This is the most critical stage and it is


possible try to go back home, it is a
stage too hard.

Recovery Stage

Recovery

You eventually learn to deal with the differences.


You will try to integrate the new culture with your
own beliefs.
You begin to learn the language and make more
friends.
You have the occasional crisis but you develop a
positive attitude towards it.
This period can be slow.

It is always possible to go back a stage into Shock


again.

Adjustment Stage

Adjustment
Stage

You can now live with the new culture.


Your behavior is stable.
Although it is difficult to be completely
assimilated, you have got important personal
changes and growth in order to be able to
integrate into the new culture.
You have developed a bicultural identity.

TIPS!

MAKE NEW
FRIENDS
KEEP BUSY

Dealing with It

How to deal with


cultural shock?

10. Keep busy and active


9. Establish strong friendship with people from the host
culture
8. Make a list of positive things about the culture and
look through it occasionally
7. Realize that everyone who goes abroad experiences
culture shock

6. Be an avid learner about the country. Find


out all the information you can
5. Try to trace every strange action to its
underlying values
4. Find someone from your country that has
been there longer. Use that person to gain
perspective

3. Avoid foreigners who spend their time


complaining about the host culture. Avoid
criticizing the host culture yourself
2. Work at maintaining a healthy sense of
humor. Be ready to laugh at yourself
1. When talking about experiences, focus on
your feelings rather than the causes

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