Prepared byPrepared by

Rawand S Saheed Rawand S Saheed

What’s culture shock?

What’re causes and effects of culture shock?

What’re stages of culture shock?

How to cope with culture shock?

Culture shock – term used to Culture shock – term used to describe reactions to describe reactions to psychological disorientation or psychological disorientation or persistent feelings of uneasiness, persistent feelings of uneasiness, loneliness, and anxiety that occur loneliness, and anxiety that occur when a person has shifted from when a person has shifted from one culture to a different one one culture to a different one

When ever someone travels to overseas they are like a fish out of water

Like a fish we have been swimming in our own culture our whole lives

When we suddenly leave the water …

Causes of culture shock:Causes of culture shock:

Information overload-to much Information overload-to much new culture,all at oncenew culture,all at once

Role shifting-my normal Role shifting-my normal relationship,job,identity,are relationship,job,identity,are gonegone

Personal sock-Iam tired, Personal sock-Iam tired, confused lostconfused lost

Effects/Symptoms of Culture Shock:Effects/Symptoms of Culture Shock:

Intense discomfortIntense discomfort

ResentmentResentment

DepressionDepression

HomesicknessHomesickness

HoneymoonIrritability/HostilityGradual AdjustmentAdaptation

A new placeA new place

New sights – sounds – smells – New sights – sounds – smells – tastes tastes

Things go smoothlly – for a while Things go smoothlly – for a while

Actions during irritability: Withdrawal from host cultureInteracting only with other peopleFeelings of revange

Actions during hostility:Verbal aggressivenessPhysical aggressivenessStereotyping

TimeLess isolation/greater comfortMore interaction with host culture

Greater enjoyment of local customsComfort with host culture communication styleRealization that you will miss aspects of host culture when you return home

How To Cope with Culture Shock:

••a sense of humor a sense of humor ••open-mindedness open-mindedness ••an ability to cope with host culturean ability to cope with host culture••flexibility and adaptability flexibility and adaptability ••positive outlook; optimismpositive outlook; optimism