Chapter 3 Culture shock
1:38 space
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6C2e84a5lc&feature=related
Q: Define culture shock (p.108) and
describe your experience (p.110).
Oberg (1960) defines culture shock as the
distress of new comers to a different
culture experience as a result of being
confronted with an environment in which
their familiar patterns of social
interaction are no longer valid.
People from the west are shocked by the squat
toilet prevalent in Asia most especially, China,
Thailand, Indonesia, and even found in
Singapore's spotlessly clean, ultra-modern
Changi Airport toilets. Cleansing after
defecating is done with water (and preferably
soap) douche, and the user is expected to flush
their resultant mess on the toilet or floor
manually via the ladle or bucket provided. As
such, many Asians are revolted by Western
toilets not providing the post-defecation toilet
hose.……………………………
Q: What are the factors of culture shock?
The factors of culture shock
1. Degree of difference between the individual’s culture and the new
culture
2. An individual’s prior cross-cultural experiences
3. The individual’s preparedness
4. The social support networks
5. The cultural distance between the two cultures
6. The psychological characteristics of the individual
Q: Explain Oberg (1960)’s four-stage model of culture shock.
Oberg (1960)’s four-stage model
1. Honeymoon stage (tourist phase)
open to new experience, focus on positive aspects
2. Culture shock
feel overwhelmed and confounded by the new culture,
experience disorientation and unease. Homesick.
3. Adjustment (acculturation) stage
develop problem-solving skills.
4. Recovery (adaptation) stage
function effectively in the new culture,
successful in resolving problems
Q: Lysgaard (1955) and Ward & Kennedy (1996) have
different ideas about culture shock (p.112). Which do you
think fits your case?
Q: Explain Adler (1972)’s five-stage model.
Adler (1972)’s five-stage model
1. Contact stage
2. Disintegration stage
(They experience a loss of self-esteem)
3. Reintegration stage
(Anger occurs. The new culture is rejected)
4.Autonomy stage
(Cross-cultural situations are handled easily)
5.Independence stage
(Choice and accountability join a respect for one’s culture and the
culture of others)
Q. What are the causes of culture shock? Reflect on
your own experience with culture shock (p.114).
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Contact with another culture
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The need for a new language/ culture
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When the shared expectations of appropriate social behavior
through enculturation process in the given culture are
violated
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When most of the cues of social behavior familiar to them are
no longer present
Q: What are the individual’s psychological
characteristics that may ease the culture shock?
The psychological characteristics of the individual
1. Individual’s tolerance for ambiguity (Gudykunst,1998;
Kohls,2001; Marx,1999)
2. Motivation (Taft, 1985)
External vs. internal dimensions to culture shock (Triandis 1975)
External dimensions
Socioeconomic differences
educational and vocational opportunities
Internal dimensions
Self-identity
Social support networks
Collectivism vs. individualism
Q. What are the three levels that culture shock impacts?
Provide examples.
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Culture shock on emotional level
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*
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Culture shock on rational level
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*
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Culture shock on identity level
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*
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Culture shock on emotional level
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etc.
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Emotional turmoil, anger, anxiety, depression, loneliness, homesickness,
frustration, worry, irritation, helplessness, hostility, obsession with cleanliness
Mood swings.
Both physical and psychosomatic illnesses
Culture shock on rational level
*
*
Norms and perspectives of one’s own culture are no longer valid
Negative stereotyping and ethnocentricity
Cognitive fatigue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d3ZKhcyN3M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIsfUN7hhU&feature=related
Culture shock on identity level
*
Human identities – things we share with other human beings
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Social identities – individual’s societal roles, nationality, gender, membership
*
Personal identities- individual’s personality traits
Communication is an “act of creating and
validating self-images”
(Zaharna 1989, p.510)
The culture is different, and the expected
parameters of social roles and social
associations are no longer valid, so
newcomers are faced with uncertain and
ambiguous communication events as well
as inconsistent self-images. The result is
self-shock. ……..
Q. How would you make culture shock a learning experience
in your classroom?
Negative consequence
Positive consequence
Culture shock
Permanent state
Transitional phase
Positive effects of culture shock
•
Opportunities to examine the degree to which we are influenced by
our own culture
•
More cognitive openness and flexibility
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Greater tolerance for ambiguity
•
New understanding of what elements contribute to our sense of self
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Opportunities to face our own ethnocentrism
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New attitudes and perspectives on the nature of culture