The Relationship between Personality and Culture Shock
Graduation Thesis
Presented to
The Faculty of the Department of
English Language and Literature
Notre Dame Seishin University
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirement of the Degree
Bachelor of Arts
By
Taeko Makino
2012
Contents
Abstract
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 What is culture shock?
1.2.1 Introduction
1.2.2 Definitions of culture shock
1.2.3 Causes of Culture shock
1.2.4 Culture Bumps
1.2.5 Famous Cases
1.2.6 Reverse culture shock
1.3 Models of Cultural adjustment
1.4 Individual differences and culture shock
1.4.1 Introduction
1.4.2 What are the personality types called Big Five?
1.4.3 The relation between personality and culture shock
1.5 Focus of the thesis
1.6 Summary
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Chapter Two: The Study
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The experiment
2.2.1. Introduction to the questionnaire
2.2.2 Method
A) Subjects
B) The questionnaire
C) Procedure
2.3. Results
2.4 Summary
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Chapter Three: Discussion
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Summary of the results
3.3 Discussion of the results
3.3.1 Data for personality check test
3.3.2 Data for cultural difference check test
3.3.3 Comparison data
3.3.4 Correlations
3.3.5 Discussion of the Research Questions
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3.4 Implications
3.5 Limitations of the Experiments
3.6 Further Research
3.7 Conclusion
References
Appendices
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Abstract
Nowadays, there are a lot of Japanese who go abroad and the number has been
increasing from the late 1980’s. There are various reasons such as business, studying,
homestay or just sightseeing, however, it is certain that people have become much more
interested in other countries than before. Some people look forward to the things which they
can experience abroad, and others think it is just a part of their job. On the other hand, not so
many people know there is a possibility to get exposed to culture shock which can happen to
anybody. The shock may even continue as Reverse culture shock after coming back home.
The influence is much harder than they think and they sometimes become sick because of it.
The degree of culture shock depends on each individual. Of all the causes, individual
differences, especially personality, may make a great difference for each person. Through this
thesis, we will see how culture shock is influenced by personality, what the influential factors
are and how people react to the shock. If we find out some relation between personality and
culture shock, we will be able to give some tips for people of each type who will go abroad in
the future.
A questionnaire was given to 51 Japanese asked their sex and the experience which
was about whether they had been abroad before or not. The questionnaire had two parts:
personality check test and cultural difference check test. The former was based on personality
type called the Big Five and the latter asked some cultural differences that people feel
unfamiliar. In Chapter One, the background of culture shock and information for individual
differences will be introduced. In Chapter Two, we will see the results from the questionnaire.
Chapter Three will tell us more details of the results and we will discuss about it.
Culture shock can lead to deep mental depression and/or panic. In the questionnaire,
we discovered that there was not much of a relationship between personality and culture
shock. However, we could find what kinds of factors were influential for people in other
countries and how they dealt with it. These results shows people feel cultural differences and
1
they do not take part in it positively. Therefore, it is essential for them to get the knowledge
about culture shock to help integration to the other cultures before going abroad.
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Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Introduction
These days, so many people go abroad for their own reasons. It may be for work,
studying abroad or sightseeing. At that time, culture shock can often happen to anybody so it
is always important to adjust to a host country’s culture. Most people may feel culture shock
in both good ways and bad ways. There are many factors which cause culture shock. Of all of
them however, personalities could be greatly related to the degree that people feel culture
shock. But, what is culture shock and how does it happen? Besides, what factors including
personalities are important in determining the rate of culture shock someone feels? It is
interesting to find out what culture shock is and the process of how it happens. We will also
see some definitions and some theories that show the general process of culture shock.
Furthermore, we will look at how people who went abroad generally feel the process and
differences among individuals in this chapter.
1.2 What is culture shock?
1.2.1 Introduction
Going abroad is actually exciting and enjoyable. It makes us think deeply and
broaden our view as people can get precious and valuable memories in the host country.
However, during the stay, most people can feel negative feelings like worry and anxiety and
they could experience cultural differences as they are often be unexpected things which may
cause a culture shock and may start to be confused. A culture shock can be caused by an
accumulation of culture bumps and there are stages for it. The degree that people feel the
stress and the period people overcome culture shock are so different, but everyone who feels
a culture shock goes through these process. There are so many definitions that explain culture
shock. We will look at some of them in the next section.
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1.2.2 Definitions of culture shock
In this section, we should look some definitions of culture shock to understand what
they mean. They tell when they happen and what kind of feeling people experience.
Here are some of the definitions.
1. …anxiety that results from losing all of our familiar signs and symbols of social
intercourse (Oberg, 1960 in Bennett, 1998: 215).
2. Culture shock is primarily a set of emotional reactions to the loss of perceptual
reinforcements from one’s own culture, to new cultural stimuli which have little
or no meaning, and to the misunderstanding of new and diverse experiences
(Adler, 1975 in Bennett, 1998: 215-216).
3. …the emotional and physiological reaction of high activation that is brought
about by sudden immersion in a new and different culture (Barna, 1976 in
Bennett, 1998: 222)
4. …the trauma you experience when you move into a culture different from your
home culture” (Chaney, Martin, 2000 in Uwaje 2009).
The phrase was popularized by anthropologist Kalvero Oberg (1960) to describe the
feelings of disorientation and anxiety that many people experience for a period of time while
living in a foreign country (Jandt, 2010: 292). These are the definitions mainly about the
feeling that people experience during culture shock. The feelings often describe negatives
such as homesick, bored, withdrawal, criticism of the host country, isolation and frustration.
Some people are depressed so much they become ill in bed when the symptoms are serious.
People can be confused in their new and different surroundings without their familiar
things around them. Moreover, culture shock can cause communication problems as well.
When we are anxious, lonely, and disoriented, our communication skills degenerate (Bennett,
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1998: 217). It makes us more isolated from the new circumstance more and more, and the
symptoms get promoted. It will be a vicious circle of culture shock.
However, culture shock can be sometimes experienced not only in a negative way
but also in a positive way. For example, people who find a new useful product that they do
not have in their culture feel envious of it and would tell about it to local people as good
information. The shock influences people in a good way. When people are in culture shock,
they are becoming more involved in a host culture and getting a motivation for trying to
understand the cultural differences. They can know both the strong and weak points of each
culture.
1.2.3 Causes of Culture shock
Culture shock occurs to people in different way when they go abroad and the degree
depends on individuals as well. There are some causes of culture shock by Furnham and
Bochner (1982 in Uwaje, 2009). They said there are 3 main categories that cause culture
shock: Cultural differences, Individual differences and Sojourn experiences.
1. Cultural differences
The symptoms of culture shock are a cultural phenomenon seen only when individual
lives in a different culture (Ishii, 1996). The quality, quantity and length of culture shock
seem to be a function of the differences between the home and the host culture (Uwaje, 2009).
It seems that being closer to home (both in terms of culture and geography) may limit the
needed cultural interaction and potentially impair adjustment (Janssens, 1995 in Uwaje,
2009).Cultural differences include those elements such as value, common idea and political
or economical position. The degree of culture shock is influenced by individual’s culture.
2. Individual differences
There are so many differences between individuals: one’s educational background,
age, sex, social position, personality and communication ability. How well people can deal
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with the stress may depend so much on each person. Especially their demographic and
psychographic make-up poses a difference at this point (Uwaje, 2009). Children may be able
to adapt to culture shock sooner than old people who have lived in their own cultural style.
Furthermore, people who are in a high social position may feel so much difficulty in cultures
where human relations are more equal.
3. Sojourn differences
How an individual deals with culture shock and how he adapts to a new culture,
depends on his intercultural experiences, especially with the host culture (Uwaje, 2009).
These 3 causes of culture shock should be considered when people go abroad. They
need to care about what elements may strong for themselves for not to get hard culture shock
as much as possible before going abroad. For example, people who are not confident about
their language abilities, they should bring dictionary or books or materials that help them to
communicate with people more easily. To know the cultural differences helps people to adjust
the host culture.
1.2.4 Culture bumps
Archer (1986) uses the term ‘culture bump’ to refer to cases where an individual
from one culture finds himself or herself in a different, strange, or uncomfortable situation
when interacting with persons of a different culture (Jiang, 2001: 382).Culture bumps happen
when people expect one type of behavior, but it is something completely different. It occurs
in both good way and bad way. For example, people from different cultures want to be polite,
but cultures differ in the actual ways they realize and judge politeness (Jiang, 2001: 382).
Another example is when people use a body language. If a person turns his palm of the hand
to the bottom and draw in the foreground, it means “Come here.” in Japan. However, it
means the opposite in the US.
The body language which people express in a good meaning in their culture
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sometimes means completely the opposite and they get surprised about it. We have to care
those kind of differences can cause culture bumps.
There is not so much information about the difference between culture shock and
culture bumps, but it is often said that culture shock is a series of culture bumps. Culture
shock is referred to happen in long process, on the other hand, culture bumps happens in
small scale and is milder. When people feel just surprised about some difference, it can be
said culture bumps.
1.2.5 Famous Cases
Culture shock is seen in some examples. In this section, we will look at some famous
cases of culture shock, which are considered as serious examples of it.
Paris Syndrome
Paris Syndrome is a famous example of culture shock among Japanese. It happens to
people who idealized Paris too much and feel so much depression when they realized the
reality there. There are a lot of Japanese who have a deep romance for Paris whose high
culture such as fashion or art is so respected in the world. The main sufferers are women in
their twenties or thirties who have high expectations about the culture. They are influenced by
media which tells them only the beautiful side of Paris. French are frank and individualists,
and have strong humor. On the other hand, Japanese are polite, honest and act in a group.
Therefore, people can be greatly shocked and suffer from the colder Parisians’ attitude or
rudeness more than they had expected. The symptoms are serious: communication disorder,
anthropophobia, a fear for going out and some people come to die (Uchida, 2005).
There are some other cases like Paris Syndrome. Indian Syndrome is very similar to
Paris Syndrome. The patients, usually Westerners in their mid-20s and 30s, come in with the
same afflictions: paranoia, schizophrenia or acute delirium (Tehelka, 2011). The numbers are
significant every year. Many Westerners are interested in famous temples and places in India
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and go there to see them. However, they finally experience significant differences of life in
India compared to their wealthy one. Doctors report similar psychiatric manifestations in
Jerusalem, where the encounter with a city that is the religious centre of three faiths — Islam,
Judaism and Christianity — can sometimes bring on a sense of spiritual shock (Tehelka,
2011). As we can see, these syndromes are related to Cultural differences already introduced
in this chapter. To understand the real situation of host culture is important to avoid deep
culture shock.
1.2.6 Reverse culture shock
Many people may know about culture, but there is another culture shock that is not
well known that can happen after coming back home. It is called reverse culture shock or
sometimes Re-entry shock. If a person has adjusted exceptionally well to the host culture,
reverse culture shock may occur upon return to the home country (Jandt, 2010: 293). It is
often said that Reverse culture shock is much harder to overcome than culture shock. People
who better integrated themselves with their host culture will have very hard time during the
shock. This shock causes great confusion and mental conflicts. They will likely be more
critical about their home culture while they admire their host culture. There are a few main
elements that cause reverse culture shock.
Firstly, an idealized view of home makes people confused. When the inconsistency
between expectations and reality for their home country is seen remarkably, the shock reaches
maximum. People expected their family or friends to be very interested to their experience in
abroad and finally realize not so many people care about their story than expected. Secondly,
the expectation that nothing has changed in their home country causes unfamiliarity. People
do not know what happened in home while they have been abroad. A lot of energy is needed
to make up lost time. The feelings which people experience are similar to original culture
shock: frustration, loneliness, alienation and mental disorientation. Family or friends around
the patients see them as different compared before going abroad and there is sometimes
misunderstanding between them.
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1.3 Models of Cultural Adjustment
Culture shock mostly happens in stages. The process and the effect people
experience can be different from person to person. However, people do not know it happens
to anybody naturally. To see the general stages is useful to understand how culture shock
happens and how we can prepare to overcome it. Researchers have discussed it and there are
some models of stages that show how it happens. The models are U-Curve, W-Curve and the
ten stages of adjustment.
U-Curve and W-Curve
As a process of cultural adjustment, two hypothesis of U-Curve by Lysgaard and
W-Curve by Gullahorn are well known (Ishii, 1996).The following figure of U-curve shows
the four main stages of adjusting to a foreign culture. This is used as an original model of
cultural adjustment. Figure 1 shows U-curve and Figure 2 describes W-curve. Besides, Figure
3 is Rhinesmith's Ten Stages of Adjustment.
Figure 1: U-curve
1. Honeymoon
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2. Culture shock (Crisis / Frustration)
1
3. Adjustment (Recovery)
3
4. Mastery
2
1. Honeymoon
In this phase, people usually see minor problems and look forward to getting new
experiences. During the time, cultural differences are seen as attractive and charming and
they tend to see only the positive aspects of the difference of the new culture. This phase can
last from a few days to about six weeks. People could be interested, open-minded and ready
to accept a new culture in this first stage.
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2. Culture shock (Crisis / Frustration)
This stage starts when people begin to see the situation they are in less idealistic and
more realistic terms, so they see the more negative aspects of the host culture. The feelings
people may experience are frustration, irritability and confusion. Especially the difference in
language is a big issue as well as values and beliefs of the country. People find themselves in
a situation of disappointment and refection of the host culture due to the inconsistency
between expectations and reality. From this time, people need to start to adjust themselves to
a new culture.
3. Adjustment (Recovery)
This stage is a turning point. During this stage, people return home or they get the
understanding and adjust to the host culture. The adjustment involves acquiring greater
knowledge of language or culture of host country, and understanding the local situation.
Besides, people have the great sense to expect things and to well control themselves.
4. Mastery
In the final stage, people have a sense of dual cultural identity and can get on with
both host and home cultures, which is called biculturalism. They accept the new culture, and
even more, start to think differences or similarities are valuable things that can be found only
among the people who have experienced culture shock.
The U-Curve describes a process of cultural transition that happens in a host country.
On the other hand, the W-Curve describes not only a process in the host culture but also an
adjustment after going back home. People experience another culture shock that called
Reverse culture shock we already saw in this chapter after coming back home.
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Figure 2: W-curve
Host country
Home
Reverse culture shock is usually described in 4 stages.
1. Disengagement
Before leaving the host country, people think about returning home and get prepared
for it. They feel sadness and frustration to say good-bye to people in host country.
2. Initial euphoria
This stage usually begins shortly before departure. People feel happy or excited
about going back home. This feeling is similar to the one they already have in Honeymoon
stage of culture shock. The length depends on the person, but it often ends when they realize
the things are different at home and people are not interested in their experiences than they
had thought.
3. Irritability and hostility
This stage is like Crisis in initial culture shock. People may experience the feelings
like frustration, anger, loneliness or disorientation. They may feel even they are stranger in
their home country. They do not exactly know why these feelings happen and struggle with
the symptoms.
4. Readjustment
Things start to be seen little more normal. In this stage people develop their thinking
for both the host and home culture: attitude, beliefs, habits and personal and professional
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goals. Trying to cope with positive aspects of both cultures is important to deal with the
stress.
The stages are similar to culture shock, but it seems that reverse culture shock is
harder for people to overcome as mentioned above.
However, these processes are actually more complex and the number of a process is
different by some researchers. Recently, the W-Curve has tried to add a little modification to
the process (Ishii, 1996). Moreover, some researchers have described the experiences of host
culture in five stages. Their process is divided into a little more detail. There are a lot of
repetition of crisis and adjustment in culture shock. People may meet many shocks and adjust
them each time during it. Therefore, we should see another model by Rhinesmith
(1984).Emotional transition is described as more complex than U-Curve or W-Curve. There
are 10 stages of emotional transition which are like a roller coaster.
Figure3:Rhinesmith's Ten Stages of Adjustment
Source: Rhinesmith, 1984: 7.
1. Initial anxiety
2. Initial elation
3. Initial culture shock
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4. Superficial adjustment
5. Depression-frustration
6. Acceptance of host culture
7. Return anxiety
8. Return elation
9. Re-entry shock
10. Reintegration
Stages 1 through 5 are exposures to a new culture: emotional transition before
meeting a new culture and during the stay like U-Curve. In the stage of Initial anxiety, there
is a mention about feelings like anxiety that people experience before going abroad to get
worried about going to a new circumstance. People expect too much and gradually start to
meet culture shock. Besides, to handle emotions well is hard even if people can get used to a
new culture one time. They struggle between understanding and uncomfortable feelings
towards a host culture until stage 6. People accept the new culture by stage 6. They feel the
things are normal and ordinary. From 7 to 10 are stages when people leave the new culture
and is the process for Reverse culture shock. People suffer from culture shock not knowing
these stages. How people get culture shock depends on each person, but these stages happen
to anybody as a process of it.
1.4 Individual differences and culture shock
1.4.1 Introduction
As we saw in section 1.2.3, there are some causes of culture shock. The degree
people feel culture shock depends on the person and the causes. Especially, Individual
differences are an important issue because it is very different from each person not taking into
consideration the nationality. We can see the differences between people not collectively but
more individually. Above all, it is interesting to research the relation between culture shock
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and personality, for they can be separated into some types and we can find the way to deal
with the stress for each type of personality. The reason why culture shock happens is very
complex, so it is good to propose a solution if we can find a strong relation between
personality and culture shock.
1.4.2 What are the personality types called The Big Five?
Nowadays, there are a lot of models of personality type, but the Five Factor Model
has become an established theory among a lot of researchers who try on personality. This is
five characteristic parameters called The Big Five and the idea is features of human
personality can be captured comprehensively and fully (Sugiyama, 1999). There are some
personality check tests based on The Big Five. Japanese NEO-PI-R which is a faithful
translation of the original edition is standardized considering that it is applicable to wide age
group and is adapted to use for national comparative study. It is often used for the check test
such as employment examination.
Here are five factors which express each characteristic.
1. Extraversion
This type is described as excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and
high amounts of emotional expressiveness.
2. Agreeableness
This personality includes the attributes like sympathetic, affectionate, trust, altruism,
kindness, affection and other pro-social behaviors.
3. Conscientiousness
The common features often seen in this type is high levels of thoughtfulness, good
impulse control, goal-directed behaviors, organized, planful and mindful of details.
4. Neuroticism
This trait is expressed by the nature like instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability,
tense and sadness.
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5. Openness
This trait includes characteristics such as imaginative, insightful and having wide
interests.
In each characteristic, some attributes are described as same kind of personality, but
exceptions of course happen. For example, a person who belongs to sociability does not
always have assertiveness personality together. However, the personalities shown in same
traits are basically so related each other.
1.4.3 The relationship between personality and culture shock
Personality is actually considered as an important part of some elements that cause
culture shock. Mendenhall and Oddou (1985) proposed that there are three dimensions of
individual characteristics that should be positively related to cross-cultural adjustment: (1)
self-orientation, (2) perceptual-orientation, and (3) others-orientation (Caligiuri, 2000: 65).
These characteristics are very important when people deal with cultural adjustment. As
Mendenhall and Oddou (1985) suggest, the “other-orientation” dimension encompasses two
types of individual characteristics, or subfactors (Caligiuri, 2000: 65). They are sociability
and Openness. Socializing with others or receptivity to be interested in and to learn new
things help people to get involved in the different culture well. People who react positively to
new surroundings can be mentioned to do it. As we can see, these personalities are included
in the Big Five personality as well.
1.5 Focus of the thesis
We have seen what the culture shock was and how personality can be an important
element of the causes of culture shock. There are many people who feel culture shock, but the
degree is so different from person to person. To research how personality affects culture
shock will help many people not to get hard shock when they go abroad. The research
questions for this thesis are:
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Research Question1: How are personalities related to culture shock?
Research Question2: What factors are influential for people in other countries?
Research Question3: How do people deal with culture shock?
1.6 Summary
When people go abroad, they at least feel some cultural differences between the host
culture and their home culture. Culture shock is very normal and happens to anybody. It is
complex because there are many factors that cause culture it. Besides, the degree of culture
shock depends on each person. To overcome culture shock would be not easy, however,
people can prevent or relieve it and to accept different cultures makes people’s thinking
deeper and wealthy. It is meaningful to adjust culture shock to enjoy their life in other
countries more.
We are going to see the data of the questionnaire in Chapter Two. In the
questionnaire, there are questions which asks about the subjects’ personality and how they
feel the culture that is different from their home country’s one. Then, we will look at the
results and discuss how personality affects the degree of culture shock in Chapter Three.
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Chapter Two: The Study
2.1 Introduction
In Chapter One we looked at that what culture shock and the stages of cultural
adjustment are. We found out it depends on the person and culture shock can be
prevented. It is said that there are some elements that cause culture shock. Of all
elements, especially, personality is very important for it and could be greatly connected
to the degree of culture shock people feel. It is good to know how personalities affect
culture shock and what factors are influential for people to understand culture shock.
Now, we will look at the results of the questionnaire to find out whether personality that
affects culture shock, what kind of factors people can’t accept and how people deal with
the stress.
2.2 The experiment
2.2.1 Introduction to the questionnaire
The aim of this questionnaire is to find out what personality type is more
affected by a culture shock and what factors are influential when people feel a culture
shock. We also will look at how people deal with it. There is a questionnaire which
checks the subjects’ personality and asks about the culture bumps the subjects can
accept or not. Their personalities are classified into 5 types that are called the Big Five.
In addition, there are questions related to the Big Five, for example, food,
communication, custom and so on. Here, we will see the relation between personalities
and the degree of the stress for each. A culture shock is very normal and happens to
anybody, so we can prevent from it as well.
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2.2.2 Method
A) Subjects
The subjects were 51 Japanese selected at random regardless of their ages, but
cared their sex and their experience abroad before. About 14% of the subjects were male,
and about 86% were female. Besides, about 67% had been abroad before, and about
33% had never been abroad before.
B) The questionnaire
A culture shock can be caused by some elements and the degree of it depends
on the person. In these questionnaires, we will look how people of different
personalities are related to how people feel culture shock and the way subjects deal with
the stress. Subjects tried on this questionnaire in Japanese.
a) Personality check test
Questions of personality check test in the questionnaire were mostly based on
Big Five Personality Factors. These types are Extraversion, Agreeableness,
Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Openness to Experience. Questions Nos. 1, 4, 20
and 24 ask about Extraversion, and Questions Nos.5, 22, 31 and 35 ask about opposite
type of it. Questions Nos. 9, 12, 18 and 37 ask about Agreeableness, and Nos. 14, 28, 33
and 39 ask about opposite type of it. Conscientiousness is asked in Nos. 2, 17, 21, 25,
and the opposite is asked in Nos. 3, 6, 10 and 30. Questions Nos. 15, 19, 26 and 38 ask
about Neuroticism. The opposite is asked in Nos. 7, 23, 29 and 32. Openness is asked in
Nos. 8, 11, 16, 27, 34 and 38, and Nos. 13 and 40 ask about the opposite. The full
questionnaire is in Appendix A.
b) Culture bumps check test
Questions of culture bumps check test in the questionnaire were the culture
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bumps that subjects can feel different from their culture and are randomly selected.
They were about food, rules, hygiene and communication. The questionnaire is in
Appendix B.
C) Procedure
The questionnaire had 60 questions for the subjects. The subjects were to
answer questions by choosing the best answer from choices. The questionnaire includes
a section to tell their name, whether they have been abroad or not and their sex. The
questionnaire was given to the subjects and they were allowed to answer questions
without time limitation.
2.3 Results
The following tables show subjects’ personalities and how they felt about the
behaviors which were not familiar to them. They will all be discussed in Chapter Three.
Table 1: Data for the personality check test
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
Disagree
Don’t know
Agree
Completely agree
disagree
I think I’m someone who…
1
2
3
4
5
1. is talkative
0.0%
2.0%
11.8%
43.1%
43.1%
2. prefers work that is routine
5.9%
9.8%
11.8%
60.8%
11.8%
3. tens to be lazy
0.0%
19.6%
21.6%
45.1%
13.7%
4. likes to cooperate with others
0.0%
13.7%
7.8%
39.2%
39.2%
5. tends to be quiet
19.6%
29.4%
25.5%
21.6%
3.9%
6. doesn’t care detail so much
11.8%
23.5%
3.9%
25.5%
35.3%
7. is emotionally stable, not easily upset
7.8%
27.5%
19.6%
33.3%
11.8%
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8. has an active imagination
5.9%
13.7%
11.8%
52.9%
15.7%
9. is helpful and unselfish with others
0.0%
7.8%
33.3%
37.3%
21.6%
10.can be somewhat careless
3.9%
13.7%
21.6%
51.0%
9.8%
11. values artistic, aesthetic experiences
3.9%
29.4%
11.8%
35.3%
19.6%
12. has a forgiving nature
2.0%
11.8%
29.4%
45.1%
11.8%
13. has few artistic interests
31.4%
27.5%
17.6%
17.6%
5.9%
14. tends to find fault with others
9.8%
25.5%
23.5%
31.4%
9.8%
15. can be moody
11.8%
13.7%
19.6%
37.3%
17.6%
16. is original, comes up with new ideas
9.8%
35.3%
23.5%
21.6%
9.8%
17. does a thorough job
11.8%
23.5%
19.6%
29.4%
15.7%
18. is a reliable worker
5.9%
31.4%
31.4%
27.5%
3.9%
19. is depressed, blue
15.7%
19.6%
13.7%
39.2%
11.8%
20. has an assertive personality
2.0%
23.5%
23.5%
35.3%
15.7%
21. makes plans and follows through with them
7.8%
39.2%
19.6%
25.5%
7.8%
22. is sometimes shy, inhibited
17.6%
31.4%
13.7%
31.4%
5.9%
23. is relaxed, handles stress well
9.8%
21.6%
27.5%
29.4%
11.8%
24. is outgoing, sociable
0.0%
13.7%
17.6%
45.1%
23.5%
25. perseveres until the task is finished
0.0%
9.8%
29.4%
35.3%
25.5%
26. can be tense
11.8%
25.5%
25.5%
29.4%
7.8%
27. is sophisticated in art, music, or literature
5.9%
21.6%
21.6%
27.5%
23.5%
28. starts quarrels with others
11.8%
45.1%
7.8%
29.4%
5.9%
29. is not so much irritated
13.7%
39.2%
13.7%
15.7%
17.6%
30. tens to be disorganized
13.7%
29.4%
15.7%
19.6%
21.6%
31. prefer meeting in small groups
5.9%
19.6%
9.8%
41.2%
23.5%
32. is not nervous so much
9.8%
25.5%
15.7%
39.2%
9.8%
33. can be cold and aloof
17.6%
35.3%
31.4%
11.8%
3.9%
34. is curious about many different things
0.0%
5.9%
11.8%
35.3%
47.1%
35. is reserved
5.9%
19.6%
21.6%
43.1%
9.8%
36. is inventive
11.8%
15.7%
33.3%
35.3%
3.9%
37.is considerate and kind to almost everyone
0.0%
5.9%
27.5%
49.0%
17.6%
38. worries a lot
5.9%
17.6%
19.6%
31.4%
25.5%
39. is sometimes rude to others
2.0%
19.6%
31.4%
35.3%
11.8%
40. do not have imaginative idea
15.7%
25.5%
27.5%
25.5%
5.9%
20
Extraversion: Questions 1,4,20 and 24
In Question 1, many subjects said that they were talkative. In Question 4 and
No 24, they answered that they liked to cooperate with others and were outgoing. The
data for Question 20 which asked that they had an assertive personality was answered
almost evenly.
Opposite of Extraversion (Intraversion): Questions 5, 22, 31 and 35
About these questions, subjects answered in varied ways. In Question 31,
41.2% of the subjects answered that they liked to meet in small groups, and No 35,
43.1% of the subjects agreed that they were reserved.
About these questions, some subjects seem that they had Extravert
personalities, but they were somewhat reserved and sometimes shy.
Agreeableness: Questions 9, 12, 18 and 37
Subjects generally agreed with these statements. In Question 12, 45.1% of the
subjects answered that they had a forgiving nature, and in Question 37, 49.0% of the
subjects agreed that they were considerate and kind to almost everyone.
Opposite of Agreeableness: Questions 14, 28, 33 and 39
In Question 28, 45.1 % of the subjects disagreed that they started quarrels with
others, and some subjects also disagreed that they could be cold and aloof in Question
33. However, in Question 39, some subjects answered they were sometimes rude to
others. They answered widely about these questions.
From these questions, the data seemed widely, but many of the subjects exhibit
an Agreeable nature.
21
Conscientiousness: Questions 2, 17, 21 and 25
60.8% of the subjects answered that they liked work that is routine in Question
2. In Question 25, many people agreed that they persevered until the task was finished.
Other 2 questions were answered almost evenly.
Opposite of Conscientiousness: Questions 3, 6, 10 and 30
45.1% of the subjects agreed that they tended to be lazy and 51.0% of the
agreed that they could be somewhat careless. About Question 6 and 30, the data were
widely. From these data, the subjects could seem both Conscientiousness and not. There
was no clear data to estimate they had strong a Conscientiousness nature or not.
Neuroticism: Questions 15, 19, 26 and 38
About these questions the data were so varied. Some of the subjects could have
the time when they felt depressed or worried a lot.
Opposite of Neuroticism: Questions 7, 23, 29 and 32
The data were also answered very widely. Some of them thought that they
could handle their stress, but the others felt not. Some subjects maybe sometimes had a
time they felt moody and unstable, and others not. The data was too varied to get the
clear data.
Openness: Questions 8, 11, 16, 27, 34 and 36
In Question 8, 52.9% of the subjects answered that they had an active
imagination, but the data for other questions was somewhat random.
Opposite of Openness: Questions 13 and 40
22
The data for these questions was also very wide.
From these data for questions about Openness, some of the subjects were
maybe Openness and the others were not.
Table 2: Data for cultural difference check test
1
2
3
4
5
Can’t accept the
Don’t feel good
Don’t feel
Can accept the
Accept the
behavior and
about it so much
anything
behavior
behavior and do
reject it
the same
1
2
3
4
5
pocket
25.5%
35.3%
15.7%
13.7%
9.8%
42. Put jam or yoghurt on rice
49.0%
35.3%
2.0%
7.8%
5.9%
after going to the toilet
37.3%
43.1%
5.9%
3.9%
9.8%
44. Trains or buses do not come on time
3.9%
49.0%
23.5%
13.7%
9.8%
45. Not follow signals at all and driving is rude
44.0%
40.0%
8.0%
4.0%
4.0%
66.0%
28.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
on a floor
56.9%
29.4%
7.8%
3.9%
2.0%
48. Changes are noncommittal
56.9%
35.3%
2.0%
5.9%
0.0%
33.3%
27.5%
9.8%
17.6%
11.8%
harmless
56.9%
29.4%
2.0%
2.0%
9.8%
51. No partition for the toilet
62.7%
29.4%
2.0%
3.9%
2.0%
52. Even women don’t shave underarm hair
18.0%
40.0%
22.0%
16.0%
4.0%
53. Walk in a room with shoes on
21.6%
33.3%
15.7%
13.7%
15.7%
don’t feel the atmosphere
5.9%
33.3%
29.4%
13.7%
17.6%
55. Because people express their opinion or
3.9%
35.3%
13.7%
37.3%
9.8%
41. Blew nose into handkerchief and put it in a
43. Do not flush toilet, wash yourself with water
46. Not only boys but also girls spit on the
ground
47. Throw paper napkin, toothpicks, husks away
49. Eat dishes you have never tried before like
bat, crocodile
50. Don’t wash liquid on plates because they are
54. If you don’t say your request directly, people
23
request directly, it sometimes hears offensively
56. Hug with anyone
9.8%
7.8%
17.6%
37.3%
27.5%
57. Eat with the fingers
9.8%
21.6%
9.8%
39.2%
19.6%
58. Eat their mouth open and make a noise
33.3%
45.1%
15.7%
2.0%
3.9%
59. Get unfriendly service from a shop staff
19.6%
37.3%
19.6%
15.7%
7.8%
60. No talking during meals
8.0%
22.0%
34.0%
26.0%
10.0%
Questions 41, 49, 53, 54, 55, 59 and 60
The data for these questions were very varied. Some subjects could accept the
behavior, but others not. Most of the questions except Nos. 41, 49 and 53 were about
communication. The data maybe depended on individuals’ communication style so
much. Moreover, Questions 49 and 53 were somehow familiar ones as cultural
differences to some people.
Questions 56 and 57
These were the questions that many subjects felt that they could accept the
behavior. They seemed a little bit familiar differences of other cultures for Japanese
people.
Questions 43, 44, 52 and 58
The subjects answered that they did not feel good about these behaviors so
much.
Questions 42, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50 and 51
The subjects answered that they could not accept these behaviors and rejected
them.
Comparison data
Tables 3 and 4 contain the data about the difference between the subjects who
had been abroad and not. A positive percentage means that there were more subjects
who answered no. A minus percentage means that there were more subjects who
answered yes. For example, about the answer 4 in the Question No 1 “is talkative”, the
24
percentage is -31%. It means that there were 31% more people who answered yes than
the people who answered no for the answer. Most of the data are not remarkable but a
few showed differences between them.
Table 3: Personality check test for people who went abroad before or not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
Disagree
Don’t know
Agree
Completely agree
disagree
1
2
3
4
5
1. is talkative
0%
0%
9%
-31%
22%
2. prefers work that is routine
9%
12%
8%
-27%
-1%
3. tens to be lazy
0%
24%
27%
-54%
3%
4. likes to cooperate with others
0%
24%
-13%
-10%
-1%
5. tends to be quiet
-13%
24%
-5%
3%
-9%
6. doesn’t care detail so much
-13%
24%
12%
-11%
-11%
4%
29%
-10%
-9%
-14%
-10%
18%
-20%
-7%
19%
9. is helpful and unselfish with others
0%
12%
-8%
4%
-7%
10. can be somewhat careless
3%
24%
-8%
-11%
-7%
11. values artistic, aesthetic experiences
-8%
29%
5%
5%
-32%
12. has a forgiving nature
-3%
18%
6%
-1%
-19%
13. has few artistic interests
-26%
24%
3%
3%
-2%
14. tends to find fault with others
-10%
24%
-8%
5%
-10%
15. can be moody
-2%
12%
12%
0%
-22%
16. is original, comes up with new ideas
-12%
35%
-23%
2%
-2%
17. does a thorough job
-5%
12%
-1%
8%
-13%
18. is a reliable worker
7%
29%
-18%
-20%
2%
19. is depressed, blue
-9%
29%
-5%
-4%
-11%
20. has an assertive personality
6%
29%
-16%
-28%
9%
21. makes plans and follows through with them
-8%
47%
-14%
-7%
-18%
22. is sometimes shy, inhibited
12%
29%
-20%
-29%
7%
23. is relaxed, handles stress well
2%
41%
-37%
5%
-11%
7. is emotionally stable, not easily upset
8. has an active imagination
25
24. is outgoing, sociable
0%
24%
-2%
-29%
7%
25. perseveres until the task is finished
0%
24%
-19%
-1%
-4%
26. can be tense
-5%
18%
16%
-12%
-17%
27. is sophisticated in art, music, or literature
8%
18%
16%
-25%
-17%
-20%
47%
1%
-23%
-5%
29. is not so much irritated
9%
35%
-13%
-7%
-23%
30. tens to be disorganized
-8%
35%
-2%
-10%
-14%
31. prefer meeting in small groups
-2%
18%
1%
-20%
3%
32. is not nervous so much
-11%
18%
27%
-23%
-11%
33. can be cold and aloof
-10%
35%
-21%
4%
-9%
34. is curious about many different things
0%
12%
9%
-1%
-19%
35. is reserved
8%
12%
-13%
-26%
20%
36. is inventive
-12%
12%
15%
-8%
-7%
0%
12%
-7%
-4%
-1%
-11%
12%
11%
-2%
-10%
39. is sometimes rude to others
6%
24%
-10%
-17%
-3%
40. do not have imaginative idea
-2%
29%
-15%
-21%
8%
28. starts quarrels with others
37.is considerate and kind to almost everyone
38. worries a lot
Most of the data were not so significant. We will look at just a few which stand out.
Question No. 3: The subjects who answered YES agreed more that they tended to be
lazy (-54%).
Question No. 21: Many of the subjects who answered NO disagreed more that they
made plans and follow through with them (47%).
Question No. 28: Many of the subjects who answered NO disagreed more that they start
quarrels with others (47%).
26
Table 4: Cultural difference check test for people who went abroad or not
1
2
3
4
5
Can’t accept the
Don’t feel good
Don’t feel
Can accept the
Accept the
behavior and
about it so much
anything
behavior
behavior and do
reject it
the same
1
2
3
4
5
pocket
-4%
47%
-23%
-9%
-11%
42. Put jam or yoghurt on rice
-9%
18%
6%
1%
-16%
-22%
24%
6%
0%
-7%
0%
47%
0%
-29%
-18%
45. Not follow signals at all and driving is rude
-20%
47%
-8%
-10%
-10%
46. Not only boys but also girls spit on the ground
-27%
29%
2%
-4%
0%
a floor
-17%
35%
-6%
-8%
-4%
48. Changes are noncommittal
-28%
35%
6%
-14%
0%
20%
24%
-11%
-17%
-15%
4%
18%
-5%
-5%
-12%
51. No partition for the toilet
-16%
24%
6%
-9%
-4%
52. Even women don’t shave underarm hair
-9%
50%
-18%
-15%
-9%
53. Walk in a room with shoes on
13%
29%
5%
-21%
-26%
18%
41%
-2%
-29%
-27%
directly, it sometimes hears offensively
12%
47%
1%
-59%
-1%
56. Hug with anyone
20%
12%
-10%
4%
-26%
57. Eat with the fingers
11%
29%
1%
-34%
-7%
41. Blew nose into handkerchief and put it in a
43. Do not flush toilet, wash yourself with water
after going to the toilet
44. Trains or buses do not come on time
47. Throw paper napkin, toothpicks, husks away on
49. Eat dishes you have never tried before like bat,
crocodile
50. Don’t wash liquid on plates because they are
harmless
54. If you don’t say your request directly, people
don’t feel the atmosphere
55. Because people express their opinion or request
27
58. Eat their mouth open and make a noise
-34%
47%
-9%
-5%
1%
59. Get unfriendly service from a shop staff
27%
35%
-26%
-17%
-19%
60. No talking during meals
13%
12%
-21%
-4%
-1%
Most of the data were not so significant. We will look at just a few which stand out.
Question 41: The subjects who answered NO did not feel good about the behavior more
(blew nose into handkerchief and put it in a pocket) (47%).
Question 44: The subjects who answered NO did not feel good about the behavior more
(Trains or buses do not come on time) (47%).
Question 45: The subjects who answered NO did not feel good about the behavior more
(not follow signals at all and driving is rude) (47%).
Question 55: The subjects who answered NO did not feel good about the behavior more
(47%), and the subjects who answered YES could accept the behavior more (-59%)
(Because people express their opinion or request directly, it sometimes hears
offensively).
Question 58: The subjects who answered NO did not feel good about the behavior more
(Eat their mouth open and make a noise).
Correlations
Pearson Correlations were calculated for all the variables. The vast majority
show no correlations but a few showed significant correlations. The full data are in
Appendix C
If there is no relationship between personality check test and culture shock test,
then the number showed in each result will be closer to zero (1.0 means a perfect
correlation.)The higher number is better and a good correlation would be 0.6 and above.
On the other hand, if probability is smaller than0.05, then we can’t say the data are
significantly reliable.
28
The following were significant correlations whose data were sure to be right
(less than 0.05) but as we can see they are all weak, some very weak.
Openness
Question 43: Not flush toilet, wash yourself with water after going to the toilet
(probability r=0.32)
People who had an Openness nature related to the question about hygiene of
toilet.
Not-Openness
Question 54: If you don’t say your request directly, people don’t feel the atmosphere
(r=0.306)
Question 55: Because people express their opinion or request directly, it sometimes
hears offensively (r=0.285)
The people who said they had Not-Openness somewhat seemed to be related to
the questions about communication stuff.
Agreeableness
Extraversion r=0.35) and Conscientiousness (r=0.298)
Question 43: Not flush toilet, wash yourself with water after going to the toilet (r=0.32)
Question 47: Throw paper napkin, toothpicks, husks away on a floor (r=0.289)
29
Agreeableness seemed to be related to Extraversion and Conscientiousness in
some ways. The data showed people cared for the questions about hygiene of toilet and
food.
Not-Agreeableness (r=Disagreeableness)
Neuroticism (r=0.313)
Not-Agreeableness had a little connection with Neuroticism.
Extraversion
Agreeableness(r=0.35)
Question 43: Not flush toilet, wash yourself with water after going to the toilet
(r=0.335)
Question 55: Because people express their opinion or request directly, it sometimes
hears offensively (r=0.282)
Extraversion had a relation with Agreeableness a little. Subjects showed the
answers related to hygiene in toilet and communication.
Not-Extraversion (r=Intraversion)
Neuroticism (r=0.332)
30
Not-Extraversion somehow showed a relation to Neuroticism.
Conscientiousness
Agreeableness (r=0.298), Not-Conscientiousness (r=0.382) and Neuroticism (r=0.417)
Question 45: Not follow signals at all and driving is rude (r=0.334)
Conscientiousness showed relations among 3 natures: Agreeableness,
Not-Conscientiousness and Neuroticism. People cared about the question about a rule
for traffic.
Not-Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness (r=0.382)
Question 54: If you don’t say your request directly, people don’t feel the
atmosphere(r=0.331)
Not-Conscientiousness had a relation between Conscientiousness. Besides,
subjects showed a relation to question about communication style.
Neuroticism
Disagreeableness (r=0.313), Intraversion (r=0.332), Conscientiousness (r=0.417) and
Not-Neuroticism (r=0.616)
31
Question 42: Put jam or yoghurt on rice (r=0.364)
Question 45: Not follow signals at all and driving is rude (r=0.29)
Question 50:don’t wash liquid on plates because they are harmless (r=0.328)
Neuroticism had relation with many natures: Disagreeableness, Intraversion,
Conscientiousness and Not-Neuroticism. Moreover, It had relation with 3 questions
about hygiene, food and a rule for traffic.
Not-Neuroticism
Question 47: Throw paper napkin, Tsumayoji, husks away on a floor (r=0.301)
Question 56: Hug with anyone (r=0.307)
Question 59: Get unfriendly service from a shop staff (r=0.290)
Question 60: No talking during meals (r=0.331)
Not-Neuroticism had relations to only questions about food and 3
communication styles.
Most of the data were weak to analyze that there were relation between
personality and culture shock. However, some of them showed correlations and
influenced each other.
32
2.4 Summary
In this chapter, we saw the results of the questionnaire. We are going to discuss
them in Chapter Three and explain what the results mean. Analyzing the results will
make us understand about it more deeply and able to answer the question proposed in
Chapter One. Besides it will help people who will experience culture shock when they
go abroad. We can implicate what is useful for them to save themselves from culture
shock in foreign countries.
33
Chapter Three: Discussion
3.1 Introduction
In Chapter One, we saw what culture shock and individual differences of
culture shock were. In Chapter Two, we examined the relation between personality and
culture shock using a questionnaire which asked about people’s personality type using
the Big Five and cultural differences that the subjects would feel uncomfortable
compared with their own culture. In this section, we will discuss the result of the
questionnaire in Chapter Two and see what the relation there was between personality
and culture shock. Moreover, we also give some advices for people who will go abroad
to relieve their degrees of culture shock.
3.2 Summary of the results
In Chapter Two, we saw the results from the questionnaire about the relation
between personality and culture shock. In personality check test, we could not
categorize the subject to each personality type. Most of the data were very varied and it
was difficult to see each subject’s personality type clearly. However, many of the
subjects with Extraversion and Agreeableness, could have their personalities revealed.
In the cultural difference check test, most of the questions the subjects did not
agree with. The results of the questions about communication depended on each person.
They were maybe influenced by the subjects’ communication style. Some people could
agree with them and others not. Besides, some questions were more acceptable for
subjects because they were familiar cultural differences which were often seen on TV or
heard from people who went abroad. The questions that were hard for subjects to agree
with were related to hygiene and food. The rules for traffic or money were also not easy
to understand for them.
In the comparison data, there were not so many differences between the
34
subjects who had been abroad and not. However, in the results of cultural difference
check test, the subjects who had never been abroad did not feel good about the
behaviors more than the subjects who had been abroad before. Just to make things
interesting, the answers for Question No 55 (because people express their opinion or
request directly, it sometimes seems offensive) were different between those two groups.
In the correlation data, the vast majority showed no correlations. Some showed
correlations, but they were weak.
3.3 Discussion of the results
We looked at the results of the questionnaire in Chapter Two. In this section,
we will look at each question in detail and discuss it.
3.3.1
Data for personality check test
Extraversion
Many subjects answered they agreed that they were talkative, sociable,
outgoing and liked to cooperate with others. In No 1, 4 and 24, no one disagreed that
they had Extravert personality. On the other hand, in the questions about the opposite of
Extraversion (Intraversion), the data was so varied. Therefore, we can say most of the
subjects had an Extravert nature but some people thought that they were reserved and
liked to meet people in small groups.
Agreeableness
In the questions that asked people about their Agreeableness, many of them
answered that they had a forgiving nature or were considerate and kind to other people.
Besides, the data for the opposite of Agreeableness was more varied, but people
disagreed more that they could be cold to other people. We can say many of the subjects
had high aptitude for Agreeableness.
35
Conscientiousness
The data for Conscientiousness were so varied it was hard to analyze. In the
Questions No 2 and 25, the subjects seemed to agree that they liked work that was
routine and were goal-directed. However, they also tended to be lazy or somewhat
careless in the opposite questions. It was hard to see whether the subjects had the strong
nature of Conscientiousness or not.
Neuroticism
From the data for Neuroticism, we it seemed that some subjects felt moodiness
or instability, but the others not. The answers were too varied to get the clear data for
Neuroticism.
Openness
Subjects answered very in varied ways for Openness as well. In the question
No8, almost half of the subjects agreed that they had active imagination, but other
questions were answered in varied ways.
3.3.2
Data for cultural difference check test
Almost half of the questions given to subjects were not easy to agree with for
them. The questions were related to hygiene and food. They are very different for each
country, and important parts of peoples’ life. It would be so difficult for Japanese
subjects to accept the behaviors which were very different from theirs. Furthermore, as
their character, most Japanese are polite and kind. They give importance to following
rules in society, so questions about rules like traffic or calculation of money were also
unacceptable for the subjects. The answers for other questions depended on each person.
36
Many of them were about communication with people. The communication styles of the
people rather than each person’s character seemed to make this data, because they
answered in varied ways. The other questions somewhat seemed about more familiar
differences for people. They could have seen the differences on TV or heard from the
people who went abroad before.
3.3.3
Comparison data
Not so many differences were seen in the Comparison data, especially in the
personality check test. About cultural differences check test, some of them showed
interesting data because the statements were hard to accept for the subjects who had
never been abroad more than the subjects who had. The experience of going abroad or
not seemed to influence the data for culture shock.
3.3.4
Correlations
Most of the data for Correlations seemed to be important because they were too
weak to clarify the relations between personality and culture shock. Culture shock is a
result of a lot of small shocks and there are many other elements that cause it. We could
not find that personality was important elements for the degree of culture shock or not.
3.3.5 Discussion of the Research Questions
Now the answers for Research Questions in Chapter 1 can be discussed. There
are three questions to mention about.
Research Question 1: How is culture shock affected by personality?
In the questionnaire, we could not see much relation between personality and
culture shock as seen in Correlations. It was revealed that most subjects had
37
Extraversion and Agreeableness, but the data was not enough to analyze how culture
shock is affected by personality.
Research Question 2: What factors are influential for people in other countries?
From the data for cultural difference check test, we could find the factors which
may influence people when they go abroad. Firstly, the elements related to hygiene and
food are most influential to people because they are not easily acceptable for people to
fit into soon. Secondly, rules for traffic or money are also not easy for to accept. The
reason may depend especially on Japanese subjects because of their national
characteristic. Finally, the factors for communication are also influential to some people
who feel the communication style in other cultures assertive. Besides, it is easier to
integrate to some differences when people know about them in some way before.
Research Question 3: How do people deal with culture shock?
The questions which have high response rate are mostly answered by subjects
who could not accept the behaviors and even rejected them if they think them strangely.
However, when we see questions overall, the number that people answered they do not
just feel good about the behaviors so much are more rather than reject them. On the
other hand, although the percentages are even low, the number people answered to just
be able to accept the behaviors are much more than the number they accept the
behaviors and even do the same. These results mean that people could not accept most
of the behaviors if they do not feel good physiologically. In addition, people have
understanding for some cultural differences but they might not try to share them. People
tend not to get involved in cultural differences without positive attitude when they go
abroad. The attitude to take part in other culture is more needed for better cultural
adjustment.
38
3.4 Implications
We have seen the results of the questionnaire in Chapter Two and discussed
them in this chapter. We found out there was not so much of a relation between
personality and culture shock in the questionnaire. Some of them were interesting to see,
however, other elements except personality seemed also important for culture shock.
Therefore, we want to care about the other elements that cause culture shock as well and
to give advice to people who will go abroad to deal with the stress of culture shock from
the view including general idea for the solution.
This time, the Big Five were used for the personality check test in the
questionnaire. It is shows personality traits and is proposed by many researchers who
believe in the five basic dimensions of personality. However, in fact, personality is too
complex to clearly define what it is. The Big Five is not the only way to clarify the
peoples’ personality but also other aspects of personality are also important. The flex
response is based on several personality characteristics that aid us in resolving conflicts
more quickly and comfortably in our new environment (Bennett, 1998: 220). These
characteristics include self-awareness, non-evaluativeness, cognitive complexity, and
cultural empathy.
People are often confused by the feeling “Who am I?” during the culture shock.
The loss of continuity in one’s purpose and direction must be re-established to
overcome the resulting sense of alienation (Bennett, 1998: 220). Therefore, a firm sense
of self-identity is so important to master the hard situation of culture shock. If people
make their identity more independent, they can relieve the shock from the confusing
things. However, Bennett also suggests that a strong sense of identity can also be a
hindrance, especially if we are inflexible and become threatened too quickly by
conflicting stimuli. To understand the host culture, we need to fit into it with
non-evaluativeness because to judge the differences makes people feel the most culture
39
shock. We should be flexible to see the cultural differences are acceptable rather than
negative with a nonjudgmental stance. We have to shift our perspective as well as our
position on the things which happen in the host country. We should see the things
deeply at the same view with people there more than just sympathizing with it. Even
more, People should manage the uneasiness of complexity and ambiguity for the
different culture. Exposure to a variety of cultures and worldviews helps us to tolerate
differences more easily (Bennett, 1998: 221).
3.5 Limitations of the Questionnaire
We could see some good results to understand the relationship between
personality and culture shock, however, there are some limitations with this experiment
as well. First, the number of subjects was not enough or too much to get the clear
differences to see the relation. If a more appropriate number of subjects had answered
the questionnaire, we could have got better data. That was not the adequate number to
get more reliable data for checking the differences between each personality type.
Secondly, some of the questions were a little bit hard for the subjects to answer.
For example, in the personality check test, some subjects did not understand their own
personality and sometimes were not certain whether they had that nature or not. It was
especially difficult for the younger subjects like teenagers who had never thought about
their personality deeply. About this test, it is also not an original test that examines
peoples’ personality but a test based on Big Five Factor Model, so it might not be able
to collect data compared to original one. Besides, in the cultural difference check test,
some people could not imagine the situations well because they had never seen them
before and the situations were very different from their own cultures. It was difficult for
them to think of the real situations like that they really experienced it. Therefore, the
subjects should have been for only people who knew their personality, and the questions
should have given to people in more real situation so that they could have imagined the
40
situations.
Finally, culture shock is more complex than we can understand by only
checking one aspect of the causes. Culture shock is basely a succession of a lot of small
culture bumps that make people feel differences of the culture in host country compared
to theirs. It happens in long term and difficult to see the results from only temporary
questions which subjects could not feel real. Moreover, there were numerous individual
differences which were most important when doing the questionnaire. People feel
differently about the things not related to only personality. How they felt about the
questions depended on the individual so much. If there had been more time, we should
have seen other aspects and the differences of subjects’ background as well.
3.6 Further Research
There are some ideas which we can research more. First, we can interview the
real feelings from the people who have been abroad before. We will be able to get more
realistic data and give some tips for the people who belong to the same personality type
of the interviewee including general suggested actions against culture shock. It will
useful for them when they go abroad.
Secondly, we should add the personality check test using the model like Big
Five, the test which check the important personalities introduced in Implications. Then,
we can see how much they are important parts of personalities to deal with culture
shock.
3.7 Conclusion
This research showed us what is culture shock and shows that to adjust it is
important to make a life in other countries more comfortable and enjoyable. In this
questionnaire, we could not find such a strong relation between personality and culture
shock, however, we could see some significant results about personality and culture
41
shock was a very interesting and deep field to research.
As we saw in this thesis, culture shock can happen to anybody who goes
abroad and the degree depends on each person. Although there are many elements that
cause culture shock, personality is interesting to investigate because it is very different
from person to person and may be strongly related with ways to deal with culture shock.
We should understand our own personality and get ready for culture shock that we will
experience in host country in the future. Experiencing new cultures is wonderful to
broaden peoples’ view and thinking in the world. We should not miss the great chance to
develop ourselves when threatened by the anxiety or conflict of culture shock. We can
see much more aspects of the host county to overcome culture shock.
Nowadays, there are a great number of people who go abroad. Their purpose
would be studying, business or just sightseeing. Before going abroad, people may have
the feeling like excitement or enjoyment for experiences and encounters that they can
get during the trip, they do not know much about the culture shock that they will have.
It is necessary for them to know the situation that they can experience and to be ready
for it. Culture shock can happen to anybody, but it can be also prevented and relieved.
With the understanding of it, we can have much better time abroad.
42
References
Author unknown. 2006. Tehelka – The People’s Paper.
Accessed November 25th, 2011. Retrieved from
<http://www.tehelka.com/story_main28.asp?filename=hub140407Doctor_I_.asp>
Bennett, J, M. Transition Shock: Putting Culture Shock in Perspective. In Bennett,
Milton J. 1998. Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication. Intercultural press;
Maine.
Caligiuri, P. M. 2000. Selecting expatriates for Personality Characteristics: A
Moderating Effect of Personality on the Relationship Between Host National Contact
and Cross-cultural Adjustment. In Management International Review vol. 40. Gabler
Verlag.
Ishii, S. Okabe, R. and Kume, T. 1996. 異文化コミュニケーション
の条件 改訂版. Yuhikaku.
新・国際人へ
Jandt, F. E. 2010. An introduction to Intercultural Communication Identities in a Global
Community. SAGE Publications, Inc.
Jiang, Wenying. 2001. Handling ‘Culture Bumps’. ELT Journal Volume 55/4.
Rhinesmith, S. 1984. Returning home, Canadian Bureau for International Education.
Sugiyama, K. & Horike, K. 1999. 性格研究の技法. 福村出版株式会社
Uchida, T. 2005. 内田樹の研究所：パリ症候群.
Retrieved from <http://blog.tatsuru.com/archives/000739.php> Accessed
November 25th, 2011.
Uwaje, Ashim C. 2009. Culture shock, Re-Integration and Re-Entry culture shock Managing Cultural Differences.
Retrieved from
http://www.munich-business-school.de/intercultural/index.php/Culture_shock,_Re-Integ
ration_and_Re-Entry_culture_shock_-_Managing_Cultural_Differences Accessed
43
November 24th, 2011.
44
Appendices
Appendix A
Personality check test
Name _________________
Male / female
You have been abroad before YES / NO
Please answer these questions.
Use this chart to answer about you.
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
Disagree
Don’t know
Agree
Completely agree
disagree
I think I’m someone who is…….
1. is talkative
1
2
3
4
5
2. prefers work that is routine
1
2
3
4
5
3. tens to be lazy
1
2
3
4
5
4. likes to cooperate with others
1
2
3
4
5
5. tends to be quiet
1
2
3
4
5
6. doesn’t care detail so much
1
2
3
4
5
7. is emotionally stable, not easily upset
1
2
3
4
5
8. has an active imagination
1
2
3
4
5
9. is helpful and unselfish with others
1
2
3
4
5
10.can be somewhat careless
1
2
3
4
5
11. values artistic, aesthetic experiences
1
2
3
4
5
12. has a forgiving nature
1
2
3
4
5
13. has few artistic interests
1
2
3
4
5
14. tends to find fault with others
1
2
3
4
5
15. can be moody
1
2
3
4
5
16. is original, comes up with new ideas
1
2
3
4
5
17. does a thorough job
1
2
3
4
5
18. is a reliable worker
1
2
3
4
5
19. is depressed, blue
1
2
3
4
5
45
20. has an assertive personality
1
2
3
4
5
21. makes plans and follows through with them
1
2
3
4
5
22. is sometimes shy, inhibited
1
2
3
4
5
23. is relaxed, handles stress well
1
2
3
4
5
24. is outgoing, sociable
1
2
3
4
5
25. perseveres until the task is finished
1
2
3
4
5
26. can be tense
1
2
3
4
5
27. is sophisticated in art, music, or literature
1
2
3
4
5
28. starts quarrels with others
1
2
3
4
5
29. is not so much irritated
1
2
3
4
5
30. tends to be disorganized
1
2
3
4
5
31. prefer meeting in small groups
1
2
3
4
5
32. is not nervous so much
1
2
3
4
5
33. can be cold and aloof
1
2
3
4
5
34. is curious about many different things
1
2
3
4
5
35. is reserved
1
2
3
4
5
36. is inventive
1
2
3
4
5
37.is considerate and kind to almost everyone
1
2
3
4
5
38. worries a lot
1
2
3
4
5
39. is sometimes rude to others
1
2
3
4
5
40. do not have imaginative idea
1
2
3
4
5
Please answer the questions on the next page as well.
46
卒業論文に関するアンケート
英語英文学科４年 牧野 妙子
私は現在、性格がカルチャーショックにどのように影響するか調べています。以下の質問
にご協力ください。なお、アンケートの結果は卒業論文のデータ処理時のみに使用させて
いただきます。
名前（
）
男性／女性
海外旅行または海外留学の経験が、 ある・ない
以下の質問に答えてください。
回答の際には以下の表を参考にしてお答えください。
1
2
3
4
5
全く当てはまら
当てはまらない
わからない
当てはまる
とても当てはまる
ない
私は、
1．話し好きだ
1
2
3
4
5
2．手順の決まった仕事が好きだ
1
2
3
4
5
3．怠惰になりがちだ
1
2
3
4
5
4．人との付き合いが好きである
1
2
3
4
5
5．おとなしく控えめなほうだ
1
2
3
4
5
6．細かいことをあまり気にしない
1
2
3
4
5
7．精神的に安定していて、気分がかき乱されない
1
2
3
4
5
8．想像力が盛んである
1
2
3
4
5
9．進んで人助けをし、他者を立てる
1
2
3
4
5
10．やや不注意になりがちである
1
2
3
4
5
11．芸術的で美的な経験に価値を感じる
1
2
3
4
5
12．寛大な性格である
1
2
3
4
5
13．あまり芸術に興味はない
1
2
3
4
5
14．他人の短所に目がいきがちだ
1
2
3
4
5
15．気分にむらがある
1
2
3
4
5
16．独創的で、新しいアイデアを思いつく
1
2
3
4
5
47
17．綿密で几帳面な仕事をする
1
2
3
4
5
18．頼りになる
1
2
3
4
5
19．元気がなく、憂鬱な時がある
1
2
3
4
5
20．積極的で、はっきり自分の意見を述べる
1
2
3
4
5
21．計画を立ててその通りに従う
1
2
3
4
5
22．恥ずかしがりやで自分の気持ちをはっきり表現できないこと
1
2
3
4
5
23．ストレスにうまく対処できる
1
2
3
4
5
24．社交的である
1
2
3
4
5
25．物事は最後までやり抜く
1
2
3
4
5
26．神経質である
1
2
3
4
5
27．芸術、音楽、文学などに強い興味がある
1
2
3
4
5
28．意見が対立すれば他人と口論してしまう
1
2
3
4
5
29．あまりいらいらしない
1
2
3
4
5
30．整理整頓が下手である
1
2
3
4
5
31．少人数のグループで集まることを好む
1
2
3
4
5
32．あまり神経過敏ではない
1
2
3
4
5
33．冷淡でよそよそしい傾向にある
1
2
3
4
5
34．さまざまなことに好奇心が強い
1
2
3
4
5
35．遠慮がちである
1
2
3
4
5
36．創意に富んでいる
1
2
3
4
5
37．思いやりがあり、たいていどの人に対しても親切である
1
2
3
4
5
38．心配性だ
1
2
3
4
5
39．他人に対して時々ぶっきらぼうになる
1
2
3
4
5
40．独創的な考えはあまりしない
1
2
3
4
5
がある
次ページの質問にお進みください。
48
Appendix B
Cultural difference check test
Please answer these questions.
Use this chart to answer about you.
1
2
3
4
5
Can’t accept the
Don’t feel good
Don’t feel
Can accept the
Accept the
behavior and
about it so much
anything
behavior
behavior and do
reject it
the same
41. Blew nose into handkerchief and put it in a pocket
1
2
3
4
5
42. Put jam or yoghurt on rice
1
2
3
4
5
43. Do not flush toilet, wash yourself with water after going to the
1
2
3
4
5
44. Trains or buses do not come on time
1
2
3
4
5
45. Not follow signals at all and driving is rude
1
2
3
4
5
46. Not only boys but also girls spit on the ground
1
2
3
4
5
47. Throw paper napkin, toothpicks, husks away on a floor
1
2
3
4
5
48. Changes are noncommittal
1
2
3
4
5
49. Eat dishes you have never tried before like bat, crocodile
1
2
3
4
5
50. Don’t wash liquid on plates because they are harmless
1
2
3
4
5
51. No partition for the toilet
1
2
3
4
5
52. Even women don’t shave underarm hair
1
2
3
4
5
53. Walk in a room with shoes on
1
2
3
4
5
54. If you don’t say your request directly, people don’t feel the
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
56. Hug with anyone
1
2
3
4
5
57. Eat with the fingers
1
2
3
4
5
58. Eat their mouth open and make a noise
1
2
3
4
5
59. Get unfriendly service from a shop staff
1
2
3
4
5
60. No talking during meals
1
2
3
4
5
toilet
atmosphere
55. Because people express their opinion or request directly, it
sometimes hears offensively
Thank you very much. Taeko Makino
49
以下の質問に答えてください。
回答の際には以下の表を参考にしてお答えください
1
2
3
4
5
行為を受け入
行為をあまり
特に何も感じ
行為を受け入れ
行為を受け入れ、
れられず、拒否
よく感じない
ない
られる
同様にする
する
41. 鼻をかんだハンカチをポケットにしまいこむ。
1
2
3
4
5
42. ごはんにヨーグルトやジャムをかけて食べる。
1
2
3
4
5
43. トイレには基本的に紙を流さない。バケツと水道があり水で
1
2
3
4
5
44. 時間通りに電車やバスが来ない。
1
2
3
4
5
45．信号を全く守らず、自動車の運転が荒い。
1
2
3
4
5
46．男だけでなく若い娘もその辺りにつばを吐く。
1
2
3
4
5
47. 紙ナプキンやつまようじ、豆の殻は床に捨てる。
1
2
3
4
5
48. おつりが適当で返ってくる。
1
2
3
4
5
49. コウモリ、ワニなど食べたことのない料理が出てくる。
1
2
3
4
5
50．無害なため、食器の洗剤を洗い流さない。
1
2
3
4
5
51．トイレの仕切りがない。
1
2
3
4
5
52. 女性でもわき毛をはやしている。
1
2
3
4
5
53．土足で家の中を歩く。
1
2
3
4
5
54．相手に直接希望を伝えなければ、その場の雰囲気で気分を感
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
56．誰とでもハグをする。
1
2
3
4
5
57．手で物を食べる
1
2
3
4
5
58．口を開け、音を立てて食べる
1
2
3
4
5
59．店員の態度がそっけない
1
2
3
4
5
60．食事中に話をしない。
1
2
3
4
5
お尻を洗い流すのが通常。お尻を洗った手はその横の石鹸で綺麗
に洗う。
じ取ってはくれない。
55．相手が自分の意見、希望を直接表現するので、少し攻撃的に
聞こえるときがある。
ご協力大変ありがとうございました。
50
牧野 妙子
Appendix C: The Pearson Correlations
Not
Openness
Agree
Disagree
Extra
Intravert
Conscien
notConscien
Neurotic
not_neuro
-.576**
0.228
0.02
0.1
-0.024
-0.057
-0.172
-0.021
-0.024
0
0.107
0.889
0.487
0.865
0.693
0.228
0.883
0.865
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
-.576**
1
-0.204
0.007
-0.115
0.078
0.106
-0.028
0.126
-0.176
0.151
0.963
0.423
0.584
0.461
0.843
0.377
0.216
Openness
Pearson の相関係
数
Openness
有意確率 (両側)
N
Pearson の相関係
数
Not_openness
1
有意確率 (両側)
0
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
0.228
-0.204
1
0.003
.350*
0.097
.298*
-0.263
-0.043
0.241
有意確率 (両側)
0.107
0.151
0.981
0.012
0.499
0.033
0.062
0.766
0.089
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
0.02
0.007
0.003
1
-0.079
0.065
0.153
0.007
.313*
-.518**
有意確率 (両側)
0.889
0.963
0.981
0.582
0.651
0.284
0.963
0.025
0
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
0.1
-0.115
.350*
-0.079
1
-.485**
0.055
0.03
0.039
-0.035
Pearson の相関係
数
Agree
Pearson の相関係
数
Disagree
Pearson の相関係
Extra
数
51
有意確率 (両側)
0.487
0.423
0.012
0.582
N
51
51
51
51
-0.024
0.078
0.097
有意確率 (両側)
0.865
0.584
N
51
0
0.701
0.833
0.787
0.807
51
51
51
51
51
51
0.065
-.485**
1
0.093
-0.141
.332*
-0.111
0.499
0.651
0
0.516
0.324
0.017
0.437
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
-0.057
0.106
.298*
0.153
0.055
0.093
1
-.382**
.417**
-0.202
有意確率 (両側)
0.693
0.461
0.033
0.284
0.701
0.516
0.006
0.002
0.154
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
-0.172
-0.028
-0.263
0.007
0.03
-0.141
-.382**
1
-0.193
0.108
有意確率 (両側)
0.228
0.843
0.062
0.963
0.833
0.324
0.006
0.175
0.45
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
-0.021
0.126
-0.043
.313*
0.039
.332*
.417**
-0.193
1
-.616**
有意確率 (両側)
0.883
0.377
0.766
0.025
0.787
0.017
0.002
0.175
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
-0.024
-0.176
0.241
-.518**
-0.035
-0.111
-0.202
0.108
-.616**
1
有意確率 (両側)
0.865
0.216
0.089
0
0.807
0.437
0.154
0.45
0
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係
数
Intravert
Pearson の相関係
数
Conscien
Pearson の相関係
数
notConscien
Pearson の相関係
数
Neurotic
Pearson の相関係
数
not_neuro
52
0
51
Pearson の相関係数
Openness
Not_openness
Agree
Disagree
Extra
Intravert
Conscien
Openness
Not Openness
Agree
Disagree
Extra
Intravert
Conscien
notConscien
Neurotic
not_neuro
1
-.576**
0.228
0.02
0.1
-0.024
-0.057
-0.172
-0.021
-0.024
0
0.107
0.889
0.487
0.865
0.693
0.228
0.883
0.865
有意確率 (両側)
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
-.576**
1
-0.204
0.007
-0.115
0.078
0.106
-0.028
0.126
-0.176
有意確率 (両側)
0
0.151
0.963
0.423
0.584
0.461
0.843
0.377
0.216
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
0.228
-0.204
1
0.003
.350*
0.097
.298*
-0.263
-0.043
0.241
有意確率 (両側)
0.107
0.151
0.981
0.012
0.499
0.033
0.062
0.766
0.089
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
0.02
0.007
0.003
1
-0.079
0.065
0.153
0.007
.313*
-.518**
有意確率 (両側)
0.889
0.963
0.981
0.582
0.651
0.284
0.963
0.025
0
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
0.1
-0.115
.350*
-0.079
1
-.485**
0.055
0.03
0.039
-0.035
有意確率 (両側)
0.487
0.423
0.012
0.582
0
0.701
0.833
0.787
0.807
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
-0.024
0.078
0.097
0.065
-.485**
1
0.093
-0.141
.332*
-0.111
有意確率 (両側)
0.865
0.584
0.499
0.651
0
0.516
0.324
0.017
0.437
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
-0.057
0.106
.298*
0.153
0.055
0.093
1
-.382**
.417**
-0.202
有意確率 (両側)
0.693
0.461
0.033
0.284
0.701
0.516
0.006
0.002
0.154
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
53
51
notConscien
Neurotic
not_neuro
Pearson の相関係数
-0.172
-0.028
-0.263
0.007
0.03
-0.141
-.382**
有意確率 (両側)
0.228
0.843
0.062
0.963
0.833
0.324
0.006
N
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
-0.021
0.126
-0.043
.313*
0.039
.332*
有意確率 (両側)
0.883
0.377
0.766
0.025
0.787
N
51
51
51
51
Pearson の相関係数
-0.024
-0.176
0.241
有意確率 (両側)
0.865
0.216
N
51
51
-0.193
0.108
0.175
0.45
51
51
51
.417**
-0.193
1
-.616**
0.017
0.002
0.175
51
51
51
51
51
51
-.518**
-0.035
-0.111
-0.202
0.108
-.616**
1
0.089
0
0.807
0.437
0.154
0.45
0
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
54
1
0
51