CS is a psychological disorientation that most people experience when living in a culture markedly different from ones own CS is a result

t of total immersion in a new culture. CS happens to people who have been suddenly transplanted abroad where they became anxious because they do not speak the language, know the customs, or understand peoples behavior in daily life

Symptoms of Cultural Shock

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Sadness, loneliness, melancholy Preoccupation with health Aches, pains, and allergies Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country Loss of identity 9) Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country Unable to solve simple problems Lack of confidence Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity Developing stereotypes about the new culture Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness Longing for family Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused

10) 11) 12)

13)
14) 15) 16)

6) 7)

8)

(1) Honeymoon period

(1) Honeymoon period (3) Initial Adjustment

(5) Acceptance & Integration

(2) Culture Shock

(4) Mental Isolation

(1) Honeymoon period

(1) Acceptance & integration (3) Return Honeymoon (5) Re-integration

(2) Return anxiety

(4) Re-entry shock

 The reaction someone makes in a cross-cultural encounter determines the result he gets. A positive reactioncharacterized with openness, acceptance & trust & produce rapport and understanding. A negative reactioncharacterized with suspicion, fear, prejudice& produce alienation and isolation. The outcomes a cross-cultural encounter can be of three types: 1) The encapsulators, i.e. people who keep on avoiding or fighting the second culture by trying to creating a small exclusive world based on their first or original culture. 2) The cosmopolitan, which refers to people who adjust to both the first (original) and the second culture as well. 3) The absconder, i.e. people who adjust to the second culture and ignore their first (original) culture. To get more complete description, look at the following diagram.

ToiletsClimate FoodWater HeatIllness

RoadsShops DrivingMoney MarketsTransportation

EtiquetteCustom HabitBelief LanguageTraits Religion

Differences that cause disorientation FLIGHT: Rejection Retreatism Insulation Regression FIGHT: Hostility Anger Shock Disgust Disapproval

Goes native, Falls in love with the new culture, Adopts life-style, food, dress, speech, etc. May take up citizen-ship in local country May marry a local person Optimism, Empathy, Positive Outlook. Interest, Acceptance, Curiosity, Cross-Cultural Education Cross-Cultural Contact

THE ENCAPSULATOR avoid or fight the local (second) culture build Little Batak, Little China, etc. Minimum contact with local people

THE COSMOPOLITAN Adjust to both local (second) and original cultures Aloof in both worlds About equal contact with both

THE ABSCONDER Adjust to local (second) culture Minimum contact with original culture Maximum contact with local people