Name and discuss the symptoms and the stages of culture shock as well as reverse culture shock.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The symptoms of culture shock are pervasive and vary in intensity, duration, and severity among individuals. Individuals can experience both physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms are overconcern about cleanliness of food, bedding, and dishes; extreme stress on health and safety; fear of physical contact with anyone in the new country; great concern over minor pains and skin eruptions; craving “home cooking”; use of alcohol and drugs; and a decline in work quality. Psychological symptoms are insomnia, fatigue, isolation and loneliness, disorientation, frustration, criticism of the new country, nervousness, self-doubt, irritability, depression, anger, and emotional and intellectual withdrawal. The first stage is sometimes called the “honeymoon stage” or initial euphoria and is when everything is new and exciting. The second stage involves disintegration of familiar cues and irritation and hostility with the differences experienced in the new culture. The third stage involves a reintegration of new cues and an increased ability to function in the new culture. Perhaps surprisingly, though, the emotions experienced at this stage are typically anger and resentment toward the new culture for “being different.” In the fourth stage, gradual adjustment continues toward gradual autonomy and seeing “good” and “bad” elements in both the home and new cultures. The individual becomes more comfortable in the new culture as more things are predictable. Feelings of isolation are fewer, and people feel more in control and more comfortable. The fifth stage is described as reciprocal interdependence, when the person has achieved biculturalism by developing the ability to cope comfortably in both the home and new cultures. Full adjustment can take years. Reverse culture shock is the shock that is experienced when the home culture is compared adversely to the admired aspects of the new culture. This may cause greater distress and confusion than the original did.