Culture Shock

by John DoeName of ClassOctober 30, 2009

Culture Shock: Be Prepared!

1. Understand it’s going to feel weird!2. Study, read, ask! Find out about

cultural differences.3. Be aware of your culture, as well

as the new culture.4. Relax, enjoy it, and when in doubt,

read nonverbal cues

My Personal Culture Shock

Paris, France – 1998It’s modern, it’s European, it’s like the US, what could shock me?

Even very similar countries and regions of strong cultural differences

For example, someone that has spent their whole life growing up in NYC versus someone that has grown up in Littletown, Mississippi

What shocked me about Paris?

The lunch breaks!The “nightlife” (?)Is it dirty, or old?No free refills?!?!The constant county fair

Core Cultural Components

The Spoken WordLanguage, tone

Nonverbal languageBody language, signs

SymbolsWhat stoplight?!

Social Norms“The way we do things”

Always remember….

Being aware of your own culture is just as important as understanding the culture you are visitingCulture isn’t “right” or “wrong”, it just is the way things areEveryone’s individualized culture is the right culture for them

ReferencesAdler, P. (1975). The Transitional Experience: An Alternate View of Culture Shock. Journal of Humanistic Psychology , 13-23.

Bochner. (2008). Psychology of Culture Shock. Boston: Routledge.

Global Experiences. (2008). Culture Shock. Retrieved October 27, 2009, from Global Experiences: http://www.globalexperiences.com/cultureshock/

Macionis, J. (2006). Society: The Basics. New York City: Pearson Education, Inc.

Taylor, S. (2008). Culture Shock! France. New York City: Marshall Cavendish Corporation.