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When we study in another country or move into a new town, we are often exposed to
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a culture different from ours and need to go through four stages of transition:
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Honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, and adaptation.
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During stage two, some experience a real culture shock, severe forms of which can
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lead to reactions that may need medical attention. But before we come to that,
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let's first look at what happens typically.
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In stage 1 — honeymoon — everything is beautiful. The people are friendly, the culture rich, and the
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way of local life fascinating. We are optimistic and excited about all the differences.
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In stage 2 we feel frustration. Reality sets in. We have come to understand that
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there are plenty of barriers to connecting with people and have difficulty with the
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social norms. We start to reject local traditions and begin to feel homesick.
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The stage of adjustment is characterized by a growing
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familiarity with our new way of life. We begin to understand the new customs,
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acquire language skills, and make local friends. We start to feel more comfortable.
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Last is adaptation. During this stage, we gain a sense of belonging and are able to
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fully participate in the new culture, even while maintaining our own native identity. Known as the
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stage of mastery, we now start to feel at home. However, not everyone arrives at this point.
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Some people are excited about the foreign culture for months,
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and others start to get frustrated on day one. And then there are those
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who experience a culture shock that is so strong that they leave before adjusting.
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The Paris Syndrome is the most extreme form of culture shock. It typically strikes some
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Japanese tourists who come to the French capital full of excitement
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and romantic expectations but are then confronted with filth and arrogance.
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The 20 or so travelers that are reported to be hit each year,
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experience a wide range of psychiatric and psychosomatic symptoms, including anxiety,
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hallucinations, and vomiting. And so they leave deeply distressed before they adjust.
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Those who have adapted to a new society, may face a surprise when they eventually return
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home. After another honeymoon, they often enter a reverse culture shock,
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realizing how much they have been estranged from their old way of life. But it can get worse.
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The ones who are pushed into a new culture without being asked, often skip honeymoon
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altogether and enter straight into the stage of frustration. If that happens without the right
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support, they never really settle in, can't adjust, and remain frustrated indefinitely.
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Studies show that toddlers who are sent for their first days at preschool without anyone
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to accompany them, experience so much anxiety that they can't bond with their teachers.
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As a result they remain freighted to go and clock significantly more sick
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days for their entire preschool years. This is why good schools
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often demand that parents stay with their children until they can fully settle in.
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The original research on culture shock was conducted by Sverre Lysgaard in the
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1950s after the sociologist had talked to many Norwegians who had spent time in
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the United States — mostly for academic reasons. Analyzing his interviews, he saw a clear pattern.
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The culture shock curve with happiness on one axis, and months in a foreign country on another;
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shows that, on average, the honeymoon period lasts for around 2 months. Then there are
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about 6 months of frustration before adjustment happens. Adaptation starts after close to a year.
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What about you? Did you ever travel abroad or move to another country where you experienced the 4
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stages? Share your thoughts about the theory and your personal experiences in the comments below!
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