The term culture shock. Different phases of culture shock

Culture shock - it is a psychological reaction to encountering another culture.

Phases of culture shock (according to Oberg): honeymoon - crisis - recovery - adaptation.

Causes of k.sh. - 1) experience of loss (loss); 2) frustration due to value differences; 3) lack of social support; 4) lack of social skills; 5) unmet expectations

Buffer group- a real or conditional group of migrants, territorially concentrated or dispersed in a certain space. The buffer group is personally significant for the migrant individual, since it is an intermediary link in the process of a potential migrant leaving his original society, entering a new society, returning to the previous society (maybe even after several generations), preserving certain, most personally and collectively significant spiritual values ​​and attributes inherent in the abandoned society. The duration of functioning and activity of these types of groups over time is different. As a "guardian of values", the Buffer Group can actively exist for several generations of active migrants. Its collapse is facilitated by the cessation of the influx of new arrivals and the final integration and assimilation of the last guardians of values ​​into the new society. In such cases, the values ​​of the previous society cease to be personally significant for the migrant and lose their unifying functions. Nevertheless, their traces can appear in a hidden, vague form, since, having taken root in the structure of newly acquired values, they can give special, personally significant orientations to the behavior of further generations of former migrants, which will distinguish them from other members of society.

Culture shock- Disorientation of an individual when entering a foreign cultural environment. The essence of culture shock is the conflict between old and new cultural norms and orientations, old ones inherent in the individual as a representative of the society he left, and new ones, that is, representing the society he arrived in. Strictly speaking, culture shock is a conflict between two cultures at the level of individual consciousness.

The term was introduced by K. Oberg in 1960. The process of intercultural adaptation is accompanied by: 1) a feeling of loss of friends and status due to isolation from the familiar environment; 2) a feeling of rejection; 3) surprise and discomfort when realizing the differences between cultures; 4) confusion in role expectations, value orientations and in one’s own personal identity; 5) a feeling of powerlessness due to the inability to effectively interact with their new environment. Symptoms Culture shock may include a lack of self-confidence, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, psychosomatic disorders, depression, etc.

Causes of culture shock:

experience of loss (grief, loss). Any loss is trauma. (symptoms – physiological state – excitability; flash back effects – intrusive memories; obsessive avoidance).

rejection of values, state of frustration. (affects fixation at the “crisis” stage)

lack of social support ( presence of people who will support me and listen).

lack of social skills

unrealistic expectations – people tend to hope for the best. To rid a person of illusions and lead to real perception.

The course of culture shock:

Oberg curve (parabola): 1) honeymoon (euphoria - something new) 2) crisis 3) recovery 4) integration

This curve is not always confirmed in practice, it just shows what should be in order to achieve integration. The illusion of integration occurs if the “honeymoon” immediately turns into integration.

Peter Adler tried to describe the process and establish the sequence of stages of experiencing K.-sh. His model includes five stages: a) initial contact, or the “honeymoon” stage, when the newcomer experiences the curiosity and excitement of a “tourist”, but at the same time his basic identity is still rooted in his native soil; b) the second stage is associated with the disintegration of the old system of familiar landmarks, with a cut of people. feels confused and overwhelmed by the demands of the new culture; typically a feeling of self-blame and inadequacy in the face of difficulties encountered; c) the third stage involves the reintegration of new guidelines and increased ability to function in new culture. Typical emotions Associated with this stage are anger and resentment towards the new culture as a cause of difficulties and a less suitable place for life than the previous environment. Since at this stage anger is directed outward, it is very difficult for such persons to provide any assistance. help; d) at the fourth stage, the process of reintegration continues in the direction of acquiring autonomy and increasing the ability to see positive and negative elements in both the new and the old culture;) the fifth stage is characterized by independence: people. has finally achieved “biculturalism” and is now able to function in both the old and the new culture.

Psychological help:

According to Bock, there are five ways to resolve the conflict between two cultures at the level of individual consciousness:

1)ghettoization- is realized in situations when a person arrives in another society, but tries or is forced (due to ignorance of the language, natural timidity, religion, etc.) to avoid any contact with a foreign culture. In this case, he tries to create his own cultural environment - an environment of fellow tribesmen, fencing off this environment from the influence of a foreign cultural environment.

2) assimilation, essentially the opposite of ghettoization. In the case of assimilation, the individual, on the contrary, completely abandons his own culture and strives to fully assimilate the cultural baggage of a foreign culture necessary for life.

3) intermediate, consisting of cultural exchange and interaction.

4) partial assimilation, when an individual sacrifices his culture in favor of a foreign cultural environment partially, that is, in one of the spheres of life: for example, at work he is guided by the norms and requirements of a foreign cultural environment, and in the family, at leisure, in the religious sphere - by the norms of his traditional culture.

5) colonization, Representatives of a foreign culture, having arrived in the country, actively impose their own values, norms and behavior patterns on the population.

Buffer group– a real or conditional group of migrants, territorially concentrated or dispersed in a certain space. The buffer group is personally significant for the migrant individual, since it is an intermediary link in the process of a potential migrant leaving his original society, entering a new society, returning to the previous society (maybe even after several generations), preserving certain, most personally and collectively significant spiritual values ​​and attributes inherent in the abandoned society. As a "guardian of values", the buffer group can actively exist for several generations of active migrants. Its collapse is facilitated by the cessation of the influx of new arrivals and the final integration and assimilation of the last guardians of values ​​into the new society. In such cases, the values ​​of the previous society cease to be personally significant for the migrant and lose their unifying functions. However, their traces can appear in a hidden, vague form; they can give special, personally significant orientations to the behavior of further generations of former migrants, which will distinguish them from other members of society.

Culture shock is emotional or physical discomfort, disorientation of an individual caused by entering a different cultural environment, encountering another culture, an unfamiliar place.

The term “culture shock” was introduced into scientific circulation in 1960 by the American researcher Kalervo Oberg.

Kalervo Oberg). In his opinion, culture shock is “a consequence of anxiety, which appears as a result of the loss of all familiar signs and symbols social interaction“, in addition, when entering a new culture, a person develops very unpleasant sensations.

The essence of culture shock is the conflict between old and new cultural norms and orientations, old ones inherent in the individual as a representative of the society he left, and new ones, that is, representing the society he arrived in. Strictly speaking, culture shock is a conflict between two cultures at the level of individual consciousness.

Perhaps one of the most famous metaphors for describing “culture shock” is the concept of an iceberg. It implies that culture consists not only of what we see and hear (language, art, literature, architecture, classical music, pop music, dancing, cuisine, National costumes etc.), but also from what lies beyond our initial perception (perception of beauty, ideals of raising children, attitude towards elders, the concept of sin, justice, approaches to solving problems and problems, group work, eye contact, body language, facial expressions, self-perception, attitude towards the opposite sex, the relationship between the past and the future, time management, communication distance, voice intonation, speed of speech, etc.) The essence of the concept is that culture can be represented as an iceberg, where there is only a small visible part of the culture above the surface of the water, and below the water's edge there is a significant invisible part that is not in the field of view, however, has a great influence on our perception of the culture as a whole. When encountering an unknown, underwater part of an iceberg (culture), culture shock most often occurs.

American researcher R. Weaver likens culture shock to the meeting of two icebergs: it is “underwater”, at the level of the “non-obvious”, that the main clash of values ​​and mentalities occurs. He argues that when two cultural icebergs collide, that part of cultural perception that was previously unconscious reaches the conscious level, and a person begins to pay more attention to both his own and foreign cultures. An individual is surprised to realize the presence of this hidden system of behavior-controlling norms and values ​​only when he finds himself in a situation of contact with another culture. The result of this is psychological and often physical discomfort - culture shock.

There are many points of view regarding the causes of culture shock. Thus, researcher K. Furnham, based on an analysis of literary sources, identifies eight approaches to the nature and characteristics of this phenomenon, commenting and showing in some cases even their inconsistency:

1) the emergence of culture shock is associated with geographic movement, causing a reaction reminiscent of mourning (an expression of grief over) lost connections. However, culture shock is not always associated with grief, so in each individual case it is impossible to predict the severity of the loss and, accordingly, the depth of this grief;

2) the blame for experiencing culture shock is placed on the fatalism, pessimism, helplessness and external locus of control of the person who finds himself in a foreign culture. But this does not explain differences in distress and contradicts the assumption that most “travellers” (migrants) subjectively have an internal locus of control;

3) culture shock is a process natural selection or survival of the fittest, the best. But this explanation oversimplifies the variables present, since most studies of culture shock are not predictive, but retrospective;

4) the blame for the occurrence of culture shock is placed on the expectations of the visitor, which are inappropriate in the new environment. However, the connection between unmet expectations and poor adjustment has not been proven;

5) the cause of culture shock is negative events and disruption of the daily routine in general. However, it is very difficult to measure ongoing events and establish causality: on the one hand, the victims themselves are the culprits of negative events, and on the other hand, negative events make these people suffer;

6) culture shock is caused by a divergence of values ​​due to a lack of mutual understanding and conflicts accompanying this process. But some values ​​are more adaptive than others, so value conflict by itself cannot be a sufficient explanation;

7) culture shock is associated with a deficit of social skills, as a result of which socially inadequate or inexperienced people experience a more difficult period of adjustment. However, it downplays the role of personality and socialization, and there is an underlying ethnocentrism in this understanding of adaptation;

8) the blame is placed on a lack of social support, and this approach uses arguments from attachment theory, social network theory and psychotherapy. However, it is difficult to quantify social support or develop a social support mechanism or procedure to test and justify such a conclusion.

Basically, a person gets a culture shock when he finds himself in another country, different from the country where he lives, although he may encounter similar sensations in his own country if the social environment suddenly changes.

A person experiences a conflict between old and new cultural norms and orientations - the old ones to which he is accustomed and the new ones that characterize a new society for him. This is a conflict between two cultures at the level of one’s own consciousness. Culture shock occurs when the familiar psychological factors that helped a person adapt to society disappear, and instead, unknown and incomprehensible ones appear, coming from a different cultural environment.

This experience of a new culture is unpleasant. Within the framework of one’s own culture, a persistent illusion of one’s own vision of the world, way of life, mentality, etc. is created as the only possible and, most importantly, the only acceptable one. The overwhelming majority of people do not recognize themselves as a product of a separate culture, even in those rare cases when they understand that the behavior of representatives of other cultures is actually determined by their culture. Only by going beyond the boundaries of your culture, that is, by meeting with a different worldview, attitude, etc., can you understand the specifics of your public consciousness, see the difference between cultures.

The strength of the manifestation of culture shock and the duration of intercultural adaptation depend on a number of factors that can be divided into two groups: internal (individual) and external (group).

According to researchers, a person's age is a basic and critical element of adaptation to another culture. With age, a person becomes more difficult to integrate into a new cultural system, experiences cultural shock more intensely and for a longer period of time, and is slower to perceive the values ​​and behavior patterns of the new culture.

Also important in the adaptation process is the level of a person’s education: the higher it is, the more successful the adaptation is. This is due to the fact that education expands a person’s internal potential, complicates his perception of the environment, and therefore makes him more tolerant of changes and innovations.

We can talk about a universal list of desirable characteristics of a person who is preparing for life in another culture. Such characteristics include professional competence, high self-esteem, sociability, extroversion, openness to different opinions and points of view, interest in the environment and people, ability to cooperate, internal self-control, courage and perseverance.

The group of internal factors that determine the difficulty of adaptation and the duration of culture shock includes, among other things, a person’s life experience, his motivation to move, his experience of living in another culture; having friends among local residents.

The group of external factors includes cultural distance, which refers to the degree of differences between “one’s own” and “foreign” cultures. It is necessary to understand that adaptation is influenced not by the cultural distance itself, but by a person’s idea of ​​it, which depends on many factors: the presence or absence of wars, conflicts in the present and in the past, knowledge of a foreign language and culture, etc.

It is also worth noting a number of external factors that indirectly determine the adaptation process: the conditions of the host country, the friendliness of local residents towards visitors, the willingness to help them, the desire to communicate with them; economic and political stability in the host country; crime level; the possibility and accessibility of communication with representatives of another culture.

According to T.G. Stefanenko, there are the following stages of culture shock: “honeymoon”, “culture shock itself”, “reconciliation”, “adaptation”.

1. “Honeymoon.” This stage is characterized by enthusiasm, high spirits, and high hopes. During this period, a person perceives the differences between the “old” and “new” culture positively, with great interest.

2. Actually “culture shock”. At the second stage, the unusual environment begins to have an impact negative impact. After some time, a person becomes aware of problems arising with communication (even if his knowledge of the language is good), at work, at school, in a store, at home. Suddenly all the differences become even more noticeable to him. The person realizes that he will have to live with these differences not for a few days, but for months or possibly years. The crisis stage of culture shock begins.

3. "Reconciliation." This stage is characterized by depression slowly giving way to optimism, a feeling of confidence and satisfaction. A person feels more adjusted and integrated into the life of society.

4. "Adaptation". At this stage, the person no longer reacts negatively or positively because he is adapting to the new culture. He's leading again daily life, as before in their homeland. A person begins to understand and appreciate local traditions and customs, even adopts some behavior patterns and feels more relaxed and free in the process of interacting with local residents.

According to the American anthropologist F. Bok, there are four ways to resolve the conflict that arises during culture shock.

The first method can be called ghettoization (from the word ghetto). It is carried out in situations when a person finds himself in another society, but tries or is forced (due to ignorance of the language, religion or for some other reasons) to avoid any contact with a foreign culture. In this case, he tries to create his own cultural environment - surrounded by compatriots, fencing off this environment from the influence of a foreign cultural environment.

The second way to resolve cultural conflict is assimilation. In the case of assimilation, the individual, on the contrary, completely abandons his own culture and strives to fully assimilate the cultural norms of another culture necessary for life. Of course, this is not always possible. The reason for failure may be either the individual’s insufficient ability to adapt to a new culture, or the resistance of the cultural environment of which he intends to become a member.

The third way to resolve cultural conflict is intermediate, consisting of cultural exchange and interaction. In order for the exchange to benefit and enrich both sides, openness is needed on both sides, which, unfortunately, is extremely rare in life, especially if the parties are initially unequal. In fact, the results of such interaction are not always obvious at the very beginning. They become visible and significant only after a significant period of time.

The fourth method is partial assimilation, when an individual sacrifices his culture in favor of a foreign cultural environment partially, that is, in one of the spheres of life: for example, at work he is guided by the norms and requirements of another culture, and in the family, in religious life, by the norms of his own traditional culture.

The consequences of culture shock can be not only negative. According to modern researchers, culture shock is a completely normal reaction, and even integral part the process of adaptation to new conditions. In addition, in this case, a person not only receives information about a new culture and its norms and values, but also increases his level of cultural development, although he experiences stress. Therefore, since the beginning of the 90s. XX century Many scientists prefer to use the phrase “acculturation stress.”

Culture shock in mastering a foreign culture

When contacting a foreign culture, one becomes acquainted with new artistic creations, social and material values, and the actions of people that depend on the picture of the world, value ideas, norms and conventions, and forms of thinking characteristic of a foreign culture. Such meetings, as a rule, enrich people, but often contact with another culture leads to problems and conflicts due to a misunderstanding of this culture.

The concept of “culture shock” and its symptoms

Experts called the stressful impact of a new culture on a person culture shock; sometimes used similar concepts“transition shock”, “cultural fatigue”. Almost all immigrants experience it to one degree or another. It causes mental health problems, more or less pronounced mental shock.

The term “culture shock” was introduced into scientific circulation by the American researcher Kalsrvo Oberg in 1954. He noted that when entering a new culture, a person experiences a number of unpleasant sensations. Today, it is believed that the experience of a new culture is unpleasant or shocking because it is unexpected and because it can lead to a negative evaluation of one's own culture.

Typically, the following forms of manifestation of culture shock are distinguished:

• stress due to the efforts made to achieve psychological adaptation;
• a sense of loss due to deprivation of friends, position, profession, property;
• feeling of loneliness (rejection) in a new culture, which
• can transform into a denial of this culture; o violation of role expectations and self-identification;
• anxiety that turns to resentment and disgust after recognizing cultural differences;
• feeling of inferiority due to inability to cope with the situation.

The main reason culture shock is the difference between cultures. Each culture has developed many symbols and images, behavioral stereotypes, with the help of which a person can automatically act in different situations. When a person finds himself in a new culture, the usual system of orientation becomes inadequate, since it is based on other ideas about the world, other norms and values, stereotypes of behavior and perception. It is disappointment in the adequacy of one’s own culture, the awareness of its non-universality that becomes the cause of shock, since in the conditions of one’s culture a person does not realize that it contains this hidden, invisible part of culture.

The state of culture shock is directly related to the communication process. Every person takes his ability to communicate for granted and does not realize the role this ability plays in his life until he finds himself in a situation of misunderstanding. Unsuccessful communication, as a rule, causes him heartache and disappointment. However, in this state the person realizes that the source of frustration is his own inability to communicate adequately. We are talking not only and not so much about ignorance of the language, but about the ability to decipher cultural information from a different cultural environment, about psychological compatibility with speakers of a different culture, the ability to understand and accept their values.

The range of symptoms of culture shock is very wide - from mild emotional disorders to severe stress, psychosis, alcoholism and suicide. In practice, it is often expressed in excessive concern for the cleanliness of dishes, linen, the quality of water and food, in psychosomatic disorders, general anxiety, insomnia, and fear. This or that type of culture shock can develop from several months to several years, depending on individual characteristics personality.

Modern researchers consider culture shock as part of the process of adaptation to new conditions. Moreover, in this process the individual not only acquires knowledge about the new culture and the norms of behavior in it, but becomes more culturally developed, although he experiences stress. Therefore, since the beginning of the 1990s. Experts prefer to talk not about culture shock, but about acculturation stress.

The mechanism of development of culture shock was first described in detail by Oberg, who argued that people go through certain stages of experiencing culture shock and gradually achieve a satisfactory level of adaptation. Today, an adaptation curve (U-shaped curve) has been proposed to describe them, in which five stages of adaptation are distinguished.

• The first stage is called the “honeymoon”: as a rule, migrants, once abroad, are full of enthusiasm and hope. In addition, they are often prepared for their arrival, they are expected, and first they receive help and may have some benefits. But this period is quickly passing.
• At the second stage, the unfamiliar environment and culture begin to have a negative impact. Psychological factors caused by misunderstanding of local residents are becoming increasingly important. The result can be disappointment, frustration and even depression. Therefore, during this period, migrants are trying to escape from reality, communicating mainly with their fellow countrymen and complaining to them about life.
• The third stage is critical, as culture shock reaches its maximum. This can lead to somatic and mental illnesses. Some migrants return to their homeland. But most of finds the strength to overcome cultural differences, learns the language, gets acquainted with the local culture, makes local friends, from whom he receives the necessary support.
• At the fourth stage, an optimistic attitude appears, the person becomes more self-confident and satisfied with his position in the new society and culture, considering adaptation and integration into the life of the new society to be very successful.
• At the fifth stage, complete adaptation to the new culture is achieved. From this time on, the individual and the environment correspond to each other. Depending on the intensity of the listed factors, the adaptation process can last from several months to 4-5 years.

The resulting U-shaped culture shock development curve is characterized by the following stages: good, worse, bad, better, good.

When a person who has successfully adapted to a foreign culture returns to his homeland, he is faced with the need for reverse adaptation (readaptation) to his own culture. It is believed that in this case he experiences a “return shock”, described by the W-shaped readaptation curve. It repeats the U-shaped curve: at first a person is happy to return and meet friends, then he notices that some features of his native culture seem strange and unusual to him, but gradually he again adapts to life at home.

Factors influencing culture shock can be divided into two groups - internal (individual) and external (group).

In the group of internal (individual) factors, the most important are the individual characteristics of a person - age, gender, education, character traits, life experience.

Age is a critical element of adaptation to another community: than older man, the more difficult it is for him to adapt to the new cultural system, the harder and longer he experiences culture shock, and the slower he perceives the models of the new culture. Thus, young children adapt quickly and successfully, but schoolchildren already experience great difficulties, and older people are practically incapable of adaptation and acculturation.

Floor. Previously, it was believed that women had a harder time adapting to a new environment than men. But this applies to women from traditional societies, whose lot in a new place is to do housework and have limited communication with new people. Women from developed countries have the same ability to acculturate as men, and American women are better than men at adapting to new circumstances. Therefore in Lately researchers believe that the education factor is more important for adaptation: the higher it is, the more successful the adaptation. Education, even without taking into account cultural content, expands a person’s internal capabilities. How the picture is more complicated a person’s world, the easier and faster he perceives innovations.

In this regard, experts have identified a universal set of personal characteristics that a person who is preparing for life in a foreign country with a foreign culture should have. This - professional competence, high self-esteem, sociability, extroversion, openness to different views, interest in others, a tendency to cooperate, tolerance of uncertainty, internal self-control, courage and perseverance, empathy. True, real life practice shows that the presence of these qualities does not always guarantee success. If the values ​​of a foreign culture differ too much from the named personality traits, i.e. The cultural distance is too great; adaptation will be very difficult.

Circumstances life experience people also relate to internal factors of adaptation and overcoming cultural shock. The most important thing here is the motives for adaptation. The motivation of migrants determines how fully they become acquainted with the language, history and culture of the country where they are going. Expats are highly motivated to move to permanent place residence in another country and want to quickly become full members of the new culture, as well as among students receiving education abroad. The situation is much worse for internally displaced persons and refugees who did not want to leave their homeland and do not want to get used to new living conditions.

Faster adaptation is facilitated by the experience of living in a foreign cultural environment, the presence of friends among local residents, who help to quickly master the information necessary for life, provide support (social, emotional, sometimes even financial), and contacts with former compatriots living in this country. But there is a danger of becoming isolated in a narrow circle of friends, which will increase alienation. Therefore, many services related to emigrants try to limit their residence in homogeneous national groups, believing that this interferes with rapid adaptation and may even cause ethnic prejudice.

External factors influencing adaptation and culture shock include cultural distance, cultural characteristics, and conditions of the host country.

Cultural distance is the degree of difference between the native culture and the one to which a person is adapting. Moreover, adaptation is influenced not even by the cultural distance itself, but by a person’s idea of ​​it. his sense of cultural distance, which depends on many factors - the presence or absence of wars or conflicts both in the present and in the past, knowledge of a foreign language and culture, etc. Subjectively, cultural distance may be perceived as further or closer than it actually is; in both cases, the culture shock will last and adaptation will be difficult.

Features of the culture to which migrants belong. Thus, representatives of cultures in which the concept of “face” is very important and where they are afraid of losing it adapt less well; Such people are very sensitive to the mistakes and ignorance that are inevitable in the adaptation process. Representatives of the “great powers” ​​have difficulty adapting, as they usually believe that it is not they who should adapt, but others.

Conditions of the host country, in particular the friendliness of local residents towards visitors, willingness to help them and communicate with them. It is much easier to adapt in a pluralistic society, as well as in societies where the policy of cultural pluralism is proclaimed at the state level, such as in Canada or Sweden, than in a totalitarian or orthodox one.

It is impossible not to mention such factors as economic and political stability in the host country, the crime rate on which the safety of migrants depends, the opportunity to communicate with representatives of another culture (which is real if there are joint activities - common work, hobbies, etc.), the position of the media , which create a general emotional mood and public opinion relative to other ethnic and cultural groups.

Culture shock is a complex and painful condition for a person, but it indicates personal growth, breaking existing stereotypes, which requires enormous physical and psychological resources person. As a result, it is formed new picture world, based on the acceptance and understanding of cultural diversity, the dichotomy of Us-They is removed, resistance to new challenges, tolerance for the new and unusual appears. The main result is the ability to live in an ever-changing world, in which borders between countries matter less and less and direct contacts between people become increasingly important.

What are the features of culture shock and the reasons for its development?

Culture shock is an individual manifestation of a person’s disorientation, when he can recognize a previously unfamiliar way of life. Often culture shock occurs when immigrating or visiting another country, changing the social environment or banal immersion in a different type of life. The most common cause of culture shock is placement in a foreign environment.

Due to its relatively standard manifestations, culture shock can be divided into at least four different phases - euphoria, disappointment, adaptation and reconciliation.

Common negative conditions that contribute to the development of culture shock include:

• information overload;
• the language barrier;
• generation gap;
• technology gap;
• interdependence on the external environment;
• increased dependence on new conditions;
• cultural homesickness;
• the endless regression of homesickness;
• boredom;
• Responsiveness is a cultural skill set.

It is worth noting that there is no surefire way to completely prevent culture shock, since people in any society react to cultural contrast quite individually.

Instead of a preface

Culture shock is a subcategory of a more universal diagnosis called transition shock. Transitional shock as a state of loss and disorientation is based on changes in one’s familiar environment, which necessarily requires adjustment. There are many symptoms of transitional shock, including:

• excessive worry;
• feeling of helplessness;
• irritability;
• anger;
• mood swings;
• glassy look;
• the desire to return home and see old friends;
• physiological responses to stress;
• homesickness;
• cook;
• ridiculous conclusions;
• getting stuck in the same thoughts and actions;
• suicidal or fatalistic thoughts;
• excessive sleep;
• increased appetite and, as a result, excess weight gain;
• stereotypes of “master-slave”, “friends-newcomers” and so on;
• hostility towards citizens of the host country.

Phases of culture shock

Euphoria phase

During this period, the differences between the familiar and the new culture are viewed in a romantic light. For example, when visiting a previously unknown country, a person may fall in love with the new food, pace of life and habits of the local people. During the first few weeks, most people are fascinated by the new culture. Interest is especially active in citizens who speak their native language and those who are especially polite to foreigners. Similar attitude to the environment, sometimes called a honeymoon - a person’s experiences are very similar to the emotions that newlyweds feel during this period. However, like most honeymoon periods, this stage eventually ends.

Disappointment

After some time, usually about three months, depending on the individual, the differences between the familiar and the new culture become very obvious and begin to cause concern. Such anxiety can often lead to unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger, especially in cases where a person experiences adverse events that may be perceived as culturally offensive. Language barriers, differences in public hygiene, road safety, food availability and food quality can all add to the feeling of being out of touch with the local environment.

Different environments place particular pressure on communication skills. Practical difficulties begin to arise in overcoming such circadian rhythms, which often lead to insomnia and daytime sleepiness, and adaptation of the intestinal flora. It is worth noting that one of the most common reasons psychologists note is the difficulty in finding a treatment for any disease - medications may have other names that are very different from those accepted in medicine. home country, so they are quite difficult to recognize. In addition, specialists may use slightly different principles to provide assistance than those to which the individual is accustomed. Sometimes clearly explaining your condition can be quite a labor-intensive task.

The most important changes during this period include the following. People adapting to a new culture often feel lonely and homesick because they are not yet accustomed to new environment and did not have time to meet people who are able to understand them and provide any positive emotions, including support. There is no opportunity to discuss your thoughts, problems with anyone, there are no tips to help you make a decision. A language barrier can become a serious obstacle in creating new relationships - there is a misunderstanding of the culture of a foreign language, non-verbal manifestations, linguistic tactlessness, tone of conversations, linguistic nuances and customs. Often there are people around who are essentially false friends.

In the case of students studying abroad, some of them may experience additional symptoms of loneliness, which ultimately affects their overall lifestyle. Due to the forced need to live in another country without parental care, international students often feel anxious and pressured when adapting to new cultures, especially when cultural and geographical distances are large and patterns of logic and speech are too different and highly specialized.

Adaptation

After some time, usually 6 to 12 months, the first habits of the new culture begin to appear and procedures for contact with it develop. The volume of such addictions is increasing literally every day. A person becomes concerned with the basic life of the surrounding society, things become more “normal”, but most importantly, he begins to draw conclusions. The skills to solve your own problems independently, without the participation of outsiders, appear. Little by little a positive attitude towards the surrounding reality is formed. The foreign culture begins to make sense, and negative reactions and responses decrease in quality.

Reconciliation

At this stage, the person is able to participate fully and comfortably, almost fully, in the environment of the host culture. Reconciliation does not mean complete transformation - people often retain many features of the previous culture, such as accent and language skills. This phase is often referred to as the bicultural stage.

Reverse culture shock

Reverse culture shock, “own culture shock,” can develop in the event of returning to one’s own country and one’s own culture. After spending a long time in a foreign culture, returning to one's homeland or place of previous long stay can produce the same effects as described above. This is the result of the psychosomatic and psychological consequences of the process of sanitation in the primary culture. A person subsequently often finds new living conditions more surprising, so it is difficult for him to return to the conditions in which he lived previously.

Reverse culture shock typically consists of two stages: idealization and expectations. When a long period of time spent abroad orients a person towards positive emotions, it can be quite difficult to return to the gray everyday life of his life. past life. Oddly enough, in this case it will be very easy for a person to remember everything from his “native” life, but he, as a rule, quickly forgets the negativity from the life from which he just returned.

A person expects that family things remain exactly the same as when they were left. The realization that home life has now changed, that the world continues to live without our participation, causes discomfort and psychological suffering.

General conclusions

Some people believe that it is impossible to accept another culture and integrate into it. They isolate themselves from the host country environment, which they perceive as hostile, akin to a “ghetto.” In addition, there is an uncontrollable desire to return to one’s own culture and this is seen as the only way out. These “refuseniks” also have great problems reintegrating into the home environment after returning.

Other individuals, on the contrary, are characterized by a process of complete integration into the new culture and deep immersion in all its aspects and the smallest details. Such people often lose their original identity and very often their character, behavior and even appearance changes. This is called cultural assimilation. In this case, guests of the country, as a rule, stay here forever.

Some people manage to objectively adapt to aspects of the culture of the host country - they see both its positive and negative qualities, while maintaining their own basic traits and creating unique combinations with new conditions based on them. Such individuals do not have serious problems, they can return to their homeland or not, and they can often move to other places. This group may be considered to be somewhat cosmopolitan. Approximately 30% of expats belong to this group.

Culture shock has many different effects, time intervals and degrees of severity, therefore, in the case of therapy, an individual approach must be provided.

/ For questions / 52.Culture shock

Culture shock: causes, course, psychological help. "Buffer" group.

Culture shock is a psychological reaction to encountering another culture.

Phases of culture shock (according to Oberg): honeymoon - crisis - recovery - adaptation.

Causes of k.sh. - 1) experiencing loss (loss); 2) frustration due to value differences; 3) lack of social support; 4) lack of social skills; 5) unmet expectations

A buffer group is a real or conditional group of migrants, territorially concentrated or dispersed in a certain space. The buffer group is personally significant for the migrant individual, since it is an intermediary link in the process of a potential migrant leaving his original society, entering a new society, returning to the previous society (maybe even after several generations), preserving certain, most personally and collectively significant spiritual values ​​and attributes inherent in the abandoned society. The duration of functioning and activity of these types of groups over time is different. As a "guardian of values", the Buffer Group can actively exist for several generations of active migrants. Its collapse is facilitated by the cessation of the influx of new arrivals and the final integration and assimilation of the last guardians of values ​​into the new society. In such cases, the values ​​of the previous society cease to be personally significant for the migrant and lose their unifying functions. Nevertheless, their traces can appear in a hidden, vague form, since, having taken root in the structure of newly acquired values, they can give special, personally significant orientations to the behavior of further generations of former migrants, which will distinguish them from other members of society.

Culture shock - Disorientation of an individual upon entering a foreign cultural environment. The essence of culture shock is the conflict between old and new cultural norms and orientations, old ones inherent in the individual as a representative of the society he left, and new ones, that is, representing the society he arrived in. Strictly speaking, culture shock is a conflict between two cultures at the level of individual consciousness.

The term was introduced by K. Oberg in 1960. The process of intercultural adaptation is accompanied by: 1) a feeling of loss of friends and status due to isolation from the familiar environment; 2) a feeling of rejection; 3) surprise and discomfort when realizing the differences between cultures; 4) confusion in role expectations, value orientations and in one’s own personal identity; 5) a feeling of powerlessness due to the inability to effectively interact with their new environment. Symptoms of culture shock may include a lack of self-confidence, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, psychosomatic disorders, depression, etc.

Causes of culture shock:

experience of loss (grief, loss). Any loss is trauma. (symptoms – physiological state – excitability; flash back effects – intrusive memories; obsessive avoidance).

rejection of values, state of frustration. (affects fixation at the “crisis” stage)

lack of social support (the presence of people who will support me and listen to me).

lack of social skills

unrealistic expectations – people tend to hope for the best. To rid a person of illusions and lead to real perception.

The course of culture shock:

Oberg curve (parabola): 1) honeymoon (euphoria - something new) 2) crisis 3) recovery 4) integration

This curve is not always confirmed in practice, it just shows what should be in order to achieve integration. The illusion of integration occurs if the “honeymoon” immediately turns into integration.

Peter Adler tried to describe the process and establish the sequence of stages of experiencing K.-sh. His model includes five stages: a) initial contact, or the “honeymoon” stage, when the newcomer experiences the curiosity and excitement of a “tourist”, but at the same time his basic identity is still rooted in his native soil; b) the second stage is associated with the disintegration of the old system of familiar landmarks, with a cut of people. feels confused and overwhelmed by the demands of the new culture; typically a feeling of self-blame and inadequacy in the face of difficulties encountered; c) the third stage involves the reintegration of new guidelines and increased ability to function in a new culture. Typical emotions associated with this stage are anger and resentment towards the new culture as the cause of difficulties and a less suitable place to live than the previous environment. Since at this stage anger is directed outward, it is very difficult for such persons to provide any assistance. help; d) at the fourth stage, the process of reintegration continues in the direction of acquiring autonomy and increasing the ability to see positive and negative elements in both the new and the old culture;) the fifth stage is characterized by independence: people. has finally achieved “biculturalism” and is now able to function in both the old and the new culture.

According to Bock, there are five ways to resolve the conflict between two cultures at the level of individual consciousness:

1) ghettoization - is realized in situations when a person arrives in another society, but tries or is forced (due to ignorance of the language, natural timidity, religion, etc.) to avoid any contact with a foreign culture. In this case, he tries to create his own cultural environment - an environment of fellow tribesmen, fencing off this environment from the influence of a foreign cultural environment.

2) assimilation, which is essentially the opposite of ghettoization. In the case of assimilation, the individual, on the contrary, completely abandons his own culture and strives to fully assimilate the cultural baggage of a foreign culture necessary for life.

3) intermediate, consisting of cultural exchange and interaction.

4) partial assimilation, when an individual sacrifices his culture in favor of a foreign cultural environment partially, that is, in one of the spheres of life: for example, at work he is guided by the norms and requirements of a foreign cultural environment, and in the family, at leisure, in the religious sphere - by the norms their traditional culture.

5) colonization, representatives of a foreign culture, having arrived in the country, actively impose their own values, norms and behavior patterns on the population.

A buffer group is a real or conditional group of migrants, territorially concentrated or dispersed in a certain space. The buffer group is personally significant for the migrant individual, since it is an intermediary link in the process of a potential migrant leaving his original society, entering a new society, returning to the previous society (maybe even after several generations), preserving certain, most personally and collectively significant spiritual values ​​and attributes inherent in the abandoned society. As a “guardian of values,” the buffer group can actively exist for several generations of active migrants. Its collapse is facilitated by the cessation of the influx of new arrivals and the final integration and assimilation of the last guardians of values ​​into the new society. In such cases, the values ​​of the previous society cease to be personally significant for the migrant and lose their unifying functions. However, their traces can appear in a hidden, vague form; they can give special, personally significant orientations to the behavior of further generations of former migrants, which will distinguish them from other members of society.

Culture shock

Culture shock is emotional or physical discomfort, disorientation of an individual caused by entering a different cultural environment, encountering another culture, an unfamiliar place. Getting used to a new environment can be exciting, stressful, challenging, funny, or just downright confusing. The term was first used by the American anthropologist Kalervo Oberg. Kalervo Oberg) in 1954.

Sometimes the concept of “culture shock” is used to refer to a general situation when a person is forced to adapt to a new order in which previously acquired cultural values ​​and behavior patterns do not work.

Possible reasons

Basically, a person experiences culture shock when he enters another country that is different from the country where he lives, although he may encounter similar sensations in his own country if the social environment suddenly changes.

A person experiences a conflict between old and new cultural norms and orientations; old ones, to which he is accustomed, and new ones, characterizing a new society for him. This is a conflict between two cultures at the level of one’s own consciousness. Culture shock occurs when the familiar psychological factors that helped a person adapt to society disappear, and instead, unknown and incomprehensible ones appear, coming from a different cultural environment.

This experience of a new culture is unpleasant.

People experience culture shock differently and perceive the severity of its impact differently. It depends on their individual characteristics, the degree of similarity or dissimilarity of cultures. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including climate, clothing, food, language, religion, level of education, material wealth, family structure, customs, etc.

Different phases of culture shock

Acute culture shock (mainly caused by moving to another country) usually consists of several phases. However, it must be recognized that not everyone goes through these phases, just as not everyone spends enough time in a foreign environment to go through certain phases.

• "Honeymoon". During such a period, a person perceives the differences between the “old” and “new” culture “through rose-colored glasses” - everything seems wonderful and beautiful. For example, in such a state a person may become interested in food that is new to him, a new place of residence, new habits of people, new architecture, etc.
• "Reconciliation". After a few days, weeks, or months, a person stops focusing on minor differences between cultures. However, he again strives for the food he was used to at home, the rhythm of life in the new place of residence may seem too fast or too slow, people’s habits may be annoying, etc.
• "Adaptation". Again, after several days, weeks or months, a person gets used to his new environment. At this stage, the person no longer reacts negatively or positively because he is adapting to the new culture. He again leads daily life, as before in his homeland.
• "Reverse culture shock." Returning to the native culture after adapting to a new one can again cause a person to experience the above-described phases, which may not last very long or as long as the first culture shock in a foreign land.

Culture shock

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RF

RUSSIAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF TOURISM

6th year student

Naberezhnye Chelny

Introduction

The behavior of animals, insects, and birds is programmed by a system of instincts: they are naturally given instructions on how and what to eat, how to survive, how to build nests, when and where to fly, etc. In humans, the system of instincts has faded away, although researchers argue as to whether which grade. The function that instincts perform in nature, in human society culture performs. It gives every individual sample program his life, while defining a set of options.

A lot of people live with the illusion that they themselves have chosen the purpose of their life, their behavior patterns. Meanwhile, when comparing the lives of people in different cultures, it is difficult not to be amazed at the uniformity of “free” choice in one country and era, while the same need in another culture is satisfied in completely different forms. The reason is that culture is the environment that predetermines the choice of our behavior options. Just as in water the set of behavior options for the same people differs from the options for their movement on land, in a swamp, etc., so culture dictates our “free” choice. Each culture is a micro universe. Culture is very important for the functioning of an individual. Culture strengthens solidarity between people and promotes mutual understanding.

We are dependent on our habits and living conditions. Our well-being certainly depends on where we are, who and what surrounds us. When a person finds himself in an unfamiliar environment and finds himself cut off from his usual surroundings (be it a change of apartment, job or city), his psyche usually suffers shocks. It is clear that when it comes to moving to another country, we get it all together. The experiences and sensations that a person experiences when changing familiar living conditions to new ones are called culture shock by scientists...

The choice of topic is determined, first of all, by my personal desire to try to understand, both independently and with the help of competent authors, the conflict of several cultures when representatives of one culture collide with representatives of another, when a person leaves his usual environment, changes his way of life, makes new friends.

This topic is especially relevant today, when everything more people travels abroad (to live, study, work, relax). Some are interested in beaches, others - mountains, where you can breathe fresh air and ski, others - historical and cultural monuments. There is also VIP tourism for the business elite, combining leisure with business events, extreme tourism for thrill-seekers, honeymoon tourism for newlyweds and much more.

This paper attempts to characterize the phenomenon of culture shock and explain its causes. In this connection, we will consider the influence of culture on social groups and their relationships, features of mentality.

To write this work, a number of sources on cultural studies, sociology and tourism, as well as information from the Internet, were used.

Chapter 1. The meaning of culture for humans

1.1.The concept of culture

In order to define “culture shock,” let’s first find out the meaning of the word “culture” itself. So, the word “culture” (from the Latin colere) means “processing”, “farming”. In other words, this is cultivation, humanization, changing nature as a habitat. The concept itself contains a contrast between the natural course of development of natural processes and phenomena and the “second nature” artificially created by man - culture. Culture, then, is special shape human life activity, qualitatively new in relation to previous forms of organization of living things on earth.

In the Middle Ages of the last century, this word began to denote a progressive method of cultivating grain, and thus the term agriculture or the art of farming arose. But in the 18th and 19th centuries. it began to be used in relation to people, therefore, if a person was distinguished by grace of manners and erudition, he was considered “cultured.” The term was then applied mainly to aristocrats to distinguish them from the "uncultured" common people. The German word Kultur also meant high level civilization. In our lives today, the word “culture” is still associated with opera house, excellent literature, good education.

Modern scientific definition culture discarded the aristocratic shades of this concept. It symbolizes the beliefs, values ​​and expressions (as used in literature and art) that are common to a group; they serve to organize experience and regulate the behavior of members of this group. The beliefs and attitudes of a subgroup are often called a subculture.

In history and in the modern era, a huge variety of types of cultures existed and exists in the world, both locally - historical forms communities of people. Each culture, with its own spatial and temporal parameters, is closely connected with its creator – the people (ethnic group, ethno-confessional community). Culture expresses the specifics of the way of life, behavior individual peoples, their special way of perceiving the world in myths, legends, systems of religious beliefs and value orientations that give meaning to human existence. Culture, therefore, is a special form of people’s life activity, which allows the manifestation of a variety of lifestyles, material ways transformation of nature and creation of spiritual values.

The assimilation of culture is carried out through learning. Culture is created, culture is taught. Since it is not acquired biologically, each generation reproduces it and passes it on to the next generation. This process is the basis of socialization. As a result of the assimilation of values, beliefs, norms, rules and ideals, a person’s personality is formed and his behavior is regulated. If the process of socialization were to cease on a mass scale, it would lead to the death of culture.

How important culture is for the functioning of an individual and society can be judged by the behavior of people who have not been socialized.

The uncontrolled, or infantile, behavior of the so-called jungle children, who were completely deprived of communication with people, indicates that without socialization people are not able to adopt an orderly way of life, master a language and learn how to earn a living.

Cultural values ​​are formed based on the selection of certain types of behavior and experiences of people. Each society carried out its own selection of cultural forms. Each society, from the point of view of the other, neglects the main thing and deals with unimportant matters. In one culture material values barely recognized, in another they have a decisive influence on people's behavior. In one society, technology is treated with incredible disdain, even in areas essential to human survival; in another similar society, ever-improving technology meets the needs of the times. But every society creates a huge cultural superstructure that covers a person’s entire life - youth, death, and the memory of him after death.

1.2 Tendency of ethnocentrism

Man is so constructed that his ideas about the world seem to him to be the only true ones; Moreover, they seem natural, logical and self-evident to him.

There is a tendency in society to judge other cultures from a position of superiority to our own. This tendency is called ethnocentrism. The principles of ethnocentrism find clear expression in the activities of missionaries who seek to convert the “barbarians” to their faith. Ethnocentrism is associated with xenophobia - fear and hostility towards other people's views and customs.

Ethnocentrism marked the activities of the first anthropologists. They tended to compare all cultures with their own, which they considered the most advanced. According to the American sociologist William Graham Sumner, culture can only be understood on the basis of an analysis of its own values, in its own context. This view is called cultural relativism.

Cultural relativism promotes understanding of subtle differences between closely related cultures. For example, in Germany, the doors in an institution are always tightly closed to separate people. The Germans believe that otherwise employees are distracted from their work. On the contrary, in the United States, office doors are usually open. Americans who work in Germany often complained that closed doors made them feel unwelcoming and alienated. A closed door has a completely different meaning for an American than it does for a German.

Each culture is a unique universe created by a person’s specific attitude to the world and to himself. In other words, when we study different cultures, we study not just books, cathedrals or archaeological finds, - we discover other human worlds, in which people lived (and live) and felt differently than we do. Every culture is a way of human creative self-realization. Therefore, understanding other cultures enriches us not only with new knowledge, but also with new creative experience.

a state of social isolation, anxiety and depression that develops with a sudden change in the environment (finding oneself in an alien culture or returning to one’s own after a long break) or the forced need to adapt to different traditions and foundations of society. The condition is common among immigrants, but can also develop with radical changes in society.

CULTURE SHOCK

An emotional breakdown often experienced by people when they live for a long time in a society that is different from their own. Typical manifestations are confusion and a feeling of alienation, which can last quite a long time depending on the individual characteristics of the person and how different the new culture is from the native one.

Culture shock

ICD 309.2) is a state of social isolation, anxiety and depression that develops with a sudden change in the environment (finding oneself in an alien culture or returning to one’s own after a long break) or the forced need to adapt to different traditions and foundations of society. The condition is common among immigrants, but can also develop with radical changes in society.

Culture shock

disorientation of an individual when entering a foreign cultural environment. The term was introduced by K. Oberg in 1960. The process of intercultural adaptation is accompanied by: 1) a feeling of loss of friends and status due to isolation from the familiar environment; 2) a feeling of rejection; 3) surprise and discomfort when realizing the differences between cultures; 4) confusion in role expectations, value orientations and in one’s own personal identity; 5) a feeling of powerlessness due to the inability to effectively interact with one’s new environment or in fundamentally new circumstances. Symptoms of K. sh. There may be a lack of self-confidence, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, psychosomatic disorders, depression, etc. Most often, K. sh. is associated with negative consequences, but it is necessary to pay attention to its positive side, at least for those individuals for whom initial discomfort leads to the adoption of new values, attitudes, behavior patterns and is ultimately important for self-development and personal growth. T.G. Stefanenko

Culture shock (CS)

culture shock) - 1. term, presumably by K. Oberg, denotes anxiety, emotional distress in people unprepared to accept the values ​​of another culture, living for a long time in a society that is in many ways different from their own. The problems that arise in this case, according to P.B. Pederson (2005), are as follows: a) behavioral guidelines habitual for the individual are absent or their meaning has been changed; b) values ​​previously accepted by an individual may lose meaning in his eyes; c) the mentioned disorientation and devaluation can lead to the development of anxiety, depression, hostility, reactions of blind, unbridled rage; d) dissatisfaction with the new way of life and a tendency to idealize the previous one appear; e) usual ways of restoring strength and peace of mind no longer work; f) there is a feeling that this condition is permanent and it will never go away. There are various hypotheses that explain the nature of this phenomenon (sleep disturbances, divergence of values, inadequate expectations of the individual, etc.).

T. Koffman formulates a number of strategies for coping behavior (coping strategies) to help cope with CS. First, the individual should be aware that any major change in his life usually results in stress and distress. Secondly, the main goal of someone experiencing CS is to maintain personal integrity and self-respect. Thirdly, we must remember that adapting to new living conditions takes time, and it differs for everyone. Fourth, the individual’s awareness of existing adaptation patterns helps him quickly develop new skills and understanding of the situation. Fifth, verbal labeling of CS symptoms may help interpret and manage emotional reactions to stress. It is believed that CS is not a disease, but a learning process, no matter how unpleasant and painful it may be; 2. more often understood as distress arising as a result of the collapse of the traditions of one’s own culture and borrowings from another cultural space. A typical example “2” is the forced introduction of aliens into one’s own country. cultural values(For example, foreign language, and therefore, to some extent, relationships, corresponding structures of thinking, ethical standards, religious ideas etc.), violating the consistency and balance of cultural tradition, often leading to the rejection of alien values, opposition social groups or even to their antagonism, which is fraught with various kinds of distress for many people (for example, the confrontation between “Westerners” and supporters of the Russian cultural tradition in our country, or real and undisguised hatred of everything American in South Korea, many residents of which, when approached on the street with requests for English language, they defiantly do not respond to these requests). Culture shock, however, can also play a positive role, for example, freeing consciousness from the influence of certain prejudices, promoting a greater depth of understanding of socially significant connections, assessing one’s culture from the perspective of other social and spiritual values, and realizing the true value of one’s own culture.

CULTURE SHOCK

a concept adopted in Western cultural studies and ethnopsychology to designate: a) the conflict of old and new cultures, norms and orientations inherent in the individual as a representative of the society he left, and new ones, i.e. representing the society into which he arrived; b) difficulties that arise when a person enters a new culture when communicating and interacting with representatives of other ethnic communities. The concept of K.sh. introduced into scientific use by the American anthropologist F. Boas (see). According to the American scientist K. Oberg, when entering a foreign cultural environment, an individual becomes disoriented, manifested in the following characteristic states: 1) tension due to the efforts required in the process of psychological adaptation, called cultural fatigue, and causing irritability, insomnia, psychosomatic disorders; 2) feelings of anxiety due to the loss of friends, professional and social status due to isolation from the usual environment; 3) a feeling of rejection due to the hostility of surrounding representatives of the other ethnic community; 4) contradictions in individual consciousness and psychology associated with changes in role expectations, value orientations and in one’s own personal identity (see: Ethnic identity); 5) psychological discomfort, indignation or disgust when realizing the differences between one’s own and other people’s national values; 6) a feeling of powerlessness from the inability to effectively interact with representatives of other ethnic groups. The phenomenon of K.sh. complemented by the concept of the “V-shaped curve” in adaptation to a new culture, during which the individual usually goes through three stages. The first is characterized by enthusiasm and high spirits; the second - frustration, depression and a feeling of confusion, which in the third, final stage slowly turns into a feeling of confidence and satisfaction. The most important factors that affect the severity of K.sh. and the duration of cultural adaptation are: the degree of similarity or difference both between cultures and national character values; socio-demographic differences (e.g. young people with higher education and good intelligence, as a rule, they adapt faster); individual experience of being in a new social and ethnic environment (usually those people who have well-developed intellectual qualities, communication culture, and volitional characteristics adapt more successfully). Psychologists distinguish four stages of K.S., three of which practically coincide with three periods of adaptation, but with the addition of phenomena of intergroup relations. Thus, the stage of frustration is accompanied by a pronounced preference for one’s own group and identification with it. The fourth stage is called successful adaptation and is characterized by complete assimilation and acceptance of the norms and values ​​of a foreign ethnic community.

Culture shock is an individual manifestation of a person’s disorientation, when he can recognize a previously unfamiliar way of life. Often culture shock occurs when immigrating or visiting another country, changing the social environment or banal immersion in a different type of life. The most common cause of culture shock is placement in a foreign environment.

Due to its relatively standard manifestations, culture shock can be divided into at least four different phases - euphoria, disappointment, adaptation and reconciliation.

Common negative conditions that contribute to the development of culture shock include:

• information overload;
• the language barrier;
• generation gap;
• technology gap;
• interdependence on the external environment;
• increased dependence on new conditions;
• cultural homesickness;
• the endless regression of homesickness;
• boredom;
• Responsiveness is a cultural skill set.

It is worth noting that there is no surefire way to completely prevent culture shock, since people in any society react to cultural contrast quite individually.

Instead of a preface

Culture shock is a subcategory of a more universal diagnosis called transition shock. Transitional shock as a state of loss and disorientation is based on changes in one’s familiar environment, which necessarily requires adjustment. There are many symptoms of transitional shock, including:

• excessive worry;
• feeling of helplessness;
• irritability;
• anger;
• mood swings;
• glassy look;
• the desire to return home and see old friends;
• physiological responses to stress;
• homesickness;
• cook;
• ridiculous conclusions;
• getting stuck in the same thoughts and actions;
• suicidal or fatalistic thoughts;
• excessive sleep;
• increased appetite and, as a result, excess weight gain;
• stereotypes of “master-slave”, “friends-newcomers” and so on;
• hostility towards citizens of the host country.

Phases of culture shock

Euphoria phase

During this period, the differences between the familiar and the new culture are viewed in a romantic light. For example, when visiting a previously unknown country, a person may fall in love with the new food, pace of life and habits of the local people. During the first few weeks, most people are fascinated by the new culture. Interest is especially active in citizens who speak their native language and those who are especially polite to foreigners. This attitude towards the environment is sometimes called a honeymoon - a person’s experiences are very similar to the emotions that newlyweds feel during this period. However, like most honeymoon periods, this stage eventually ends.

Disappointment

After some time, usually about three months, depending on the individual, the differences between the familiar and the new culture become very obvious and begin to cause concern. Such anxiety can often lead to unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger, especially in cases where a person experiences adverse events that may be perceived as culturally offensive. Language barriers, differences in public hygiene, road safety, food availability and food quality can all add to the feeling of being out of touch with the local environment.

Different environments place particular pressure on communication skills. Practical difficulties begin to arise in overcoming such circadian rhythms, which often lead to insomnia and daytime sleepiness, and adaptation of the intestinal flora. It is worth noting that one of the most common reasons psychologists note is the difficulty in finding a treatment for any disease - medications may have different names that are very different from those accepted in their home country, so they are quite difficult to recognize. In addition, specialists may use slightly different principles to provide assistance than those to which the individual is accustomed. Sometimes clearly explaining your condition can be quite a labor-intensive task.

The most important changes during this period include the following. People, adapting to a new culture, often feel lonely and homesick, because they are not yet accustomed to the new environment and have not had time to meet people who are able to understand them and provide them with any positive emotions, including support. There is no opportunity to discuss your thoughts, problems with anyone, there are no tips to help you make a decision. A language barrier can become a serious obstacle in creating new relationships - there is a misunderstanding of the culture of a foreign language, non-verbal manifestations, linguistic tactlessness, tone of conversations, linguistic nuances and customs. Often there are people around who are essentially false friends.

In the case of students studying abroad, some of them may experience additional symptoms of loneliness, which ultimately affects their overall lifestyle. Due to the forced need to live in another country without parental care, international students often feel anxious and pressured when adapting to new cultures, especially when cultural and geographical distances are large and patterns of logic and speech are too different and highly specialized.

Adaptation

After some time, usually 6 to 12 months, the first habits of the new culture begin to appear and procedures for contact with it develop. The volume of such addictions is increasing literally every day. A person becomes concerned with the basic life of the surrounding society, things become more “normal”, but most importantly, he begins to draw conclusions. The skills to solve your own problems independently, without the participation of outsiders, appear. Little by little a positive attitude towards the surrounding reality is formed. The foreign culture begins to make sense, and negative reactions and responses decrease in quality.

Reconciliation

At this stage, the person is able to participate fully and comfortably, almost fully, in the environment of the host culture. Reconciliation does not mean complete transformation - people often retain many features of the previous culture, such as accent and language skills. This phase is often referred to as the bicultural stage.

Reverse culture shock, “own culture shock,” can develop in the event of returning to one’s own country and one’s own culture. After spending a long time in a foreign culture, returning to one's homeland or place of previous long stay can produce the same effects as described above. This is the result of the psychosomatic and psychological consequences of the process of sanitation in the primary culture. A person subsequently often finds new living conditions more surprising, so it is difficult for him to return to the conditions in which he lived previously.

Reverse culture shock typically consists of two stages: idealization and expectations. When a long period of time spent abroad orients a person towards positive emotions, it can be quite difficult to return to the gray everyday life of his past life. Oddly enough, in this case it will be very easy for a person to remember everything from his “native” life, but he, as a rule, quickly forgets the negativity from the life from which he just returned.

A person expects that family things remain exactly the same as when they were left. The realization that home life has now changed, that the world continues to live without our participation, causes discomfort and psychological suffering.

General conclusions

Some people believe that it is impossible to accept another culture and integrate into it. They isolate themselves from the host country environment, which they perceive as hostile, akin to a “ghetto.” In addition, there is an uncontrollable desire to return to one’s own culture and this is seen as the only way out. These “refuseniks” also have great problems reintegrating into the home environment after returning.

Other individuals, on the contrary, are characterized by a process of complete integration into the new culture and deep immersion in all its aspects and smallest details. Such people often lose their original identity and very often their character, behavior and even appearance changes. This is called cultural assimilation. In this case, guests of the country, as a rule, stay here forever.

Some people manage to objectively adapt to aspects of the culture of the host country - they see both its positive and negative qualities, while maintaining their own basic traits and creating unique combinations with new conditions based on them. Such individuals do not have serious problems, they can return to their homeland or not, and they can often move to other places. This group may be considered to be somewhat cosmopolitan. Approximately 30% of expats belong to this group.

Culture shock has many different effects, time intervals and degrees of severity, therefore, in the case of therapy, an individual approach must be provided.

Experts call the stressful impact of a new culture on a person culture shock. Sometimes similar concepts are used - transition shock, cultural fatigue. To one degree or another, almost all immigrants who find themselves in a foreign culture experience it. It causes mental health problems, more or less pronounced mental shock.

The term “culture shock” was introduced into scientific use by the American researcher K. Oberg in 1960, when he noted that entering a new culture is accompanied by a number of unpleasant sensations. Today it is believed that the experience of a new culture is unpleasant or shocking, on the one hand, because it is unexpected, and on the other hand, because it can lead to a negative assessment of one’s own culture.

Typically, there are six forms of culture shock:

Tension due to the efforts made to achieve psychological adaptation;

Feeling of loss due to deprivation of friends, position, profession, property;

A feeling of loneliness (rejection) in a new culture, which can turn into denial of this culture;

Violation of role expectations and sense of self-identity;

Anxiety that turns to resentment and disgust after recognizing cultural differences;

Feelings of inferiority due to inability to cope with a situation.

The main cause of culture shock is cultural differences. Every culture has many symbols and images, as well as behavioral stereotypes, with the help of which we can automatically act in different situations. When we find ourselves in a new culture, the usual system of orientation turns out to be inadequate, since it is based on completely different ideas about the world, different norms and values, stereotypes of behavior and perception. Usually, being in the conditions of his culture, a person is not aware that there is this hidden part of the “cultural iceberg” in it. We realize the presence of this hidden system of norms and values ​​that control our behavior only when we find ourselves in a situation of contact with another culture. The result of this is psychological and often physical discomfort - culture shock.

Symptoms of culture shock can be very different: from exaggerated concern for the cleanliness of dishes, linen, and the quality of water and food to psychosomatic disorders, general anxiety, insomnia, and fear. They can result in depression, alcoholism or drug addiction, and even lead to suicide.

Of course, culture shock is not only Negative consequences. Modern researchers consider it as a normal reaction, as part of the normal process of adaptation to new conditions. Moreover, during this process, the individual not only acquires knowledge about the new culture and the norms of behavior in it, but also becomes more culturally developed, although he experiences stress. Therefore, since the early 1990s, experts have preferred to talk not about culture shock, but about acculturation stress.