Culture Shock

First coined in 1958, the concept of "culture shock" become increasingly used to describe the challenges people confront when entering an unfamiliar social environment. While the term itself portrays these difficulties of adjustment as immediate, drastic, yet fleeting, in actuality, the process is more like a common cold than a cultural shock. In other words, the symptoms of culture shock often present themselves gradually and may not begin until after one spends some time in the new environment. In fact, many people have equated the process of adjustment to a U-Curve. Plus, just like cold symptoms, signs of culture shock can be mistaken for other problems or concerns.

The purpose of the following guide is to provide you with some tools that will help you to anticipate possible challenges while abroad and be more aware of the possible symptoms and stages of adjustment.

However, please always remember that everyone is different. Therefore, the symptoms and stages of culture shock described below are in no way complete or universal. In addition, the duration and extent to which one is immersed in a new environment influences the degree to which culture shock occurs. As a result, while the U-Curve description may be accurate for many people, there are people who will not experience any type of culture shock or who will experience the stages in entirely different sequences. Nevertheless, by expecting some bumps in the road and by being aware of potential difficulties and possible reasons for them, the challenges associated with going abroad can seem more manageable.

The U-Curve of Adjustment

Reverse Culture Shock