Shock is the loss of emotional equilibrium that people suffer when moved from an environment where they have learned to function easily and successfully to an unfamiliar one that is less easily negotiated. The effects of culture shock may range from mild uneasiness or temporary homesickness to acute unhappiness or even, in extreme cases, psychological panic. Irritability, hyper-sensitivity, and loss of perspective are common symptoms.
Most experts in intercultural communication agree that the basic cause of culture shock is the abrupt loss of the familiar, which in turn causes a sense of isolation and diminished self-importance. It is brought on by the loss of understood signs of social intercourse. These signs include numerous ways in which we orient ourselves to the situation of daily life: when to shake hands, what to say when we meet people, when to take statements seriously, how to know someone is joking, and how to interpret facial expressions and body language.
Often when a person takes up residence in a foreign country there is a period of excitement and exhilaration when everything seems new and challenging and fascinating. There may appear to be more similarities than differences. When this emotional high tapers off, a downward trend may be experienced. The newcomer may be greatly affected by subtle differences in language, housing, money, transportation, food, and recreation, just to name a few. The result may be problems, including physical ailments, not usually experienced back home.
Underlying these difficulties is the uncomfortable feeling of not really belonging, of being an outsider. If the newcomer is sensitive to these feelings, several reactions may occur:
A natural defense mechanism common to study abroad students is spending time exclusively with Americans. An anxiety prone newcomer may cling to the need for predictability. This phenomena leads to the observation of natives in terms of stereotypes and results in an unfair appraisal of the new culture. It also prevents real immersion and learning of the new culture.
It is possible to shorten the duration of culture shock and/or minimize it impact. The following suggestions may help:
