Culture Shock?! Part 2

Over a week ago, I promised to identify the Stages of Culture Shock, so here they are!

Stages of Culture Shock

Generally, there are five recognized phases of Culture Shock:

1. The Honeymoon Phase
   
2. The Shock Phase
   
3. The Negotiation Phase
   
4. The Integration or Acceptance Phase
   
5. Re-Entry Shock
   

The Honeymoon Phase:

Typically, this phase is the shortest phase. In this phase a person is euphoric and pleased by all of the new, exciting things encountered. Everything is great, nothing is wrong; the person is having a wonderful time.

The Shock Phase:

During the Shock Phase, a person may begin to encounter difficult times and crises in daily life. The transition between the familiar methods of home and those of the new country is a difficult process and takes time to complete. Because of this, there may be feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and incompetence. During this time, the newcomer may also begin to feel aggressive and start to complain about the host culture/country and only remember the good things about his or her home country. It is at this crossroads that the newcomer either gets stronger and stays, or gets weaker and goes home.

The Negotiation Phase:

During the course of the Negotiation Phase, a person gains some understanding of the new culture. The individual feels more comfortable in the environment and is able to deal with the problems set before him or her. In this stage, the language barrier and customs of the host country are not as demanding of an issue, and therefore the person can move around without a feeling of anxiety.

The Integration or Acceptance Phase:

When the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer, he or she is experiencing the Integration or Acceptance Phase. This integration occurs as the person starts to define and establish goals for him or herself and is accompanied by a more solid feeling of belonging. In short, the person has accepted the new culture and the differences he or she is experiencing.

Re-Entry Shock:

Re-Entry Shock occurs when a person returns to his or her home country. He or she may find that things are no longer the same. The individual may no longer be completely comfortable in his or her home country, and it may take a little while to become re-familiar with the cues, signs, and symbols of home.


A Few Final Notes about the Stages of Culture Shock:

The stages of Culture Shock can be present at different times or happen simultaneously and each person has his or her own way of reacting to each stage. In addition, it is important to remember that not everyone experiences all the phases of Culture Shock. Consequently, some stages will be longer and more difficult than others. Many factors contribute to the duration and effects of Culture Shock as well. For example, the individual's state of mental health, type of personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity with the language, family and/or social support systems, and level of education can all have a profound effect on how a person deals with Culture Shock.