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we are a`global village and all countries have different values ,morals, customs, political and economic system and laws.
Basically, its a fear of change.
It is a sense of fear when dealing with different people in the community culture and concern about the inability to deal with them ..Most of those exposed to this shock are those who migrate from their hometown to other countries
I believe Psycholoigist sees Culture Shock as normal occurence that happens when a person encounters comon practises that are done in a different way than normal, in a big group or community and away from your comfort zone of living / country. This is a common occurence as you moved on to a new area / work and you will have to try adapting to it. In a work environment, you may try to consider why certain things are done in a certain way and if there is additional value for it to be done in a different way, talk to your Superior and discuss same. How things are done may differ and once you are out of your comfort zone and on to a new environment, you are bound to encounter certain practises which you are not totally familiar or done in a different way.
Sometimes, you don't necessarily travel to another country to experience cultural shock. Because in a country like South Africa, there are many different cultures shared by all South Africans. However, cultural shock happens when a person is exposed to s certain practice, that may be found as unacceptable or strange in one's own community or society. For example, it is nothing strange to greet a stranger one happens to pass by in the street, whereas in other societies, one is expected to know someone in order to greet them.
People have cultural shock because of the way they are brought up with certain expectations. When those expectations are not met, a person may consider experience a cultural shock.
Most times it happens to people who have been in a homogeneous country for a very long time going to either another entirely different homogeneous country or heterogeneous country where it will take them a very long time to figure out how to fit it especially if they need to work. It could affect their competence, esteem and confidence. It could also be as a result of lack of proper research
Cultural shock is the experience of being exposed to foreign environments,cultures, and a different way of life. (mostly experienced by travellers)
it has both advantages and disadvantages
Adv
1) Sojourners may adapt to new life setting
2) Thrive and survive in different in irrelevant cultures
3) Learning of new social skills and adapting to unusual circumstances which makes your mission more effective
4) Sharpening ones adapting conscious to any new potential changes
Disadvantages
1)Stress
2) If failure of adaptation may lead to disruption of self identity,acting,thinking, and feeling
3) Disorientation, anxiety confusion
4) Irregular diseases
Now there are common problems and alot of solutions regarding this phase.
One of the mere solutions is to develop better emotional resilience to manouver through cultures.
There are psychometric tools that have been devised by Mumford(1998) specifically to measure culture shocks.(look it up)
Heres a fruitful link you may refer to for more juicy information
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sideways-view/201512/culture-shock
Mr. Adrian Furnham P.h.D
