Some people encountering a different culture may experience a range of responses that may be positive or negative. A person who has experienced culture shock may experience her or his own culture differently upon return.
Situation: person encountering a new or different culture
Negative responses to travel can include mental, emotional, and physical distress. It may also involve loneliness and homesickness.
Reasons for culture shock:
(1) new culture vastly different from the traveler's own culture (alien)
(2) new culture vastly different from the traveler's expectations
Differences may include:
(1) diet
(2) religion
(3) behavior, lifestyle and accepted norms
(4) social prohibitions and practices
(5) cost of living
(6) language and communication
Stages:
(1) honeymoon phase
(2) distress or crisis stage (bottom)
(3) gradual adjustment (re-integration)
(4) adaptation
(5) independence
Culture shock can be reduced or avoided by:
(1) the traveler becoming more familiar with the new culture prior to the trip.
(2) the traveler having a support network
(3) the traveler expecting and being mentally prepared for distress at times
