Final Paper: Embracing the Shock The effects of earthquake aftershocks are unpredictable and can last for many years; the effects of culture shock happen to be remarkably similar. Culture shock takes place when someone enters into an unfamiliar culture due to a vacation, humanitarian project, study abroad opportunity, etc. Barna (1976) explains culture shock as being a type of disease that many do not understand they have, yet it handicaps people and prevents them from knowing that they are acting unusual compared to their normal selves. The symptoms caused by it are hard to isolate, and they can vary in effects, severity, and time span (Barna, 1976). The significance of understanding culture shock, the positive and negative sides of culture
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Guo-Ming (1992) provides information on a study that addresses the positive effects of culture shock. The two main effects or topics are communication adaptability and interaction involvement. Communication adaptability focuses on the behavioral aspect of communication ability. This is important for those that are experience culture shock because it is a skill that focuses in on the flexibility used when communicating with diverse types of people in various situations. On the other hand, interaction involvement is also important to learn because it relates to the cognitive aspect of communication ability. This is how often individuals participate in certain social environments. The study determined that there is indeed a positive relationship between the use of communication adaptability and interaction involvement being used in the lives of those who have experienced or are experiencing culture shock. As these people understand how to communicate in different situations with a variety of people and are incredibly involved in social interaction, then it will be easier for them to cope with the culture shock that is taking place in adjusting to a new environment (Guo-Ming, …show more content…
For this purpose, Mumford (1998) describes the different questions that have been used to determine the measure of culture shock that people experience. The questions that were asked were based on six common feelings associated with culture shock. The answers for each question consisted of most of the time, occasionally, or not at all. These questions (known as the ‘core’ culture shock items) were as follows: 1. Do you feel strain from the effort to adapt to a new culture? 2. Have you been missing your family and friends back home? 3. Do you feel generally accepted by the local people in the new culture? 4. Do you ever wish to escape from your new environment altogether? 5. Do you ever feel confused about your role or identity in the new culture? 6. Have you found things in your new environment shocking or disgusting? 7. Do you ever feel helpless or powerless when trying to cope with the new
Guo-Ming (1992) provides information on a study that addresses the positive effects of culture shock. The two main effects or topics are communication adaptability and interaction involvement. Communication adaptability focuses on the behavioral aspect of communication ability. This is important for those that are experience culture shock because it is a skill that focuses in on the flexibility used when communicating with diverse types of people in various situations. On the other hand, interaction involvement is also important to learn because it relates to the cognitive aspect of communication ability. This is how often individuals participate in certain social environments. The study determined that there is indeed a positive relationship between the use of communication adaptability and interaction involvement being used in the lives of those who have experienced or are experiencing culture shock. As these people understand how to communicate in different situations with a variety of people and are incredibly involved in social interaction, then it will be easier for them to cope with the culture shock that is taking place in adjusting to a new environment (Guo-Ming, …show more content…
For this purpose, Mumford (1998) describes the different questions that have been used to determine the measure of culture shock that people experience. The questions that were asked were based on six common feelings associated with culture shock. The answers for each question consisted of most of the time, occasionally, or not at all. These questions (known as the ‘core’ culture shock items) were as follows: 1. Do you feel strain from the effort to adapt to a new culture? 2. Have you been missing your family and friends back home? 3. Do you feel generally accepted by the local people in the new culture? 4. Do you ever wish to escape from your new environment altogether? 5. Do you ever feel confused about your role or identity in the new culture? 6. Have you found things in your new environment shocking or disgusting? 7. Do you ever feel helpless or powerless when trying to cope with the new