Culture Shock

The term “culture shock” was introduced by Kalvero Oberg in 1954 to refer to an “abrupt loss of the familiar” or the “shock of the new.” Culture shock is caused by the anxiety that is associated with the loss of familiar signs and symbols that permeated one’s life before reaching the new environment.

Culture shock occurs in various stages or phases, which have been variously termed incubation, crisis, recovery, and full recovery; elation, depression, recovery, and acculturation; and contact, disintegration, reintegration, autonomy, and independence. The first phase of culture shock is often referred to as the “honeymoon phase” because the individual feels excitement about the many new things that he or she is experiencing. This phase may last for hours, days, weeks, or months.

The feeling of excitement that is experienced during the first phase of culture shock gradually diminishes as the individual begins to be aware of the differences that exist between his or her previous and...