This document discusses the stages of cultural adaptation that individuals typically experience when moving to a new culture. It outlines five stages: the honeymoon stage, culture shock stage, recovery stage, adaptation stage, and potential reverse culture shock when returning home. The culture shock stage involves feelings like anxiety, homesickness, anger and confusion due to differences between the new and home cultures. Later stages involve developing understanding of both cultures and gaining confidence in the new culture. The document advocates learning social/behavioral norms and building support systems to aid successful long-term cultural adaptation.
2. It’s normal
☼ Adjusting to a new culture is a normal process – everyone must do it.
☼ Each individual experiences it a little bit differently.
☼ It produces a wide variety of reactions and feelings.
☼ It does normally follow certain stages.
☼ Not everyone experiences every stage.
☼ Even those who do experience them all, may not do so in the same
order, within the same time frame, or to the same degree.
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3. Stages of Cultural Adaptation
☼ The Honeymoon Stage – Let the Fun Begin
☼ Usually the first stage
☼ Experienced immediately upon arrival
☼ Everything seems exciting and new
☼ Focus is on the sense of success in being in a new culture
☼ There is a high degree of curiosity and interest in the novelty of the
new surroundings
☼ There exists an appreciation for and anticipation of the
opportunities to be found in the new culture
☼ Most people feel energetic, enthusiastic, and positive during this
stage
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4. Stages of Cultural Adaptation
The Culture Shock Stage – Ouch, This Hurts!
☼ Primary focus is on the differences between the home culture and
the new culture
☼ A foreign language
☼ Uncertainty about how to interact with people in authority
☼ Unclear ideas about how to make friends with people from the new culture
☼ Doubts about how to date people from the new or other cultures
☼ Difficulty communicating in the usual way
☼ Distaste for local foods
☼ Encountering strange religious practices
☼ Discovering differences in the educational system and classroom etiquette
☼ Disappointment that people in the new culture may become impatient when
you do not immediately understand things
☼ Finding that some people in the new culture are simply prejudiced against
people who are not like them
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5. Stages of Cultural Adaptation
The Culture Shock Stage
• You may experience feelings of
• You may have conflicts with other • Anxiety
people, or they may be internal – • Homesickness
you may begin to struggle with • Anger
your own values, habits, and
• Loneliness
preferences in the context of the
new culture. • Helplessness
• Fear for your safety
• Confusion about which
values you should choose
• Uncertainty about whether to
stay or return home
• Not belonging
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6. Stages of Cultural Adaptation
The Recovery Stage
☼ After spending more time in Your new culture, You begin to resolve
some of Your internal conflicts and to regain a sense of appreciation
was experienced in the first stage.
☼ You have learned more about Your new culture and are able to
better understand both the external and internal resources available
to You.
☼ During this stage your feelings are generally a mix of those
experienced in the first two stages.
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7. Stages of Cultural Adaptation
The Adaptation Stage
☼ During this stage You will develop a more realistic understanding of
both the similarities and the differences between Your home culture
and Your new culture and will gain clearer ideas about what You like
and dislike in each.
☼ Many people move in the direction of becoming “bicultural” – being
able to value and appreciate aspects of both cultures that they wish
to retain or include in their lives.
☼ This stage may be characterized by a sense of confidence, maturity,
flexibility and tolerance.
8. Stages of Cultural Adaptation
Yes, there is one more – Reverse Culture Shock
☼ After you have become relatively comfortable with the new culture,
and are able to learn and incorporate new attitudes and behaviors
allowing you to function better in the new culture, you may return to
your home culture and may discover that both you and the home
culture have changed (especially if you have been gone for an
extended period of time) requiring that you go through the whole
process again!
☼ This can be especially confusing if you were expecting to just return
home and find yourself fitting in just as before.
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9. Successful Cultural Adaptation
Tools and Techniques for successful adaptation
Learn how to:
☼ Understand and accept the social and behavioural
norms of the host culture (Power Distance, Hierarchy,
Religions, Status, Gender norms)
☼ Build Social and Emotional Support Systems
☼ And more….
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10. Successful Cultural Adaptation
Training, Coaching, Counseling
Tools and Techniques to facilitate the process of expatriation
Cross Cultural Training for your clients:
☼ HR and Global Mobility Departments,
☼ Relocation Specialists,
☼ Employee Assistance Providers
☼ Individual and Group Coaching
☼ Counseling
Contact us: coach@thepositiveexpat.c
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