Issues
Issue One
Culture shock can have many negative side effects on expats and families (including children) for a long time.
Culture shock affects everyone who goes to a different country for a longer time period than a vacation. Many expats every year accept a job in another country. The families only prepare by packing and saying goodbye, however they are often not aware of the consequences moving can have on an individual and on the whole family. They experience new religions, cultures and lifestyles. Katharina who works as a consultant for different global companies, supports sending employees abroad and helps the expats have a successful work stay. She says “Culture shock is not a myth, but a predictable phenomenon. Anybody who spends more than just a vacation abroad has to go through it”. According to Colleen Ward, a professor in the School of Psychology (she wrote the book The Psychology of Culture Shock) culture shock comes in three stages. It starts with the 'honeymoon phase' where a person is fascinated by the new country, however in the next phase, the 'negotiation phase', comparison of the home country and the new country are made and a person can experience anxiety and anger at the new country. Usually after six to twelve months people accept the new culture and things begin to feel normal and like a routine, this is the 'adjustment phase'. Even when moving back home reverse culture shock or “Re-Entry Shock” can be shocking.
Culture shock affects everyone who goes to a different country for a longer time period than a vacation. Many expats every year accept a job in another country. The families only prepare by packing and saying goodbye, however they are often not aware of the consequences moving can have on an individual and on the whole family. They experience new religions, cultures and lifestyles. Katharina who works as a consultant for different global companies, supports sending employees abroad and helps the expats have a successful work stay. She says “Culture shock is not a myth, but a predictable phenomenon. Anybody who spends more than just a vacation abroad has to go through it”. According to Colleen Ward, a professor in the School of Psychology (she wrote the book The Psychology of Culture Shock) culture shock comes in three stages. It starts with the 'honeymoon phase' where a person is fascinated by the new country, however in the next phase, the 'negotiation phase', comparison of the home country and the new country are made and a person can experience anxiety and anger at the new country. Usually after six to twelve months people accept the new culture and things begin to feel normal and like a routine, this is the 'adjustment phase'. Even when moving back home reverse culture shock or “Re-Entry Shock” can be shocking.
Issue Two
Culture shock can create a negative image of the hosting country and its religion and culture.
In the 'negotiation phase' the expat can experience frustration because they often do not understand the local’s manners and lifestyle and above all their language. This means that the locals can seem rude and offensive and do things that would seem strange and very unacceptable in the eyes of another culture. If the expat does not get to the 'adjustment phase' and understand and respect the new culture before they move back to their home country, the negative impression of the country will stick. Dr. Lalervo Oberg, an Anthropologist explains that because people normally only accept their own culture as the best and the only way of doing things correctly, it can be difficult and frustrating to accept another culture and furthermore live with it. He also explains that along with this attitude people often object individual habits as national characteristics. He gives the example "For instance, if an American does something odd or antisocial in a foreign country which back home would be considered a purely individual act, it is now considered a national trait."
In the 'negotiation phase' the expat can experience frustration because they often do not understand the local’s manners and lifestyle and above all their language. This means that the locals can seem rude and offensive and do things that would seem strange and very unacceptable in the eyes of another culture. If the expat does not get to the 'adjustment phase' and understand and respect the new culture before they move back to their home country, the negative impression of the country will stick. Dr. Lalervo Oberg, an Anthropologist explains that because people normally only accept their own culture as the best and the only way of doing things correctly, it can be difficult and frustrating to accept another culture and furthermore live with it. He also explains that along with this attitude people often object individual habits as national characteristics. He gives the example "For instance, if an American does something odd or antisocial in a foreign country which back home would be considered a purely individual act, it is now considered a national trait."
Issue Three
Culture shock is the cause for many expat's repatriation from the new country back to their old country.
There have been many cases where expats who have moved to a country with a very large cultural difference to their home culture have not been able to stand the culture shock and so therefore ended their abroad job sooner than meant and return to their home country. According to a global research of international companies the expatriate failure rate is actually extremely high. Around 16% to 40% of all expats around the world do not overcome culture shock and therefore go home early. 70% of these expats return early from jobs in developing countries.
There have been many cases where expats who have moved to a country with a very large cultural difference to their home culture have not been able to stand the culture shock and so therefore ended their abroad job sooner than meant and return to their home country. According to a global research of international companies the expatriate failure rate is actually extremely high. Around 16% to 40% of all expats around the world do not overcome culture shock and therefore go home early. 70% of these expats return early from jobs in developing countries.