The 4 Stages of Adaptation [Culture Shock]

When we study in another country or move  into a new town, we are often exposed to a culture different from ours and need  to go through four stages of transition: Honeymoon, frustration,  adjustment, and adaptation. During stage two, some experience a real  culture shock, severe forms of which can lead to reactions that may need medical  attention. But before we come to that, let’s first look at what happens typically.

In stage 1 — honeymoon — everything is beautiful.  The people are friendly, the culture rich, and the way of local life fascinating. We are optimistic  and excited about all the differences.

In stage 2 we feel frustration. Reality  sets in. We have come to understand that there are plenty of barriers to connecting  with people and have difficulty with the social norms.

We start to reject local  traditions and begin to feel homesick. The stage of adjustment is  characterized by a growing familiarity with our new way of life.  We begin to understand the new customs, acquire language skills, and make local  friends.

We start to feel more comfortable. Last is adaptation. During this stage, we  gain a sense of belonging and are able to fully participate in the new culture, even while  maintaining our own native identity.

Known as the stage of mastery, we now start to feel at home.  However, not everyone arrives at this point. Some people are excited about  the foreign culture for months, and others start to get frustrated  on day one.

And then there are those who experience a culture shock that is so  strong that they leave before adjusting. The Paris Syndrome is the most extreme form  of culture shock. It typically strikes some Japanese tourists who come to the  French capital full of excitement and romantic expectations but are then  confronted with filth and arrogance.

The 20 or so travelers that are  reported to be hit each year, experience a wide range of psychiatric and  psychosomatic symptoms, including anxiety, hallucinations, and vomiting. And so they  leave deeply distressed before they adjust. Those who have adapted to a new society, may  face a surprise when they eventually return home.

After another honeymoon, they  often enter a reverse culture shock, realizing how much they have been estranged from  their old way of life. But it can get worse. The ones who are pushed into a new culture  without being asked, often skip honeymoon altogether and enter straight into the stage of  frustration.

If that happens without the right support, they never really settle in, can’t  adjust, and remain frustrated indefinitely. Studies show that toddlers who are sent for  their first days at preschool without anyone to accompany them, experience so much anxiety  that they can’t bond with their teachers. As a result they remain freighted to  go and clock significantly more sick days for their entire preschool  years.

This is why good schools often demand that parents stay with their  children until they can fully settle in. The original research on culture shock  was conducted by Sverre Lysgaard in the 1950s after the sociologist had talked  to many Norwegians who had spent time in the United States — mostly for academic reasons.  Analyzing his interviews, he saw a clear pattern.

The culture shock curve with happiness on one  axis, and months in a foreign country on another; shows that, on average, the honeymoon period  lasts for around 2 months. Then there are about 6 months of frustration before adjustment  happens. Adaptation starts after close to a year.

What about you? Did you ever travel abroad or move  to another country where you experienced the 4 stages? Share your thoughts about the theory and  your personal experiences in the comments below!

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