Content introduction

The purpose of this course work is to analyze the characteristics of cultural shock, the causes of cultural shock to identify ways to overcome it.
Based on this goal, the main objectives of the study are: 1) to study the concept of cultural shock; 2) to consider the phases of cultural shock; 3) to study reverse cultural shock as a kind of cultural shock; 4) to study the factors influencing the process of adaptation to a new cultural environment; 5) to study preventive measures and ways to overcome cultural shock; 6) to study intercultural conflict and ways to overcome it.
Hypothesis: culture shock is not only negative in nature. It leads to the adoption of new values and behaviors and, ultimately, is important for personal growth.
According to the structure the following course paper consists of Introduction, two chapters, Conclusion the list of used literatures (references).

CHAPTER 1. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE STUDY OF CULTURAL SHOCK
§ 1.1 The concept of culture shock
Cultural shock is an emotional or physical discomfort, disorientation of an individual caused by getting into a different cultural environment, a collision with another culture, an unfamiliar place. Getting used to a new environment can be exciting, stressful, can deceive expectations, be funny or just confuse. The term was first used by the American anthropologist Kalervo Oberg in 1954.
Basically, a person gets a culture shock when he gets to another country other than the country where he lives, although he may encounter similar feelings in his own country with a sudden change in the social environment.
A person has a conflict of old and new cultural norms and orientations; old, to which he is accustomed, and new, characterizing a new society for him. This is a conflict of two cultures at the level of their own consciousness. Cultural shock occurs when familiar psychological factors that helped a person adapt to society disappear, and instead unknown and incomprehensible ones appear, coming from another cultural environment.
Such an experience of a new culture is unpleasant. Within the framework of one's own culture, a persistent illusion of one's own vision of the world, lifestyle, mentality, etc. is created as the only possible and, most importantly, the only permissible. The overwhelming majority of people do not realize themselves as a product of a separate culture, even in those rare cases when they understand that the behavior of representatives of other cultures is actually determined by their culture. Only by going beyond your culture, that is, meeting with a different worldview, attitude, etc., you can understand the specifics of your social consciousness, see the difference between cultures.
People experience culture shock in different ways, they are not equally aware of the severity of its impact. It depends on their individual characteristics, the degree of similarity or dissimilarity of cultures. A number of factors can be attributed to this, including climate, clothing, food, language, religion, level of education, material well-being, family structure, customs, etc.
Cultural shock has two aspects: on the one hand, it is associated with the need for contact with another culture, with the inability to decipher and cope with new cultural stimuli, which causes a lot of problems, and on the other hand, it is associated with the loss of old habits, the old native atmosphere. Psychological discomfort in the new environment is connected with this. That is why a person seeks to find contact with compatriots in order to somewhat weaken the culture shock, but this does not mean that a person has successfully adapted to a new environment. But in order to truly overcome the state of discomfort, it is necessary to consider this shock not as a negative experience, but as an opportunity to develop, enrich the personality, reveal the hidden potentials of a person. In this case, culture shock should not be avoided. You just have to survive it. Of course, the shock will be stronger at first, but it will pass faster, and this will positively affect professional success.
In order to weaken the culture shock or shorten its duration, you need to realize in advance that this phenomenon exists and that you will have to face it one way or another. But the main thing to remember is that you can handle it and it won't last forever.
Symptoms of culture shock:

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  feelings of sadness, loneliness, melancholy;
  
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  excessive concern about your own health;
  
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  allergies, irritations;
  
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  sleep disorder: the desire to sleep more than usual, or lack of sleep;
  
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  frequent mood swings;
  
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  idealization of his former residence;
  
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  the impossibility of self-identification;
  
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  lack of self-confidence;
  
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  lack of a sense of security;
  
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  the development of stereotypes about the new culture;
  
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  longing for family.
  

Thus, we are dependent on living conditions and habits. Our well-being, of course, depends on where we are, on what sounds and smells surround us, and on the rhythm of our life. When a person finds himself in an unfamiliar environment and finds himself disconnected from his usual environment, his psyche usually suffers shocks. He or she is like a fish pulled out of the water. It doesn't matter how widely educated and friendly you are. A number of supports are knocked out from under you, followed by anxiety, confusion and a sense of disappointment. Adaptation to a new culture requires going through a complex adaptation process called "culture shock". Culture shock is a natural response to a completely new environment.