Migrants’ Culture Shock and Transformation

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Introduction

Psychology and culture are closely connected because culture influences how people think, feel, and behave. Culture shapes the way that individuals perceive the world around them. It determines societal values, beliefs, and behaviors and influences communication and people relations. Therefore, psychologists need to be aware of cultural differences that they have to consider when working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. One central aspect of culture that is of interest to psychologists is the aspect of culture shock. Culture shock occurs when a person moves from one cultural environment to another. This causes the person to experience disorientation, confusion, and anxiety, and migrants are the most affected. Migrant is a term used to describe all people who move from one place to another. People have, and will, always travel to distant locations, countries, continents and possibly soon planets for different purposes through a voluntary cause or due to circumstances beyond their control. They go to convert, conquer, explore, trade, teach, learn, holiday and settle. To settle means that the migrant can finally establish permanent residency in a new location by obtaining employment, finding housing, and becoming integrated into the community.

Over the last century, the reduced costs and increased ease of short and long-distance travel have dramatically increased worldwide people’s movements. This means that although they do not anticipate experiencing it, more and more people are confronted with culture shock. Individuals will undoubtedly encounter and react to different challenges while living and interacting with people in a new and unfamiliar culture, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. The purpose of this essay is to present evidence that migrants can overcome culture shock through several stages. This essay will highlight themes outlined in existing literature showing that applying different approaches can enable migrants to confound culture shock and eventually settle down in a new location.

Importance and Rationale of Understanding Culture Shock Including Factors to Consider

It is important to understand the effect of culture shock as it is felt differently among different individuals. The varied effects can help to describe the individual path from once a person settles in a new location to when they are able or not to adjust and adapt. One critical factor contributing to culture shock is how the new culture differs from the migrants. The differences can be described in customs, language, values, social norms, and daily routines. The more different the new culture is from a person’s own culture, the greater the potential for culture shock (Lai et al., 2020). Cultural intelligence also comes into play when describing culture shock’s impact on a person. This mainly involves a person’s capacity to adapt to new cultural environments. People with higher cultural intelligence are more likely to adapt to new cultures more quickly and effectively. Individuals with lower cultural intelligence will experience more difficulty in adjusting.

Another factor that influences culture shock is an individual’s familiarity with the new culture. If an individual has previously been exposed to a new culture, they may be better equipped to deal with culture shock. According to Mujumdar and Cain (2020), some of the other common factors influencing culture shock include a person’s character and coping skills. For example, migrants who are more open-minded and flexible may have an easier time adjusting to a new culture. The same may apply to individuals with strong coping skills and a supportive network of friends and family. Hudriati et al. (2017) state that intercultural awareness and communication are additional critical elements in overcoming the challenges of culture shock.

However, the arguments by the authors are supported by a weak study conducted using a qualitative description. Hudriati et al. (2017) aimed to explain how new students on the UMI Makassar campus experience culture shock. The study emphasized the need to learn the local language and develop regional friends to enhance communication with people and become acquainted with the local culture and traditions. Furthermore, having an open mind and learning as much as possible about the surroundings while being patient is critical to make things sense over time, making adaptation and acceptance easier.

Stages of Cultural Transformation

Several psychological theories seek to explain the causes and effects of culture shock. One popular theory is the psychological adaptation theory, which suggests that culture shock is a natural part of adapting to a new culture. According to this theory, culture shock is caused by the differences between a migrant’s previous cultural experiences and the cultural environment in their new location. Hudriati et al. (2017) describe five key stages that describe the transformation process from when a person enters the new cultural environment to the time, they become integrated into the new culture. The stages include honeymoon, crisis, development of a positive attitude, adjustment, and adaptation.

Once people decide to move, they are fully conscious of their determination to shift to a new cultural environment. Hudriati et al. (2017) regard this as the first stage, where the individual will feel highly excited or anxious about the prospective move, akin to a honeymoon experience. Once the person eventually moves, their first experience is described under the crisis stage. The migrant becomes immersed in the new cultural environment and may experience different emotions, such as frustration, confusion, or homesickness. This is the stage where culture shock is most pronounced, and a person may feel overwhelmed by the new cultural norms and expectations as the positive effect of migration begins to fade away (Mustafa, 2022). A person has to start grappling with different encounters every day, including ambivalent problems they may not be able to contain and possibly will become overwhelming.

Cultural Adaptation

The stage of cultural adaptation influences the extent of culture shock experienced, with the initial stages of the process often being the most challenging. The adaptation process can be made easy through prior travel or by interacting with people from the new culture before migrating. A person with a positive attitude will be able to defeat the challenges and overcome culture shock, which supports the argument that individuals can finally comfortably settle in the host environment. Furthermore, the cultural environment can also play a role, with some cultures being more friendly and welcoming to outsiders than others. Qun et al. (2018) conducted their study on a narrow demographic group comprising a small sample of eight Chinese students. However, their experiences showed the impact of culture shock as the authors collected data through in-depth interviews and participant observation.

The data were analyzed using a qualitative approach, and the results show that the first step in treating the symptoms of a lack of cultural competence is to increase one’s level of communicative competence. The authors established that students who inaugurated friendships in the host country and learned the local language and habits suffered less culture shock (Marouf, 2019). Employing a framework for intercultural communication also enables individuals to communicate more successfully with others from different cultures.

Adaptation can be a positive and enriching experience as a person embraces new cultural norms and values. It is a necessary process to overcome cultural shock by learning a new language and building relationships with different people. Qun et al. (2018) refer to culture shock as a natural and normal response to cultural adaptation. As soon as people move to a new cultural environment, they face various unfamiliar stimuli that can be overwhelming and disorienting. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and frustration as they navigate their new surroundings and make sense of the unfamiliar customs and values they encounter. Mujumdar and Cain (2020) further argue that culture shock is a dynamic and multidimensional process involving various factors. These can include a migrant’s characteristics, the nature of the new cultural environment, and the stage of the cultural adaptation process. Therefore, people who are more open-minded and versatile can better cope with culture shock in the long term.

Sociocultural and psychological adaptation skills are critical in minimizing stress over time because they accelerate the cultural adaptation process. Marouf (2019) recommend that migrants try to maintain a sense of acquaintance and comfort in their new environment. This can involve participating in activities that remind them of home, such as engaging in familiar hobbies and cooking favorite dishes. Individuals can further seek out cultural resources and communities that mirror their cultural background. Another critical aspect of managing culture shock is taking care of physical and mental health (English and Zhang (2020)). This can involve engaging in activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as exercise, good nutrition, and stress management techniques. Seeking support from others, such as a therapist or counselor, can also be beneficial in managing the emotional challenges of culture shock.

Individual Survival Skills and Support Systems

After staying in the host country for some time, a migrant develops different survival skills, including embracing differences and dealing with challenges normally. Individuals begin to look at hostilities, bothersome and depressing experiences differently. As time passes, the migrant starts to understand and accept the new way of life because the host culture cannot be altered to their liking. English and Zhang (2020) state that this is the most crucial stage to overcoming culture shock as a person adjusts to the new culture. During adaptation, the individual may feel more comfortable and confident in the new surroundings and feels fully integrated into the new cultural environment. The migrant starts to experience a sense of accomplishment for adapting to and thriving in their new cultural environment.

Additionally, culture shock can have momentous positive consequences for individuals despite initial difficulties. Initially, a migrant may experience mental health problems, difficulties in communication and social interactions, and a sense of isolation and loneliness. However, Qun et al. (2018) argue that culture shock can lead to personal growth and development as individuals learn to survive to their new surroundings and develop new skills and perspectives. To manage culture shock, Qun et al. (2018) recommend various strategies, including maintaining social connections, staying physically and mentally healthy, seeking support from others, and engaging in activities that provide a sense of understanding and comfort. They also suggest that individuals adopt a positive and proactive attitude towards their new cultural environment and seek opportunities to learn about and engage with the culture.

Despite the impact of culture shock on an individual, supports systems can be helpful in enabling a migrant to settle. Mundeza (2021) points out that support systems are incredibly helpful in navigating the challenges of adapting to a new culture. In particular, they indicate that migrants can handle the difficulties of culture shock through help from family, friends, or other people who are knowledgeable about the new culture.

Individual Trajectory to Overcoming Culture Shock

Even while moving to a new country might be highly stressful, not every immigrant goes through the same patterns of stress. Presbitero (2016) states that not all people take the initial cultural shock path. Their trajectories show that some groups experience little stress, whereas others have severe stress at first that diminishes over time. For instance, some immigrants ultimately experience rejection. For this reason, the authors focused on how social and personal factors affect how individuals perceive and respond to culture shock. Ryou and Kim (2022) contend that adopting a proactive and upbeat attitude toward the new cultural environment is the most efficient strategy to deal with culture shock. This involves learning about and understanding the culture, seeking new experiences and opportunities to engage with the culture, and adopting a flexible and open-minded approach to cultural differences.

Furthermore, individual differences account for changes in stress levels over time. Individuals who score higher on extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness scores are less likely to express stress than introverted individuals. English and Zhang (2020) also recommend maintaining social connections as a critical strategy for managing culture shock. This can involve reaching out to other migrants adjusting to a new cultural environment, such as other expatriates or international students, and building a supportive network of friends and colleagues. Staying connected with loved ones back home can also provide a sense of closeness and comfort during cultural adaptation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, research shows that migrants will encounter culture shock, but they eventually can settle down in a new location. Eventually, settling down evolves through various stages, where the initial stages are the most difficult for the migrant. It is through positive attitude, adjustment and adaptation that a new migrant embrace and becomes accustomed to the values, beliefs, and way of life in the host destination. Different factors enable the process, including prior exposure and support from friends and family. The extent to which the new culture differs from the migrant’s own culture and cultural intelligence also define the pace at which a person becomes fully integrated into the new cultural environment. Individual gains are also accrued in a new location that enhances personal growth and development.

Even as research supports the argument that migrants will finally settle down in a new location, the reliability of current findings is relatively low. When looking at the results of previous studies, it is clear that their research is based on individual opinions drawn from a small sample. Further research needs to be conducted by employing control groups and larger samples. Results from such intense studies will bolster the confidence of migrants in assuring them of the prospect of overcoming culture shock challenges. In addition, researchers will need to overcome the challenges of participant selection and attrition by recruiting larger sample sizes and studying participants for longer. Notwithstanding the limitations in the literature, the results thus far are promising. If the current research limitations are addressed, there is a high expectation that migrants will encounter culture shock. However, they eventually can settle down into a new location.

References

English, A. S., & Zhang, R. (2020). Coping with perceived discrimination: A longitudinal study of sojourners in China. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 39(3), 854–869. Web.

Hudriati, A., Ratnawati, R., & Riskawati, R. (2017). Analysis of culture shock experienced by the new students of English Department in Faculty of Letters UMI Makassar. Tamaddun, 16(1), 21–29. Web.

Lai, H.S., Hu, H.H., & Chen, Z.Y.J. (2020). The effects of culture shock on foreign employees in the service industry. Service Business. Web.

Marouf, F. (2019). Overcoming culture shock: Journal reflection. Studies in Arts and Humanities, 4(2), 139–141. Web.

‌Mundeza, R. S. (2021). Process of student adaptation of culture shock. Journal La Sociale, 2(2), 26–31. Web.

Mujumdar, S. & Cain, S. (2020). A custom edition psychology PSY1011 and PSY1022. 2^nd edition. Cengage Monash University.

Mustafa, Y. (2022). A review of culture shock: Attitudes, effects and the experience of international students. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 21(3), 4–25. Web.

‌Presbitero, A. (2016). Culture shock and reverse culture shock: The moderating role of cultural intelligence in international students’ adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 53, 28–38. Web.

‌ Ryou, J., & Kim, S.-Y. (2022). Host people’s kindness and migrant workers’ cultural adaptation: Evidence from South Korea. Korea Observer – Institute of Korean Studies, 53(4), 713–749. Web.

‌ Qun, W., Syihabuddin, S., Mulyati, Y., & Damaianti, V. S. (2018). Perceiving and dealing with culture shock: The study of Chinese-Indonesian language students. International Journal of Education, 11(1), 18. Web.

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