Definition: Culture shock is the disorientation experienced when subjected to unfamiliar cultures and their ways of life.
Experience: Moving between neighborhoods within the same country can also evoke culture shock.
Personal Example:
Isabelle shared her experience visiting Honduras.
Notable differences: showering outdoors using well water and encountering many bugs.
The adjustment: Although initially shocking, Isabelle adapted to the new environment over time.
Honeymoon Phase: Initial excitement of new experiences.
Frustration Phase: Discontent due to lack of familiar comforts and accessories from home.
Adjustment Phase: Learning to adapt and blend in with the culture.
Acceptance Phase: Embracing the new culture and accepting differences.
Food and Language: Major components that often cause culture shock when visiting different cultures.
Mindfulness:
Definition: Awareness of one’s own biases and cultural perspective.
Importance: Being mindful allows individuals to recognize and rise above biases, promoting intercultural communication.
In-Group: Refers to the dominant or host culture (e.g., Americans).
Characteristics: Members of an in-group often provide preferential treatment to one another.
Out-Group: Represents other cultures or people visiting the host culture.
Dynamics: Out-group members can feel misunderstood or marginalized.
Enculturation: The process of learning and adopting the practices and values of one's host culture.
Often an unconscious process; individuals may not realize different ways of life.
Acculturation: A process that occurs alongside enculturation, where individuals adapt and integrate into a new culture while retaining aspects of their original culture.
Definition: When individuals from the out-group adopt the values and practices of the in-group, often leading to a blend of cultural elements.
Example: An American traveling to Honduras learns to navigate local customs while retaining personal cultural values.
Individualism:
Characteristic of American culture; values personal freedoms, independence, and rights.
People have the power to make choices reflecting personal identity.
Collectivism:
Emphasizes group identity over individual identity.
Family and community often take precedence, such as seen in many cultures where honor and family reputation are vital.
Definition: When one culture views itself as superior to another.
Consequences: Leads to misunderstandings and misjudgments about different cultures; common in travel experiences.
Mindfulness: Essential for overcoming ethnocentric views and fostering understanding in multicultural interactions.
Definition: Cultural symbols represent ideas and values within a culture.
Examples: The American flag and the bald eagle symbolize American culture.
Examples: National holidays, ceremonies, and shared practices (e.g., Independence Day in the U.S.) that embody cultural identity.
Definition: A smaller group within a larger culture that adheres to its values and norms while differing from the mainstream culture.
Examples:
Groups like Hells Angels and the homeless population.
Subcultures may not conform to societal norms but share collective values within their group.
Encouragement to reflect on the day's lessons about the importance of cultural understanding through experiences of culture shock, mindfulness, and the dynamics between in-groups and out-groups.