Culture and Cultural Shock Study Guide

Culture is defined as a complex whole that includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and habits acquired by individuals as members of a society.
It represents a comprehensive way of life, specifically focusing on the general customs and beliefs of a particular group during a specific period.
Culture encompasses several key elements shared by groups, including:
- Social behavior.
- Institutions.
- Norms.
- Shared capabilities.
Culture refers to the total way of life of any society, representing the entirety of its existence rather than just specific desirable or sophisticated parts.

Culture plays a vital role in both individual development and the maintenance of society through the following functions:

Character Building: It helps in the development and formation of an individual's character.
Social Bonding: It builds strong bonds and connections among people within a group.
Differentiation: It differentiates one community or group from another.
Enhancing Social Control: It provides a framework that helps in maintaining and enhancing social control.
Shaping Behavior: It directly shapes the behavior of individuals.
Identity and Belonging: Culture shapes individual identity and fosters a sense of group belonging.
Behavioral Guidelines: It provides specific guidelines for behavior, dress, language, and general social expectations.
Social Solidarity: It enhances solidarity and cohesion within a group.
Intergenerational Transmission: It facilitates the transmission of accumulated knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next.
Communication: It facilitates understanding and communication both within a society and across different societies.

According to the University of Lusaka (UNILUS), cultural shock is defined as a sense of discomfort and panic that one feels when they are in a new place.
Symptoms of Cultural Shock:
- Language differences and significant communication barriers.
- Different social customs and methods of greeting.
- Unfamiliar food types and eating habits.
- Different attitudes toward time management and schedules.
- Variations in housing and living conditions.
- Changes in climate and the physical environment.
- Feelings of social isolation and intense loneliness.
- Significant differences in values, religious beliefs, and general belief systems.
- A lack of familiar support networks, such as family and friends.
- Difficulty in navigating local systems and transportation.

Individuals typically progress through four distinct stages when experiencing cultural shock:

Honeymoon Stage: Characterized by initial excitement and fascination with the new culture.
Frustration Stage: Difficulties begin to arise; language barriers and cultural differences cause stress and anxiety.
Adjustment Stage: Characterized by gradual learning and adaptation to the new cultural environment.
Acceptance Stage: The final stage where there is full adjustment; the individual feels comfortable and competent within the new culture.

While culture is beneficial, it can also have negative implications:

Ethnocentrism: Culture may promote ethnocentrism and intolerance toward other cultures.
Resistance to Change: Culture can resist change, which may lead to social stagnation or conflict.
Human Rights Concerns: Certain cultural practices may be discriminatory or violate fundamental human rights.
Stress and Disorientation: Cultural shock itself can cause significant stress and disorientation when individuals encounter different cultures.

Cultures vary based on several key aspects and components:

Language: A system of symbols used for communication.
Norms: Established rules for behavior, which include:
- Folkways: Everyday habits and conventions.
- Mores: Norms that carry moral significance.
- Laws: Formally defined and enforced rules of behavior.
Values: Shared judgments within a group regarding what is considered important or desirable.
Symbols: Objects or specific signs that represent larger ideas or concepts.
Customs: Established and traditional ways of behaving.
Beliefs: Specific convictions or accepted truths held within a culture.
Cuisine: The specific food and cooking traditions of a group.
Dress Code: The traditional or expected style of clothing.
Religion: The system of faith and worship.
Festivals: Commemorative celebrations and traditional events.

Students should be familiar with the following key terms and concepts:

Enculturation: The process of learning one's own culture.
Acculturation: The process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.
Subculture: A cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture.
Counter Culture: A subculture whose values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of mainstream society, often in opposition to them.
Cultural Relativism: The principle of regarding the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from the viewpoint of that culture itself.
Ethnocentrism: Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.
Cultural Universal: An element, pattern, trait, or institution that is common to all human cultures worldwide.
Values: The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.
Norms: Something that is usual, typical, or standard.
Sanctions: Mechanisms of social control used to enforce norms (can be positive or negative).
Cultural Diversity: The existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society.