Term
| chinese immigrants in america |
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Definition
•1. Many older immigrants feel that they are more Chinese than American
•2. Their children feel more American
•3. the older generation of Chinese immigrants are more challenged by dealing with decisions
•4. younger Chinese Americans also notice discrimination but feel American
•5. Chenese think that education is key that leads to integration in American society
•6. Younger Chinese Americans know they need to fulfill different requirements compared to many other Americans |
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Term
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Definition
• cultural shock is a very deep feeling of discomfort, to be lost, left alone, fear, uncertainty
• it is a feeling that not necessarily sets in immediately when confronted with the unknown; it may grow based on the things we notice and feel over time |
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Term
| what are the three basic causes of culture shock that stand out |
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Definition
1. loss of familiar signs
2. communication breakdown
3. personal crisis |
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Term
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Definition
• Signs are physical or social cues that provide order in daily interactions and are consistent with our total social environment
Words, gestures, customs that help us to make sense of our social world
They tell us when to be serious, when to be humorous, when to tip, what to say to whom
• If we loose our signs, we loose the rules of actions
Our messages of greeting or our simple attempts to interact with others would no longer get the response we get at home |
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Term
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Definition
• the meanings of our messages are interpreted completely different
• messages can be misunderstood
• direct communication (including feedback) as we prefer it may not be valued
we like a clear “yes” or “no” but we get “if it is the will of god” “maybe” or “it is difficult”
• communication breakdowns bring on frustration, hopelessness, and loss of control |
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Term
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Definition
• people are challenged to adjust to the millions of new stimuli in the new culture
many people are not prepared to cope with it
this experience can be self-destructive
• if people can handle and overcome the frustration, it usually brings personal growth
• -> many different factors influence how we perceive cultural shock
our personal situation and motivation to deal with it
support from others to overcome the shock |
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Term
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Definition
1. preliminary stages
2. spectator stage
3. participant stage
4. shock stage
5. adaptation stage
6. reentry stage |
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Term
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Definition
*making plans to leave*
o if people are going to study or work abroad, they need to make arrangements
• to find a place to stay, contact the university or company, to get a visa, to get local bank accounts…
o they also prepare by learning to foreign language and learn about the countries citizens and customs
o they say goodbye to friends and family and some start to regret that they leave |
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Term
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Definition
*arrival in the new culture*
o most newcomers associate first with nationals who speak their language and are polite to foreigners
o if an individual is considered important, he or she will be shown the sites and hear a lot about friendship and good will
o this honeymoon stage with many new experiences and high rising emotions may last a few days to six months |
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Term
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Definition
*the end of the sight seeing*
o the newcomer has to cope with more and more challenges alone, looking after the most basic aspects of everyday living
• the newly arrived student will attend classes for the first time and learn about course requirements
• he/she needs to get organized by arranging a daily schedule to fit class hours, study periods, dining hours, library timetables, and develop social plans |
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Term
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Definition
*knowing (finally understand) what you don’t understand*
o after the newcomer has started the adjustment process, problems surface that are difficult to handle
o the shock sets in, usually unrecognized by the newcomer who feels depressed for no apparent reason
• the things that slowly surface may be distasteful food, problems with reaching colleagues/fellow students work performance, difficulties to establish close relationships with others
• the worst: if there is no one to talk about these problems (someone who understands) |
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Term
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Definition
*identification with the culture has progressed*
o in-group relationships develop with the locals, and the newcomer feels a sense of belonging and acceptance |
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Term
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Definition
*back home*
o People encounter a cultural shock in reverse
• They usually have to re-adapt to their own culture
• Moreover, the reversed cultural shock is totally unexpected
• They may realize for the first time that they appreciated many aspects of the foreign culture and start questioning their home culture |
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Term
| professionals who return to the home country workplace face different challanges: |
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Definition
o There old workplace is gone, responsibilities and status have changed, their decision making powers are decreased, they may have less employees working for them
o Living abroad was supported by adjustments of cost of living, more pay, housing allowances, cars and drivers,….
• Without these benefits, financial problems can occur if lifestyle is not re-adjusted
o Many employees accept overseas positions with the expectation that they qualify for promotion after their return
• But the home management changes and these commitment often are not kept |
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Term
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Definition
| the process of learning and adjusting to a new set of behaviors that fit to the new surroundings |
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Term
| physical changes (acculturation) |
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Definition
| new places to live, locating places to shop, selecting schools for children, finding out transportation to school and work |
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Term
| biological changes (acculturation) |
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Definition
| new and different food and drink, new bacteria and viruses, new plant and animal life, new climate… |
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Term
| cultural changes (acculturation) |
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Definition
| different family life, values, belifes, attitudes… |
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Term
| social changes (acculturation) |
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Definition
| new friendships, new people with whom to interact such as doctors, dentists, grocers, auto mechanics… |
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Term
| psychological changes (acculturation) |
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Definition
| being away from home and family, even task that was easy at home is difficult now, too many changes |
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Term
| acculturation and personal development |
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Definition
involves four developments that affect behavior
1. cultural adjustment
2. identification
3. cultural competence
4. enculturation |
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Term
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Definition
-refers to a persons feelings of comfot in the host societyo He/she feels at home and not a total outsider
o The hosts signalize during daily interactions that the newcomer is aware of the appropriate behaviors |
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Term
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Definition
the individual has a sense of belonging to the host culture
o he/she is able and willing to share dominant values and to see the advantages to live in that culture |
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Term
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Definition
| indicates the willingness to learn the language and increase ones own knowledge base about the adopted culture. |
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Term
| communication and acculturation |
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Definition
| underlying acculturation is communication. newcomers must learn the appropriate behaviors in the new culture, and they learn this through communication. |
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Term
| useful skills in enhancing intercultural communication effectiveness are: |
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Definition
1. emotional resilience
2. flexibility/openness
3. perceptual acuity
4. personal autonomy |
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Term
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Definition
| maintaining and expressing positive feelings while coping with strong emotions and frustration |
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Term
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Definition
| ability and willingness to adapt to different ways of thinking and acting |
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Term
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Definition
| a sensitivity to verbal and noverbal behaviors is crucial b/c a new culture will bring with it an unfamiliar language and nonverbal characteristic |
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Term
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Definition
| while adapting to the new culture, people need to maintain a strong sense of identity and their own values and beliefs (acculturation does not mean self-abandonment) |
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