www.missionsinterlink.org.au

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www.missionsinterlink.org.au
www.missionsinterlink.org.au
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Preparation for Adjustment in a Different Culture

• Marjory F. Foyle
• MD, BS, FRCPsych, DPM, DRCOG
• 
  
• 2009

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It is important to understand the nature of
culture shock

• It is a form of bereavement reaction
• due to the shock of losing the old
• and familiar

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Physical loss
• Climate
• History and Geography
• Diet and Health
• Clothing

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Social Loss
• Social patterns
• Recreation
• Friends

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Social Loss
• Social cues
• Manners and dress
• Sexual patterns

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Psychological loss
• Role change
• Positive and negative
• Interpersonal relationships
• Change due to multi-national factors

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Language loss
• This encourages regression to
• immature behaviour.
• Positive gain - all in same
• situation

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Professional loss
• Poor equipment
• Different working patterns
• No job on arrival

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I. Types of loss involved in cross cultural change

• Spiritual Loss
• Usual way of maintaining
• spiritual life.
• Self confidence
• The size of the need
• can we cope?

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II. How culture shock reveals itself

• Adults
• Acute type (rare)
• - Total inability to
  cope

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II. How culture shock reveals itself

• Adults
• Common type
• Begins in about 3 weeks
• Fatigue
• Loss of interest

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II. How culture shock reveals itself

• Adults
• Common type
• Homesickness
• Sleep disturbances
• Emotional changes

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II. How culture shock reveals itself

• Adults
• Common type
• Disparaging comparison
• with home

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II. How culture shock reveals itself

• Children
• Regression in development
• Withdrawal
• Emotional and behavioural
• changes

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III. Preventing and Dealing with culture shock

• Remember not everyone
• suffers from it.
• If you do it does not mean you are weaker than
  others

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a. Understand things that help prevent culture
shock

• Preliminary preparation
• The Scriptures
• Our relationship with the Lord

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a. Understand things that help prevent culture
shock

• 2. Respect selection procedures
• Spiritual, Physical, Professional, Psychological
• Respect our calling and also
• Selectors opinions
• Avoid bitterness and resentment

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a. Understand things that help prevent culture
shock

• 3. Learn all you can about your future location

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a. Understand things that help prevent culture
shock

• 4. Take with you as little emotional baggage as
  possible-
• Do not leave too much emotionally unfinished
  business at home e.g. unresolved quarrels and old
  unforgiven hurts

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a. Understand things that help prevent culture
shock

• 5. Study your personality before God
• e.g. areas of abrasiveness, strengths and
  weaknesses

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a. Understand things that help prevent culture
shock

• 6. Prepare substitutes for physical, social and
  cultural loss.
• 7. Take care of professional needs.
• 8. Look after spiritual health.
• Changes, first aid, short cuts

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b. Take care of yourself on the job

• Live in accordance with local health rules,
  accept advice.
• Take care of the body
• Avoid workaholism - take a break

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b. Take care of yourself on the job

• 4. Talk to someone if you need help.
• 5. Practice what we discussed under preparation.

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III. Treatment of culture shock

• Remember the experience is usually reasonably
  brief.
• Be kind to yourself.
• Withdraw briefly.

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III. Treatment of culture shock

• Find a safe confidante.
• Do not get guilty about the wrong things.
• See a doctor if not improving in a month.
• Discuss and act upon sensible adjustments