Communication Between Cultures

The Process of Acculturation

We consider culture shock as theinitialmental and physical stress experienced, to

varying degrees, when an individual enters a culture different from his or her own. If

the amount of stress exceeds a person’s tolerance level, he or she can essentially

become nonfunctional, withdrawing emotionally and physically from the new culture,

either returning home or limiting one’s interactions exclusively to the local expatriate

community. On the other hand, if the culture shock is not severe, as is usually the

case, people commence a process of acculturation—learning to become functional

and comfortable in their new cultural setting.

Although there are variations in how people respond and in the amount of time they

need to adjust to a different culture, most of the early literature on culture shock relied on

a U-curve-shaped model to illustrate four phases, or stages, of adjustment (see Table 11.1).

The U-curve model was subsequently extended and called the W-curve,^4 which included

the adjustment period that expatriates go through when they return home after extended

periods living in another culture. The greatest appeal of these two models is their intui-

tiveness. They are easily understood, appear quite commonsensical, and are simple to illus-

trate. Unfortunately, there is insufficient empirical data to verify the models, leading some

to consider them overgeneralizations of the adaptation process.^5

In more contemporary work, Kim has developed a theoretical model that proposes

the cultural adjustment experience to be more complex than the U- and W-curve

models.^6 She sees acculturation as a continuing process of“stress-adaptation-growth.”

Initial entry into a new culture producesstress because the sojourner’s ability to

function is normally diminished. In other words, the traveler experiences some

degree of stress when dealing with new and different procedures, behaviors, and com-

munication standards. To mitigate stress, sojourners begin to develop and incorporate

the cultural norms needed to function competently in the new environment.

They startadaptingto the other culture. Through continual interaction with people

and managing the daily requirements of working and living in a different social

environment, the stress-adaptation process broadens sojourners’ perspectives and

produces personalgrowth. The three components of stress-adaptation-growth consti-

tute a dynamic process that continues to advance throughout the expatriate’s stay.

TABLE 11.1 U-curve Model of Cultural Adjustment^3

STAGE CHARACTERISTICS

Honeymoon Anticipate living/working in the new culture,

which is considered exciting/exotic.

Disillusionment/Culture Shock Encounter the difficulties of daily living and

communicating in the new culture. Experience

various levels of stress.

Recovery Begin to learn how to function in the new

culture. Levels of stress decline.

Adjustment/Effective Functioning Gain a higher degree of functionality and start

feeling comfortable in the new culture.

The Process of Acculturation 383

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