Navigating the Waves: Understanding and Overcoming Reverse Culture Shock

Discovering Reverse Culture Shock

Reverse culture shock refers to the emotional and psychological distress that some individuals experience when they return home after spending a significant period abroad. When faced with reacquainting themselves with the culture and values of their home country, they often find the previously familiar environment unfamiliar.

The Business Impact of Globalization

The phenomenon of reverse culture shock has become more prevalent with the rise of globalization. More employees are now sent on lengthy assignments overseas. With the growing number of expatriates who live and work in foreign countries, reverse culture shock has become an issue that companies must address.

Key Takeaways

• Reverse culture shock is experienced when returning home after an extended period overseas.
• Globalization has led to an increase in overseas assignments, making reverse culture shock more common.
• The severity of reverse culture shock increases with the length of time spent abroad and the cultural differences experienced.
• A lack of regular communication with home can exacerbate the detachment from native cultural practices.

Grasping the Essence of Reverse Culture Shock

The intensity of reverse culture shock often correlates with the amount of time spent abroad—the longer the stay, the stronger the shock upon returning home. Another crucial factor is the degree of cultural difference between the individual’s home country and the foreign country they lived in.

If friends and family back home show disinterest in the individual’s overseas experiences, it can deepen the divide, enhancing the effects of reverse culture shock.

Unveiling How Reverse Culture Shock May Manifest

As one immerses themselves in a foreign culture, they gradually adapt to local norms. Examples might include routine practices such as removing shoes before entering a residence, as is customary in many cultures.

Returning home with these ingrained habits can cause friction between old and new routines. Changes in the pace of work or leisure might initially disrupt one’s lifestyle and later contribute to new habits, leading the individual to scrutinize their native customs through a new lens.

Psychologically and interpersonally, the degree of reverse culture shock can be influenced by the level of continued contact with those back home during the overseas period. Regular communication tends to ease the transition back to native customs, while sparse contact could lead to greater cultural detachment.

Individuals who have traveled frequently may find reverse culture shock less severe, having developed a more adaptable perspective on interacting with diverse cultures.

Related Terms: culture shock, globalization, expatriates, acculturation.

References

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