Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a different country or a different state than where they live (e.g. urban southern California vs. rural North Carolina).

The term was introduced for the first time in 1954 by Kalvero Oberg. Other researchers who have subsequently worked on culture shock include Michael Winkelman.

Phases of Culture Shock

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Severe culture shock (moving to a foreign country) often consists of distinct phases. Not everyone moves through the phases and not everyone is in the new culture long enough to pass through all three:

• The Honeymoon Phase - During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. For example, in moving to a new country, an individual might love the new foods, the pace of the life, the people's habits, the buildings and so on.
• The "Everything is awful" phase - After a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, minor differences between the old and new culture begin to add up to become tiresome and annoying. One may long for food the way it is prepared "back home," may find the pace of life too fast or slow, may find the people's habits annoying, etc.
• The "Everything is OK" phase - Again, after a few days, weeks or months, one grows accustomed to the new culture's differences and develops routines. At this point, an individual no longer reacts to the new culture positively or negatively, because it no longer feels like a new culture. An individual becomes concerned with basic living again, as they were in their original culture.
• Reverse Culture Shock - Returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above.

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Culture Shock: Skinny Jeans: Trend or Trash? http://cultureshockworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/skinny-jeans-trend-or-trash.html?spref=tw
cultureshockws (Culture Shock) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:02:41 -0000
Culture Shock: Skinny Jeans: Trend or Trash? http://cultureshockworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/skinny-jeans-trend-or-trash.html?spref=tw
@DeepGreenForest that'd be an interesting culture shock, its bit more like that with gift shopping as opposed to food
Fadercreep (Fader Creep) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:02:15 -0000
@DeepGreenForest that'd be an interesting culture shock, its bit more like that with gift shopping as opposed to food
Culture Shock http://cultureshockworld.blogspot.com/?spref=tw
cultureshockws (Culture Shock) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:51:14 -0000
Culture Shock http://cultureshockworld.blogspot.com/?spref=tw
@jgombita Well, I moved from Alabama to California. That was culture shock. But yes, Dallas is much different than home.
BPrickett (Bill Prickett, APR) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:41:44 -0000
@jgombita Well, I moved from Alabama to California. That was culture shock. But yes, Dallas is much different than home.
Its nice to listen to corey talk about the culture shock for compsci students go into software engineering. College does not prepare well
jfarrell (Jason Farrell) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:00:26 -0000
Its nice to listen to corey talk about the culture shock for compsci students go into software engineering. College does not prepare well
Jose Culture shock faces Mancini http://bit.ly/6bOs9p
euronews24 (Euro news 24) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:53:36 -0000
Jose Culture shock faces Mancini http://bit.ly/6bOs9p

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